SuperscriptBox question

Question

I am trying to define an object type in Mathematica as follows

Operator /: MakeBoxes[Operator[pow_, sym_], fmt_] := 
With[{sbox = If[StringQ[sym], sym, ToBoxes[sym]]},With[{abox = SuperscriptBox[#, pow]
&@sbox},InterpretationBox[abox, Operator[pow, sym]]]]

This works fine when I use integer powers for example

X = Operator[2,x]

gives me $x^2$, however it doesn't work if I use a symbol for the power for example

Y = Operator[a+b,x]

should give $x^{a+b}$ but it does not. What needs to be changed?

Answer 1

I guess a more complex expression as exponent should be converted into a box structure as well. Why don't you just put another ToBoxes to convert the exponent?

Operator /: MakeBoxes[Operator[pow_, sym_], fmt_] := 
 With[{sbox = If[StringQ[sym], sym, ToBoxes[sym]]}, 
  With[{abox = SuperscriptBox[#, ToBoxes[pow]] &@sbox}, 
   InterpretationBox[abox, Operator[pow, sym]]]]

Since Kuba's comment says it doesn't work without a HoldForm I'll put a screenshot. Feel free to insert a hold if it doesn't work for you either

If you want to make it more robust for situations where variables have values you could make a slight change:

Attributes[Operator] = {HoldFirst};
Operator /: MakeBoxes[Operator[pow_, sym_], fmt_] := 
 With[{sbox = If[StringQ[sym], sym, ToBoxes[sym]]}, 
  With[{abox = SuperscriptBox[#, ToBoxes[HoldForm[pow]]] &@sbox}, 
   InterpretationBox[abox, Operator[pow, sym]]]]

Now, even something like Operator[1 + 1, x] works, although I don't know whether this is wanted.