Printing out LaTeX Variables

Question

I am using a LaTeX class file which sets various parameters such as margins, line spacing, ... according to the parameters passed to it. For some reason, the end result does not look right. Some margins are not properly set. I'd like to print out the values of various variables that LaTeX have computed along the way to see where the problem is. For instance, I'd like to know what the value of \oddsidemargin is in a certain line of code. Is there a way to ask LaTeX to print out such information?

Noonan

Answer 1

For debugging page layout, Peter Wilson's layouts package is the way to go. Here's an example for visualising the page design and seeing the dimensions used for it:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{layouts}
\begin{document}
\drawmarginparstrue
\currentpage
\pagedesign
\end{document} 

There are many features to fine-tune the information returned by the package. It also provides the \prntlen command to print the size of a length in case you don't need so much information.

Sterilize

And, usefully, I see that you are the maintainer. How does \printlen differ from the \printlength macro dmckee linked to? – Gyn

If not identical, they're essentially the same. The layouts package does a whole lot more, however; printlen.sty is just the little bit of code to pretty print lengths. – Sterilize

Answer 2

You can insert the value of a variable with \the:

\the\oddsidemargin

Dusty

Does this work with @ variables also? I'm trying to print out \@currenvir. – Glaser

You need to use makeatletter/makeatother for @-variables. – Dusty

Answer 3

CTAN says: printlen which allows you to specify the output units.

Rugger

Answer 4

Try also this:

\usepackage[verbose]{geometry}

Chengteh