- ntg-context - Mailing Lists

*Not* starting a section at the very bottom of a page
by Jim 25 Apr '25

25 Apr '25

This could be a bug report, but it is mostly a request for assistance. In https://www.pragma-ade.com/general/manuals/mathincontext-screen.pdf I see "2.11 Big operators" is at the very bottom of a page (no "content" of section 2.11 is on that page). This is an example of what I don't want, and anyone who feels the same way would consider this a (very minor) bug report for the (otherwise most excellent) math manual. For plain TeX, I have been using a macro I wrote called \need, so that a usage like \need 2cm would end the current page before omitting any more material, if there is less than 2cm left on the current page. I then used this in chapter and section macros (and anywhere else I felt like). I have played around a little bit with converting that macro for ConTeXt, but I'm not as confident that it Does The Right Thing in ConTeXt as for plain TeX. Q: is there a ConTeXt macro which does a \page if there is less space on the current page than specified by the argument to the macro? Thanks. Jim

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Bug report about \definefallbackfamily and other questions
by Sylvain Hubert 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

Hello, 1 bug report + 3 questions: ___ # Bug report: \definefallbackfamily ignoring font features ```tex \definefallbackfamily[mainface][rm][Noto Serif][preset=range:greek, sl={style:tf, features:slanted}] \definefontfamily[mainface][rm][latinmodernroman] \setupbodyfont[mainface] \starttext \sl something αβγ \stoptext ``` The three greek letters are slanted when compiled with older ConTeXt LMTX (before Oct.19, 2024), but they remain upright under the latest version. ___ # Question: ad-hoc font features I tried to specify ad-hoc font features (see below) in `\definefontfamily` like slant+bold, without naming the feature with `\definefontfeature` since they're not supposed to be reused. But the resulting fonts are always thicker than expected. Then I found that, even with empty effects, `features:{effect={}}` itself makes the font ultra bold. ```tex \definefontfamily[mainface][rm][Noto Serif][sl={style:tf, features:{effect={}}}] \setupbodyfont[mainface] \starttext \sl something αβγ \stoptext ``` Is this a bug, or is there any justification behind it? ___ # Question: feature inheritance of `\definefontfamily` When I customize fonts with \definefontfamily, e.g: ```tex % some other customization with \definefallbackfamily ... \definefontfamily[mainface][rm][latinmodernroman] \definefontfamily[mainface][tt][latinmodernmono] \setupbodyfont[mainface] \starttext \tt\sl something \stoptext ``` the slanted monospace becomes some kind of italic. To recover the default behavior, the slant variant must be explicitly specified: ```tex % some other customization with \definefallbackfamily ... \definefontfamily[mainface][rm][latinmodernroman] \definefontfamily[mainface][tt][latinmodernmono][sl=lmmonoslant10regular] \setupbodyfont[mainface] \starttext \tt\sl something \stoptext ``` But it's unproductive to copy-paste full specification (slanted, bold, ...) of the builtin latin modern. Is there any way to avoid this by somehow inheriting the default specification? ___ # Question: ConTeXt LMTX version control Where can one find older releases of ConTeXt LMTX when encountering problems like the bug above? https://github.com/contextgarden/context looks promising, but it doesn't provide release artifacts, nor build instructions. I could help add a workflow for automated release to it if someone kindly provides a built instruction. ___ Best regards, Sylvain

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Rotating and scaling images to fit a page
by Michael Guravage 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

