Extending the Content Box Width in Quarto Slides

=====================================================

In recent years, Quarto has gained popularity as a document format for presenting technical information. One of its strengths is its ability to create interactive slides with code and results. However, when working with Quarto slides, it’s not uncommon to encounter issues with content box width.

In this article, we will delve into the details of how to extend the content box width in Quarto slides and discuss potential workarounds for scenarios where the default behavior doesn’t meet your needs.

Introduction

Quarto is an open-source document format that allows users to create interactive documents with code, results, and visualizations. One of its core features is the ability to create slides with code and results, making it an excellent choice for presenting technical information.

However, when working with Quarto slides, there are times when you might encounter issues with content box width. This can be frustrating, especially if you’re trying to present complex data or visualizations that wrap due to insufficient space.

Understanding the Content Box Width in Quarto

To understand why content box width is an issue in Quarto, let’s dive into the basics of how slides are rendered in Quarto.

When creating a slide in Quarto, the content is rendered using the quarto command-line tool. This tool takes the Quarto document as input and generates the HTML output for the presentation. The resulting HTML contains various elements, including the <div> container that holds the slide content.

The content box width is determined by the parent element’s styles or inline styles applied to the <div> container. In most cases, this width is inherited from the Quarto theme or the parent element’s styles.

Troubleshooting Content Box Width

If you’re experiencing issues with content box width in your Quarto slides, here are some potential causes and troubleshooting steps:

Check the Quarto theme: Ensure that you’re using a theme that doesn’t set a fixed width for the content container. You can check the quartosource file or the Quarto documentation to see which themes support customizing the content box width.
#| echo: true library(quarto)

Set the theme

themed_quartosource( quarto::theme(“metropolis”), “my_document” )

*   **Use inline styles:** Apply explicit inline styles to the `<div>` container that holds your slide content. You can use CSS properties like `max-width`, `width`, or `flex-grow` to control the width of the content box.
    *   ```{r}
    #| echo: true
library(tidyverse)

# Create a sample document
document <- quarto_document(
  "my_document",
  "This is a sample slide."
)
document <- render_document({
  # Set inline styles for the content container
  html_document(
    style = list(
      "body { width: 100%; }",
      ".slide-content { max-width: 800px; }"
    )
  ),
  code = "echo(",
  results = "results"
})

Use CSS classes: Create custom CSS classes that you can apply to your slide content. This allows you to override the default styles and set a fixed width for the content box.
#| echo: true library(tidyverse)

Create a sample document

document <- quarto_document( “my_document”, “This is a sample slide.” ) document <- render_document({

Define custom CSS classes

css = list( “.custom-width { width: 800px; }” )

html_document( style = list( “.slide-content .custom-width { max-width: 100%; }” ), code = “echo(”, results = “results” ), css = css })

*   **Use external CSS files:** If you have a complex styling requirement, consider loading an external CSS file that contains custom styles for your slide content.
    *   ```{r}
    #| echo: true
library(tidyverse)

# Create a sample document
document <- quarto_document(
  "my_document",
  "This is a sample slide."
)
document <- render_document({
  # Load external CSS file
  html_document(
    style = list(
      ".slide-content { width: 100%; }"
    ),
    code = "echo(",
    results = "results",
    includes = "styles.css"
  )
})

Check for Quarto version updates: Make sure you’re using the latest version of Quarto. Newer versions might include features or bug fixes that resolve content box width issues.

Conclusion

In conclusion, extending the content box width in Quarto slides can be achieved through a combination of custom styles, inline styles, and CSS classes. By understanding how Quarto renders its slides and applying these techniques, you can ensure that your slide content is displayed correctly and without wrapping.

If you’re still experiencing issues after trying these workarounds, it’s likely due to an underlying Quarto feature or bug. In such cases, please refer to the Quarto documentation or submit a bug report for further assistance.

Additional Tips

When customizing the content box width in Quarto slides, be mindful of potential conflicts with other styles applied to your document.
To ensure consistent styling across all slides, consider defining a global CSS class that applies to your slide content.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Quarto community or seek help from Quarto experts if you’re struggling to resolve an issue.

References

For more information on customizing Quarto styles and extending the content box width in slides, please refer to the following resources:

By mastering these techniques and staying up-to-date with Quarto developments, you’ll be able to create visually appealing slides that showcase your technical content effectively.

Last modified on 2024-02-13