Text Formatting ⇒ Frames across several pages

[ucomania]

Hi there,

I am trying to create a document style for a large grant proposal. Such a proposal is organized into workpackages and for each workpackage, there need to be 3 sections: "Objectives", "Description" and "Deliverables". Now each of these sections should be framed (I have to follow design guidelines). Hence, I created commands for each of the three sections, for example:

Code: Select all

\newcommand{\workpackageobjectives}[1]{
\fbox{\parbox{\textwidth}{{\bf Objectives}

#1

}}}

This will work somehow - but only as long as the framed box fits onto the current page. If not, either a new page will be started (looks ugly and doesn't follow the guidelines I have) or even worse: the box simply ignores the end of the page.

I am aware of the way LaTeX handles boxes and that it won't work as described above. I just don't know any other way in which I could solve the problem.

Here are some subproblems, which might also help me on my way to a solution:
1. Is there any way to modify the looks of sections - i.e. framed (surprise!) sections?
2. Is there any way to detect in LateX whether a box would fit on a page (preferably the current)?
3. Is it at all possible to split the text passed as an argument to a command? (I guess not...)
4. Is there a way to modify what the "compiler" does when starting a new line? (Then I could do something like "whenever a new line is started, draw a vertical bar..." or so)

Well, I know this is a lot to ask. But any small hint is very welcome!

Cheers,
Dennis

[torbjorn t.]

Perhaps the framed package can help.

[ucomania]

Wow, that was fast!

Thanks a lot for the hint, "framed" does pretty much what I want it to. Now I just have to find out how to change the width of the created frame and the margins between text and frame. (And of course how to program a package like that...)

Thanks again,
Dennis