Re: text functions in MathML

Hi.

> For string constants I see 2 proposed solutions:
> 
> 1. use <ci>abc</ci> and figure out by the context that "abc" is a constant
> and not a varible.
> 2. use <ms>abc</ms> which is kind of a hack, but will work.
> 
> Also, would the following be legal?
> 
> 3. use <csymbol defintinionURL="constant">abc</csymbol>
> 4. extending <cn type="string"> which I noticed is not disallowed by the
> DTD.

Yes, this would be legal.  

The Math WG had a session on types at its last meeting, and the
outcome was that several WG members are drafting a W3C Note on best
practice for indicating types.  Maybe one of those people could chime
in, and comment on your proposal.  [hint, hint]

I also want to respond to Stan's comment, that it is probably not good
to start recommending naked presentation markup withing content
markup.  So, then, maybe the thing to do is put an ms inside a ci:

<ci><ms>asdf</ms></ci>

This is also legal, right.  

One other point.  Using the ms tag will have the effect of rendering
the contents in quotes by default.  Thus

<ci><ms>asdf</ms></ci>

would render as

"asdf"

If that isn't what you want, then ms is not for you.  (Note, you can
customize the quote characters with attributes).

--Robert

------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Miner                                    RobertM@dessci.com
MathML 2.0 Specification Co-editor                    651-223-2883
Design Science, Inc.   "How Science Communicates"   www.dessci.com
------------------------------------------------------------------

Received on Thursday, 8 August 2002 23:12:52 UTC