Bizarre phenomenon

Steve Gray

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Oct 12, 2003, 4:11:12 AM10/12/03

to

I edited, ran, and saved a file "Separate-New.nb" containing
the following code segment.

nn = 5;
makmota;
ptab = {0, 0, 0, 0};
qtab = {3, 4, 4, 3};
rtab = {0, 2, 3, 4};
stab = {3, 2, 3, 1};
qloop;

This code worked. But when I closed Mathematica, restarted it, and
opened a supporting file and then Separate-New.nb, the word "qloop"
mysteriously had something almost invisible between the q and the l.
The same thing happened in a very similar line below this one, but not
on a third very similar line.. These three function names are in
boldface and highlighted in green. The only visible symptom on the
screen is a larger than usual "space" on at least one side of the "l"
or maybe both, but the cursor steps over it normally and does not
indicate an actual space character on either side. When I erase the
word qloop and retype it, everything immediately works.
I have this phenomenon happen almost regularly. I posted a
question about it months ago but no one answered. I am 98% sure that
the "space" was not there when I saved the file.
Any tips? Thank you.

Peter Klamser

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Oct 13, 2003, 4:05:48 AM10/13/03

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Hi, I don't know, which version of Mathematica you are using. But I know this things, when I uses version 4, 4.1 ore something like that.

It vanished with versions greater than 4.1.

Regards Peter

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Steve Gray [mailto:ste...@adelphia.net]
Gesendet: Sonntag, 12. Oktober 2003 10:04
An: math...@smc.vnet.net
Betreff: Bizarre phenomenon

nafod40

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Oct 13, 2003, 4:06:50 AM10/13/03

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Steve Gray wrote:
> I edited, ran, and saved a file "Separate-New.nb" containing
> the following code segment.
>
> nn = 5;
> makmota;
> ptab = {0, 0, 0, 0};
> qtab = {3, 4, 4, 3};
> rtab = {0, 2, 3, 4};
> stab = {3, 2, 3, 1};
> qloop;
>
> This code worked. But when I closed Mathematica, restarted it, and
> opened a supporting file and then Separate-New.nb, the word "qloop"
> mysteriously had something almost invisible between the q and the l.
> The same thing happened in a very similar line below this one, but not

> on a third very similar line. These three function names are in

> boldface and highlighted in green.

The notebook interface is amazingly buggy when it comes to using
anything other than the most mundane typesetting. You use variable fonts
and mathematical typesetting in the same function at your own risk, for
example. The translation to *.m files is very problematic. Could be the
source of your problem here.

Michael Williams

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Oct 13, 2003, 4:07:52 AM10/13/03

to

Hi Steve,

Unfortunately, I have nothing constructive to offer, other than to assure you that you are
not alone. It doesn't happen all that often to my files, but it does occur. I would certainly
like to hear any theories as to how these spurious characters are introduced into the text.

I'm using 4.2 on OSX. (Haven't used 5.0 enough (because of Export bugs) to see it occur
there.)

-mw
Virginia Tech

http://www.apple.com/education/profiles/virginiatech/

On 10/12/03, ste...@adelphia.net (Steve Gray) said:

> I edited, ran, and saved a file "Separate-New.nb" containing
>the following code segment.
>
>nn = 5;
>makmota;
>ptab = {0, 0, 0, 0};
>qtab = {3, 4, 4, 3};
>rtab = {0, 2, 3, 4};
>stab = {3, 2, 3, 1};
>qloop;
>
> This code worked. But when I closed Mathematica, restarted it, and
>opened a supporting file and then Separate-New.nb, the word "qloop"
>mysteriously had something almost invisible between the q and the l.
>The same thing happened in a very similar line below this one, but not