!!Superscript

Woudn't a MathML or LaTeX plugin for the wiki handle it much better?

-- [RadomirDopieralski], 2006-12-15

I strongly disagree that superscript/subscript are a case for MathML etc. Of course, it depends where you come from, but for contents in engineering and science, superscript and subscript is essential. This is historical of course: typewriters could do it, printing could do it cheaply, so people have defined terms where superscript and subscript are semantic, NOT a formatting issue. Example m-super-2 may be square meter, m-sub-2 may be a variable name. Loosing semantics when trying to write a text in a wiki makes people go away. That is my experience from user feedback.

-- [[GregorHagedorn]] - 2007-02-25

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+1 to this one, too.

-- JanneJalkanen

It would but it goes against [Cover the common things people need|Goals]. IMO, it is very common.

Let's be bold and include the markup in [Creole0.4].

-- [EricChartre], 2007-01-11

Can you maybe backup your opinion with some actual examples?

I, for one, feel inconvinced -- haven't seen superscript in other context than math and chemistry for ages.

-- RadomirDopieralski, 2007-01-11

In a non mathematical context, I use it mostly for units of measurement i.e. square meter m^2^. I also use it for orders of magnitude and to express large numbers 1,342 x 10^14^.

-- [EricChartre], 2007-01-11

So you mean units like "m²" and "m³" and large numbers like 1,342e14? :)

I'd use a math extension to get 1,342×10^14 though, if the notation is important, or even an image if you want to present specific typography. We must remember that this is markup for wikis, not general-purpose typesetting program -- as long as you can get the meaning across, the presentation is not that important.

Hey, how about an extension to Creole that turns "1,342e14" scientific notation into "1,342×10^^14^^" one? Mathching thses numbers with an regexp should be simple. Or even an extension to calculate on the fly expressions like "3*40-12". And a rule that turns "m2" into "m²". Or even an extension that adds the "^^" and "~~" for "<sup>" and "<sub>"... Creole is extensible.

-- RadomirDopieralski, 2007-01-11

Unicode already has superscript and subscript numbers. All you need is a way to type or insert them. I can do it on my computer… I guess it depends on the software you have available.

-- AlexSchroeder


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!!Subscript

Woudn't a MathML or LaTeX plugin for the wiki handle it much better?

-- [RadomirDopieralski], 2006-12-15

I strongly disagree that this is a case for MathML etc., compare text for superscript above.

-- [[GregorHagedorn]] - 2007-02-25

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Yes, I would tend to agree. 

-- JanneJalkanen

It would but it goes against [Cover the common things people need|Goals]. IMO, it is not as common as [Superscript] but if we have the latter, why shouldn't we have [Subscript]?.

Let's be bold and include the markup in [Creole0.4].

BTW, I like {{{,,,superscript text,,,}}} better :
* Easier to type on international keyboards
* No collision with anything.

-- [EricChartre], 2007-01-11

We don't have [Superscript] and I don't see how it is more common than subscript in general. Maybe there is some particular use you have in mind, like the "¹", "²", "³" for footnotes, for example?

-- RadomirDopieralski, 2007-01-11

Beside for basic chemistry or for number/variable indices, I don't use it much... Personally, I don't want to force the end-user to learn a new markup language for what I consider as a basic function in most word processors (even if it is sometimes hidden). For subscript, I don't have anything more substantiated.

-- [EricChartre], 2007-01-11

Eric, could you refactor the proposal page to include your argumentation for including subscript and superscript, along with the proposed markup? I think that I'm not good for this, as I find it hard to advocate something that I don't believe in, but I want this to be discussed properly, just in case I'm wrong :).

-- RadomirDopieralski, 2007-01-24

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I'd like to just note that the use of "{{{,,}}}" for subscript conflicts with the notation for „polish quotes” (and not only polish, I think, but I'm not sure), which are commonly written as {{{,,}}}polish quotes{{{''}}} when there are no appropriate characters available (and no, the "DOUBLE LOW-9 QUOTATION MARK" character doesn't appear on polish keyboards. I know that it's just 40 000 000 users, but it would be extremely great if they could be taken into consideration :)

-- [[Radomir Dopieralski]], 2007-Feb-07

You actually type a double comma to get a beginning quote mark?

-- [[Chuck Smith]], 2007-Mar-07

On typewriter or in LaTeX -- yes.

-- [[Radomir Dopieralski]], 2007-Mar-07

But, do Polish writers still typically type a beginning quote mark with two commas?  German also uses a double quote that opens at the bottom of a line.  However, it seems like most people type these quotes using regular quote marks today.

-- [[Chuck Smith]], 2007-Mar-07