Latex Plugin For Pelican

This plugin allows you to write mathematical equations in your articles using Latex. It uses the MathJax Latex JavaScript library to render latex that is embedded in between $..$ for inline math and $$..$$ for displayed math. It also allows for writing equations in by using \begin{equation}...\end{equation}.

Installation

To enable, ensure that latex.py is put somewhere that is accessible. Then use as follows by adding the following to your settings.py:

PLUGINS = ["latex"]

Your site is now capable of rendering latex math using the mathjax JavaScript library. No alterations to the template file is needed.

Typogrify

Typogrify will now play nicely with Latex (i.e. typogrify can be enabled and Latex will be rendered correctly). In order for this to happen, version 2.07 (or above) of typogrify is required. In fact, this plugin expects that at least version 2.07 is present and will fail without it.

Usage

Bakcward Compatibility

This plugin is backward compatible in the sense that it accompishes what previous versions did without needing any setup in the metadata or settings files.

Settings File

Extra options regarding how mathjax renders latex can be set in the settings file. These options are in a dictionary variable called LATEX in the pelican settings file.

The dictionary can be set with the following keys:

wrap: controls the tags that math is wrapped with inside the resulting html. For example, setting wrap to 'mathjax' would wrap all math inside <mathjax>...</mathjax> tags. If typogrify is set to True, then math needs to be wrapped in tags and wrap will therefore default to mathjax if not set.
align: controls how displayed math will be aligned. Can be set to either left, right or center (default is center).
indent: if align not set to center, then this controls the indent level (default is 0em).
show_menu: controls whether the mathjax contextual menu is shown.
process_escapes: controls whether mathjax processes escape sequences.
preview: controls the preview message users are seen while mathjax is loading.
color: controls the color of the mathjax rendered font.

For example, in settings.py, the following would make latex render in blue and displaymath align to the left:

LATEX = {'color':'blue','align':left}

Latex Examples

###Inline Latex between $..$, for example, $x^2$, will be rendered inline with respect to the current html block.

###Displayed Math Latex between $$..$$, for example, $$x^2$$, will be rendered centered in a new paragraph.

###Equations Latex between \begin and \end, for example, begin{equation} x^2 \end{equation}, will be rendered centered in a new paragraph with a right justified equation number at the top of the paragraph. This equation number can be referenced in the document. To do this, use a label inside of the equation format and then refer to that label using ref. For example: begin{equation} \label{eq} X^2 \end{equation}. Now refer to that equation number by $\ref{eq}$.