General ⇒ Underfull \hbox warning produced by \section*{}

[bgreen]

I have 12 warnings, type “Badbox”:

Underfull \hbox (badness 10000) in paragraph at lines 442—442

They all pertain to instances where this code is found: \section*{}

Here is the preamble:

Code: Select all

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{xcolor}
\usepackage{titlesec}
 \usepackage[a4paper, total={7in, 10in}]{geometry}
\usepackage{graphicx} 
\usepackage[english] {babel}
\usepackage{blindtext}
\usepackage[section]{placeins}
\usepackage{subcaption}
\usepackage[colorlinks]{hyperref}
\pagestyle {empty}
\usepackage[labelformat=empty]{caption}
\usepackage {wrapfig}
\usepackage{microtype}
\usepackage{parskip}
\usepackage{geometry}
\titleformat*{\section}{\fontsize{12}{14}\selectfont}
\graphicspath{ {D:/a_surf/BB/bgpage/} }
\begin{document}
\pagecolor{yellow!30}
\section*{New South Wales: Tweed Heads to the Central Coast} 
{\centering
\hrulefill

I've fixed warnings in 10 other documents of the same class and type., which include "\section*{}" code. This document only employs blank sections to manage floats, with one initial section heading listed above.

Advice how to fix this is appreciated.

[Stefan Kottwitz]

This code cannot be tested, if a reader clicks on "Run LaTeX here" it only brings an error. You could edit the post above and simply add something as amall as \end{document} or something else that's relevant from your code here (ensuring that this warning occurs to be able to fix it) to have a higher chance that somebody tests it and sees a solution. Just to know that, for readers and supporters, a compilable code is much better than looking at the theory in a preamble.

Stefan

[bgreen]

Thanks Stefan. I was surprised that removing most of the file, still produces the error at line 26.
I'm not sure if running this online will produce the error.

Code: Select all

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{xcolor}
\usepackage{titlesec}
 \usepackage[a4paper, total={7in, 10in}]{geometry}
\usepackage{graphicx} 
\usepackage[english] {babel}
\usepackage{blindtext}
\usepackage[section]{placeins}
\usepackage{subcaption}
\usepackage[colorlinks]{hyperref}
\pagestyle {empty}
\usepackage[labelformat=empty]{caption}
\usepackage {wrapfig}
\usepackage{microtype}
\usepackage{parskip}
\usepackage{geometry}
\titleformat*{\section}{\fontsize{12}{14}\selectfont}
\graphicspath{ {D:/a_surf/BB/bgpage/} }
\begin{document}
\pagecolor{yellow!30}
\section*{New South Wales: Tweed Heads to the Central Coast} 
{\centering
\hrulefill


\section*{}
From here we found that using the upright front fin as a pivot point with a smaller trailer behind gave the best combination of turning ability and drive.
\end{document}

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hallo Bob,

the \section*{} command is missing a heading text, Why would you need an empty heading? Also there should not be a heading nested in some (centered) group in braces, the command should be at top level. like the first \section command with heading text. Additionally, there's a closing brace missing near the end, the \centering group was not closed. if you need centered section headings, you can make it like suggested here.

Stefan

[bgreen]

Thanks again Stefan. The missing brace was the issue. The 14 files were supposed to have common premables.

Regarding the \section*{} without text. There no doubt are better ways to do this, but I have been using this method to prevent text and images floating beyond a certain point.

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hi Bob,

I have been using this method to prevent text and images floating beyond a certain point

just use the \FloatBarrier command instead.

Stefan

[bgreen]

Thanks Stefan. I now see that I added the code

Code: Select all

 \usepackage[section]{placeins}

in some premables and not others (a problem associated with creating a number of files).

However, I think I also misunderstood your book. On page 126, it says the above code causes an implicit float barrier. I assumed implicit meant this happened without my having to add the specific floatbarrier command. Should I therefore (a) ensure the above code is listed in each preamble and (b) replace instances of \section*{} with \FloatBarrier?

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hi Bob!

However, I think I also misunderstood your book.

Which one, I wrote three books with several second editions

\usepackage[section]{placeins}
On page 126, it says the above code causes an implicit float barrier.

It does, it causes an implicit float barrier for sections, so you don't need the \FloatBarrier command for each section. But if you like, you can use additional \FloatBarrier commands when you think it makes sense, without doing simulated sections.

Should I therefore (a) ensure the above code is listed in each preamble and (b) replace instances of \section*{} with \FloatBarrier?

Yes and yes,

Stefan

[bgreen]

Thanks Stefan.

I've been using LaTeX Beginners Guide 2nd edition. Probably the only computer book I have actually read and re-read. There were a couple of chapters that I didn't need, but overall a very useful book.

Regards

Bob