Troubleshooting LaTeX Code Display Issues: Resolving Garbled Code on Page Reload

[epovo]

TL;DR Summary: Every time I reload the page most of LaTeX code becomes garbled, so I can't really post

This happens also when I preview, so something like
$$g_{,\mu} = g g^{\alpha\beta} g_{\alpha\beta,\mu}$$
becomes
g,μ=ggαβgβα,μ

 

[epovo]

I tried this with Chrome and Edge. It's the same. It used to work fine

 

[Ibix]

I tried this with Chrome and Edge. It's the same. It used to work fine

The LaTeX in your OP looks fine to me:

There's a known issue that LaTeX doesn't render if there isn't already LaTeX on the page - but a refresh should fix that. You seem to be saying that your post initially renders, but gets garbled when you refresh?

 

[epovo]

Exactly. So unless I write all the LaTeX code and post it without not even once previewing it or saving it as a draft, it will get garbled.

 

[Ibix]

Similar happens if you use the highlight-and-reply feature on LaTeX - you get the characters but not the formatting.

Are you using the WYSIWYG editor or the text only? Could you try the text only editor if you haven't done?

 

[epovo]

I am just typing the LaTeX code in plain text.

 

[Ibix]

Yes, you have no choice. But we used to have an issue with LaTeX accidentally rendering in the WYSIWYG editor, which had a similar end product to what uou are describing. I was wondering if that bug was back.

Somewhere in the toolbar there's a button labelled with a pair of square brackets - it's either over on the right somewhere or in one of the $\vdots$ submenus on the right. Tap/click it and all the other buttons should go red and unresponsive. Then try typing and previewing some LaTeX and see if the bug happens.

 

[epovo]

This is my attempt:
$$ g_{,\mu} = g g^{\alpha\beta} g_{\alpha\beta,\mu}$$
I previewed a couple of times and it seems to work! thank you very much, Ibix.

 

[Ibix]

No problem. However, @Greg Bernhardt may want to know that you're getting this. You mentioned Chrome and Edge so I guess you're on Windows. If you could say the browser versions that might be of interest.

 

[Borek]

LaTeX is rendered client side, so while it is not impossible something got broken and requires Greg's attention, as long as there is no wave of reports I am ready to assume problem is related to the OP computer/browser and there is not much that can be done server side.

But definitely reporting such things helps keep track of what is going on. Just keep in mind your computer is the first suspect. Often just emptying cache and resetting cookies helps.

 

[Wrichik Basu]

TL;DR Summary: Every time I reload the page most of LaTeX code becomes garbled, so I can't really post

This bug has been reported again and again. In the last thread reporting this bug, I made a list of all threads that have reported this bug: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/latex-help.1046932/post-6816969

This post of mine briefly explains what goes wrong: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/how-to-preview-latex-formulas.1045620/post-6801311

And the workaround is available here: https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...oes-it-work-for-you-here.1006363/post-6531460

Once again, I request this bug, and the workarounds, to be mentioned somewhere in the LaTeX help section so that new users are aware of it. It can become frustrating if a new user writes a full page of LaTeX, clicks on Preview, and then finds everything is permanently garbled. A dynamic message on the New Thread creation page informing that the MathJax resource has not been loaded, will also be useful.