Greetings, I have many images, all with different aspect ratios, that I would like to collect in a document. Each image should be rotated and scaled to fit its page. My MWE uses an image's width and height to discern whether it's wide, tall, or square. This works, but I feel I'm reinventing the wheel. Is there a more straightforward way to implement this? Any suggestions would be much appreciated. -- With kind regards, Michael Guravage \showgrid \setuplayout [header=0pt, footer=0pt, topspace=0pt, bottomspace=0pt, height=middle, width=middle, backspace=0pt] \starttext \startluacode require "lfs" function GetFileExtension(url) return url:match("^.+(%..+)$") end cwd=lfs.currentdir() for file in lfs.dir(cwd) do suffix = GetFileExtension(file) if suffix == ".png" then image = figures.getinfo(file).used width = image.width or 0 height = image.height or 0 aspect = height/width if (aspect > 0.9 and aspect < 1.1 ) then context.externalfigure({file},{width="\\textwidth"}) -- almost square elseif height < width then context.externalfigure({file},{width="\\textheight", orientation=90}) -- landscape else context.externalfigure({file},{height="\\textheight"}) -- portrait end context.page() end end \stopluacode \stoptext

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Optional delimited arguments with key-value sets?
by G.C.H.M. Verhaag 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

Hi ConTeXt users, I'm trying to build a user-defined command called *mycommand* and followed the hints on (https://wiki.contextgarden.net/ConTeXt_and_Lua_programming/Tutorials/System…) \def\dodefinemycommand[#1][#2]% {\getparameters[\??xx#1][#2]} \def\mycommand% {\dodoubleargumentwithset\dodefinemycommand\strut\blank[2*big] See what happens: \@@xxonex} and call it with: *\mycommand[one,two][x=1,y=2]* ** This yields a fatal error; while I'd expect something like: *See what happens: 1* What am I doing wrong here? ** ** Gerard P.S. Currently using version: 2023.02.14 17:44!

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Aligning sub- and superscripts
by Florent Michel 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

Hi, I was going through the ‘Mathematics/Mathematical glyphs’ section of the wiki. Unless I am missing something, the first method proposed in the section ‘Subscript and superscript’ ( https://wiki.contextgarden.net/Mathematics/Mathematical_glyphs#Subscript_an…) to align sub- and superscripts does not seem to align them with ConTeXt 2025.04.01. The following example: \starttext $T^a_b^c$ $T^a{}_b{}^c{}$ \stoptext produces (unless my eyes are deceiving me) twice the same output, with the subscript b below a. One possible workaround is to add 0-width spaces after indices (I just added this workaround to the wiki so that it shows one working option). This seems a bit of a hack, though (and not the easiest to type with most keyboards), and the results are not perfect (the space between the a and c looks a bit too wide to me; although that is probably subjective, and can be resolved by manually adding \kern s). Would anyone know if there is a better (easier to type and/or producing a better result without having to manually add negative \kern s) solution? Cheers, Florent

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read out of \tx-value possible?
by Thomas Meyer 22 Apr '25

22 Apr '25

Hi folks, is it possible to read out the value of \tx (or \txx ... ) for calculations if bodyfont and fontsize is given? \the\tx doesn't work. \setuplayout[grid=yes] \setupbodyfont[libertinus,12pt] \setupinterlinespace[1.25\bodyfontsize] \starttext \samplefile{tufte}\par \startlinecorrection \setuplocalinterlinespace[12.5pt] \placefigure [middle,nonumber]{\tx\midaligned{bla blablabla blabla\\ blubdibla blabla bla}} {\externalfigure[][height=40mm, width=60mm]} \stoplinecorrection \samplefile{tufte}\par \stoptext I would like to calculate the setuplocalinterlinespace similar to the setupinterlinespace. Thanks in advance Thomas

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Why is this code not creating "Ibid" style entries?
by Joel 18 Apr '25

