Latex takes a while to be rendered

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the rendering speed and functionality of LaTeX in the forum, including user experiences with delays, issues with accessing LaTeX features, and browser compatibility. Participants explore both technical aspects and usability concerns related to LaTeX integration in the forum environment.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants report varying delays in LaTeX rendering, with times ranging from a few seconds to over 15 seconds.
  • Several users express difficulty in finding LaTeX tools, such as buttons for superscripts, subscripts, and Greek letters, suggesting that the interface may lack necessary features.
  • One participant notes that the LaTeX preview feature does not seem to work as expected, often displaying the code instead of the rendered output.
  • There are mentions of browser-specific issues, particularly with Opera, where LaTeX fails to render entirely for some users.
  • Some participants discuss the transition to client-side rendering of LaTeX and its impact on performance, with mixed experiences regarding page scrolling and rendering delays.
  • One user inquires about syntax guides for LaTeX, expressing a preference for more user-friendly options compared to traditional coding.
  • Another participant raises concerns about MathJax timing out while waiting for fonts, which can lead to degraded rendering quality.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express dissatisfaction with the current LaTeX rendering speed and functionality, but there is no consensus on the root causes or solutions. Multiple competing views on browser compatibility and user interface design remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations include unresolved issues with specific browsers, the effectiveness of the LaTeX preview feature, and the impact of network conditions on rendering performance.

Who May Find This Useful

Users interested in LaTeX rendering in online forums, particularly those who rely on LaTeX for mathematical expressions and are experiencing technical difficulties or seeking guidance on usage.

jtbell
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A while ago I made a post with some LaTeX symbols, and all I could see was the code, not the rendered symbols. Just now I went back to the thread and still saw only the LaTeX code. After maybe 5s, the page refreshed automatically and I saw the rendered symbols.

Hopefully things can be tweaked to make this faster.

I'll try a sample here: ##E = \sqrt {(m_0 c^2)^2 + (pc)^2}##
 
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Hmm, a bit faster this time, maybe 2-3s.

Second try, on reopening the thread: 12s.
 
How do you add superscripts, subscripts and even get to the latex in the first place in this version? I can not find the latex button on the tool bar.
 
Yeah, it's 11 seconds for me as well.
 
Doesn't work for me (under Opera) at all.

##x_i##

[tex]x_i[/tex]
 
I clicked on Latex preview and I still don't know how to add scripts or Greek letters
 
space-time said:
How do you add superscripts, subscripts and even get to the latex in the first place in this version? I can not find the latex button on the tool bar.

I entered the code by hand like I normally do, between ## tags. The add-on LaTeX editor does appear to be missing.

The missing non-LaTeX buttons for subscript, superscript, Greek letters and symbols are a separate issue.
 
space-time said:
I clicked on Latex preview and I still don't know how to add scripts or Greek letters

In the LaTeX preview box, you have to enter LaTex code. I think the preview itself isn't working yet. All I get is the code again.

If you put the LaTeX code in the body of the message, and post it, you see code at first, then after a while the page refreshes and you see the symbols. Editing to fix mistakes is problematic at the moment because the editing timeout is too short for ordinary members. This will be fixed at some point.
 
  • #10
I started shouting about Latex not working, at first, but waiting a short while delivers the goods.
I have managed to avoid LaTex for a long while but I feel I must get to grips. (Can't be an old fart all my life).
Google searches seems to take me into fancy programming and I really just need help with laying out formulae. Is there a well known syntax guide with examples that I can use? I remember using a Microsoft package (Equation Editor?) in the past, which was more or less wysiwyg and it avoided knowing anything about codes. I imagine LaTex can't be built that way, though.

And whilst I am asking about the new system - how do you do a simple quote of one post? I keep falling over with multi quote.
 
  • #11
sophiecentaur said:
how do you do a simple quote of one post?
Click reply :)
 
  • #12
sophiecentaur said:
how do you do a simple quote of one post? I keep falling over with multi quote.

Even better than using just Reply: mark the part you want to quote.
 
  • #13
Greg Bernhardt said:
Click reply :)
Durrrr! Thanks.
Reminds me of the Tolkein passage, when they're trying to get into Moria: "Say the word, friend and enter.'

:eek:
 
  • #14
I left this link in another thread but I think it's more appropriate to leave this here... I've no idea if this is could even be used in PF, but in case Greg doesn't manage to make the current latex fast, perhaps it'll come handy:

https://khan.github.io/KaTeX/
 
  • #16
Greg Bernhardt said:
LaTeX should be running faster now. Can anyone confirm?

Yes, it's working for me.
 
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  • #17
So I think you turned off client side Latex, because it's all RIGHT THERE - immediately populated when I open a thread.

I'm posting in this thread to ask, did you only turn off client LaTex, or all/more client side scripting? The reason I ask is because one of the items on my report list for today is a delayed "scroll to bottom of page" when I've been reading threads this morning.

I only noticed this before on pages with LaTex when using my tablet, and never on my desktop. Today I scroll up to read earlier replies and, seconds later my browser scrolls to the bottom of the page. It seems to occur almost everywhere. Did you turn client LaTex java loose on everything to launch prudently?

EDIT: I can see client LaTex population now. Sorry if I was blowing smoke. Still wondering about the delayed, scroll-to-bottom...

Standing by... :)
 
  • #18
hmmm not totally sure what you're getting at. The Latex is always processed on the client side, it's entirely javascript.
 
  • #19
Greg Bernhardt said:
hmmm not totally sure what you're getting at. The Latex is always processed on the client side, it's entirely javascript.

I mentioned this because of the annoying presentation delay that I've experienced since you moved LaTex to client java . Just checking - you did move LaTex to client rendering maybe a year or so ago... correct? That's when it became difficult for me to follow posts with LaTex on my ASUS TF700T. I've just gone with the flow that must be working for everyone else - but it takes so darn long for the rendering that Java and I fight back and forth to allow me to read the thread. I don't care about the time it takes for client side rendering. My gripe is that the rendering keeps scrolling me to the bottom of the page while it trudges along and I'm reading, after it completes each render. <sigh>
 
  • #20
I'm not seeing any of the unwanted page jumping/scrolling that I reported earlier on my desktop. The ghost is gone! Sorry if my input was miss-directed. (What do you expect from a user? :)) Happy camper here!
 
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  • #21
Greg Bernhardt said:
LaTeX should be running faster now. Can anyone confirm?

Definitely better now, probably about the same as it was in the old version.
 
  • #22
Greg Bernhardt said:
LaTeX should be running faster now. Can anyone confirm?
It's taking 15 seconds for me now. [Chrome 37, Windows 7 32bit.]
 
  • #23
adjacent said:
It's taking 15 seconds for me now. [Chrome 37, Windows 7 32bit.]
clear your browser cache
 
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  • #24
Greg Bernhardt said:
clear your browser cache
Oh, Yeah. It's indeed fast now. Just like the previous PF version.
 
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  • #25
It still doesn't render in no time
grumpy_borek.png
 
  • #26
Here's what one does: # # without the space on both sides for in some text, $ $ likewise for a separate line:

A fraction: ## x = \frac{3}{2} ## and $$ x = \frac{3}{2} $$
 
  • #28
Borek said:
My problem is that LaTeX stopped to work under Opera, not that I don't know how to use it.
I am very curious to know why you don't use chrome or firefox. Chrome and firefox are the leading browsers nowadays.
 
  • #29
Since when following the crowd is a sign of a wise man?
 
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