August 2025 - ntg-context

[ constructing poly lines in metafun using lua ]
by vm 12 Aug '25

12 Aug '25

A while ago in one of the online meetings it was pointed out that one can feed aa point list in metafun using a lua table. I haven't been able to figure out how to do that. Has any one a hint? At presnt I use a script to generate the path directly in MP but easily run out of memory tokens when the drawing is complex enough. is there a way to define a function to draw a particular line passing its coords and pen and color? do_line(path, pen, color) where path is a list of x,y points? 8<--- \usecolors[crayola] \startMPpage[offset=5mm] path p; pen q[]; q[1] := pencircle xscaled 0.3mm yscaled 0.20mm ; q[2] := pencircle xscaled 0.3mm yscaled 0.35mm ; q[3] := pencircle xscaled 0.3mm yscaled 0.50mm ; q[4] := pencircle xscaled 0.3mm yscaled 0.65mm ; q[5] := pencircle xscaled 0.3mm yscaled 0.80mm ; p := (447,531)..(440,534)..(436,541)..(440,547)..(448,546)..(455,542)..(458,535)..(447,531); draw p withpen q[1] rotated 25 withcolor "black"; p := (67,373)..(69,380)..(67,373)..(64,365)..(67,373); draw p withpen q[5] rotated 30 withcolor "black"; p := (64,91)..(64,91); draw p withpen q[1] rotated 34 withcolor "black"; p := (131,133)..(131,133); draw p withpen q[1] rotated 30 withcolor "black"; ... p := (436,264)..(433,271)..(430,279)..(426,286)..(422,293)..(418,299)..(414,306)..(410,313)..(408,321)..(416,323)..(422,319)..(428,312)..(434,306)..(432,313)..(429,321)..(429,329)..(435,335)..(442,338)..(448,344)..(451,352)..(451,359)..(455,350)..(457,341)..(459,332)..(460,323)..(461,313)..(462,303)..(462,294)..(461,285)..(460,277)..(457,267)..(452,259)..(447,252)..(440,254)..(436,264); draw p withpen q[4] rotated 27 withcolor "black"; p := (266,464)..(262,470)..(263,478)..(271,478)..(274,471)..(266,464); draw p withpen q[5] rotated 35 withcolor "black"; p := (108,401)..(108,408)..(106,401)..(104,393)..(108,401); draw p withpen q[5] rotated 30 withcolor "black"; \stopMPpage --->8

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References to elements in hidden blocks
by Yves Debongnie 12 Aug '25

12 Aug '25

Hello everyone, New context user here, coming over from the latex world. I am writing a textbook, and wish to write the content in one file and create multiple versions from it (theory in one document, exercise in another, exams in yet other documents, etc). Obviously, references between the versions should be correct. To write my document, I am using blocks and enumerations. I am facing a problem when trying to create a reference to an enumeration created in a block that isn't used in the current version of my document. Here is a minimal working example : ********************* \defineblock[theory] \defineblock[exercise] \defineenumeration[theorem] \defineenumeration[exercise] \startmode[exercise] \keepblocks[exercise] \hideblocks[theory] \stopmode \startmode[theory] \keepblocks[theory] \hideblocks[exercise] \stopmode \startmode[all] \keepblocks[theory,exercise] \stopmode \starttext \begintheory[+] \starttheorem[reference=thm:lambda] First theorem \stoptheorem \endtheory \beginexercise[+] \startexercise[reference=ex:omega] First exercise. We use \in{theorem}[thm:lambda] \stopexercise \endexercise \stoptext ********************* When compiling this example with mode=all, we see that the theorem gets its number (1) and the reference in the exercise is right. When compiling with mode=exercise, the reference in the exercise displays ?? instead of 1. Obviously, this is because the reference mechanism was not created to reference items that don't exist in the document... yet here I am ;). Would there be a way to retrieve the label text of a reference if that reference is in a block that is not typeset? Similar to how enumeration counters get incremented for enumerations that are in hidden blocks if you specify [+] when writing the block, or if you use \processblocks. Thanks for your answers, Yves Debongnie

