Do the admins know that LaTeX ain't working?

  • Context: LaTeX 
  • Thread starter Thread starter rbj
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the functionality of LaTeX on the forum, specifically addressing issues related to its display in posts. Participants are testing whether LaTeX code is rendering correctly and exploring the reasons behind any failures in displaying mathematical expressions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant tests LaTeX code to check if it displays correctly, expressing concern about its functionality in a specific forum section.
  • Another participant confirms that their LaTeX code does not work either, indicating a broader issue.
  • A participant suggests that the LaTeX functionality has been restored after installing necessary TeX packages on the server.
  • One participant notes that while their recent LaTeX code works, older posts still do not display the math, questioning the interpretation of the source code upon posting.
  • Another participant proposes that the images generated from LaTeX are created only at the time of posting and remain static afterward.
  • A participant expresses confusion about their post's LaTeX functionality, wondering if they made an error with the tags.
  • Another participant mentions that browser caching might affect the display of updated LaTeX images, suggesting a workaround to investigate.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the functionality of LaTeX, with some confirming it works for them while others still encounter issues. There is no consensus on the exact mechanics of how LaTeX is processed and displayed in posts.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential browser caching issues affecting the display of updated LaTeX images and the unclear mechanics of how LaTeX is interpreted upon posting versus editing.

rbj
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here's a test:

[tex]\mbox{erf}(x) \equiv \frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int_0^x e^{-t^2} dt[/tex]
if this shows up in the "red letter edition", i hope the good folks making this forum happen can take notice.

if the LaTeX math shows up okay, then the problem is very, very weird because a post of mine simply in the Classical Physics forum will not display the TeX.
 
Last edited:
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yet another test...

[tex]\int_{a}^{b} f(x) dx[/tex]

EDIT: Doesn't work for me either. :biggrin:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
[tex]\LaTeX[/tex] should be back in business. We had just forgotten to install some non-standard TeX packages on the server.

- Warren
 
another test:

[tex]\mbox{erf}(x) \equiv \frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int_0^x e^{-t^2} dt[/tex]

EDIT: okay it works. why is it that the old posts that were posted when LaTeX was not working still do not show the math? it's the same source. does it interpret the source only once when posted and not ever again?
 
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I think it generates the images from the source when it's posted. See if clicking "edit" regenerates the LaTex when you save it (I don't think you actually have to edit anything, just go into the edit window).
 
Indeed, the images are generated only once, when the latex is posted. Afterward, they are simply displayed as inline images in the posts.

You might even notice that posting takes a second or two longer than normal when the post contains a lot of latex.

- Warren
 
Hey, Integral, what did you do to my post to make the Latex work? Did I goof up the tags? I actually did as Moonbear said, but it was still the red-coloured message.
 
Interesting.~^

I edited a couple of messages to see if I could get LaTex to work. All I ever saw was the red error text! So I am not sure what happened!
 
Keep in mind that many browsers try to cache the old version of the image, even after you've created a new one by editing your post.

Come to think of it, there's a quick workaround for this (which will, um, probably work) that I should investigate...

- Warren
 

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