Re: Standalone Math Editor

[Guillaume Munch]

Le 20/02/2017 à 07:44, Wei-Ting Lin a écrit :

Thanks a lot!

I'm trying Lyxserver and Lyx functions. They are amazing. I can just
send commands to open a document and insert a display math!

One problem seems that there is no Lyx function allowing me to get the
content of math. I can use select and copy to put it into clipboard,
then maybe read the clipboard to get the content. This seems not very
elegant and reliable?



I suggest creating a new LFUN that would be handled by InsetMathHull
(the topmost math inset).

Commit e91572a0 will show you an example for adding a new LFUN. Instead
of GuiView::dispatch and GuiView::getStatus you are looking to add to
the equivalent methods of InsetMathHull.

InsetMathHull::write gives you the LaTeX code for the math inside the
inset. Now what I don't know personally is how to send the result back
via the lyx server.

Guillaume

Re: Standalone Math Editor

[Wei-Ting Lin]

Thanks a lot!

I'm trying Lyxserver and Lyx functions. They are amazing. I can just send
commands to open a document and insert a display math!

One problem seems that there is no Lyx function allowing me to get the
content of math. I can use select and copy to put it into clipboard, then
maybe read the clipboard to get the content. This seems not very elegant
and reliable?

Another problem is that I don't know how to return to the editor. That
seems a much harder problem.

Wei-Ting

Re: Standalone Math Editor

[Guillaume Munch]

Le 18/02/2017 à 06:44, Guenter Milde a écrit :

On 2017-02-18, Wei-Ting Lin wrote:


Your suggestions are valuable and important for me.



I never think Lyx is not lightweight. Actually, I'm always satisfied
with its speed. I just think to type math equations we don't need a
full Lyx. But you're right. The first step should be the input/output
function.



I'm thinking to implement the following function:



(1)When I'm editing an equation, say \[ f(x)= \], I can open Lyx with,
say Ctrl+C.



(2)Lyx is initiated with a display math mode, so I can edit the equation.



(3)After finishing editing, push some keybinding to hide the Lyx
window and return the Latex code to the editor.



(4)The editor can receive the Latex code and insert it into my file.



I think (1) and (4) involve the editor's functions, and should be put
aside at the beginning.



For (2) and (3), do you have any suggestions? I've checked the source
code, and kind of overwhelmed.


For 2), you can write a template file and open lyx with that.
I don't see a "--new-from" (or similar) command line option, so this
seems like a task for the "lyxserver"¹.

3) hiding the lyx window is a function for the window manager, again the
   lyxserver may help.

   pushing the content to the clipboard would be simply:
   command-sequence; select-all; copy;
   Alternatively, the lyxpipe can receive the content.



In addition, I am thinking about a LFUN that sends the LaTeX contents of 
the math hull at the cursor location to wherever LyX has been instructed 
to at step 2) (and will do the closing/hiding).


What I am not familiar with is the lyxserver side.

Re: Standalone Math Editor

[Pavel Sanda]

Wei-Ting Lin wrote:
> I have no idea where to start from.

Yeah, that will take a little time.

Attached are few patches I used some time ago
when I created quick and dirty lyx math calculator
which launches external app (maxima) when equation
is finished.

I don't think you can apply those patches right away
with nowadays master, but at least they might give
you few inspirational points what and where to touch
few things. No IO there though.

Pavel
commit 5ede0161b732f33426535c0e467b0ed43093d26c
Author: Pavel Sanda 
Date:   Mon May 16 22:26:49 2011 +0200

Revert my older commit in branch which allows usage of command alternatives 
inside mathull.
We should migrate to user binding instead of enter hardcoding one non lazy 
day.

diff --git a/src/mathed/InsetMathHull.cpp b/src/mathed/InsetMathHull.cpp
index b28142c..fde47dd 100644
--- a/src/mathed/InsetMathHull.cpp
+++ b/src/mathed/InsetMathHull.cpp
@@ -1549,11 +1549,6 @@ bool InsetMathHull::getStatus(Cursor & cur, FuncRequest 
const & cmd,
status.setEnabled(true);
return true;
 
