[Maxima-discuss] A worthwhile project

[<dav...@ya...>]

On or about December 2022, I sent an email to you saying:

"The problem with document based interfaces for computer algebra systems for
me is: it is always followed with copy and paste to MS Word to create a
final product. I would like to form an open-source team to utilize ms word
directly as the document based interface for the computer algebra system
Maxima. 

 

I've written a dll that parses the oMath equations created by ms word's
built-in equation editor, I've written the VBA macro code that extracts
oMath equations contained in a ms word document, I've written the VBA macro
code that calls the dll.  The goal to utilize ms word directly as the
document based interface for the computer algebra system Maxima is proven
feasible.

Basically, equations are created in a ms word document using ms word's
equation editor.  These are extracted as Latex math by a VBA macro which is
part of the document. This Latex math is converted to Maxima format using
VBA macro and a dll.  A  TCP_Server that is built-in to the dll (previously
described) communicates with Maxima.  Maxima returns results as Latex math
and ms word is capable to directly use Latex math as the document's
equations.

Most of the software execution is being done by the dll; the VBA macro's are
just a convenient way to extract objects and fields from the document.

Please, direct me to a contact for the formation an open-source team for
this effort."

 

Since then, I've been steadily working on the idea and found it to be
feasible.  I've successfully created a dll that parses the latex-like code
found in MS Equations of Word into Maxima command lines.  I've successfully
created code that exchanges communications between MS Word and Maxima (the
need of VBA macros is eliminated).  Presently, I'm on a promising path to
create a MS Word Add-in that interfaces the afore mentioned dll from within
a Word document. This combination will create a poor man's MathCAD-like
active document within MS Word but with the benefit of having MS Word's
powerful word processing to create an end product of a well formatted
document.  The most common dislike of PTC's MathCAD has been the inability
to create well formatted documents and I agree.  Here, I solve that
"dislike" and invoke ALL of the CAS benefits of Maxima. The resulting
document with filetype .docx or .docm can be shared as is with anyone with
MS Word as a "dumb" document.  It is required to have Maxima and the dll
installed to be an mathematically active document.

 

What I'm working on remains to be too large for one person to complete but I
will keep going. However, I believe this is a worthwhile project to be
considered by you.

 

Thanks;

Dave Lillie