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Re: Re: Using a text editor like interface for Mathematica?

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  • Subject: [mg64508] Re: [mg64477] Re: Using a text editor like interface for Mathematica?
  • From: "Carl K. Woll" <carlw at wolfram.com>
  • Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 06:29:09 -0500 (EST)
  • References: <dsru9v$5ee$1@smc.vnet.net><200602160805.DAA29821@smc.vnet.net> <dt48ab$2j7$1@smc.vnet.net> <200602180750.CAA23765@smc.vnet.net>
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

grub_snuffler at yahoo.com wrote:
>>An option to avoid the tab issue is to use InputForm instead of
>>StandardForm.
> 
> 
> I don't know how this works.  There seemed to be a function that would
> convert between what's shown in Mathematica and how I would type it (good for
> importing to a text file or if I was using the command line kernel
> input), but I don't see (or can't find) any way to get Mathematica to allow me
> to do my own formatting.
> 
> Am I missing something here?  Changing from one format to another
> doesn't seem to be what I'm looking for.
> 
> Here's my challenge:  tell me of a way that I can get Mathematica to allow me
> to tab whenever I want, regardless of whether Mathematica thinks it's
> appropriate.   This kind of restricted behaviour I'm currently
> experiencing is what I expect from MS Word, not from a programming
> environment.  I know it sounds like I'm complaining about something
> trivial, but the ability to format easily leads to readable code, which
> leads to productive work.
> 
> Try this:  Start a new notebook.  Type a single letter.  Then try to
> tab.
> 
> Result:  Nothing happens.
> 
> It's hard to align code easily under these circumstances.  Tell me a
> way to fix this and I will send you a dollar.
> 

Did you try what I suggested? Type a letter. Select the cell bracket and 
  use the menu command:

Cell | Convert To | InputForm

Place the cursor in the cell and start tabbing. This inserts tabs 
wherever you want, at least in version 5.2.

If you want InputForm to be the default, use the menu command:

Cell | DefaultInputFormatType | InputForm

Of course, InputForm is not as pretty as StandardForm, as you can't have 
2D forms.

Note that even with StandardForm, you can put in initial tabs. Do you 
really need to put tabs in between characters?

Carl Woll
Wolfram Research

> 
> 
>>>Oh, and the ability to use underscores in naming would've been nice.
> 
> 
>>While underscores are not available, you can use things like
>>\ [UnderBracket] (alias esc u [ esc), \[UnderBrace] (alias esc u { esc), etc.
> 
> 
> I wasn't aware of the underscore option.  It's a little awkward to type
> and looks awful, but I guess I'll take what I can get.  Maybe I can map
> one of my function keys to do this.  I appreciate it.
> 
> john


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