Insert PNG Files in Physics Forum: Guide

[Buzz Bloom]

I frequently want to discuss in a Physics Forum an equation in a Wikipedia article. I can acquire an equation there as a PNG file. Is there a way I can insert a PNG file into a forum message?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Either use the image bbcode (there is a button in the editor) using the image URL or download the image and upload it as an attachment and then you can insert it into the message.

 

[DrGreg]

I frequently want to discuss in a Physics Forum an equation in a Wikipedia article. I can acquire an equation there as a PNG file. Is there a way I can insert a PNG file into a forum message?

As Wikipedia uses LaTeX like our website does, there's a better way.

1. Start to edit the Wikipedia page, look for the equation which will be coded in between "math" tags, e.g.

   <math>E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}}</math>

2. Copy the code between the tags (excluding the tags) and paste it into your message on this website.
3. Add "tex" tags e.g.

   [ tex ]E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}}[ /tex ]

   but without the spaces in the square brackets
   
4. Use the "Preview..." button to check that it works: $$E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}}$$
5. Don't forget to close the Wikipedia page without saving.

 

[Buzz Bloom]

Many thanks to both Greg Bernhardt and DrGreg.

 

[Mark44]

Instead of using [ tex ] or [ itex ] tags (without the extra spaces) as DrGreg mentioned, I prefer to use $ or # tags, as there is less typing to do.

So instead of this example of DrGreg's:

[ tex ]E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}}[ /tex ]

I would do this:

$ $ E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}} $ $

Again, without the extra spaces between each pair of $ characters.

To render inline, as opposed to standalone expressions or equations, a pair of # characters at front an back is equivalent to the [ itex ] and [ /itex ] tags.

# # E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}} # #