July 2026 - ntg-context - Mailing Lists

Review of the rewritten wiki bibliography page
by Jean-Pierre Delange 19 Jul '26

19 Jul '26

Dear all, I have substantially reorganised and rewritten the ConTeXt Garden wiki on bibliographies and citations (https://wiki.contextgarden.net/References_notes_and_floats/Bibliography_and…) The main goal was to turn the page into a progressive introduction to the current MkIV/LMTX publications subsystem, while preserving useful information about older formats and advanced customisation. The revised page now proceeds through the following stages: 1. a minimal two-file example; 2. bibliographic data formats and BibTeX record structure; 3. datasets, specifications, renderings, selection methods, sorting, and placement; 4. multiple bibliographies from one dataset or from distinct datasets; 5. bibliography management in structured editorial projects; 6. citation syntax and citation alternatives; 7. custom bibliographic specifications; 8. a simple manual bibliography for very small documents. A new section on structured editorial projects is based on a working book project, but has been rewritten as a generic example. It separates: - bibliographic data; - project and bibliography environments; - chapter-level citations; - backmatter placement. It also discusses practical problems encountered in real projects, including: - the difference between method=global and method=dataset; - manually written references that are not connected to the BTX database; - unsupported or incorrectly classified publication categories; - unresolved citations; - duplicate keys loaded into one dataset; - relative paths and compilation roots. I would especially appreciate review of the following technical points: - the descriptions of method=local, method=global, and method=dataset; - the use of repeat=yes with chapter bibliographies and a final bibliography; - the examples using several datasets and dataset::key; - the distinction between citation and list namespaces; - the examples involving \usecitation and manually written editorial notes; - the minimal custom specification example. I would also appreciate your opinion on the overall structure of the material. The page has become quite substantial and now serves several purposes at once: an introduction for beginners, a conceptual reference for intermediate users, and a guide to advanced project-based workflows. Would it be preferable to keep this as one comprehensive page, or to divide it into several linked pages? One possible division would be: 1. Bibliography and citations; 2. Multiple bibliographies; 3. Bibliographies in structured editorial projects. The main page would retain the Quickstart, data formats, the general bibliography workflow, and citation syntax, while the two longer advanced sections would become separate pages. Would you please indicate whether this division would improve readability and maintenance, or whether the current single-page structure is preferable. The current version is intentionally detailed, but the structure is progressive and the table of contents allows readers to stop after the level they need. Best//JP

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ConTeXt on NixOS
by Rik Kabel 19 Jul '26

19 Jul '26

Hello all, Do any of you run ConTexT on NixOS? If so, do you use standalone, Texlive ConTeXt subset, full Texlive, or some other installation method. (My latest buiild tells me that the Texlive Context schema is being removed, and I want to prepare for that happening.) -- Rik

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miscalculated `/Rect` in some link annotations
by Pablo Rodriguez 15 Jul '26

15 Jul '26

Hi Hans (and other ConTeXt experts), the following sample shows miscalculation for the `/Rect` of link annotations with LMTX in current latest (2026.07.06 13:29). \setuppapersize[A7] \setupbodyfont[100pt] \setupinteraction[state=start, style=, color=, contrastcolor=,] \enabledirectives[references.border=red] \setuppagenumbering[location=,] \starttext \goto{g} [url(https://contextgarden.net)] \dontleavehmode \startMPcode draw textext("\goto{g} [url(https://contextgarden.net)]") ; \stopMPcode \pagereference[æb] \scale[height=66.6pt]{\at[æb]} \at[æb] \stoptext Both links have their rectangle placed fine with LuaTeX from the same latest. Given that a `/Rect` has four values (bl-x, bl-y, tr-x, tr-y [bottom left and top right]), in the misplaced link from the first page, the actual value of bl-y should be the one from tr-y, and tr-y should have the actual value bl-y plus 1st. In the misplaced link from the second page, the actual value of bl-y should be the one from tr-y minus 1sd and, tr-y should have its own original value plus 1sh (or the actual value bl-y plus 1st [which should be the same]). I attach a PDF document that I corrected by hand (including an explanation, basically to myself). I don’t know what is triggering the miscalculation in these particular cases in LMTX (I can recall your explanation that PDF has y-coordinate from top to bottom of the page, while TeX has it from bottom to top). Could you take a look at these issues? Many thanks for you help, Pablo

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regular online meet-up
by Henning Hraban Ramm 15 Jul '26