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directory tree as itemization
by Henning Hraban Ramm 12 Aug '25

12 Aug '25

I’m working on the rendering of directory trees. Before I try a MetaPost drawing, I’d like to use a nested itemization. What are my options for changing the symbol of some single items (not whole levels)? * \sym{} works, but there’s no \startsym … \stopsym and I’d prefer to use a complete structure to properly wrap a sub-itemization. * \startitem[symbol=1] … \stopitem isn’t possible. So far I can do: 📂 root folder 📁 folder (closed) 📂 folder (open) 📄 file.tex 📄 file.mkiv I guess I’d also manage to do: 📂 root folder ┣━📁 folder (closed) ┗━📂 folder (open) ┣━📄 file.tex ┗━📄 file.mkiv Would it be possible to do the following with an itemization? ▽ 📂 root folder ┆ ▷ 📁 folder (closed) ┆ ▽ 📂 folder (open) ┆ ┆ 📄 file.tex ┆ ┆ 📄 file.mkiv Or are items the wrong approach for this? Hraban

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Audible footnotes
by John Was 11 Aug '25

11 Aug '25

Dear List Following the helpful advice received about in-line figures, I had a thought about adapting this for the purpose of allowing an audio reader to read out a footnote in situ to a visually impaired reader (before continuing with reading of the main text). The following MWE essentially works in a rather Heath Robinson way (using \tagnote in place of \footnote), but there are obvious glitches (for example, italic and other font switches in a footnote ought really to be eliminated in the audible version). The reader would also have the irritation of the notes being read again when the audio reader gets to the foot of the page: I am wondering if something could be done with \phantom or an equivalent, so as to leave all the space occupied by the note (thus preserving the pagination of the physically printed book). But there's no sense in going further if the consensus is that I'm barking up the wrong tree! Here is the sample: \setupexternalfigures[location={local,global,default}] \setupinteraction [state=start] \setupinteractionscreen [option=bookmark] \setupbackend[format=pdf/ua-2]% needs to come before: \setuptagging[state=start]%otherwise lots of stuff will silently break \setupstructure[state=start] \setupnote [textcommand={\offset[y=-1ex]},% raise the number textstyle={\switchtobodyfont[10pt]}] \setupnotation [footnote] [ alternative=serried,% number in the paragraph headcommand=\groupedcommand{\hskip{8pt}}{},% space before the number distance=4pt,% space after the number numbercommand={\offset[y=-1ex]},% raise the number numberstyle={\switchtobodyfont[10pt]}, before={\blank[medium]}]% vertical space before the entry \define[1]\notetag {\footnote{#1}\llap{\let \it \relax \externalfigure[cow] [width=0pt,height=0pt,label={Footnote: #1}]}} \starttext The phenomenon of colonialism extended borders well beyond traditional dynastic realms.\notetag{Among recent works, see David Graeber and Marshall Sahlins, {\it On Kings\/} (Chicago, 2017), and Elena Woodacre, Lucinda H.~S. Dean, Chris Jones, et~al. (eds.), {\it The Routledge History of Monarchy\/} (London, 2019).} Furthermore, monarchies do not consist solely of individual rulers, but encompass an intricate network of family members. \stoptext Best wishes John *🇪🇺 * Слава Україні! * 🇺🇦* <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free.www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

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Re: ConTeXt query: Retain original spacing while applying shrinking to the font file
by Hans Hagen 11 Aug '25

