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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