18 Apr '25

I created this simple macro, for citing papers. Basically just use this format: \turabian{bibtextkey}{page range} or \turabian{smith1980}{10-23} ...and it places a citation. Now, one feature I needed was if the bibtextkey ever repeated, it should instead display "Ibid. p. 10-23" So if I have text like this... This is a passage about some trees. The trees were tall. \turabian{smith1980}{2-30} The trees were also really green.\turabian{smith1980}{40-44} ...the second citation just displays the "Ibid., p. 40-44". I did this by at the end of the macro, setting \setvalue{previousmymacro}{#1}, then checking if that value is the same the next time hte macro is called. So its just checking, if #1 is same as last time the macro was called, then use Ibid. Something though isn't working as expected. Why isn't this displaying Ibid. when it should for repeated bibtextkeys? --Joel Code: \let\previousmymacro\empty \define[2]\turabian{% \iftok{#1}{\getvalue{previousmymacro}}% \doifemptyelse{#2}{% \footnote{Ibid.}\nocite[#1]% }{% \footnote{Ibid., #2.}\nocite[#1]% }% \else% \doifemptyelse{#2}{% \cite[#1]% }{% \cite[loctext={#2}][#1]% }% \fi% \setvalue{previousmymacro}{#1}% }%

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Re: ask for help on balancing columnset
by wangzhongtian 18 Apr '25

18 Apr '25

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ask for help on balancing columnset
by wangzhongtian 17 Apr '25

17 Apr '25

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How do I remove the indent of a table-in-itemize?
by LPr Pontex 16 Apr '25

16 Apr '25

Hello, here's a sample code: ---- \starttext \startitemize[packed_,joinedup_][headstyle_=] \head Ccc: \startitemize[packed][width=0pt] \item Ddd \starttabulate[|||r|] \NI Aaa \NC Bbb \AR \stoptabulate \stopitemize \stopitemize \stoptext ---- How do I remove the blank space in front of the table, marked by the green line in the picture, so that the text "- Aaa Bbb" moves just below the "- Ddd"? TIA. Best regards, Lukas

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Alternate text for images?
by Matthias Weber 15 Apr '25

15 Apr '25

Hello, Is there an option for \includegraphics to add an alternate text to an image to make it accessible for screen readers? Thanks, Matthias

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combining natural tables and itemize with \its
by Henning Hraban Ramm 14 Apr '25

14 Apr '25

Hi, I’d like to have a kind of questionnaire in a table and thought it would make sense to use \its. While there’s an integration of tabulate and itemize, I can’t get it working with a natural table. Is this possible at all? \starttext % simple itemize works: \startitemize[6,nowhite][items=10,width=10em,distance=1em] \dorecurse{10}{\its \recurselevel} \stopitemize % this doesn’t work \startitemize[6,nowhite][items=10,width=10em,distance=1em] \bTABLE \bTR\bTD Option\eTD\bTD Value\eTD\eTR \dorecurse{10}{ \bTR \bTD Option No.\expanded{\recurselevel}\eTD \bTD \its … \eTD \eTR } \eTABLE \stopitemize \stoptext I’m also missing some expansion in the table… Hraban

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new way to do \addff?
by Mohammad Hossein Bateni 12 Apr '25

12 Apr '25

Hello, \addff (and \doaddfeature) no longer seem to work. What's the alternative to add/remove features on the fly? MNWE: === \starttext \startluacode fonts.handlers.otf.addfeature{ name = "fanum", type = "substitution", data = { [0x30] = 0x41 -- '0' => 'A' } } \stopluacode \definefontfeature[fanum][fanum=yes] {0123 %\addff{fanum} \doaddfeature{fanum} 0123 %% does not work \definedfont[dejavusans*fanum] 0123 %% works } 0123 \stoptext ===

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\switchtobodyfont issue
by Alan Bowen 11 Apr '25

11 Apr '25

I have the following: \starttext A. \switchtobodyfont[10pt]{ First published by Stojan Novaković in 1877 in his anthology \modCyr{\emph{Примери књижевности и jезика старога и српско-словенскога}} (Belgrade/\modCyr{Београд: Издање и штампа државне штампариjе}, pp.\ 504–505). } \blank[big,fixed] B. \switchtobodyfont[9pt]{ First published by Stojan Novaković in 1877 in his anthology \modCyr{\emph{Примери књижевности и jезика старога и српско-словенскога}} (Belgrade/\modCyrfn{Београд: Издање и штампа државне штампариjе}, pp.\ 504–505). } \stoptext This works as expected at 10pt but fails at 9pt (no Russian is printed). The problem does not seem to be with dejavu. I have plainly missed something. But what? Alan