-   // we never allow this in math, and we want to bind enter
-   // to another actions in command-alternatives
-   case LFUN_BREAK_PARAGRAPH:
-   status.setEnabled(false);
-   return true;
case LFUN_MATH_MUTATE: {
HullType const ht = hullType(cmd.argument());
status.setOnOff(type_ == ht);

commit c628b6cb6510a23f85d6f4840402617c39a41a5d
Author: Pavel Sanda 
Date:   Sat Dec 11 18:33:43 2010 +0100

More general esc

diff --git a/src/mathed/InsetMathNest.cpp b/src/mathed/InsetMathNest.cpp
index 8ffd80c..5a835fb 100644
--- a/src/mathed/InsetMathNest.cpp
+++ b/src/mathed/InsetMathNest.cpp
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ void InsetMathNest::doDispatch(Cursor & cur, FuncRequest & 
cmd)
else  {
//cmd = FuncRequest(LFUN_FINISHED_FORWARD);
//cur.undispatched();
-   lyx::dispatch(FuncRequest(LFUN_COMMAND_SEQUENCE, 
"inset-select-all;char-delete-backward;math-mode on"));
+   lyx::dispatch(FuncRequest(LFUN_COMMAND_SEQUENCE, 
"buffer-begin;buffer-end-select;char-delete-backward;math-mode on"));
}
break;
 

commit 058b2d6c52ab270282081d9791651873f50922ed
Author: Pavel Sanda 
Date:   Sat Dec 11 17:22:42 2010 +0100

Allow smaller size of window

diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiView.cpp b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiView.cpp
index e30ad41..8bd7a34 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiView.cpp
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiView.cpp
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ GuiView::GuiView(int id)
 
// Forbid too small unresizable window because it can happen
// with some window manager under X11.
-   setMinimumSize(300, 200);
+   setMinimumSize(30, 20);
 
if (lyxrc.allow_geometry_session) {
// Now take care of session management.

commit a637afc3a9874418277a24bd4630e074031eb07e
Author: Pavel Sanda 
Date:   Sat Dec 11 16:59:14 2010 +0100

Escape for reseting calc

diff --git a/src/mathed/InsetMathNest.cpp b/src/mathed/InsetMathNest.cpp
index 21bfdfe..8ffd80c 100644
--- a/src/mathed/InsetMathNest.cpp
+++ b/src/mathed/InsetMathNest.cpp
@@ -832,8 +832,9 @@ void InsetMathNest::doDispatch(Cursor & cur, FuncRequest & 
cmd)
if (cur.selection())
cur.clearSelection();
else  {
-   cmd = FuncRequest(LFUN_FINISHED_FORWARD);
-   cur.undispatched();
+   //cmd = FuncRequest(LFUN_FINISHED_FORWARD);
+   //cur.undispatched();
+   lyx::dispatch(FuncRequest(LFUN_COMMAND_SEQUENCE, 
"inset-select-all;char-delete-backward;math-mode on"));
}
break;
 

commit e23a7c369a6012322810e35065962113cc253403
Author: Pavel Sanda 
Date:   Sat Dec 11 16:44:59 2010 +0100

Do not ask for save at the end

diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiView.cpp b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiView.cpp
index 04b3ce9..e30ad41 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiView.cpp
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiView.cpp
@@ -2474,6 +2474,7 @@ bool GuiView::closeBuffer(Buffer & buf)
// so no need to do it here. This will ensure that the children end up
// in the session file in the correct order. If we close the master
// buffer, we can close or release the child buffers here too.
+   lyx::dispatch(FuncRequest(LFUN_BUFFER_WRITE));
bool success = true;
if (!closing_) {
ListOfBuffers clist = buf.getChildren();

commit 8b3431e29ab5eae0a28e479507f323341a2a6039
Author: Pavel Sanda 
Date:   Sat Dec 11 16:18:19 2010 +0100

Setup new window and proper inset

diff --git a/src/LyX.cpp b/src/LyX.cpp
index 5ae488d..fbcb8ca 100644
--- a/src/LyX.cpp
+++ 

Re: Standalone Math Editor

[Guenter Milde]

On 2017-02-18, Wei-Ting Lin wrote:

> Your suggestions are valuable and important for me.

> I never think Lyx is not lightweight. Actually, I'm always satisfied
> with its speed. I just think to type math equations we don't need a
> full Lyx. But you're right. The first step should be the input/output
> function.

