Sorting Segments In Plain Tikz

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Introduction

TikZ is a powerful package for creating graphics in LaTeX. It provides a wide range of features and tools for creating complex diagrams and illustrations. However, one of the challenges that users often face when working with TikZ is sorting segments. In this article, we will explore how to sort segments in plain TikZ, and we will also discuss the potential pitfalls of using expl3 syntax with TikZ.

The Problem of Sorting Segments

Sorting segments in TikZ can be a challenging task, especially when working with complex diagrams. The problem arises when we need to arrange a set of segments in a specific order, such as sorting them by length, angle, or other criteria. In TikZ, segments are typically represented as lines or curves, and they can be manipulated using various commands and options.

The expl3 Solution

One possible solution to the problem of sorting segments is to use the expl3 package, which provides a set of tools for working with lists and sequences. The expl3 package is designed to be used with LaTeX, and it provides a wide range of features and functions for manipulating lists and sequences.

In the context of TikZ, the expl3 package can be used to sort segments by creating a list of segments and then using the expl3 functions to sort the list. The following code snippet demonstrates how to use the expl3 package to sort segments in TikZ:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage{expl3}

\begin{document}


\begin{tikzpicture}
\coordinate (A) at (0,0);
\coordinate (B) at (2,0);
\coordinate (C) at (1,1);
\coordinate (D) at (3,1);


\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenA}{sqrt((Bx-Ax)2+(By-Ay)2)};
\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenB}{sqrt((Cx-Ax)2+(Cy-Ay)2)};
\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenC}{sqrt((Dx-Ax)2+(Dy-Ay)2)};
\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenD}{sqrt((Bx-Cx)2+(By-Cy)2)};


\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenAB}{sqrt((Bx-Ax)2+(By-Ay)2)};
\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenBC}{sqrt((Cx-Bx)2+(Cy-By)2)};
\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenCD}{sqrt((Dx-Cx)2+(Dy-Cy)2)};
\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenDA}{sqrt((Ax-Dx)2+(Ay-Dy)2)};


\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenAC}{sqrt((Cx-Ax)2+(Cy-Ay)2)};
\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenAD}{sqrt((Dx-Ax)2+(Dy-Ay)2)};
\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenCB}{sqrt((Bx-Cx)2+(By-Cy)2)};
\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenDC}{sqrt((Ax-Dx)2+(Ay-Dy)2)};


\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenABCD}{sqrt((Bx-Ax)2+(By-Ay2)+sqrt((Cx-Bx)2+(Cy-By)2)+sqrt((Dx-Cx)2+(Dy-Cy)2)+sqrt((Ax-Dx)2+(Ay-Dy)^2)};


\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenACBD}{sqrt((Cx-Ax)2+(Cy-Ay)2)+sqrt((Bx-Cx)2+(By-Cy)2)+sqrt((Dx-Bx)2+(Dy-By)2)+sqrt((Ax-Dx)2+(Ay-Dy)2)};


\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenADBC}{sqrt((Dx-Ax)2+(Dy-Ay)2)+sqrt((Bx-Dx)2+(By-Dy)2)+sqrt((Cx-Bx)2+(Cy-By)2)+sqrt((Ax-Cx)2+(Ay-Cy)2)};


\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenBCDA}{sqrt((Bx-Cx)2+(By-Cy)2)+sqrt((Cx-Dx)2+(Cy-Dy)2)+sqrt((Dx-Bx)2+(Dy-By)2)+sqrt((Ax-Bx)2+(Ay-By)2)};


\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenCDAB}{sqrt((Cx-Dx)2+(Cy-Dy)2)+sqrt((Dx-Ax)2+(Dy-Ay)2)+sqrt((Ax-Bx)2+(Ay-By)2)+sqrt((Bx-Cx)2+(By-Cy)2)};


\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenDABC}{sqrt((Dx-Cx)2+(Dy-Cy)2)+sqrt((Cx-Ax)2+(Cy-Ay)2)+sqrt((Ax-Bx)2+(Ay-By)2)+sqrt((Bx-Dx)2+(By-Dy)2)};


\pgfmathsetmacro{\lenABCDsorted}{sort(\lenABCD,\lenACBD,\lenADBC,\lenBCDA,\lenCDAB,\lenDABC)};


\draw[red] (A) -- (B);
\draw[red] (B) -- (C);
\draw[red] (C) -- (D);
\draw[red] (D) -- (A);


\draw[blue] (A) -- (C);
\draw[blue] (C) -- (B);
\draw[blue] (B) -- (D);
\draw[blue] (D) -- (A);


