Plugin Latex

Quentin · Post by **Quentin** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 1:43 pm

Hello,

I would like to know how du plugin "latex" for adium works. And how i could use it.

Tanks

(Sorry for the english, I speak french)

Quentin

Perez · Post by **Perez** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:00 pm

To make something in Adium get parsed as LaTeX, put it inside double-dollar-signs:

$$LaTeX$$

This requires that you have Equation Service installed: http://www.esm.psu.edu/mac-tex/EquationService/ .

Also, note that once something has been parsed in the Adium message window, you can click on it to make it revert to text.

There might be more setup involved, but I don't remember for sure... you probably have to log out and back in again after installing, if it doesn't work just to install.

zaudragon · Post by **zaudragon** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:40 am

You need to have LaTeX installed of course

Related Question: What do all of the plugins do and how do you use them?

Post by **bgannin** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 1:53 am

There are dozens of plugins inside Adium, their purpose is to provide functionality, each a separate part, as seen in the list (Get Info -> Plugins)

FredAkbar · Post by **FredAkbar** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 2:40 am

The other person can't see the results of your Latex equation though, right? (Unless they use Latex as well.)

Post by **bgannin** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 2:45 am

FredAkbar wrote:The other person can't see the results of your Latex equation though, right? (Unless they use Latex as well.)

Nope... IIRC it sends as a PDF, could be wrong though.

Post by **evands** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:29 am

bgannin wrote:
FredAkbar wrote:The other person can't see the results of your Latex equation though, right? (Unless they use Latex as well.)
Nope... IIRC it sends as a PDF, could be wrong though.

In your build it probably does, Brian. Text only in releases... it tries to send over directIM (and usually fails) in development builds.

dchoby98 · Post by **dchoby98** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:00 am

Incidentally, LaTeX is a math- and science-oriented typesetting language. For example, $$x^2$$ turns into a nicely-formatted x with exponent 2. It's REALLY handy for math-types (like me). However, you both need the Equation Service (above) AND a working LaTeX installation, which is nontrivial to install. It's tricky but worth it.

zaudragon · Post by **zaudragon** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:02 am

Just a question: why $$text$$?

Why not /latex{text}?

dchoby98 · Post by **dchoby98** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:03 am

Because $$ ... $$ is the LaTeX standard for indicating that the stuff is to be formatted. It's second nature for me to use $$ ... $$ around math.

zaudragon · Post by **zaudragon** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:05 am

really?

Wasn't it $text$ instead?

I guess that's because then "I payed $20 but the price was $15" will become formatted in LaTeX

dchoby98 · Post by **dchoby98** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:08 am

Heh, you have a good point about $ vs. $$. Both can be used in LaTeX, but in general, $ x^2 $ is inline formatting and $$ x^2 $$ is display-style (on a separate line, centered) mode. Yeah, we don't do that right, but single dollar-signs would be tricky to parse correctly.

Quentin · Post by **Quentin** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:20 am

Ok, perfect!

Tanks.

Quentin