Directory `macros/latex/contrib/setbuilder`

README.md

setbuilder

Version 0.2.0 (2026-07-28)

Smart set-builder notation for LaTeX: one command instead of \left\{ ... \,\middle\vert\, ... \right\}.

\usepackage{setbuilder}
...
\set{x \in \mathbb{R} \given x^2 < 2}      % { x ∈ ℝ | x² < 2 }
\set*{\frac{n}{n+1} \given n \in \mathbb{N}}   % braces AND bar auto-scale
\set[\Big]{x \given f(x) = \max_y f(y)}    % fixed size

Features:

correct thin spaces around the separator, which automatically vanish in sub/superscripts (\nonscript);
a thin space just inside the braces — but only for a set given by a condition, { x | x > 0 }, never for a plain enumeration, {1, 2, 3} (Knuth, TeXbook);
the separator bar scales together with the braces in the starred and sized forms;
line breaks are permitted after the bar in inline formulas;
\suchthat as a synonym of \given; both give a descriptive error when used outside \set.

Options

Option	Effect
`bar` (default)	separator is a vertical bar: `{ x \`	x > 0 }
`colon`	separator is a colon: `{ x : x > 0 }`
`pad=<mu glue>`	space inside the braces, default `\,`; `pad=none` disables it
`synonym=<name>`	additionally define `\<name>` as a full copy of `\set`

If another package already defines \set, setbuilder leaves it untouched and recommends choosing a synonym:

\usepackage[synonym=mkset]{setbuilder}

Installation

Once on CTAN, the package is available in TeX Live and MiKTeX: tlmgr install setbuilder. For manual installation, copy setbuilder.sty into your project directory or into your personal TeX tree (~/texmf/tex/latex/setbuilder/).

Requirements

mathtools
LaTeX kernel 2022-06-01 or newer (key-value options, \NewCommandCopy)

Documentation

See setbuilder.pdf for the full manual with typeset examples.

Author

Vseslav Sekorin <vssekorin@gmail.com>

License

Download the contents of this package in one zip archive (212.9k).

setbuilder – Mathematical sets with correctly scaled braces and separator

The package provides a \set command for set-builder notation: \set{x \in \mathbb{R} \given x^2 < 2}. The separator (a vertical bar, or a colon with the colon option) is typeset with correct thin spaces, which automatically vanish in sub- and superscripts. The starred form \set* scales the braces and the separator together; \set[\Big] sets a fixed size. A synonym=<name> package option defines the same command under a different name, e.g. when \set is already taken by another package. The package is based on mathtools.

Package	setbuilder
Bug tracker	https://github.com/vssekorin/setbuilder/issues
Repository	https://github.com/vssekorin/setbuilder
Version	0.2.0
Licenses	MIT License
Copyright	2026 Vseslav Sekorin
Maintainer	Vseslav Sekorin
Contained in	TeX Live as setbuilder MiKTeX as setbuilder
Topics	Maths

Directory macros/latex/contrib/setbuilder