The memoir class - The UK TeX Archive

D.2. Picture objectsTypeset example D.7: Picture: saved boxesSAVEDSAVED✒✒Source for example D.7\setlength{\unitlength}{1pc}\begin{picture}(18,5)\put(0,0){\framebox(18,5){}}\newsavebox{\Mybox}\savebox{\Mybox}(6,3)[tr]{$\mathcal{SAVED}$}\thicklines\put(1,1){\frame{\usebox{\Mybox}}}\put(11,1){\frame{\usebox{\Mybox}}}\put(1,1){\vector(1,1){0}}\put(11,1){\vector(1,1){0}}\end{picture}\setlength{\unitlength}{1pt}It can take LaTeX a long time to draw something. When a box is saved it actuallycontains the typeset contents, which then just get printed out when the box is used. It cansave processing time if something which appears several times is saved and then used asand where required. On the other hand, a saved box can use up a significant amount ofLaTeX’s internal storage space. The \sbox command with an empty text argument can beused to delete the contents of a bin. For example,\sbox{\Mybox}{}will empty the \Mybox box. Note that this does not delete the storage box itself.D.2.3LinesLaTeX can draw straight lines, but the range of slopes for lines is somewhat restricted.Further, very short lines cannot be drawn.\line(〈i, j〉){〈distance〉}The pair (〈i, j〉) specifies the slope of the line, and 〈distance〉 is a value that controls thelength of the line. The line starts at its reference point (i.e., the place where it is \put). Theslope of the line is such that if a point on the line is slid along the line, then for every i units417