Above command is the two-dimensional equivalent of the regular LATEX command
\multiput
. The \matrixput
command is equivalent to:
\multiput(x,y)( Δx2, Δy2){n2}{object}
\multiput( x + Δx1, y + Δy1)( Δx2, Δy2){n2}{object}
...
\multiput( x + n1Δx1, y + n1Δy1)( Δx2, Δy2){n2}{object}
However, it is more efficient to use \matrixput
than the equivalent
n1 \multiput
statements; first the objects along the dimension with
larger index are saved in a box and subsequently the box is copied along the
other dimension, resulting in a
O(n1 + n2) execution time rather than
O(n1*n2) which would be the case with the equivalent \multiput
statements. This command can be useful in making pictures where a pattern is
repeated at regular intervals in two dimensions, such as certain kinds
of transition diagrams. An illustration of the \matrixput
command is
presented below.
Note: The \matrixput
command does not restrict the Δx's and
the Δy's to be zero. The matrix of objects can be
``skewed'', i.e., with nonzero Δx's and/or Δy's.