15 Jul '26

Oops, I totally forgot to invite you for today… Let’s try next week, ok? You’re invited to our regular online meet-up, tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15th, 19:30 CEST (UTC+2) at https://lecture.senfcall.de/hen-rbr-rku-oke (same, but shorter: https://u.mtxrun.eu/ctxmtg) ConTeXt users of all levels are welcome! Looking forward to seeing you, Hraban (Same blurb as always:) [Howto] * No special software installation required; most modern browsers should work (WebRTC required). * Open the URL above, accept the privacy statement, * enter your name, * click "join" (or "start" if you’re the first), * click "with microphone", allow your browser to access it, check the audio. * Your microphone is muted if you join. Activate microphone and/or camera with the buttons at the bottom. * Minimize the default presentation with the "screen" button, bottom right. * If you’d like to share your screen or upload a file, you can make yourself the presenter: Click on your user name, change the setting, then you’ll see the "screen sharing" button beside the camera button; also there’s now "manage presentations" behind the "plus" button. Beware there is only one presenter at a time, so don’t kill someone else’s presentation. [Technical hints] * Sound is usually better if you use a headset (less noise for everyone). * Connection problems are mostly due to low bandwidth or high latency on your side, esp. with mobile connections. * Sometimes leaving and re-entering helps. * If audio/video doesn’t work for you, you can still use the text chat. * Screen sharing needs a lot of bandwidth. * BigBlueButton documentation applies: https://bigbluebutton.org/tutorials/ [Netiquette] * Please use a name that we recognize from here. Some feel uncomfortable with anonymous lurkers. * Mute your microphone while you’re not talking. * It’s nice to show your face at least when you join. * If there are connection problems, stop camera sharing. * The room is set to “everyone’s a moderator“, I trust you...

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ConTeXt meeting – please register!
by Henning Hraban Ramm 13 Jul '26

13 Jul '26

Hi everyone, our ConTeXt meeting in Maibach is coming closer: August 24th–29th If you’re planning to attend, please register now! https://meeting.contextgarden.net/ Looking forward to meeting you (again), Hraban

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PNG vs. sub-pixel rendering
by Jim Diamond 12 Jul '26

12 Jul '26

Hi all, One day I was wondering why a typeface looked so bad (when reading on my laptop screen using Adobe reader), and I realized that sub-pixel rendering was not working. At first I thought it was the typeface itself. But I eventually realized that certain types of included graphics do something which causes AR to not do SPR. (Those of you who don't use AR won't see what I am talking about, I don't think. If you use some other PDF viewer which does do SPR, I would be interested in knowing if the same thing happens in that viewer.) Attached is a sample ConTeXt file which has two \externalfigure commands and two PDFs, one in which the PNG file (greyscale) is included, and one in which the PDF file (colour) in included. I don't have AR for windows, but someone (who may wish to remain unnamed :-) told me SPR didn't work for him there. I use an ancient AR on Linux, and the problem is very evident there. (LM looks a bit worse, but Pagella looks atrocious in *my* AR when SPR is turned off.) And finally, my question: does anyone know why including the PNG has this effect? And, if so, is there any way to work around the problem? Does any PDF wizard know if, when a PNG is included, there is/are some machination(s) which affect(s) the entire page, instead of just the place where the PNG is included? Thanks. Jim

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Re: PNG vs. sub-pixel rendering PARTIAL SOLUTION!
by luigi scarso 10 Jul '26

10 Jul '26

On Fri, 10 Jul 2026 at 04:19, Jim Diamond <jim(a)jdvb.ca> wrote: > > Thanks Luigi. The DPI of my (Android) phone screen is so high (385 DPI), > even with the accessibility magnifier on I can't tell whether they are > using SPR. I wouldn't be surprised if they figured there is no need for > it. > > Are you able to tell on your phone whether SPR is used by Adobe Reader? > > Cheers. > Jim > > I bet it's not used. Maybe if I have time I could try this link: https://snapcraft.io/acrordrdc -- luigi

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Coons and Tensor-product patch mesh shading in MetaPost
by Florent Michel 10 Jul '26

10 Jul '26

Hi, Is there a way to fill a closed path with Coons or Tensor-product shading in MetaPost/MetaFun? Apparently they are implemented in luamplib ( https://mirrors.mit.edu/CTAN/macros/luatex/generic/luamplib/luamplib.pdf ; see sections 1.2.20 and 1.2.21), but unless I am missing something not in the versions of MetaPost/MetaFun in the LMTX distribution, or at least not in the way described in the luamplib manual. (If I understand correctly, luamplib intercepts the relevant keywords in Lua instead of passing them to MetaPost, which could explain the difference. Not sure my understanding is correct, though.) One alternative is to use PGFPlots for figures that require these shadings; but I'm wondering if there is a way to use them while benefiting from the close integration of MetaFun with LMTX. Cheers, Florent

