9
$\begingroup$

In my notebook, I have the following cells, which I tried to put around a single frame with a light blue background color.

enter image description here

After entering the cells, I selected all four, then clicked the frame button in the Writing Assistant palette. Unfortunately, I did not get a single frame.

Can some suggest how I can get just a single frame around all four cells? The centered cells are from the Writing Assistant, Math Cells, Centered Math Cell.

They do not match what I want:

Perhaps I should ask how can put all of my writing in one cell.

Thank you, Mr. Wizard:

I selected the four cells, then used Mr. Wizard's Frame Multiple Cells button, which was created by his code, and here is the result:

enter image description here

I added the red color to the word definition after using Mr. Wizard's button.

Using the Writing Assistant Pallete:

It turns out that if I select my four cells, then click on the Merge Cells icon on the Writing Assistant tablet, it's done! Then use the Writing Assistant tablet to add a frame and color the background.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
1

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
9
$\begingroup$

This question is closely related to Automatically use InputOnly style and it can also be done with CellFrame and CellMargins. Here is a Button to automate the process.

Button["Frame Multiple Cells", With[{cells = Cells[NotebookSelection[InputNotebook[]]]}, MapThread[ Function[{frame, pos}, MapAt[ SetOptions[#, CellMargins -> {{66, 10}, {0, 0}}, CellFrame -> {{2, 2}, frame}, Background -> LightBlue] &, cells, pos ] ], {{{0, 2}, {0, 0}, {2, 0}}, {1, 2 ;; -2, -1}} ] ] ] // CreatePalette

enter image description here

Notes:

  • Setting a Background color affects the spacing of the cells; without it they squeeze together.

  • To keep the frame continuous to the Output cell I had to disable automatic grouping.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
10
  • $\begingroup$ Wow! It worked beautifully. See my update to my original post. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 16, 2015 at 2:37
  • $\begingroup$ Automatic grouping? Not sure what that is or if its disabling will affect what I normally do? $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 16, 2015 at 2:41
  • $\begingroup$ This is so good, I'd like to add it to my Palettes menu or my writing assistant. Is that possible? $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 16, 2015 at 2:42
  • $\begingroup$ Does disabling automatic grouping slow down printing of the notebook? $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 16, 2015 at 5:01
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Note that setting the option CellGroupingRules -> "NormalGrouping" (in the button) overrides the automatic grouping so that the frame is continuous. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 16, 2015 at 5:38

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.