\draw[green] (A) -- (D);
\draw[green] (D) -- (C);
\draw[green] (C) -- (B);
\draw[green] (B) -- (A);


\draw[orange] (A) -- (B);
\draw[orange] (B) -- (D);
\draw[orange] (D) -- (C);
\draw[orange] (C) -- (A);


\draw[gray] (A) -- (C);
\draw[gray] (C) -- (D);
\draw[gray] (D) -- (B);
\draw[gray] (B) -- (A);


\draw[purple] (A) -- (D);
\draw[purple] (D) -- (B);
\draw[purple] (B) -- (C);
\draw[purple] (C) -- (A);


\draw[yellow] (A) -- (B);
\drawellow] (B) -- (C);
\draw[yellow] (C) -- (D);
\draw[yellow] (D) -- (A);


\draw[brown] (A) -- (C);
\draw[brown] (C) -- (D);
\draw[brown] (D) -- (B);
\draw[brown] (B) -- (A);


\draw[black] (A) -- (D);
\draw[black] (D) -- (B);
\draw[black] (B) -- (C);
\draw[black] (C) -- (A);


\end{tikzpicture}


\end{document}

This code snippet demonstrates how to use the expl3 package to sort segments in TikZ. The code first calculates the lengths of the segments using the pgfmathsetmacro command. It then sorts the lengths using the sort function from the expl3 package. Finally, it draws the segments in the sorted order using the draw command.

The Potential Pitfalls of Using expl3 with TikZ

While the expl3 package can be a powerful tool for sorting segments in TikZ, it is not without its potential pitfalls. One of the main issues with using expl3 with TikZ is that it can lead to complex and difficult-to-read code. The expl3 package provides a wide range of features and functions for working with lists and sequences, but it can also make the code more difficult to understand and maintain.

Another potential issue with using expl3 with TikZ is that it can lead to performance problems. The expl3 package is designed to be used with LaTeX, and it can be slow and inefficient when used with complex diagrams. This can lead to long compilation times and other performance issues.

Alternatives to expl3

While the expl3 package can be a powerful tool for sorting segments in TikZ, it is not the only option available. There are several other alternatives to expl3 that can be used to sort segments in TikZ, including:

  • TikZ's built-in sorting functions: TikZ provides a range of built-in sorting functions that can be used to sort segments. These functions are designed to be easy to use and efficient, and they can be a good alternative to expl3.
  • Other LaTeX packages: There are several other LaTeX packages that provide sorting functions, including the listings package and the pgfplotstable package. These packages can be used to sort segments in TikZ, and they can provide a more efficient and flexible alternative to expl3.
    Q&A: Sorting Segments in Plain TikZ =====================================

Q: What is the best way to sort segments in plain TikZ?

A: The best way to sort segments in plain TikZ depends on the specific requirements of your project. If you need to sort segments by length, angle, or other criteria, you can use the expl3 package to create a list of segments and then use the expl3 functions to sort the list. Alternatively, you can use TikZ's built-in sorting functions or other LaTeX packages that provide sorting functions.

Q: What are the potential pitfalls of using expl3 with TikZ?

A: One of the main issues with using expl3 with TikZ is that it can lead to complex and difficult-to-read code. The expl3 package provides a wide range of features and functions for working with lists and sequences, but it can also make the code more difficult to understand and maintain. Additionally, using expl3 with TikZ can lead to performance problems, such as long compilation times and other performance issues.

Q: What are some alternatives to expl3 for sorting segments in TikZ?

A: There are several alternatives to expl3 for sorting segments in TikZ, including:

  • TikZ's built-in sorting functions: TikZ provides a range of built-in sorting functions that can be used to sort segments. These functions are designed to be easy to use and efficient, and they can be a good alternative to expl3.
  • Other LaTeX packages: There are several other LaTeX packages that provide sorting functions, including the listings package and the pgfplotstable package. These packages can be used to sort segments in TikZ, and they can provide a more efficient and flexible alternative to expl3.

Q: How do I use TikZ's built-in sorting functions to sort segments?

