[FM Discuss] Adding LaTeX to FlossManuals.net for polishing/ layout

[Edward Cherlin]

I recommend a look at MathML for equations. Converting between it and
TeX is well supported.

html2tex below.

On Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 9:50 AM, Janet Swisher <jmswisher at gmail.com> wrote:
> I share Adam's opinion that the CSS output from Objavi is pretty darn slick.
>
> My experience with TeX/LaTeX is that it is unmatched for typesetting
> mathematical equations, but for basic document layout, it is like
> driving a Ferrari to the grocery store. Most LaTeX users use templates
> created by experts, because modifying LaTeX templates is an arcane
> art. In contrast, while producing good output with CSS requires a high
> degree of skill, it is a skill set that is more widely available and
> accessible.
>
> My suggestion is, if there is a need for complex mathematical
> equations, to add support to Objavi for LaTeX math markup, but
> otherwise continue to use CSS for layout. This would require an
> appropriately skilled and motivated programmer to take it on. Some
> places to swipe ideas and possibly code include:
>
> * jsMath: displays TeX equations using Javascript:
> http://www.math.union.edu/~dpvc/jsmath/
> * matplotlib.mathtext: module for parsing TeX equations and creating
> PNGs of them without TeX installed:
> http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net/api/mathtext_api.html
>
> --Janet
>
> On Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 9:33 AM, adam hyde <adam at flossmanuals.net> wrote:
>> hey DancesWithCars,
>>
>> If you want to build a python html2latex script we could insert it into
>> the forthcoming booki.

http://www.w3.org/Tools/html2things.html
LaTeX etc

    * html2latex is a program based on the NCSA html parser. Contact:
Nathan.Torkington at vuw.ac.nz.
    * Another html2latex can combine several HTML files into a single
LaTeX file, converting links between the files to references. External
URL's can be converted into footnotes or into a bibliography sorted on
URL. Contact: F.J.Faase at cs.utwente.nl (Frans J. Faase)
    * Another html2latex implemented on Linux by yacc+lex+C. Also
available from the TSX-11 Linux FTP site as nc-html2latex-0.97.tar.gz.
Contact: naochan at naochan.com (Naoya Tozuka)
    * htmlatex.pl is a perl script to do the conversion (may be moving
soon). Contact: n9146070 at cc.wwu.edu (Jake Kesinger)
    * There is also a sed script to convert HTML into LaTeX.

>> Otherwise, did you look at what you can do with Objavi? You can produce
>> very nice print source material (PDF) which is all controlled by CSS :
>> http://objavi.flossmanuals.net
>>
>> adam
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, 2009-09-18 at 09:16 -0400, DancesWithCars wrote:
>>> Early in the ClassActs book sprint we talked about
>>> whether FLOSSManuals.net use of HTML would
>>> allow the high end graphics polish that the group
>>> was originally shooting for (a National Geographics
>>> style).
>>>
>>> Having run across LaTeX recently again for something
>>> else, it is open source and seems to be what is used
>>> in publishing Manuscripts and Papers in the technical
>>> areas, all the way up to the original book(s)
>>> Knuth's Art of Programming series, so it has
>>> the technical capability, and is open source,
>>> though not as intuitive as one might wish.
>>>
>>> So, I'll put it to the communities,
>>> can FM exporting to LaTeX be used
>>> to polish a book, maybe as post production,
>>> to get away from the inherent limitations
>>> of html source for layout?
>>>
>>>
>>> We ended up using 4+ tools during the sprint,
>>>
>>> wiki.laptop.org for the planning of the document
>>> and event
>>> etherpad.com for the table of contents
>>> and flossmanuals.net
>>>
>>> Audio Conference calls at least daily.
>>>
>>> Afterward, our communication seems to be on
>>> support gang, a private list, and IRC from
>>> FM.
>>>
>>>
>>> NB: I commend FM for what it's doing in making
>>> online manuals for FLOSS, as they are sorely needed,
>>> and look forward to a hard bound ClassActs,
>>> even if my writing is really in there
>>> after a week...
>>>
> _______________________________________________
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss at lists.flossmanuals.net
> http://lists.flossmanuals.net/listinfo.cgi/discuss-flossmanuals.net
>



-- 
Edward Mokurai (默雷/धर्ममेघशब्दगर्ज/دھرممیگھشبدگر ج) Cherlin
Silent Thunder is my name, and Children are my nation.
The Cosmos is my dwelling place, the Truth my destination.
http://earthtreasury.org/