https://bugzilla.wikimedia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=69424
Bug ID: 69424
Summary: generate MathML (not PNG) and automatically embed
hyperlinks for each symbol
Product: MediaWiki extensions
Version: master
Hardware: All
OS: All
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: enhancement
Priority: Unprioritized
Component: Math
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
CC: [email protected], [email protected]
Web browser: ---
Mobile Platform: ---
I propose that mediawiki is upgraded to generate MathML and automatically embed
hyperlinks for each mathematical symbol/operator. Note it was suggested I open
this bugzilla report by a developer on the mediawiki IRC dev channel after
showing them my initial request on the meta wiki
(http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Help_talk:Displaying_a_formula#Mediawiki_math_markup_interpretation_upgrade:_generate_MathML_.28not_PNG.29_and_automatically_embed_hyperlinks_for_each_symbol).
The following is an example of proposed wiki math code
<math>A[[simple equation#area]] = \pi r[[simple equation#radius]]^2 + q[[some
constant]] \cos(z)</math>
1. Latex math [[wiki link]] tags are removed by the Math extension preprocessor
2. MathML is generated by latexml
3. user defined hyperlinks are readded to the generated MathML by the Math
extension postprocessor
4. hyperlinks are automatically added to all remaining mathematical
operators/symbols by the Math extension postprocessor (which reside in its
database of existing math symbols/operators; e.g. plain text file)
Relevant wiki hyperlinks are automatically generated for all standard
mathematical symbols and operators eg "+", "=", "squared", "cos". If the user
for example clicks on the hyperlink to z (which has not been explicitly defined
by the user and does not reside in the Math extension database of mathematical
symbols), the wiki (e.g. Wikipedia) returns "Variable is undefined, would you
like to define it by editing this page?"
Note Firefox's MathML implementation (I am unsure about MathJax) requires
either all math objects to be explicitly hyperlinked or none. The reason for
this is that when hyperlinks are auto generated for math "sections" (eg square
root, division), all the child objects in the section are by default linked to
the section hyperlink (e.g. "b^2-4ac" in "\sqrt{b^2-4ac\ }"). This will be
confusing for the user, so it is better that all math objects be explicitly
hyperlinked, even if they must be directed to a new/edit page.
Although I am not a web programmer, I am happy to implement this myself in php
if necessary. I must however report an issue in the existing mediawiki Math
extension software that affects the latexml MathML option (it appears to be
related to https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/#/c/135521). The only way I have been
able to get the latexml MathML option working in the current version of the
mediawiki Math extension (e.g. 11 August 2014) or the last stable version of
the mediawiki Math extension (1.23.2) is to;
1. first delete the mysql wiki database (drop database <db_name>;)
2. then install mediawiki 1.22.9 (legacy) along with its corresponding version
of the mediawiki Math extension (1.22.9).
a. ensure to tick "enable image uploads" (to prevent a bug that stops the
default PNG generated formulae from being displayed)
b. create Math extension temporary folders
cd /var/www/html/mediawiki-xxx/images
mkdir math
mkdir tmp
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data *
c. run maintenance/update.php (to prevent a bug "A database query error has
occurred. This may indicate a bug in the software")
d. install LaTeXML (http://www.formulasearchengine.com/node/3)
e. test that MathML is working; set $wgUseLaTeXML = true; $wgUseMathJax = true;
$wgDefaultUserOptions['math'] = MW_MATH_LATEXML; in LocalSettings.php
3. then install the current version of mediawiki (mediawiki-latest.tar.gz/11
August 2014 or mediawiki 1.23.2) along with its corresponding version of the
mediawiki Math extension (Math.zip/11 August 2014 or 1.23.2).
I have attached a complete installation log for reference
(mediaWikiMathExtensionMathMLinstallationLog-11August2014.txt). It would
however be useful if someone could publish a formal workaround for this issue
(for at least 1.23.2 stable); for example a .sql file containing the required
mysql table updates.
I have also attached the mathML code of what I expect a final equation to look
like on Wikipedia after the latex is preprocessed, rendered, and postprocessed
(mathMLtestQuadraticEquation.html).
Thanks for your help.
Richard
---
mathMLtestQuadraticEquation.html
<!-- 1. original latex code -->
<!-- <math>x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac\ }}{2a}.</math> -->
<!-- 2. proposed wikpedia latex code -->
<!-- <math>x=\frac{-b[[quadratic equation#linear
coefficient]]\pm\sqrt{b^2-4a[[quadratic equation#quadratic
coefficient]]c[[quadratic equation#constant]]\ }}{2a}.</math> -->
<!-- 3. proposed final wikpedia MathML output -->
<math>
<mrow>
<mi href="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/quadratic_equation#quadratic_root">x</mi>
<mo href="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equals_sign">=</mo>
<mfrac href="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fraction">
<mrow>
<mo>−</mo>
<mi
href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/quadratic_equation#linear_coefficient";>b</mi>
<mo href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus-minus_sign";>±</mo>
<msqrt href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_root";>
<mrow>
<msup>
<mi
href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/quadratic_equation#linear_coefficient";>b</mi>
<mn href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_number";>2</mn>
</msup>
<mo href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtraction";>−</mo>
<mn href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/number";>4</mn>
<mi
href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/quadratic_equation#quadratic_coefficient";>a</mi>
<mi href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/quadratic_equation#constant";>c</mi>
</mrow>
</msqrt>
</mrow>
<mrow>
<mn href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/number";>2</mn>
<mi
href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/quadratic_equation#quadratic_coefficient";>a</mi>
</mrow>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
</math>
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