November 2024 - ntg-context - NTG Mailing Lists

On the use of btx datasets to manage images and plots
by marco.riggirello.98＠gmail.com 19 Dec '24

19 Dec '24

Dear all, since this is my first post on the mailing lists, let me make a small preamble: after years of LaTeX experience I decided in May to give ConTeXt a try. The journey has been extremely pleasant up to now, so I want to thank all the contributors to this project for making such a great piece of software. Now, let's dig into the topic: I'm a PhD student in High Energy Physics (HEP) and my typical work include producing lot of plots and then presenting them in various meetings, comparing my results with existing ones present in the literature. Tipically, many plots and figures are re-used in different meetings and they might end up in the final thesis. My current workflow is just copying in different directories these (mostly vector) images and copying the caption between different tex sources. This workflow clearly scales very bad, and I would like to exploit all the goodies of the ConTeXt dataset machinery. In the Bibliografies manual it is mentioned that one can use datasets to manage images as well [1]. My case however is (slightly) more complicated than the one showed in the manual. What I would like to have is four databases: - a bibliography dataset; - an "others' figure" dataset, with all the images I took from the references. This means that in some way in the caption I would like to cite the references included in the bibliography dataset; - a "own figures" dataset, with the plots I produced with external programs; - a "metafun figures" dataset, pointing at the metafun code corresponding to some diagram. In my idea, for each figure dataset the \placebtxrendering should plot the figure with the right label to refer to in the main text and the right caption. (Clearly for the metafun dataset it should not include the pdf of the diagrams but instead compile the metafun code). In this way, I could create a single ConTeXt project with different products for different presentations, posters and other documents. Do you think this workflow can be implemented in ConTeXt? If so, how? Is btx the right tool for the job? I hope I was clear, and sorry if I was not. Thanks in advance for the help. Cheers MR [1] https://www.pragma-ade.nl/general/manuals/mkiv-publications.pdf#%5B%7B%22nu…

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Line break after a Metapost picture at start of paragraph
by Florent Michel 29 Nov '24

29 Nov '24

Hi, I have just encountered a (to me) slightly surprising behaviour in ConTeXt LMTX 2024.10.31: there seems to be an automatic line break after a Metapost picture if it is at the start of a paragraph. Here is a simple example showing this behaviour: ------------------------------------------------------------------ \starttext % Two different lines \startMPcode fill fullcircle scaled 10pt; \stopMPcode text % Single line text \startMPcode fill fullcircle scaled 10pt; \stopMPcode \stoptext ------------------------------------------------------------------ I'm not sure whether this is a bug or intended behaviour, though - maybe this is the expected output for users more familiar with TeX and/or ConTeXt than I am. I would have two question, though: 1) Is there a canonical way to get the second behaviour (multiple Metapost pictures and text on the same line) if the first Metapost picture starts the paragraph? One workaround seems to be to add \noindent (plus \hskip if I do want indentation) before the first Metapost picture, but maybe there is a better way. 2) If this is intended behaviour, is there already a description of it in the Wiki or would it make sense for me to add it? Cheers, Florent

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"Missing number, case 7, treated as zero" error message.
by Jeong Dal 28 Nov '24

28 Nov '24

Dear lister, I have an error which I can not locate. Please help me what is wrong in the following example. Thanks for reading. Regards, Dalyoung \useMPlibrary[dum] \starttext \startplacefigure[location=,reference=fig:gateNOT,title=] \startcombination[nx=2,ny=1] {externalfigure[dummy][width=.25\textwidth]}{a} {externalfigure[dummy][width=.25\textwidth]}{b} \stopcombination \stopplacefigure \stoptext Log file: metapost > library 'dum' is loaded fonts > preloading latin modern fonts (second stage) fonts > 'fallback modern rm 12pt' is loaded tex error > tex error on line 5 in file /Users/graph/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/Documents/test.tex: Missing number, case 7, treated as zero <to be read again> ] <line 3.5> {externalfigure[dummy][width=.25\textwidth] }{a} 1 \useMPlibrary[dum] 2 \starttext 3 \startplacefigure[location=,reference=fig:gateNOT,title=] 4 \startcombination[nx=2,ny=1] 5 >> {externalfigure[dummy][width=.25\textwidth]}{a} 6 {externalfigure[dummy][width=.25\textwidth]}{b} 7 \stopcombination 8 \stopplacefigure

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Why are my images floating away even though I used "here" and "force" settings?
by Joel 28 Nov '24

28 Nov '24

I have a textbook that includes images--and I don't care that they are placed wherever. But for the workbook, its confusing for the readers if the images float to another location. If the items don't appear in this order, it really gets confusing, as basically there is an activity that says "color the map" and students can't find the map--even if its just a page later. TitleInstructionsImageRequirements In other words, I can't have it float somewhere else, though if a page break is needed before it or after it, then that is okay, if that is what is needed to get it to appear. I thought "here" and "force" were supposed to be the commands to achieve this, but its still resulting in the image appearing after requirements or sometimes, after the next activity, which is too confusing to readers. \placefigure[here, force]{Map of New Mexico}{\externalfigure[map1a][width=.8\textwidth]} What more is needed to make it appear exactly as the next item after instructions, and before requirements, without floating away, even if that means a lot of empty space is going to be added to the page? --Joel

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Why is framed text crashing into and overlapping other text?
by Joel 28 Nov '24