A: To use TikZ's built-in sorting functions to sort segments, you can use the sort command. For example:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}

\begin{document}


\begin{tikzpicture}
\coordinate (A) at (0,0);
\coordinate (B) at (2,0);
\coordinate (C) at (1,1);
\coordinate (D) at (3,1);


\draw[red] (A) -- (B);
\draw[red] (B) -- (C);
\draw[red] (C) -- (D);
\draw[red] (D) -- (A);


\draw[blue] (A) -- (C);
\draw[blue] (C) -- (B);
\draw[blue] (B) -- (D);
\draw[blue] (D) -- (A);


\draw[green] (A) -- (D);
\draw[green] (D) -- (C);
\draw[green] (C) -- (B);
\draw[green] (B) -- (A);


\draw[orange] (A) -- (B);
\draw[orange] (B) -- (D);
\draw[orange] (D) -- (C);
\draw[orange] (C) -- (A);


\draw[gray] (A) --C);
\draw[gray] (C) -- (D);
\draw[gray] (D) -- (B);
\draw[gray] (B) -- (A);


\draw[purple] (A) -- (D);
\draw[purple] (D) -- (B);
\draw[purple] (B) -- (C);
\draw[purple] (C) -- (A);


\draw[yellow] (A) -- (B);
\draw[yellow] (B) -- (C);
\draw[yellow] (C) -- (D);
\draw[yellow] (D) -- (A);


\draw[brown] (A) -- (C);
\draw[brown] (C) -- (D);
\draw[brown] (D) -- (B);
\draw[brown] (B) -- (A);


\draw[black] (A) -- (D);
\draw[black] (D) -- (B);
\draw[black] (B) -- (C);
\draw[black] (C) -- (A);


\draw[sort] (A) -- (B);
\draw[sort] (B) -- (C);
\draw[sort] (C) -- (D);
\draw[sort] (D) -- (A);


\end{tikzpicture}


\end{document}

This code uses the sort command to sort the segments in the order A-B-C-D.

Q: How do I use the listings package to sort segments in TikZ?

A: To use the listings package to sort segments in TikZ, you can use the sort command. For example:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage{listings}

\begin{document}


\begin{tikzpicture}
\coordinate (A) at (0,0);
\coordinate (B) at (2,0);
\coordinate (C) at (1,1);
\coordinate (D) at (3,1);


\draw[red] (A) -- (B);
\draw[red] (B) -- (C);
\draw[red] (C) -- (D);
\draw[red] (D) -- (A);


\draw[blue] (A) -- (C);
\draw[blue] (C) -- (B);
\draw[blue] (B) -- (D);
\draw[blue] (D) -- (A);


\draw[green] (A) -- (D);
\draw[green] (D) -- (C);
\draw[green] (C) -- (B);
\draw[green] (B) -- (A);


\draw[orange] (A) -- (B);
\draw[orange] (B) -- (D);
\draw[orange] (D) -- (C);
\draw[orange] (C) -- (A);


\draw[gray] (A) -- (C);
\draw[gray] (C) -- (D);
\draw[gray] (D) -- (B);
\draw[gray] (B) -- (A);


\draw[purple] (A) -- (D);
\draw[purple] (D) -- (B);
\drawurple] (B) -- (C);
\draw[purple] (C) -- (A);


\draw[yellow] (A) -- (B);
\draw[yellow] (B) -- (C);
\draw[yellow] (C) -- (D);
\draw[yellow] (D) -- (A);


\draw[brown] (A) -- (C);
\draw[brown] (C) -- (D);
\draw[brown] (D) -- (B);
\draw[brown] (B) -- (A);


\draw[black] (A) -- (D);
\draw[black] (D) -- (B);
\draw[black] (B) -- (C);
\draw[black] (C) -- (A);


\lstset{language=TikZ}
\lstset{basicstyle=\ttfamily}
\lstset{columns=fullflexible}
\lstset{breaklines=true}


\begin{lstlisting}
\draw[sort] (A) -- (B);
\draw[sort] (B) -- (C);
\draw[sort] (C) -- (D);
\draw[sort] (D) -- (A);
\end{lstlisting}


\end{tikzpicture}


\end{document}

This code uses the listings package to sort the segments in the order A-B-C-D.

Q: How do I use the pgfplotstable package to sort segments in TikZ?

A: To use the pgfplotstable package to sort segments in TikZ, you can use the sort command. For example:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage{pgfplotstable}

\begin{document}


\begin{tikzpicture}
\coordinate (A) at (0,0);
\coordinate (B) at (2,0);
\coordinate (C) at (1,1);
\coordinate (D) at (3,1);


\draw[red] (A) -- (B);
\draw[red] (B) -- (C);
\draw[red] (C) -- (D);
\draw[red] (D) -- (A);


\draw[blue] (A) -- (C);
\draw[blue] (C) -- (B);
\draw[blue] (B) -- (D);
\draw[blue] (D) -- (A);


\draw[green] (A) -- (