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Thesis in ConTeXt
by Gerion Entrup 11 Apr '25

11 Apr '25

Hi, I just published my PhD thesis in ConTeXt (with graphics in LaTeX/TikZ) [1]. For a lot of typesetting tasks I got great help here. Thank you for making ConTeXt and thank you for helping me here! I published the source code here [2] to maybe give something back. For this community, probably the most interesting part are the data and acronyms "modules". ## Data For scientific papers, often you need to embed some measurement data. The simple approach here is to let some programs produce the data and then just copy them data for data into the text. This, however, is a really tedious and error-prone task when you do it multiple times. Thus, a colleague of mine develops versuchung [3] and dataref [4]. The first one is a Python library to output measurement data in a defined format and the latter is a LaTeX/PGF library to embed that data referenced by its key into a LaTeX document. For ConTeXt, this was not possible. Therefore, Versuchung is now able to directly output lua tables and "data.lua" [5] provides minimal tooling to read that data in a ConTeXt document. The idea is to have a function "get_experiment" to get all data of a specific experiment. The function returns another function that allows to give a specific string (the keys in the Lua table) to get the actual data. The meaning of returning another function is to be able to track all usages of the data (for example one can generate a datagraphy with this). Example usages are here [6] and here [7]. ## Acronyms I wrote the thesis in German but had the problem that a lot of computer science acronyms are in English. I therefore decided to use either the German long version (correctly declined) or the English acronym. However, this should happen in an automated way (I want to always write down the acronym in the source code) and it should track that the acronym is _always_ fully described before using it. This behavior is similar to the acronym package of LaTeX [8]. To simplify data transfer the logic and the acronyms are entirely in Lua and I just provided an interface for ConTeXt/TeX. The acronym logic is here [9], the TeX interface here [10]. It provides mainly the \acr command with a few arguments: \acr[f, l, p, g, d, a, b]{my-acronym} - f (full) to get the full acronym: acronym in long form in German, English long form and acronym - l (long) to get the acronym written out - p (plural) to get the plural form - g (genitive) to get the genitive form - d (dative) to get the dative form - a (accusative) to get the accusative form - b (bestimmt) to get the definite form (indefinite otherwise) A test document is also provided [11] (I attached the generated PDF for that document). This is _not_ generically usable. It works for the acronyms used in the thesis. I had a hard time figure out patterns for endings in German (I'm not a linguist) and basically provide exactly the patterns for the acronyms in the thesis. It may be useful anyway. ## General experience with ConTeXt so far I used LaTeX a lot, I've written my master's and PhD thesis in ConTeXt now. Recently, I also experimented with Typst. In general, I find ConTeXt way more consistent than LaTeX. I really like the key value interface for most functions. It also feels like (and is) a complete system (not like LaTeX as a system consisting of _a lot of_ different modules, most of them playing together just most of the times). I find Lua way easier to use as TeX as a programming language, therefore I prefer writing everything that contains programming logic in Lua. AFAIK, this aligns with ConTeXt. BTW, does a public Lua interface of ConTeXt exist with a reference what ConTeXt specific functions can be called directly in Lua? I find the ConTeXt source code hard to read. I dug around in the source code for typesetting references to personalize them and needed time to find the files that are responsible for this and understand the relevant variable and function names therein. When searching (grep) for a command, I often got some really long lists of commands containing the one I searched for, but I had a hard time finding the TeX and Lua code that implemented that specific command. I also needed some time to find out that manuals exist for most parts (first source for information was the wiki). When I found them, though, they were really helpful, especially for more low level knowledge (and as code examples). The context command line program is way better than the ones LaTeX provides (something like latexmk for example is simply not needed). Also, ConTeXt is way faster than LaTeX (though much slower than Typst but AFAIK, Typst is not as complete as ConTeXt). Best, Gerion [1] https://repo.uni-hannover.de/handle/123456789/18862 [2] https://codeberg.org/gerion/phd [3] https://github.com/stettberger/versuchung [4] https://www.ctan.org/pkg/dataref [5] https://codeberg.org/gerion/phd/src/branch/main/data.lua [6] https://codeberg.org/gerion/phd/src/branch/main/diss-style.tex#L620 [7] https://codeberg.org/gerion/phd/src/branch/main/cha/08-os-modell.tex#L283 [8] https://www.ctan.org/pkg/acronym [9] https://codeberg.org/gerion/phd/src/branch/main/acronyms.lua [10] https://codeberg.org/gerion/phd/src/branch/main/diss-style.tex#L564 [11] https://codeberg.org/gerion/phd/src/branch/main/acronymtest.tex

