tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

Xyne · 2010-05-19 20:55:51

Project page: http://xyne.archlinux.ca/projects/tex2png

After fiddling with other converters I ended up writing my own to do what I needed. I currently use this in my backend toolchain on xyne.archlinux.ca to insert formulae automatically.

I know about texvc but I found it to be poorly documented and very annoying to use. tex2png is a relatively simple bash script with a few convenience options that should be easy to tweak if necessary.

Stalafin · 2010-05-19 21:05:57

He, this is funky; I recently needed to create a hell lot of png's of single equations and more or less used the approach you took.

jt512 · 2010-05-19 22:47:31

@xyne: Can you provide an example of how to use the command? I can't seem to get it to do anything.

Jay

kazuo · 2010-05-19 22:50:41

jt512 wrote:

@xyne: Can you provide an example of how to use the command? I can't seem to get it to do anything.
Jay

I'm not xyne but 'tex2png -c "$\alpha$"' works for me.

jt512 · 2010-05-19 23:02:10

kazuo wrote:

jt512 wrote:
@xyne: Can you provide an example of how to use the command? I can't seem to get it to do anything.
Jay
I'm not xyne but 'tex2png -c "$\alpha$"' works for me.

OK. Your example works for me, too. But why doesn't 'tex2png -c "a + b"'?

Stalafin · 2010-05-19 23:34:11

jt512 wrote:

kazuo wrote:
jt512 wrote:
@xyne: Can you provide an example of how to use the command? I can't seem to get it to do anything.
Jay
I'm not xyne but 'tex2png -c "$\alpha$"' works for me.
OK. Your example works for me, too. But why doesn't 'tex2png -c "a + b"'?

Because "a+b" is not math environment. It has no mathematical meaning (within LaTeX). This is how \usepackage{preview} works. You will not to enclude a+b either in inline math ($ $) or inside a math environment (\begin{equation} \end{equation}). (You might want to replace equation by equation* if you don't want to have numbering.)

jt512 · 2010-05-19 23:37:39

OK, so why do I get no output with tex2png -c '"$a+b$"'?

Stalafin · 2010-05-19 23:42:39

jt512 wrote:

OK, so why do I get no output with tex2png -c '"$a+b$"'?

I don't know what you are doing, but I do get an output.

(In addition to what I said earlier, the only possible way is to put the equation within inline math $ $; Xyne uses the textmath options.)

Xyne · 2010-05-20 00:12:45

Use single quotes if you pass the tex string on the command line. If you use double-quotes, bash will try to interpolate "$a" as a variable, e.g.

# echo "$a+b$"
+b$

You can also use STDIN to pass it tex. Just invoke it "tex2png" then type in what you want. Press ctrl+d to end the input.

That also allows you to pipe in tex. E.g. you can create a plain text file with "$a+b$", save it as "input", then use

tex2png <input

Last edited by Xyne (2010-05-20 00:20:11)

jt512 · 2010-05-20 04:42:46

Thanks, Xyne. I think I'll find a lot of use for this utility.

cl10k · 2010-05-20 06:21:14

Thanks again Xyne! Haven't tried it yet, but looks promising like always. Good job!

Xyne · 2010-05-20 14:53:28

Stalafin wrote:

(In addition to what I said earlier, the only possible way is to put the equation within inline math $ $; Xyne uses the textmath options.)

I didn't fully register that bit when I read your post. It only hit me after I hit my own stumbling block while trying to embed plain text.

I don't understand .sty files at all so there might be a much better way to do it, but for now I've implemented a workaround using "\mbox". It seems to handle everything as expected.

I've also added a new option (-i) to specify inline tex. In combination with the aforementioned workaround and the preview package, dvipng's depth and height output should be correct for everything.

Last edited by Xyne (2010-10-30 16:45:03)

Arch Linux

#1 2010-05-19 20:55:51

tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

#2 2010-05-19 21:05:57

Re: tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

#3 2010-05-19 22:47:31

Re: tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

#4 2010-05-19 22:50:41

Re: tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

#5 2010-05-19 23:02:10

Re: tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

#6 2010-05-19 23:34:11

Re: tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

#7 2010-05-19 23:37:39

Re: tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

#8 2010-05-19 23:42:39

Re: tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

#9 2010-05-20 00:12:45

Re: tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

#10 2010-05-20 04:42:46

Re: tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

#11 2010-05-20 06:21:14

Re: tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

#12 2010-05-20 14:53:28

Re: tex2png - another (La)TeX to PNG converter

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