Latex Cls Show Abstract If Write Otherwise Omit

LaTeX Class: Showing or Hiding the Abstract Based on Input

This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to create a LaTeX class that conditionally displays the abstract. The class will automatically show the abstract if one is written; otherwise, it will omit it completely, resulting in a cleaner document without any unnecessary whitespace. This is particularly useful for creating flexible document templates adaptable to various needs. The approach employs conditional compilation using the ifthen package, ensuring a streamlined and efficient solution.

The core functionality hinges on detecting the presence of an abstract. We achieve this by checking the length of the abstract environment. If the environment contains content, the abstract is included; otherwise, it's skipped. This prevents the appearance of blank space where an abstract might be expected but is absent.

Setting up the LaTeX Class

First, create a new LaTeX class file (e.g., myclass.cls). The file will utilize the ifthen package for conditional logic and geometry for page layout management. You can customize the page layout as needed.

\NeedsTeXFormat{LaTeX2e}
\ProvidesClass{myclass}[2023/10/27 v1.0 My custom class]

\LoadClass[a4paper,12pt]{article} % Base class and options

\RequirePackage{ifthen}
\RequirePackage{geometry}
\geometry{a4paper, margin=1in} % Adjust margins as needed

\newboolean{hasabstract}
\setboolean{hasabstract}{false}


\newcommand{\checkabstract}{%
  \ifthenelse{\equal{\abstract}{}}{
    \setboolean{hasabstract}{false}
  }{
    \setboolean{hasabstract}{true}
  }
}

\AtBeginDocument{\checkabstract}

\newenvironment{myabstract}
{%
  \ifthenelse{\boolean{hasabstract}}{%
    \begin{abstract}
  }{}
}
{%
  \ifthenelse{\boolean{hasabstract}}{%
    \end{abstract}
  }{}
}

Explaining the Code

• \NeedsTeXFormat{LaTeX2e}: Specifies the LaTeX format required.
• \ProvidesClass{myclass}[...]: Defines the class name and version.
• \LoadClass[...]{article}: Uses the article class as a base. Feel free to change this.
• \RequirePackage{ifthen}: Loads the ifthen package for conditional statements.
• \RequirePackage{geometry}: Loads the geometry package for page layout settings.
• \newboolean{hasabstract}: Creates a boolean variable to track the presence of an abstract.
• \newcommand{\checkabstract}{...}: This macro checks the length of the abstract environment. If empty, hasabstract is set to false; otherwise, it's set to true.
• \AtBeginDocument{\checkabstract}: Executes \checkabstract at the start of the document.
• \newenvironment{myabstract}{...}{...}: Defines a new environment myabstract. This environment will only execute the standard abstract environment if hasabstract is true.

Using the Custom Class

Now, you can use your custom class in your LaTeX document:

\documentclass{myclass}
\title{My Document}
\author{Your Name}
\date{\today}

%Include an abstract if you want to
\begin{myabstract}
This is the abstract of my document.
\end{myabstract}

\begin{document}
\maketitle
\section{Introduction}
... your document content ...
\end{document}

If you remove the myabstract environment or leave it empty, the compiled document will not include an abstract section, saving space and improving document clarity. This conditional abstract handling provides a flexible and efficient solution for LaTeX document creation. Remember to compile your document twice to ensure that the conditional logic works correctly. This robust solution ensures a clean and professional output regardless of the presence or absence of an abstract.