Re: Typesetting in Mathematica (TraditionalForm typesetting?)
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg125712] Re: Typesetting in Mathematica (TraditionalForm typesetting?)
- From: Alexei Boulbitch <Alexei.Boulbitch at iee.lu>
- Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:06:23 -0500 (EST)
- Delivered-to: l-mathgroup@mail-archive0.wolfram.com
Summary of question: Is there a cell style that can do TraditionalForm like
typesetting (without first evaluating an input cell?) And if this
capability exists, can the functionality be bound to a key combination
(shortcut)?
================
Hi, I've been trying to use Mathematica for taking class notes and homework
assignments lately. In general I've found it faster than typing things up
in LaTeX and it has passable typesetting quality, but there is one minor
issue I've been having that I've not been able to find a solution to in the
docs:
I can't figure out how to do a good "non-inline" formulas (off-line?),
something like latex's math environment ("\[ ... \]" or $$ ... $$.)
The "DisplayFormula" cell style formats equations like a proper latex
"off-line" math environment, except the font is a thin, not very nice
looking font.
I know Mathematica has some decent math fonts, because TraditionalForm
output is rather nice, except to get a TraditionalForm font apparently one
first has to evaluate an input cell, and accept Mathematica's default
symbolic manipulations (barring tinkering), which isn't a very convenient
set up for quick typesetting.
Is there a cell style that can do TraditionalForm like typesetting (without
first evaluating an input cell?) And if this capability exists, can the
functionality be bound to a key shortcut?
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
There are two levels of answer to your question.
1. You should try various StyleSheets. Open a new or an old notebook, go
to Menu/Format/StyleSheet and try various styles. I like the JournalArticle
style which is very well suited for scientific or technical texts and has
styles like Equation and EquationNumbered for what you call off-line equations,
and also Figure, Figure Caption and many others. Have a look. In order to make
the in-line formula inside the text line make Ctrl+9 and type your formula.
To stop make Ctrl+0. The font for equations will be Times New Roman, Regular,
12 pts. But it will be italized, if you type intervals between figures, as it
is generally assumed to be correct in Mathematica for formulas.
2. As much as you described your aim, this might be quite enough. However, if
you would wish to say, change the style of formulas, you may want to modify
the chosen StyleSheet. That is, to create your custom StyleSheet on the
basis of the existing one. This is doable, but it a somewhat longer story.
It has been discussed few times here, and if you decide to go for this solution,
I suggest that you first search the MathGroup archive on "modify StyleSheet".
For example, have a look into the thread generated here:
http://forums.wolfram.com/mathgroup/archive/2009/Sep/msg00518.html .
This is not the only thread on this topic. I remember a very comprehensive
step-by-step explanation given by David Park on this subject some time ago.
Have success, Alexei
Alexei BOULBITCH, Dr., habil.
IEE S.A.
ZAE Weiergewan,
11, rue Edmond Reuter,
L-5326 Contern, LUXEMBOURG
Office phone : +352-2454-2566
Office fax: +352-2454-3566
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e-mail: alexei.boulbitch at iee.lu