[texhax] Building a command like this: \newcommand*[ ]{ }

[Philip G. Ratcliffe]

> Thanks. Here what I've tried to make:
> 
> \def\hola{\@ifnextchar* 
> {\@ifnextchar[{\threea}{\twoa}}
> {\onea}}
> \def\threea*[#1]#2{#1\quad{\itshape#2}}
> \def\twoa*#1{{\bfseries#1}\quad{\sffamily#1}}
> \def\onea#1{{\itshape#1}}
> 
> for obtaining the following 3 cases:
> \hola*[ ]{ } 
> \hola*{ }
> \hola{ }
> 
> But the first doesn't work, I don't know why. 
> 
> For example:
> \hola*[Hugo]{E} 
> \hola*{Hugo E}
> \hola{Hugo E}

I think this does what you want (though it could probably be written
better):

\def\hola{\@ifstar\holastar\onea}
\def\holastar{\@ifnextchar[\threea\twoa}
\def\threea[#1]#2{#1\quad{\itshape#2}}
\def\twoa#1{{\bfseries#1}\quad{\sffamily#1}}
\def\onea#1{{\itshape#1}}

You were warned.

Cheers,  Phil

P.S.  A lot of us prefer UNformatted postings.