Text Formatting ⇒ Conditional class?

[bluefoxicy]

I'm trying to figure out how to write a formatting macro (I know very little latex but... it's a start) that does conditional compilation.

Let's say I have a math book with practice problems.. I'd want something like:

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3 \times 2 = \answersheet{6}

Then by setting a compile time switch (or a variable at the top of the file), I'd get "3 x 2 = 6" or "3 x 2 = ?" and perhaps have the actual answer value in red or something.

Does that make sense?

[magicmoose]

If you just want to make the answers appear or else replace them with an '??' then maybe something this simple would work for you.

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\newcommand{\answers}{yes}
\newcommand{\answer}[1]{\ifthenelse{\equal{\answers}{yes}}{#1}{??}}

Then wherever you want an answer just use

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\answer{insert answer here}

and set \answers to either yes for the answer to be displayed or anything else for the question marks.

See the following example:

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\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{ifthen}
\newcommand{\answers}{yes}
\newcommand{\answer}[1]{\ifthenelse{\equal{\answers}{yes}}{#1}{??}}
\begin{document}
3 \times 2 = \answer{6}
\renewcommand{\answers}{no}
3 \times 2 = \answer{6}
\end{document}

hope that helps

[bluefoxicy]

Excellent. Thank you!