> I'm thinking to implement the following function:

> (1)When I'm editing an equation, say \[ f(x)= \], I can open Lyx with,
> say Ctrl+C.

> (2)Lyx is initiated with a display math mode, so I can edit the equation.

> (3)After finishing editing, push some keybinding to hide the Lyx
> window and return the Latex code to the editor.

> (4)The editor can receive the Latex code and insert it into my file.

> I think (1) and (4) involve the editor's functions, and should be put
> aside at the beginning.

> For (2) and (3), do you have any suggestions? I've checked the source
> code, and kind of overwhelmed.

For 2), you can write a template file and open lyx with that.
I don't see a "--new-from" (or similar) command line option, so this
seems like a task for the "lyxserver"¹.

3) hiding the lyx window is a function for the window manager, again the
   lyxserver may help.
   
   pushing the content to the clipboard would be simply:
   command-sequence; select-all; copy;
   Alternatively, the lyxpipe can receive the content.
   

¹ the lyxserver is an API to "remote control" LyX via pipes taking LFUNs
  (inpipe) and giving out informative or task/content-related output.

  On the lyx wiki, there is a Python class to interact with LyX via the
  lyxserver. https://wiki.lyx.org/Tools/PyClient
  
Günter  
  
  

Re: Standalone Math Editor

[Wei-Ting Lin]

Thank you Guillaume.

Your suggestions are valuable and important for me.

I never think Lyx is not lightweight. Actually, I'm always satisfied
with its speed. I just think to type math equations we don't need a
full Lyx. But you're right. The first step should be the input/output
function.

I'm thinking to implement the following function:

(1)When I'm editing an equation, say \[ f(x)= \], I can open Lyx with,
say Ctrl+C.

(2)Lyx is initiated with a display math mode, so I can edit the equation.

(3)After finishing editing, push some keybinding to hide the Lyx
window and return the Latex code to the editor.

(4)The editor can receive the Latex code and insert it into my file.

I think (1) and (4) involve the editor's functions, and should be put
aside at the beginning.

For (2) and (3), do you have any suggestions? I've checked the source
code, and kind of overwhelmed.

I have no idea where to start from.

Thank you,

Wei-Ting

Re: Standalone Math Editor

[Guillaume Munch]

Le 17/02/2017 à 07:17, Wei-Ting Lin a écrit :

Hi all,

I have used Lyx for several years. This is a really amazing software.

However, many people still write LaTex with text editors. That usually
means when we cowork on some article, we have to write LaTex directly.

This is ok. However, sometimes we have very long and complicated
equations. One of amazing features of Lyx is its math editor. This makes
the equation visible, when you're editing. That has helped me a lot.

Therefore, I'm thinking if it is possible to separate the math editor,
as a standalone, lightweight editor.

I'm also thinking if it is possible to call the editor from vim, emacs
or whatever, when we need to edit an equation, and then return the LaTex
code back to vim or emacs.

It seems there is no such work yet. I'm wondering how difficulty to
implement this. If this is not too hard, I would like to try to do it.

Thank you very much,
Wei-Ting



Dear Wei-Ting,

Using LyX as a stand-alone math editor is definitely feasible. The key
design that makes this possible is that for math, LyX directly reads and
writes LaTeX code (unlike for the text). Essentially you would get what
you can already do by copy-pasting LaTeX math into LyX math and copying
the LaTeX preview back into your document. I would be happy to see such
a feature implemented.

It should be easy to implement basic input/output (what you call "call
the editor and then return"). Then there would be some moderate effort
for the UI/cosmetics ("separate the math editor"). As for "lightweight":
LyX is already pretty quick; start-up is slow but this could be improved
a lot with a small amount of work to fix a few known bottlenecks.
Lastly, some LaTeX features are currently unsupported, but nothing
opposes that they could get implemented over time.

If you manage to get started with a prototype for the input/output
aspects, the rest will follow from there (in particular the cosmetic
aspects, which can be time-consuming and are best left to an ulterior
time). Assume for instance that you want to use a tex file containing
the math equation as the medium between your text editor and LyX.
Essentially LaTeX import works fine in this case, and what you want to
do on the LyX side is make it convenient to write the LaTeX math back
into the original tex file. Do not hesitate to ask for directions.

Sincerely,
Guillaume