docutils-develop

 [Docutils-develop] visions for maths From: Guenter Milde - 2012-12-10 11:56:26 Dear Docutils developers, support for mathematical formulas in Docutils is currently limited to LaTeX input format and conversion to MathML is defined for only a limited subset. OTOH, Paul Tremblay wrote and maintains a Python library for conversion of ASCIImath to MathML (http://sourceforge.net/projects/asciimathpython/) which is also used in his sandbox projects. * ASCIImath as input format offers a simpler syntax for mathematical content that nicely blends in with reST for text. ASCIImath as output format seems "the right thing" for text based formats like "man" as well as a fallback. It could also be added as text alternative to HTML math objects. * MathML as output format is "the right thing" not only for HTML+MathML, but also for the native XML and ODP output formats. MathML is not suited for hand-input, however it should be supported for formulas that are dropped from some other source or input as external file. This the three supported input formats ASCIImath, LaTeX, and MathML should either recognized automatically (easy with MathML) or specified as an option to the math-directive (or when defining a math role inheriting from the default math role). We could also add a "default-math-input" setting. Conversion to a suitable output format should move to a "math" transform. I imagine a matrix of math format conversions similar to: in\out MathML LaTeX ASCIImath MathJax HTML MathML * ? - OK ? LaTeX partially * TODO OK OK ASCIImath OK TODO * OK ? Notes: * MathJax understands all three input formats, so there is no need for conversion, just the right wrapping. * With an ASCIImath <-> LaTeX conversion: + ASCIImath input could become an alternative math format supported by all standard writers + LaTeX to MathML could go LaTeX -> ASCIImath -> MathML for a unified handling and simple maintenance. Günter