mailing-list for TeXmacs Users

[Michael John Downes <address@hidden>]

Joris van der Hoeven <address@hidden> writes:

> 1. The multiplication should be entered using "*".
>    Example: "x * y" or "a * ( b + c )"
> 
> 2. A function or symbol operating on a value or something else
>    should be entered using brackets or "space".
>    Examples: "f ( x )" or "d space x"
> 
> 3. All successions of roman letters of length > 1
>    are considered as operators.
>    Example: "s i n space x" or "L i space z"

You might want to consider the Scientific Word/Workplace way of doing
this, which is similar, but rule 3 is applied only when the sequence of
letters typed by the user is recognized as a defined operator name;
otherwise it is treated as a product of one-letter variables (rule 1)
and shows in italic rather than roman.

This is perhaps less consistent from a purely logical point of view,
but it may be more useful for ordinary users.

It does mean that some users simply leave unusual operator names to
print in italic instead of giving them a proper definition. Because they
don't notice the distinction. But this problem also affects the TeXmacs
approach, in the opposite direction: some users will type "abc"
intending the product "a*b*c", and expect it to print in italic instead
of roman. In fact this is where this thread started, I believe, with
"dx" :-)

Also I believe there is a mechanism in SW for defining that certain
letters in the current document should be treated (by default) as
functions, which affects the interpretation of things like

  a(b+c)    versus     f(b+c)