Re: [Maxima-discuss] A worthwhile project

[Andrew W. <aw...@gm...>]

Sounds like a good project.  But the problem with the proposal to have some
open-source team is that you are asking for volunteers, most prospects of
whom have time constraints and obligations already.  These prospects may
already be involved in significant open source projects already, such as
maintaining core maxima.  I won't tell you what a business person would
tell you, because I'm not a business person, I am an engineer who produces
open source software funded by the fruits of my day job.  I'm sure you've
heard what a business oriented person would say already.  So if you're not
able to take their advice, continue to persevere as many of us do already.

On Wed, Oct 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM davelillie--- via Maxima-discuss <
max...@li...> wrote:

> 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
>
>
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