[BlindMath] New to LaTeX

Mon Sep 25 19:49:59 UTC 2023

yes, you type latex notation in a text file with .md extention and convert it to html using pandock which is a command line tool. There is an nvda-addon that uses pandock to convert markdown to html with keyboard shortcuts. You can look it up if you aren't familiar with CLI.

> On 24 Sep 2023, at 11:11 PM, Dana Ibrahim via BlindMath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Mr. Jonathon,
> Thank you for your elaborate explanation.
> Yes, I am a windows user.
> I do have a couple of questions:
> 1. Does markdown handle LaTeX notation, or is there a different way to write
> equations using markdown?
> 2. What i
> pandock?
> Thank you,
> Dana
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jonathan Godfrey
> via BlindMath
> Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2023 11:03 PM
> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Jonathan Godfrey <A.J.Godfrey at massey.ac.nz>
> Subject: Re: [BlindMath] New to LaTeX
> 
> Hello Dana,
> 
> I'm assuming you are using Windows. If not, you need to tell us, so that
> someone else can offer more OS-specific assistance.
> 
> LaTeX to Word is best avoided. There have been converters but there's just
> no point in using this workflow.
> 
> MS Word is supposed to handle equations typed in LaTeX form. Someone else is
> going to have to give you pointers on that because I haven't created an MS
> Word document in over 8 years, and things have changed a lot over that time.
> This may be all you need at this stage so do consider it.
> 
> I believe you will get the greatest benefit if you use a tool that provides
> an accessible outcome. If you use markdown to HTML, the equations you create
> (using LaTeX notation) will be interpreted by the screen reader.
> 
> To write a markdown document is simple. Open a text editor, even Notepad
> will do. Now type anything you like; save this file using the extension md
> (short for markdown).
> 
> Conversion is not so simple. You need to use pandoc and a command line to do
> the conversion. On Windows, open a command prompt (Windows then type cmd and
> hit <enter>) At this prompt, type winget install pandoc That installs
> pandoc; look out for feedback which includes progress alerts. You should not
> need to choose folders or settings, but you may need to give permission to
> proceed
> 
> You will need a command prompt again to process the markdown files you
> write. I suggest putting them in a specific folder for the moment. Open a
> command prompt in that folder. There are a variety of ways to do this. Now
> type the command
>   Pandoc MyFile.md -o MyFile.html
> 
> 
> Your new file is ready to open in your browser. Now make changes to the
> starting file. You will need to process it over and over to see the impact
> your working has.
> 
> Equations are written in LaTeX and a lot of basic formatting is easily
> incorporated. I suggest using ChatGpt or your preferred AI tool to ask how
> to represent something in markdown. E.g. How do I write the equation for a
> straight line in LaTeX?
> 
> HTH,
> Jonathan
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Dana Ibrahim via
> BlindMath
> Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2023 10:58 PM
> To: peter.julien.rayner at gmail.com; 'Blind Math list for those interested in
> mathematics' <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: dana.mohsen.azim at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [BlindMath] New to LaTeX
> 
> Hello all,
> Thank you for the feedback.
> Where can I learn these tools?
> Also, can Latex be processed into word?
> Should I start by learning LaTex or markdown?
> Best,
> Dana
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Peter Rayner via
> BlindMath
> Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2023 7:46 AM
> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: peter.julien.rayner at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [BlindMath] New to LaTeX
> 
> For what it's worth I work in LaTeX i.e that's my internal format. I develop
> and notate my maths content in it, resorting to braille only when my memory
> can't manipulate the equations. I process to pdf only to communicate
> visually. markdown would probably do the same job. I've come to rely so much
> on LaTeX features like the extraordinary diagram-drawing environment
> tikz/pgf and haven't convinced myself equivalent functionality is available
> elsewhere. pdf/LaTeX also allows me split screen presentations where I have
> my notes on a braille display and the projector/conferencing application has
> the presentation. I've not found another way to do this though it must be
> possible in browser-based methods. My own summary is that markdown is an
> easier tool to grasp, LaTeX probably a better toolkit and you won't go far
> wrong learning either of these. Personally I'd start with markdown and, by
> the time you've done that, you've learned most of the hard stuff from LaTeX
> anyway.
> cheers
> Peter
> 
> Jonathan Godfrey via BlindMath writes:
>> Hello,
>> 
>> Yes, the most common end-product for LaTeX documents is the dreaded pdf.
>> 
>> It doesn't have to be that way though, but the tools to create HTML are
>> not
> well-known to authors.
>> 
>> I recommend thinking about using markdown instead. You use the same
> commands to generate equations and mathematical symbols, but you don't need
> to learn all the stuff that LaTeX includes.
>> 
>> You will need a program called pandoc to process the markdown file into
> HTML. You edit the markdown file (just a plain text file with a different
> extension) in your chosen text editor.
>> The hardest part is the command to process the file into the HTML.
>> 
>> I have not used any specific markdown editors, but I do understand some
> have been reviewed by notable blind people.
>> 
>> I hope others share their views.
>> Jonathan
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Dana
>> Ibrahim via BlindMath
>> Sent: Friday, September 22, 2023 9:38 AM
>> To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'
>> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: dana.mohsen.azim at gmail.com
>> Subject: [BlindMath] New to LaTex
>> 
>> Hello all,
>> 
>> I hope everyone is doing great.
>> 
>> I recently heard about the concept of LaTex, but I want to learn more
>> about
> it.
>> From what I've heard, you can type math symbols using letters. For
>> example,
> typing a fraction would mean that one would type "frac."
>> 
>> I also heard that one can compile these LaTex files into a PDF file,
>> but I
> also know that math PDFs are terrible with screen-readers.
>> 
>> So, what are your experiences with LaTex? How do you read it? What are
>> the
> most accessible applications one can use?
>> 
>> Sorry for the long email.
>> 
>> Best,
>> Dana
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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> 
> --
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