[texhax] How can I renewcommand \the

[Philip G. Ratcliffe]

> > Why  I can renewcomman {\the} is there any way to do 
> renewcomman \the 
> > ? I want \the do my new command
> 
> Don't do it. Use another name for your command. 

Just to explain the point: \the is part and parcel of TeX and will certainly
be used by many packages and even by LaTeX itself,
Here's an example:

\edef\today{%
  \the\year/\two at digits{\the\month}/\two at digits{\the\day}:%
    \two at digits{\the\count@}:\two at digits{\the\count2}}

It's always much much safer to use new and different names unless you really
want to interfere with LaTeX's workings and then only if you really really
know what you're doing.

Cheers,  Phil