Recognize Common Functions

Within the General Editing Preferences dialog, you may customize the way MathFlow Editor groups successive characters into MathML elements. Character placement within MathML "token" elements affects several things. Most obviously, it affects how characters are typeset. By default, tokens containing single alphabetic characters are assumed to be variables, typeset in italics. Tokens containing multiple alphabetic characters are assumed to be function names, and are typeset in an upright font. Similarly, digits are normally typeset in an upright font. Finally, symbol characters require special handling, including special spacing considerations.

The MathFlow Editor can generally detect numeric and symbol characters, thereby automatically tagging them appropriately. However, alphabetic characters are more ambiguous. When a user types "s", "i", "n", is that the sine function, or three variables being multiplied together? The MathFlow "Recognize Common Functions" preference gives users a choice between two basic models for dealing with this issue.

When recognition of common functions is enabled, MathFlow Editor scans successive runs of characters, and compares them to a list of common functions. When a match is detected, the MathFlow Editor groups those characters together in a single token element, and adds an invisible semantic hint character (following the token) to indicate function application. If no match is detected, each typed character is assumed to be a variable, and is placed in a token element by itself. In most situations, users find this editing model more convenient. For mathematics up to college level, it generally produces high-quality, semantically-meaningful MathML.

When function recognition is not enabled, the user must manually divide alphabetic characters into tokens. Alphabetic characters entered in adjacent positions are always added to a single token element. To break the token element apart, the user must enter a non-alphabetic character. Note that in this mode, it is necessary to enter an Invisible Times semantic hint character between two variables (e.g. "xy"), since they would otherwise be grouped together and typeset in an upright font. Consequently, when recognition of common functions is not enabled, it is best to set the spacebar to insert the Invisible Times character. See Customizing Editing Behavior for more information.

By clicking the Customize button next to the Recognize Common Functions checkbox in the General Preferences dialog, users may define their own functions to be recognized by the application. When a set of characters is entered into the "New function:" box and "Add" is selected, the editor will recognize those individual characters as a function. You may also remove previously defined functions by selecting them and clicking the "Remove" button.