Setting caption/rule width in Algorithm2e algs

Question

Many of the algorithms I have with the algorithm2e package do not extend across the page width. If I use the package's boxruled or ruled options, the result is a box or rule that extends the pagewidth with a lot of whitespace on the right side.

I have changed the width of the algorithm itself using \setlength{\algomargin}{2in} but this does not have an effect on the width of the rules. The effect is to 'center' the algorithm code, but leave the environment itself the width of the page.

Is there a way to change that without having to squeeze it into a minipage?

UPDATE: Minimal example:

\documentclass[10pt]{article}
\usepackage[ruled]{algorithm2e}
\begin{document}
\setlength{\algomargin}{2in}
\begin{algorithm}[t]
\caption{NaiveSelect}\label{algo:naive-option}
Some alg step \;
\end{algorithm}
\end{document}

lockstep · Answer 1 · 2012-12-03T14:18:47.713

4

In my solution, I use the etoolbox package to patch \algocf@start and \algocf@finish which are executed at the beginning resp. the end of the internal algocf environment. I add a minipage of 0.6\textwidth. An invisible rule with a length of 0.2\textwidth is used to center the minipage.

\documentclass[10pt]{article}
\usepackage[ruled]{algorithm2e}
\usepackage{etoolbox}
\makeatletter
\patchcmd{\@algocf@start}{%
  \begin{lrbox}{\algocf@algobox}%
}{%
  \rule{0.2\textwidth}{\z@}%
  \begin{lrbox}{\algocf@algobox}%
  \begin{minipage}{0.6\textwidth}%
}{}{}
\patchcmd{\@algocf@finish}{%
  \end{lrbox}%
}{%
  \end{minipage}%
  \end{lrbox}%
}{}{}
\makeatother
\begin{document}
% \setlength{\algomargin}{2in}
\begin{algorithm}[t]
\caption{NaiveSelect}\label{algo:naive-option}
Some alg step \;
\end{algorithm}
\end{document}

enter image description here

edited Dec 03 '12 at 14:18

answered Dec 29 '11 at 15:17

lockstep

250,273

This is a useful work around. I tried and failed to create an alternate algorithm environment using this method which takes width as a parameter (instead of begin fixed for all algorithms). Would you happen to know how this can be done? – cheshirekow Jan 31 '13 at 16:30
@cheshirekow One could replace the hardcoded values "0.6" and "0.2" in my workaround with macros and redefife those macros mid-document. For better solutions please ask a follow-up question; note that the algorithm2e package in general is very hard to patch. – lockstep Jan 31 '13 at 16:35
Got it. Added an answer with the result. Thanks ;) – cheshirekow Jan 31 '13 at 16:55

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 31 '13 at 16:54

Based on @lockstep answer, I've created a wrapper environment which allows the minipage width to be specified as an argument.

  %adds minipage to inside of algorithms
  \newlength{\tightalgowidth}
  \newlength{\tightalgoremainder}

  % uncomment to use centered floating algorithms
  \newenvironment{tightalgo}[2][]
  {
     \setlength{\tightalgowidth}{#2}
     \setlength{\tightalgoremainder}{\linewidth-\tightalgowidth}
     \begin{algorithm}[#1] }
  { \end{algorithm} }

  \makeatletter
  \patchcmd{\@algocf@start}{%
    \begin{lrbox}{\algocf@algobox}%
  }{%
    \rule{0.5\tightalgoremainder}{\z@}%
    \begin{lrbox}{\algocf@algobox}%
    \begin{minipage}{\tightalgowidth}%
  }{}{}
  \patchcmd{\@algocf@finish}{%
    \end{lrbox}%
  }{%
    \end{minipage}%
    \end{lrbox}%
  }{}{}
  \makeatother

Use it like this

  \begin{tightalgo}[ht]{0.5\linewidth}
  \caption{NaiveSelect}\label{algo:naive-option}
  Some alg step \;
  Some other \;
  \end{tightalgo}

For this result

enter image description here

Setting caption/rule width in Algorithm2e algs

2 Answers2

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