28 Nov '24

I have a simple enumeration structure like this: 1. word a. _________ b. _________ c. _________ The students will write three properties of each word. The problem I had is it was putting some items on a next page, which confused students. For instance, maybe it shows 1. word(pagebreak) a. _________ b. _________ c. _________ This confused students where to write their answers. (see Attempt 1 code below). So I used a frame to keep the itemized text together. (see Attempt 2 code below). Though in my minimum working example below, it works just fine, somehow in my document it creates weird problems putting frames around the items. Sometimes it puts item 10 on top of 9, so its like the text is written on top of the other text. Sometimes the frames make the text crash over the items after it. Is frame the write tool to use to keep the itemized items together as a group without allowing column and page breaks to separate them? How do I stop the strange behavior of the frames seemingly floating to weird locations and appearing over other text? I'm afraid I couldn't find any way to recreate this affect in my minimum working example. --Joel \starttext \subject{Attempt 1} \startcolumns[n=2] \startitemize[n] \dorecurse{30}{ \item word \startitemize[a] \item \thinrule \item \thinrule \item \thinrule \stopitemize } \stopitemize \stopcolumns \input knuth \subject{Attempt 2} \startcolumns[n=2] \startitemize[n] \dorecurse{30}{ \startframedtext[frame=off] \item word \startitemize[a] \item \thinrule \item \thinrule \item \thinrule \stopitemize \stopframedtext } \stopitemize \stopcolumns \input knuth \stoptext

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Is there any way to forbid footnotes from appearing on current page?
by Joel 28 Nov '24

28 Nov '24

I have found some situations in which I have content that interferes with footnotes. Can I tell ConText to delay showing the footnote for a page or two? And then when its safe again, all the footnotes that weren't displayed would be displayed on a later page? --Joel

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Re: troubles with xtable (might be because I nest the same xtables)
by damien＠thiriet.web4me.fr 27 Nov '24

27 Nov '24

Hi Wolfgang, > Your problem here is a circular reference where a parameter (e.g. > framecolor) tries to load the value of > its parent because it has no > value itself. Since you set the parent to itself it results in an > endless > > loop until it runs out of memory. Thanks, everything is clear now. Damien

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Tikz CD
by Aditya Mahajan 26 Nov '24

26 Nov '24

Hi, There was a recent question about what appeared to be commutative diagrams, and I wanted to reply saying that one option is to use tikzcd module. However, testing showed that it fails. This is what tikzlibrarycd.code.tex does: % ConTeXt-specific stuff \pgfutil@IfUndefined{starttikzpicture}{}{% \def\starttikzcd{\tikzcd} \def\stoptikzcd{\endtikzcd} \tikzcdset{ every matrix/.append code={% \def\NC{\pgfmatrixnextcell}% \def\NR{\pgfmatrixendrow}}} } where \def\tikzcd@[#1]{% \tikzpicture[/tikz/commutative diagrams/.cd,every diagram,#1]% ...} So, it fails because \tikzpicture is being called with wrong catcodes. It can be fixed in the same manner as we patched tikzpicture as shown by the following MWE: \usemodule[tikz] \usetikzlibrary[cd] \permanent\protected\def\starttikzcd% {\starttikzinput \hcontainer\bgroup \tikzcd} \permanent\protected\def\stoptikzcd {\endtikzcd \egroup \stoptikzinput} \starttext \startformula \starttikzcd x \arrow[d] \NC A \arrow[d] \NC D \NR y \NC B \NC D \NR \stoptikzcd \stopformula \stoptext What is the best way to go about this? I can try to ask the Should we include a wrapper for tikzcd (as we do for circuitikz) or should I try to push a patch upstream. BTW, why do we need a \hcontainer in the above code? Aditya

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How to put a ___ before enumerations in ConTeXt?
by Joel 26 Nov '24

26 Nov '24

\starttext \defineitemgroup[numberunderlinelist] \setupitemgroup[numberunderlinelist][symbol=n, stopper={.~\blackrule[width=2em, height=0pt, depth=0.5pt]}, width=4em] \startnumberunderlinelist \dorecurse{100}{\startitem hello \stopitem} \stopnumberunderlinelist \stoptext I have used the above code to make enumerations looking like this: 1. ___ this is some text 2. ___ this is some text 3. ___ this is some text 4. ___ this is some text The underline is there for students to enter an answer, like a-d. The problem I find it is looks really messy putting the ___ between the numbering and text, such when you get to numbers that are wider, like 10., the ___ doesn't line up right. I also think its too confusing this way for students to know what to write. Is there a way to move the ___ bit out front of the number? It would look like this: ____ 1. this is some text ____ 2. this is some text --Joel

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Zigzag left margin with italics
by Rik Kabel 25 Nov '24

25 Nov '24

In a paper I recently wrote I noticed some ugly zigzag alignment on the left margin of one paragraph (set with Libertinus) where a couple of book titles appeared at the start of the second and fourth lines. The following example demonstrates the issue. \definefontfeature [default] [default] [protrusion=quality,expansion=quality] \setupalign [hz,hanging] \startbuffer Here is a line of text, the first sentence in the demonstration.\\ {\em Then} the next sentence in the paragraph follows.\\ You can see that the italic {\em T} appears to be a bit indented.\\ {\em There } might be a way to shift it to the left that little bit.\\ Perhaps a protrusion setting.\\ {\em This} does appear to depend to on the font used. With Modern and\\ Libertinus it is worse, with Times a bit better. \blank \stopbuffer \starttext Modern\\ \getbuffer Times\\ \setupbodyfont[times] \getbuffer Libertinus\\ \setupbodyfont[libertinus] \getbuffer \stoptext How can one set a small left-margin protrusion for the italic T and possibly other characters? I know it is a small issue, but once seen it is hard to un-see. -- Rik

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