Re: [docbook] inline equations

["Bob Stayton" <bobs@sagehill.net>]

As you discovered, inlineequation doesn't permit plain text.  Perhaps it
should, but it currently doesn't.

One solution is to use a phrase element with role="math", and then add a
stylesheet customization to format it.  Here is the XML:

<phrase role="math">&Delta;x = Fm&Delta;t</phrase>

And here is the XSL:

<xsl:template match="phrase[@role = 'math']">
  <xsl:call-template name="inline.italicseq"/>
</xsl:template>

If you don't want italic, then you could just leave out the XSL
customization. This only works for simple math that can be expressed as a
text string.  You could include subscripts and superscripts if needed, but
you won't be able to format complex math expressions.

Bob Stayton
Sagehill Enterprises
DocBook Consulting
bobs@sagehill.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Aidan Lister" <aidanis@gmail.com>
To: <docbook@lists.oasis-open.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 3:06 AM
Subject: [docbook] inline equations


Hi List,

If I have an inline equation, for example:

"The movement of nodes is calculated with the general equation: Δx =
FmΔt where Δx is the incremental displacement vector, F is the driving
force vector, m is the mobility and Δt is the time increment."

I'm unclear as to the markup I should be using within the XML.

F, m and dt being variables should be wrapped in <varname>? The
synopsis for this element points its application more toward
programming. Is it still appropriate?

What about the equation? Δx = FmΔt. As it's not an image, I can't use
<inlineequation> because there would be no graphic element. Is there a
better way?

Thanks,
Aidan