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Help \setuparranging
by Alan Caruanambo 10 Apr '25

10 Apr '25

Hello, I need to arrange A5 paper inside A4, in order to save paper and so that the cut line always remains inside and the original edge outside. SHEET 01 front reverse ------------ ------------ | | | | | | | 4 | 1 | | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | ------------ ------------ SHEET 02 front reverse ------------ ------------ | | | | | | | 8 | 5 | | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | ------------ ------------ SHEET 03 front reverse ------------ ------------ | | | | | | | 12 | 9 | | 10| 11 | | | | | | | ------------ ------------ I have this code. How can I modify it to achieve what I want? \setuppapersize[A5][A4,landscape] \setuparranging[2UP,2SIDE] \showframe \setuplayout[middle] \starttext \dorecurse{100}{\input knuth \relax} \stoptext

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non standard tag for structure
by Pablo Rodriguez 10 Apr '25

10 Apr '25

Hans, with the following source, veraPDF-1.29.11 complains about a non-standard tag named /documentpart: \setuptagging[state=start] \setupbackend [format=PDF/A-3a, intent=sRGB IEC61966-2.1, level=0] \starttext whatever \pdfbackendactualtext{abc}{hoh} \stoptext The problematic object reads: 4 0 obj << /K 28 0 R /ParentTree 5 0 R /RoleMap << /break /NonStruct /document /Document /documentpart /DocumentFragment /navigationpage /NonStruct >> /Type /StructTreeRoot >> endobj If I replace (according to https://opensource.adobe.com/dc-acrobat-sdk-docs/pdfstandards/PDF32000_2008…) /documentpart with /Part, validation in veraPDF is perfectly fine. BTW, /DocumentFragment seems not to be included in PDF-1.7 (https://opensource.adobe.com/dc-acrobat-sdk-docs/pdfstandards/PDF32000_2008…) According to https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-model/blob/4c8e855b68546547971121281ff2a…, /DocumentFragment seems to be only available in PDF-2.0. Providing a patch for strc-tag.lmt would be easy, but this would affect to ua-2 (which may use /DocumentFragment). Many thanks for your help, Pablo

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No pagenumber on first page
by Thomas Meyer 10 Apr '25

10 Apr '25

Hi folks, if I use this: \setupheadertexts[] \setuptexttexts [margin] [] [\unframed[align=middle,width=\outermarginwidth]{\pagenumber}] [\unframed[align=middle,width=\outermarginwidth]{\pagenumber}] [] \starttext \dorecurse{50}{\samplefile{tufte}\par} \stoptext How can I avoid the pagenumber on the first page? Thank you very much for your help! Greetings Thomas

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Karl Berry "Wizard of Systems"
by luigi scarso 10 Apr '25

