on the fly TeX typesetting
Hi all, I'm just wondering how TeX labels in metapost pictures are generated when using mplib: if the set of pictures are all build through the library which saves loading time and hd read/writes, it would be strange to launch another TeX compiler. At the same time, if it were possible to have a set of defines (some macros, like for instance a set up of fonts) for TeX and be able to typeset, say, a vbox on the fly (that is, without having to deal with pages and so on), it would allow several application to take advantage of the typesetting capabilities of TeX. Any plan for a texlib? Olivier
Olivier wrote:
Hi all,
I'm just wondering how TeX labels in metapost pictures are generated when using mplib: if the set of pictures are all build through the library which saves loading time and hd read/writes, it would be strange to launch another TeX compiler.
i'm not sure what you mean .. in mkiv there are no tex compilers launched, everything happens internally
At the same time, if it were possible to have a set of defines (some macros, like for instance a set up of fonts) for TeX and be able to typeset, say, a vbox on the fly (that is, without having to deal with pages and so on), it would allow several application to take advantage of the typesetting capabilities of TeX. Any plan for a texlib?
not on the short term (i.e. we will start looking into it when luatex is done which will be after 2010) Hans ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE Ridderstraat 27 | 8061 GH Hasselt | The Netherlands tel: 038 477 53 69 | fax: 038 477 53 74 | www.pragma-ade.com | www.pragma-pod.nl -----------------------------------------------------------------
I'm just wondering how TeX labels in metapost pictures are generated when using mplib: if the set of pictures are all build through the library which saves loading time and hd read/writes, it would be strange to launch another TeX compiler.
i'm not sure what you mean .. in mkiv there are no tex compilers launched, everything happens internally
In the case of a standalone metapost graphic, if some label requires TeX typesetting, the metapost file is first processed by mpost, then the need for TeX typesetting is discovered and TeX is launched to produce the labels and they are incorporated back into the metapost figure, right? So in the case of mplib who takes care of the label typesetting? Does your already running instance of TeX (LuaTeX and mkiv) handles the job of typesetting the labels? Even if this is completely disconnected from the flow of the document currently processed? Olivier
Olivier wrote:
I'm just wondering how TeX labels in metapost pictures are generated when using mplib: if the set of pictures are all build through the library which saves loading time and hd read/writes, it would be strange to launch another TeX compiler. i'm not sure what you mean .. in mkiv there are no tex compilers launched, everything happens internally
In the case of a standalone metapost graphic, if some label requires TeX typesetting, the metapost file is first processed by mpost, then the need for TeX typesetting is discovered and TeX is launched to produce the labels and they are incorporated back into the metapost figure, right? So in the case of mplib who takes care of the label typesetting?
nothing ... handling text is then up to the calling applications; from the perspective of mp text is just a picture or whatever else it can manipulate
Does your already running instance of TeX (LuaTeX and mkiv) handles the job of typesetting the labels? Even if this is completely disconnected from the flow of the document currently processed?
well, did you try it? the mpost related code in mkiv does the labels (there is/will be an article on how that is done in a couple of tex user group journals); so ... in context/mkiv no tex runs inside tex runs unless you do somethign real tricky like graphictext which needs to pipe pdf code into pdtoedit Hans ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE Ridderstraat 27 | 8061 GH Hasselt | The Netherlands tel: 038 477 53 69 | fax: 038 477 53 74 | www.pragma-ade.com | www.pragma-pod.nl -----------------------------------------------------------------
nothing ... handling text is then up to the calling applications; from the perspective of mp text is just a picture or whatever else it can manipulate
Does your already running instance of TeX (LuaTeX and mkiv) handles the job of typesetting the labels? Even if this is completely disconnected from the flow of the document currently processed?
well, did you try it? the mpost related code in mkiv does the labels (there is/will be an article on how that is done in a couple of tex user group journals); so ... in context/mkiv no tex runs inside tex runs unless you do somethign real tricky like graphictext which needs to pipe pdf code into pdtoedit
Many thanks Hans for your explanations. I was just curious how things worked because there are a lot of user applications that would benefit from on the fly typesetting on a single page (a vbox). Olivier
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Olivier