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hyphenated title in PDF metadata with LMTX (not with LuaTeX)
by Pablo Rodriguez 09 Jul '26

09 Jul '26

Dear list, compiling the following sample against current latest using LMTX (2026.07.06 13:29): \setupinteraction[state=start, title={Tereverairaverairaveraira}] \setuppapersize[A10] \starttext \null \stoptext I get the following title info in the metadata: $ pdfinfo a.pdf Title: Tereverairav- erairaveraira With the same version and LuaTeX, I get: $ pdfinfo a.pdf Title: Tereverairaverairaveraira I have no idea about what might be causing the hyphenation of the metadata title in LMTX. I have reproduced this in both Linux64 and Win64. Could anyone confirm the issue? Many thanks for your help, Pablo

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Starthanging inside reverse paragraph incorrectly places distance
by Aryeh Zapinsky 09 Jul '26

09 Jul '26

Hi, It seems like the distance option in \starthanging puts a variable amount of space between the hanging content and the wrapping text. When using r2l, this seems to work as intended. When using in a paragraph that has direction=reverse set, it appears the distance is placed between the start of the paragraph and the hanging content and pushes up against the wrapping text. Anything to do to fix this? Also tangentially, when using r2l, location has to be set to right to place it in the correct location on the right side of the text, while using start paragraph where direction is reverse, the location has to be set to right to place it on the right side of the text. Minimal example below and screenshots attached. Any help is appreciated. -- Aryeh *Minimal example:* \definefontfeature[minimal][hebrew] \starttypescript [serif] [hebrew] \definefontsynonym [Serif] [file:/workspaces/context_lmtx/context_2/build_from_cmake_2/context_from_scratch/tex/texmf-fonts/firago/FiraGO-Regular.ttf][features=minimal] \definefontsynonym [SerifBold][file:/workspaces/context_lmtx/context_2/build_from_cmake_2/context_from_scratch/tex/texmf-fonts/firago/FiraGO-Regular.ttf][features=minimal] \stoptypescript \definetypeface [hebrew] [rm] [serif] [hebrew] \definetypeface [hebrew] [ss] [serif] [hebrew] \setupbodyfont[hebrew, 20pt] \setupalign[r2l] \setupdirections[bidi=global, method=unicode] \definegridsnapping[tolerant] \setuplayout [grid=normal] \starttext \startuseMPgraphic{letter_w} picture q; q := outlinetext(\MPstring{hebrew_letter}) scaled 3; for i within q: j := j + 1; draw pathpart i withpen pencircle scaled 2; endfor; \stopuseMPgraphic \starttexdefinition hangingCharacter #1 \setMPtext{hebrew_letter}{#1} \hbox{\useMPgraphic{letter_w}} \stoptexdefinition \starthanging[distance=3*ex,location=left]{\snaptogrid\vbox{\hangingCharacter{חַ}}} י ה' וּבָרוּךְ צוּרִי בַּה' תִּתְהַלֵּל נַפְשִׁי כִּי ה' יָאִיר נֵרִי בְּהִלּוֹ נֵרוֹ עֲלֵי רֹאשִׁי % \stophanging \blank \defineparagraphs[ChaiHashemPar][n=2, direction=reverse] \startChaiHashemPar \startframedtext[width=.5\textwidth,align=flushright,strut=none] \starthanging[distance=3*ex,location=right]{{\hangingCharacter{חַ}}} י ה' וּבָרוּךְ צוּרִי בַּה' תִּתְהַלֵּל נַפְשִׁי כִּי ה' יָאִיר נֵרִי בְּהִלּוֹ נֵרוֹ עֲלֵי רֹאשִׁי % \stophanging \stopframedtext \ChaiHashemPar \startframedtext[width=.5\textwidth,align=flushright,strut=none] \starthanging[distance=3*ex,location=right]{{\hangingCharacter{יִ}}} שְׁלַח מַלְאָכוֹ לְפָנָי לְלַוֹּתִי לְוָיָה בְּכוֹס יְשׁוּעוֹת אֶשָּׂא פָנָי מְנָת כּוֹסִי רְוָיָה \stophanging \stopframedtext \stopChaiHashemPar \stoptext

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