MS word to HTML with MathJax: best way?

[impor...@gmail.com]

Hello,

I am a total novice with both HTML and math display issues so please forgive what is likely an easy question.

I am a teacher and have math practice questions in MS Word 2010 format that include many instances of algebra etc. typed via the MS Word equation editor. I have concluded that MathJax is the best way and have a programmer helping me with the necessary HTML coding to link to a MathJax library etc. However, I am uncertain about how to go from MS Word to HTML effectively.

Note that I have many practice questions so my programmer wants me to use Excel as a database to store them, with columns for question, multiple choice answers, explanations etc.

Will the following work, and is there any better way?

1. Take the MS Word document and use Math Type to convert all equations to LaTeX (Convert Equations > Text using MathType translator, "select LaTeX 2.09 and later" > Convert)

2. Manually add basic HTML tags for paragraphs, bold, italics etc. (OR can I do this automatically within Word?)

3. Paste the pieces into Excel (question, multiple choice answers, explanation)

4. From here my programmer takes over and already has a way to display the questions correctly--it's just the math display I'm trying to sort out.

Many thanks to anyone who can help!

[William F Hammond]

On Sun, Jan 19, 2014 at 2:57 AM, <impor...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am a total novice with both HTML and math display issues so please forgive what is likely an easy question.

It's not easy.

> Will the following work, and is there any better way?

> 1. Take the MS Word document and use Math Type to convert all equations to LaTeX (Convert Equations > Text using MathType translator, "select LaTeX 2.09 and later" > Convert)

Re option no. 1:  Doesn't MathType export MathML markup?  If so. use that.

           -- Bill

--

William F Hammond
Email: gel...@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/william.f.hammond
http://www.albany.edu/~hammond/

[Victor Ivrii]

On Sun, Jan 19, 2014 at 12:03 PM, William F Hammond <gel...@gmail.com> wrote:

On Sun, Jan 19, 2014 at 2:57 AM, <impor...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am a total novice with both HTML and math display issues so please forgive what is likely an easy question.

It's not easy.

> Will the following work, and is there any better way?

> 1. Take the MS Word document and use Math Type to convert all equations to LaTeX (Convert Equations > Text using MathType translator, "select LaTeX 2.09 and later" > Convert)

Re option no. 1:  Doesn't MathType export MathML markup?  If so. use that.

           -- Bill

I definitely would not recommend usage of MathType. Many students do it and the resulting LaTeX code for equations is a monstrosity containing tons of hard coding with completely unnecessary \hbox, \hspace etc etc which no human can edit or reuse. 

The truth is that MSW uses (its own version) of LaTeX for equations internally; I don't know how extract it. 

--

Victor Ivrii

[impor...@gmail.com]

I have over 1,000 questions each with multiple instances of expressions/equations in MS Word already, so I need some kind of automated conversion to something that MathJax can read for display in an HTML page. It doesn't worry me if the LaTeX output from MathType can't practically be edited because I will only edit in MathType after I've converted from MSW.

Plan is MSW --> MathType --> LaTeX code --> insert in HTML document that utilizes MathJax.

Because MathType allows togglingn between MathType display and LaTeX, there will be no need to make changes at the LaTeX level. Mistakes/alterations can be handled in MathType interface and then put back to LaTeX.

Still I'm far from certain this is the best way so any other recommendations are appreciated! 

[Peter Krautzberger]

Since you're looking for automation, be sure to check out http://dpcarlisle.blogspot.de/2007/04/xhtml-and-mathml-from-office-20007.html 

peter.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MathJax Users" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mathjax-user...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

[David Carlisle]

On 19 January 2014 19:06, Peter Krautzberger <peter.kra...@mathjax.org> wrote:

Since you're looking for automation, be sure to check out http://dpcarlisle.blogspot.de/2007/04/xhtml-and-mathml-from-office-20007.html 

peter.

Which is related to a question that I was going to ask in this thread.

imported81 you need to distinguish between the math zones in Microsoft Word (2007 and later) and the Math Objects in MathType (any version of Word, so long as you have MathType). The formats are entirely different internally and consequently mechanisms for getting from their to a web page differ. the blog post Peter mentions above is for the built in math zones in Word 2007+.

 

David

[impor...@gmail.com]

Hi David and thanks for the question.

I'm planning to go from Word 2010 "math zones" as you called them to LaTeX via MathType, and then use MathJax to display the LaTeX within HTML pages. I am not using MathType to actually display equations at any point unless I need to come back from LaTeX to make some edit.

[David Carlisle]

On 21 January 2014 10:30, <impor...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi David and thanks for the question.

I'm planning to go from Word 2010 "math zones" as you called them to LaTeX via MathType, and then use MathJax to display the LaTeX within HTML pages. I am not using MathType to actually display equations at any point unless I need to come back from LaTeX to make some edit.

There is no need to go via mathtype or latex, you can simply use cut and paste out of word (or use some scripting as in the blog  article that Peter referenced) That will put MathML on the clipboard which you can simply add to your web page and it will work in browsers that understand that (firefox, and safari) or you can add a link to mathjax so it will work anywhere.

David