Rasmus Villemoes <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Juergen Fenn <[log in to unmask]> writes: > > > Am 08.02.11 09:37 schrieb Juergen Fenn: > > > >> But unfortunately I did not get any code snippets from there, > > > > I have to correct this: You get the LaTeX source by simply copy and > > pasting the formulae... it's as simple as that, e.g.: > > [snip; my eyes can't watch this] > > Oh my FSM. Is that actually supposed to _help_ anybody? I mean, if > MeasureTheoryStudent2011 doesn't know how to get the abbreviation for > "almost everywhere" included in an equation, and she finds this > > p^{\rm{i}} \left( {{\mathbf{x}} ( {\text{t}}),{\mathbf{u}} (t), t} \right) = 0,\quad {\text{a}} . {\text{e}}.\quad i = 1, \ldots l > > wouldn't it be much better if she just wrote "$$f(x) = 0, a.e.$$" in her > hand-in, and then had a helpful TA explain one of the right ways of > doing it. The above is certainly not one of them. > > If you post LaTeX code online, and especially if you post "millions of > snippets", for others to learn from and be inspired by, I believe you > have a certain responsibility that that code is not awful and > misguiding. If students are exposed to code of the "quality" and > unnecessary complexity on latexsearch.com, it's no wonder they turn > elsewhere for typesetting math. > > Actually (and ideally), code snippets should not be published without > being accompanied by a few explanations. Variants such as > > f(x) = 0, \quad \text{a.e.} > f(x) = 0 \qquad \textrm{a.e.} > > could all be correct, depending primarily on a stylistic choice, but > an explanation of \quad and \qquad and the (subtle) difference between > \text and \textrm would be helpful. indeed. when we were first alerted to this stuff (ages ago, by barbara beeton, iirc), i had a look at it with a view to mentioning it in the faq that i maintain. after not very long i realised it was no more than a collection of random code, hacks and dubious stuff not excluded, and forgot about adding reference to it in the faq. a collection of rational coding of mathematical examples might be useful (and explanations as you mention would make it more useful still), but that requires work with something more sensitive than a shovel, which would appear to be what's used here. robin