Add Math Support/Abstract: Difference between revisions
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Rationale | Rationale | ||
--------- | --------- | ||
I often wanted to have a tool that allows complicated layouts but still | I often wanted to have a tool that allows complicated layouts but is still | ||
easy to use. This is exactly what Scribus does. However, for scientific | |||
papers it lacks one main capability: Formulas. So I want to add | papers it lacks one main capability: Formulas. So I want to add this feature | ||
as my summer of code project. Interest in this improvement is expressed | as my summer of code project. Interest in this improvement is expressed | ||
by many people in the bug tracker [1][2], by Debian users [3] and it's | by many people in the bug tracker [1][2], by Debian users [3] and it's | ||
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Overview | Overview | ||
-------- | -------- | ||
The goal of this project is to add an easy-to-use math support to | The goal of this project is to add an easy-to-use math support to Scribus. | ||
As the task of writing a complete math typesetter is too large for SOC a | As the task of writing a complete math typesetter is too large for SOC, a | ||
different approach is used. It is inspired by the Quark XPress(tm) plugin | different approach is used. It is inspired by the Quark XPress(tm) plugin | ||
MATHSETTER [5]: | MATHSETTER [5]: | ||
o Let the user enter LaTeX source either directly or more user friendly | o Let the user enter LaTeX source either directly or more user friendly | ||
via an graphical editor | via an graphical editor. | ||
o Apply a LaTeX template on this so the user only has to type the formula | o Apply a LaTeX template on this, so the user only has to type the formula | ||
and not a whole TeX document. | and not a whole TeX document. | ||
o Run LaTeX on this source. | o Run LaTeX on this source. | ||
o Display LaTeX's output in a frame while still keeping the | o Display LaTeX's output in a frame while still keeping the | ||
(LaTeX-)formula as a property so the whole | (LaTeX-)formula as a property, so the whole thing stays editable. | ||
Use cases | Use cases | ||
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It is very hard (if not even impossible) to create good-looking posters | It is very hard (if not even impossible) to create good-looking posters | ||
with LaTeX but it's easy to add formulas to LaTeX documents. On the other | with LaTeX but it's easy to add formulas to LaTeX documents. On the other | ||
hand it's very easy to create good posters with | hand it's very easy to create good posters with Scribus but a complicated | ||
process is necessary to add just a single formula. The ability to use LaTeX | process is necessary to add just a single formula. The ability to use LaTeX | ||
for typesetting the formula and | for typesetting the formula and then post-processing it in Scribus (easily | ||
possible, after all it's just a vector graphic from | possible, after all it's just a vector graphic from Scribus' point of view) | ||
would greatly simplify this. | would greatly simplify this. | ||
o Math/Physics teachers | o Math/Physics teachers | ||
At school I've seen a lot of teachers | At school I've seen a lot of teachers who created their tests with Microsoft | ||
Word and relying on its formula editor or even on basic text formatting | Word and relying on its formula editor or even on basic text formatting | ||
(sub-/superscript) and adding any "complicated" math symbols (vectors, | (sub-/superscript) and adding any "complicated" math symbols (vectors, | ||
integrals, etc.) by hand in the printout. Obviously the full power of | integrals, etc.) by hand in the printout. Obviously the full power of | ||
LaTeX is something they are unwilling to learn (and it is probably not | |||
required for them). So I believe they would be happy to have a WYSIWYG | required for them). So I believe they would be happy to have a WYSIWYG | ||
tool that supports embedded formulas. | tool that supports embedded formulas. | ||
| Line 49: | Line 49: | ||
------------ | ------------ | ||
o Math support | o Math support | ||
o | o Integrating an external GUI editor | ||
o Python bindings | o Python bindings | ||
</pre> | </pre> | ||
Revision as of 23:26, 20 March 2007
Rationale --------- I often wanted to have a tool that allows complicated layouts but is still easy to use. This is exactly what Scribus does. However, for scientific papers it lacks one main capability: Formulas. So I want to add this feature as my summer of code project. Interest in this improvement is expressed by many people in the bug tracker [1][2], by Debian users [3] and it's also in the projects roadmap [4]. Overview -------- The goal of this project is to add an easy-to-use math support to Scribus. As the task of writing a complete math typesetter is too large for SOC, a different approach is used. It is inspired by the Quark XPress(tm) plugin MATHSETTER [5]: o Let the user enter LaTeX source either directly or more user friendly via an graphical editor. o Apply a LaTeX template on this, so the user only has to type the formula and not a whole TeX document. o Run LaTeX on this source. o Display LaTeX's output in a frame while still keeping the (LaTeX-)formula as a property, so the whole thing stays editable. Use cases --------- o Scientific posters It is very hard (if not even impossible) to create good-looking posters with LaTeX but it's easy to add formulas to LaTeX documents. On the other hand it's very easy to create good posters with Scribus but a complicated process is necessary to add just a single formula. The ability to use LaTeX for typesetting the formula and then post-processing it in Scribus (easily possible, after all it's just a vector graphic from Scribus' point of view) would greatly simplify this. o Math/Physics teachers At school I've seen a lot of teachers who created their tests with Microsoft Word and relying on its formula editor or even on basic text formatting (sub-/superscript) and adding any "complicated" math symbols (vectors, integrals, etc.) by hand in the printout. Obviously the full power of LaTeX is something they are unwilling to learn (and it is probably not required for them). So I believe they would be happy to have a WYSIWYG tool that supports embedded formulas. Deliverables ------------ o Math support o Integrating an external GUI editor o Python bindings