I understand. The reasoning makes sense to me and, as editor of a paper in
which this appears, I will ask the author to consider dropping the brace.

I wonder of there is some similar thinking underlying the fact that
\startcases... puts the equation number so close to the equation itself and
not at a margin (typically right).

Again, many thanks, Mikael.
Alan

On Wed, Oct 9, 2024 at 12:12 PM Mikael Sundqvist <mickep@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I think what you ask for was never supported in ConTeXt, for a reason.
> The idea is that either one groups a set of equations with a brace and
> numbers them with one number, or one does not group, and then one can
> number each line separately/independently. Grouping on the left with a
> brace and numbering one line to the right is, even if we see that
> often, not really logical.
>
> If there is a large request for doing this, I can talk to Hans about
> it, maybe it is easy on the code side to support it. But I remember
> from when we were messing with numbering, and in particular when there
> are alignments, that it is a bit complicated.
>
> /Mikael
>
> On Wed, Oct 9, 2024 at 5:19 PM Alan Bowen <bowenalan03@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Thank you, Mikael. That is very helpful and much appreciated.
> >
> > What I now have is:
> > \startplaceformula
> >   \startformula
> >     \startalign
> >       \NC \[21-(9 - n^2)\NC =□^\prime\]  \NR[eq:1]
> >       \NC  n^2+12 \NC=□^\prime.          \NR[eq:2]
> >     \stopalign
> >   \stopformula
> > \stopplaceformula
> > which put the numbers at the right margin,as I wanted.
> >
> > So how do I get a brace on the left rather than on the right?  Or is
> there documentation that explains this?
> >
> > Alan
> >
> > On Wed, Oct 9, 2024 at 10:22 AM Mikael Sundqvist <mickep@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> On Mon, Oct 7, 2024 at 11:45 PM Alan Bowen <bowenalan03@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > I have the following which works, except for the fact that the
> equation number does not go to the right margin.
> >> >
> >> > \startplaceformula
> >> > \startformula[align=middle, prefix=no]
> >> > \startcases[distance=2pt]
> >> > \NC \[21-(9 - n^2)\NC =□^\prime\]\NR
> >> > \NC\hfill n^2+12 \NC=□^\prime.\NR[eq04]
> >> > \stopcases
> >> > \stopformula
> >> > \stopplaceformula
> >> >
> >> > I expect that I have missed something pretty basic here, so any
> guidance will be greatly appreciated.
> >>
> >> Maybe I misunderstand you, but I do not think cases is right here.
> >> Also, are you sure you want to group two equations but only number one
> >> of them.
> >>
> >> If I understand you correctly, I'd try with one of these, depending on
> >> if citing the group or one of the equations.
> >>
> >> \starttext
> >>
> >> \startformula
> >>   \startalign[location=packed,fences=sesac]
> >>     \NC \[21-(9 - n^2)\NC =□^\prime\]\NR
> >>     \NC  n^2+12 \NC=□^\prime.        \NR
> >>   \stopalign
> >>   \numberhere[eq:foo]
> >> \stopformula
> >>
> >> \startplaceformula
> >>   \startformula
> >>     \startalign
> >>       \NC \[21-(9 - n^2)\NC =□^\prime\]  \NR%[eq:bar-a]
> >>       \NC  n^2+12 \NC=□^\prime.          \NR[eq:bar-b]
> >>     \stopalign
> >>   \stopformula
> >> \stopplaceformula
> >>
> >> \stoptext
> >>
> >> /Mikael
> >>
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