Re: OT: Reflections on usability ConTeXt for typesetting of mathematics

["Mikael P. Sundqvist" <mickep@gmail.com>]

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On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 6:57 PM, Hans Hagen <pragma@wxs.nl> wrote:

> On 2/10/2014 9:24 AM, Mikael P. Sundqvist wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I used ConTeXt (mkii) to write my PhD thesis in Mathematics in 2008. It
>> worked just fine.
>>
>> At the moment I write some exams and hand-outs using ConTeXt, but
>> research using LaTeX (since the journals do not really accept ConTeXt
>> and my collaborators dont know ConTeXt).
>>
>> It certainly works OK to write math in ConTeXt, but I have a feeling
>> that there are some things that are somewhat broken or not finetuned to
>> output what mathematicians expect. Look at the attached pdf files [1]
>> l.pdf (from LaTeX) and c.pdf (from latest standalone ConTeXt), with
>> source l.tex and c.tex for some examples.
>>
>
> In mkiv we follow some alternative approaches compared to mkii (and
> probably other tex macro packages) and some aspects indeed might need
> tuning (or more configuration options) .. I try hard to get away from
> hackery solutions (for several reasons).
>

I agree it is good to avoid hackery as long as possible, and I for sure is
ready to relearn how to write some things. With the examples I gave in the
previous email in mind:

* How am I supposed to write first derivative (f') and second derivative
(f'') in such a way that they have the same type of prime (the prime in the
first derivative is the one I prefer)?
* How am I supposed to write f_xx'' to get the output as in the LaTeX
example (i.e. so that the primes are over the xx)?
* Could the default placement of limits in integrals be changed
(integral=nolimits)? This is how it is done in almost all math books).
* What about the size and finetuning of placement of indices in integrals
and sums (and probably products, unions, ...)?
* I remember I suggested that \| should be double bars in a previous thread
on this list. Is there any drawback in giving double bars for \|? Of course
I can relearn and use \lVert and \rVert, but I have a feeling that if we
want people moving from LaTeX to ConTeXt, then this is the kind of things
that should just work as expected...

Best regards, Mikael



>
>  When it comes to math environments, I think that thanks to the
>> environments in http://dl.contextgarden.net/myway/mathalign.pdf
>> <http://dl.contextgarden..net/myway/mathalign.pdf> we are OK. I
>>
>> sometimes miss the multline(d) environment from LaTeX.
>>
>> Best regards, Mikael
>>
>> [1]
>> The attachments were too big, so I decided to put the pdf files on
>> http://www.maths.lth.se/~mickep/l.pdf
>> and
>> http://www.maths.lth.se/~mickep/c.pdf
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Feb 9, 2014 at 8:09 PM, Jaroslav Hajtmar <hajtmar@gyza.cz
>> <mailto:hajtmar@gyza.cz>> wrote:
>>
>>     Hello ConTeXist.
>>     I am very sorry for this OFF TOPIC contribution.
>>
>>     For writing of this text led me several hours of searching on
>>     internet. I was looking for ways to typing of non-elementary math in
>>     ConTeXt
>>
>>     Already a long time I use ConTeXt typesetting lot of different
>>     things and I am very satisfied. In the many things, of which I
>>     typed, was maths represented only marginally and minimally. Now I
>>     need to type some mathematics (at secondary school level) and I
>>     found that I came across borders of my knowledge of ConTeXt, or on
>>     possibilities of ConTeXt for typesetting of mathematics.
>>     I do not in any way call into question the ability of ConTeXt
>>     typesetting mathematics, although I think that who wants to type
>>     mathematics then use LaTeX.
>>     I want find experience of users of ConTeXt for real using of ConTeXt
>>     for typesetting of mathematics. I wonder how users use possible math
>>     modules (exist anything?) to be usable results.
>>
>>     I have a few questions:
>>
>>     0. Do you think that this is only a problem for beginners of ConText
>>     or it is a general problem of ConTeXt?
>>     1. How many of ConTeXt users use this tool for typesetting of
>>     non-elementary mathematics?
>>     2. Are you satisfied with the results, which produces ConTeXt
>>     (thinking in the field of mathematics rate)?
>>     3. What things do you need to have in ConTeXt study that one could
>>     bet mathematics at a reasonable level?
>>     4. Is ConTeXt able to substitute LaTeX to typesetting of math (e.g.
>>     in the future)?
>>     5. Can you think of any more questions that should be here?
>>
>>
>>     I hope that my question will help other beginners who would like to
>>     typing of mathematics use ConText - this unique and useful tool.
>>
>>     Thanks for all the answers.
>>
>>     Jaroslav Hajtmar
>>
>>
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>
> --
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>                                           Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE
>               Ridderstraat 27 | 8061 GH Hasselt | The Netherlands
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If your question is of interest to others as well, please add an entry to the Wiki!

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