11 Aug '25

On 8/10/2025 9:48 PM, W wrote: > /Sorry I couldn't log in to the mailing list, it was yelling server error!/ > > Greetings Everybody, I wish everyone is doing great! > > > I was trying to shrink the font's width for my own personal preference. > > Using the method as presented in the example would shrink all the > > font characters by the same factor, including the space character. > > > I'd desire to retain the original width of the space character, while > > shrinking all the other characters. Is there any way to get it done? > > > I would highly appreciate any help or suggestions! > > > Thanks, > > Ali Ali > > > Example File > > ``` > %% PATH of the font from the `cwd` > \edef\TheFontFile{font/SourceSerif4-Regular.otf} > > \definefontfile[FontFile][file:\TheFontFile][features=default] > > %% Font as is > \definefont[Regular][FontFile] > > %% Font with width shrinked by some arbitrary value > \definefont[Modified][FontFile*default,extend=.925] > > \starttext > \Regular > \input{zapf} > > \Modified > \input{zapf} > \stoptext there is a 'spacing' pseudo feature that accepts things like 1.1 + 1.2 - 1.3 minus 1.4 plus 1.1 extra 1.4 but i haven't tested it for a while Hans ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE Ridderstraat 27 | 8061 GH Hasselt | The Netherlands tel: 038 477 53 69 | www.pragma-ade.nl | www.pragma-pod.nl -----------------------------------------------------------------

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saving and loading lua tables
by Hraban Ramm 10 Aug '25

10 Aug '25

Hi again, for caching some generated data, I’d like to save a nested Lua table to a file, and load it later. I found http://lua-users.org/wiki/SaveTableToFile Is there already something (better) in ConTeXt? I'd assume, since the functionality is needed for tuc files? Hraban

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Illustrations in running text.
by John Was 10 Aug '25

10 Aug '25

Hello list Some years ago, when plain TeX was still pure ASCII, I had to set an article on Luwian hieroglyphs, which involved a large number of very small scans that appeared in running text without disturbing the interlinear spacing. If I wanted to do the same in ConTexT, what would be the preferred method (both in the preamble and in the text itself)? Ideally I would want the label option to work for the benefit of any visually impaired readers accessing the PDF. The following MWE doesn't seem to work (which means no more than that I am still regrettably ignorant of ConTexT's capabilities with artwork): \starttext The small cow \externalfigure[cow.jpg][width=0.5em,height=2ex,label={This is a small cow.}] was attacked by the quick brown fox that jumped over the lazy dog's back.\stoptext John <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free.www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

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tagging
by Hans Hagen 10 Aug '25

10 Aug '25

Hi, For those waiting for an update wrt tagging. We have what we call a 'basic mapping' that vis suposed to work for most cases. Some time next week there will be an update but we're testing some more. Our starting point is that we don't want to cripple the context structure and we definitely don't want to start from the weird, limited and inconsistent pdf structuring so we made some choices. The solutions are not always pretty and optimal but pdf tagging can't be classified a such anyway so we don't feel too guilty. In order to validate we have to play safe because after all, nice looking and complex documents is what we deal with so basically one can end up with anything. We have some additional tracing options to help users get around issues or at least identify them. Hans ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE Ridderstraat 27 | 8061 GH Hasselt | The Netherlands tel: 038 477 53 69 | www.pragma-ade.nl | www.pragma-pod.nl -----------------------------------------------------------------

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ConTeXt 1.06 does not recognize "\centerdot" and "\neg"
by Abdelhak Ferhat 09 Aug '25

09 Aug '25

Hi, I'm new to the ConTeXt world and this my first post While running the script below, ----- \starttext \centerdot\centerdot\centerdot \neg\neg\neg \stoptext ----- I encountered the following issues with different versions of context: * With version 1.04 (2023.07.14), the script runs successfully. * With version 1.06 (2024.02.27), \neg is not recognized. * With version 1.06 (2025.07.27), neither \neg nor \centerdot are recognized. As a workaround, if I add the definitions: \protected\def\centerdot {\Umathchar "2"0"0000B7 } \protected\def\neg {\Umathchar "0"0"0000AC } all three versions execute successfully. I'm using AlmaLinux 9.6. Thanks!

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Redefined ~ conserves \protected status although \show~ does not say so
by qui271828＠free.fr 09 Aug '25

09 Aug '25

After redefining ~ via \def it remains \protected in an \edef, although \show does not say so ``` \starttext \def~{Z} \show~ \edef\foo{~} \show\foo \stoptext ``` Tested 2025/08/02 with ConTeXt ver: 2025.07.21 11:50 LMTX fmt: 2025.7.31 int: english/english from TeXLive2025. Originally reported at https://tex.stackexchange.com/q/749050/293669

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