Macro Substitutions

The content of inline and block macros, such as cross references, links, and block images, are processed by the macros substitution step. The macros step replaces a macro’s content with the appropriate built-in and user-defined configuration.

Default macros substitution

Table 1 lists the specific blocks and inline elements the macros substitution step applies to automatically.

Table 1. Blocks and inline elements subject to the macros substitution
Blocks and elements	Substitution step applied by default
Attribute entry values	Only the pass macro
Comments	No
Examples	Yes
Headers	No
Literal, listings, and source	No
Macros	Yes
Open	Yes
Paragraphs	Yes
Passthrough blocks	No
Quotes and verses	Yes
Sidebars	Yes
Tables	Varies
Titles	Yes

macros substitution value

The macros substitution step can be modified on blocks and inline elements. For blocks, the step’s name, macros, can be assigned to the subs attribute. For inline elements, the built-in values m or macros can be applied to inline text to add the macros substitution step.