Re: [AUCTeX-devel] Wrap dollars around active region

[Tassilo Horn]

Mosè Giordano <address@hidden> writes:

> 2013/6/3 Tassilo Horn <address@hidden>:
>> I think it's a good change, but since it's incompatible, users should
>> get some warning message.  That is, `TeX-insert-dollar' should check if
>> the value is a cons, and if not, issue a warning and treat t as ("$"
>> . "$").
> Ok, that's simple to do, but since these variables have been
> introduced some months after release of last stable version, can't we
> assume that people that customized these variables follow AUCTeX
> development?

Ah, you are right.  I've thought `TeX-math-close-single-dollar' was old,
but in fact only `TeX-math-close-double-dollar' is old.

>> BTW, I don't see why we need 2 variables.  Shouldn't
>> `TeX-electric-dollar' with no active region make the behavior you get
>> with `TeX-math-close-single-dollar' and the same customization.
> Good question.  I've supposed someone can want to use
> `TeX-electric-dollar' but not `TeX-math-close-single-dollar' or vice
> versa.  I use both, but I don't know what other people prefer.

Well, I think most users either like electricity or they don't.  I'd
prefer just one variable `TeX-electric-math' or so that supersedes
`TeX-electric-dollar', `TeX-math-close-single-dollar', and
`TeX-math-close-double-dollar'.

The value '("$" . "$") with no active region, inserting the opening $
would insert the closing dollar and place point in between.  With an
active region, it would place the opening and closing dollars around the
region, and keep the region active.  Then, you could transform a + b = c
to $$a + b = c$$ by selecting the region and hitting $ twice.

When configured to '("\\(" . "\\)") it would be cool if with the active
region above, typing $ once would transform it to \(a + b = c\) and
typing $ again would make it to \[a + b = c\].

Does that make sense?

(As a bonus, I think it would be fancy if a third $ would remove the
math again, so that you can cycle though the states "no math" -> "inline
math" -> "displaymath".)

>> And since the variable doesn't deal only with $ but is more flexible
>> (good!), it should probably be renamed (maybe
>> `TeX-electric-inline-math', and `TeX-insert-inline-math') and aliased
>> with `define-obsolete-variable-alias' and
>> `define-obsolete-function-alias'.  I've just checked, and XEmacs 21.4
>> supports those, too, except for the 3rd and 4th arguments.
> Ok, but about keeping compatibility making `TeX-electric-dollar'
> obsolete for  see above.

Yes, right.  We'd only have to deal with `TeX-math-close-double-dollar'.
I'd just check if it is bound in `TeX-insert-dollar', and if it is,
issue a message that the variable is removed and users should use
`TeX-electric-math' instead.

Bye,
Tassilo