Re: Problem with buffers in combination with textreference

[Hans Hagen <pragma@wxs.nl>]

At 03:30 PM 11/15/99 +0000, Marc van Dongen wrote:

>Below there is one macro (no arguments) which if used at
>a certain position in the text causes a problem. When
>replacing the macro call by its definition, will resolve
>the problem.....

Buffers are strange animals. You cannot start and stop them in a macro, since they fool around with catcodes. 

>\def\beginanswer{%
>  \begingroup
>  \startbuffer[Answerbuffer]
>    \textreference[Answer]{Answer}
>}
>%\endanswer{\endbuffer\endgroup\page[yes]}
>\def\beginquestion{%
>  \begingroup
>  Blah.
>}
>\def\endquestion{\endgroup}

Anyhow, there is a more straightforward way: 

\defineblock[question]
\defineblock[answer]

\hideblocks[answer]

\beginquestion
....
\beginquestion

\beginanswer
....
\endanswer

Now you can say:

\chapter {Answers}

\placeblocks[answer] 

Of course it makes sense to use definitions or enumarations (just try it yourself first) which end up in 

\beginquestion
  \startquestion 
    some text 
  \stopquestion 
\endquestion

etc etc When properly set up, you get cross linked questions and answers for free. This mechanism can also be used selectively, with tags, so you can make sets of answers and so. 

(Blocks is a pretty old mechanism that I wrote because I wanted to make some educational documents based on one source.) 

Hans

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