10 Apr '25

https://x.com/TeXUsersGroup/status/1909459838838751675 """ TUG news: Motion 2025.2 is almost unanimously (with Karl Berry abstaining) approved. The motion awards Karl Berry with with a lifetime membership and the title of "Wizard of Systems" in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the TeX community. """ A pillar on which our community stands. -- luigi

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regular online meet-up
by Henning Hraban Ramm 09 Apr '25

09 Apr '25

You’re invited to our regular online meet-up, this upcoming Wednesday, April 9th, 19:00 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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character replace
by Alan Caruanambo 09 Apr '25

09 Apr '25

Hi, I'm using a font (only in the headers) that doesn't have Spanish characters. What I want is for it to automatically replace the text with a custom font when I type it in the header. Sample: \chapter{Peru} ==> Peru (replace ú with u) ========= \definefont[typographercaps][name:typographercaps*default at 35pt] \setuphead [chapter] [align=middle, color=darkred, number=no, style=\typographercaps] \starttext \dorecurse{5}{\chapter{ann chapter} \input knuth} \stoptext

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Draw cutting line
by Alan Caruanambo 08 Apr '25

08 Apr '25

Hello, I want to draw the cutting line on an A4 sheet. cutting line (to draw) | ------------ | | | | | | | | | ------------ \setuppapersize[A5][A4,landscape] \setuparranging[2*2] \showframe \setuplayout[middle] \starttext \dorecurse{100}{\input knuth \relax} \stoptext

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There is something wrong with this paragraph.
by Ursula Hermann 08 Apr '25

08 Apr '25

Dear List, There is a problem with this paragraph, because the has not the right height? \starttext \switchtobodyfont[termes, 7.70pt] \definetextbackground[MyBackground][ location=paragraph, background=color, backgroundcolor=greenyellow, x=F1E788, leftoffset=.8\bodyfontsize, rightoffset=.8\bodyfontsize, topoffset=.8\bodyfontsize, bottomoffset=.8\bodyfontsize, frame=off, width=.8\textwidth] \startMyBackground \usemodule[amsl] \startnarrow[left=2.90mm, right=2.90mm][left, right] {\bf Lebesque-integrierbare Funktionen}\par \definehspace[ein 1,2][0.25em] Wenn ($ a$,$ b$) $\subseteq$ $\reals$ ein Intervall bezeichnet, dann ist die Menge $L$$^\uparrow$(($a$,$b$)) die Menge der Funktionen, die fast über- all Grenzwert einer monoton wachsenden Folge von Trep penfunktionen ($\varphi_k$) sind für die die Folge ($\int^b_a$ $\varphi_k$ ($x$) $dx$) konvergiert. Für $f$ $\in$ \startformula \quad \int[method=auto] {f(x) \dd x}_{a}^{b}=\lim_{k\to\infty}\int[method=auto]_{a}^{b}\varphi_k (x) dx). \stopformula \stopMyBackground \stoptext Many Thanks Uschi

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Hello, I need to arrange A5 paper inside A4, in order to save paper and so that the cut line always remains inside and the original edge outside. SHEET 01 front ------------ | | | | 4 | 1 | | | | ------------ reverse ------------ | | | | 2 | 3 | | | | ------------ SHEET 02 front ------------ | | | | 8 | 5 | | | | ------------ reverse ------------ | | | | 6 | 7 | | | | ------------
by Alan Caruanambo 08 Apr '25

08 Apr '25

1 0

issue with \savebuffer in LMTX
by Pablo Rodriguez 06 Apr '25

06 Apr '25

Dear list, I have the following sample: \startbuffer[x] a \stopbuffer \starttext \savebuffer[x][\jobname-temp.tex, prefix=no] whatever \stoptext Compiling it with current latest (2025.04.01 12:45) LMTX, the saved file name is "x". With current latest MkIV, the saved file name is \jobname-temp.tex. I think this may be a bug. Could anyone confirm this? Many thanks for your help, Pablo

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