[texhax] Optional argument to \cite{}

[Dan]

Dear All,

Let's say I have a document of the article documentclass, with nothing
tricksy like natbib in use.  I want to cite several sources that all
say roughly the same thing:

\cite{Horton:1945:CCP,Lapwood:1948:CFP,Katto:1967:COC,Joseph:1976:SFMb,Phillips:2009:GFD}

The output is something like [1,2,3,4,5].  But Phillips:2009:GFD is a
bit on the long side, so I want to help out my readers by giving page
numbers:

\cite[pp.~171--175]{Horton:1945:CCP,Lapwood:1948:CFP,Katto:1967:COC,Joseph:1976:SFMb,Phillips:2009:GFD}

The output is something like [1,2,3,4,5, pp. 171-175].  So far so
good.  But actually, Joseph:1976:SFMb is quite long too, and I want to
give page numbers with that.  The optional argument to \cite{} won't
put page numbers after the penultimate reference in the list.  So I
have to split up the \cite{} command:

\cite[pp.~62--104]{Horton:1945:CCP,Lapwood:1948:CFP,Katto:1967:COC,Joseph:1976:\
SFMb};
\cite[pp.~171--175]{Phillips:2009:GFD}

The output is something like [1,2,3,4, pp. 62-104]; [5, pp. 171-175].  This
seems rather clumsy.  What do folks suggest, please?

-- 

Thanks,

Dan