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TeXnology Innovations

LaTeX, with its flexibility in coding, lends itself to innovation,
whether it is used for Interactive PDF, Data Driven Graphics, Database Publishing, Elegant Design, Complex Tables,
or many other uses.


Slides for TeX Users Group Talk:
The Joys of Csname
Explanation of complex macro construction using csname...endcsname--a versatile tool with examples of its use.
Click on image below to see slides.

Image of cover of Slides for TeX Users Group Talk. Click for full pdf of description of innovative macro writing tools.




Real World Use for csname and Dynamic Macro Building:
Macros for Chapter Table of Contents

Image showing how to build Hyperlinked Chapter Table of Contents.



Data Visualization calls for innovation for every kind of
data representation.

 See Data Visualization for samples of various data representations.
Here is a brief discussion of techniques used to parse the Excel data and build
various forms of data representation.
Our version of the 162 page complete booklet using one data set shown here, was programmed entirely in LaTeX and Tikz, with the inclusion of pdf graphics.

Code Annotation

Sample of computer code with annotations added. Click for complete documentation on using the annotation commands, with many examples.


Image of code with LaTeX annotation. Click for full pdf of documentation on using annotation commands, developed by Amy Hendrickson


Track Changes, Editing Help

This system of tracking changes is in use in macros we have written for American Geophysical Union, American Astronomical Society, MIT Press, and Acoustical Society of America. Below see the page in the Acoustical Society documentation describing how the Track Changes
macros are used.

(Click below to see larger image)

Image of page from documentation for macros written for the Acoustical Society of America, showing how to use Track Changes macros, devised and implemented by TeXnology.



Table Innovations: American Astronomical Society
Table Macros


 Many innovations were requested for the TeXnology upgrade for the American Astronomical Society Journal macros. The most interesting requests were for table enhancements. Besides hidden columns, math columns, decimal alignment, and wide tables easily split into vertical segments, there is also automated column numbering that you can see
in the final table in this series.



  • Hide columns

    Entire columns can be "hidden" from display with the use of the new "h" column identifier. This feature makes it easier for the author to modify his/her tables, an otherwise time-consuming task if there are many lines in the table.

Showing LaTeX code and results for Hidden Column, a tool developed for American Astronomical Society Journal.


  • Automatic column math mode

    The use of mathmatics and special symbols requires the use of $'s to turn on math-mode. Using capital letters, e.g. "C", "L", or "R", in the table preamble will set that specific column in math mode so that $'s are unnecessary, saving many keystrokes.

    • Showing LaTeX code and results for making a table column appear in math mode without needing dollar signs, a tool developed for American Astronomical Society Journal.


  • Column decimal alignment

    In addition to the standard left, right, and center column justification, we can now align columns on the decimal. We do this by splitting the identified column into two separate columns and right justifying the first new column and left justifying the second new column. The new "D" alignment token is used to identify a decimal column.


    • Showing LaTeX code and results for lining up decimal numbers on the decimal, a tool developed for American Astronomical Society Journal.


  • Split wide tables

    Wide tables can easily be split horizontally into two or three continuing subtables. A new "B" alignment token identifier is defined to tell LaTeX where to introduce the split. Up to two "B" identifiers can be used. The output is a centered split table with a full horizontal line separating the two or three components.



    • Showing LaTeX code and results for automatically splitting wide table into two or three parts, stacked; a tool developed for American Astronomical Society Journal.


    Showing LaTeX code and results for automatically splitting complex wide table into three parts, and stacking the parts; a tool developed for American Astronomical Society Journal. >


    >> Click here for sample pages showing Code and Results
       using each of these table features.

     >> Click here for longer description in the AAS on-line authors guide




    Record of Decisions of the
    Supreme Court of Angola

    Database publishing in Portuguese, macros written by TeXnology, proposal for producing highly indexed books of Supreme Court decisions of the country of Angola.

    LaTeX was chosen for this project because it is a batch processor, making it possible to build books recording thousands of pages of Court decisions. LaTeX has the ability to send information found in the files out to external files, making specialized indices possible, as well as accomodating elaborate requirements for data formatting.


    Image of cover of Record of Decisions by the Angola Supreme Court Image of inside cover of Record of Decisions by the Angola Supreme Court Image of preface of Record of Decisions by the Angola Supreme Court Image of Part opening of Record of Decisions by the Angola Supreme Court Image of sample page of Record of Decisions by the Angola Supreme Court Image of index page of Record of Decisions by the Angola Supreme Court

    >> Click here for full set of client sample pages for the Jurisprudência Constitucional Acórdãos.







        




    Have an idea that needs an innovative solution?

    Do you have a database or another complex document in mind?

    Let's discuss your requirements.

    Please get in touch if you have any questions,

    Amy Hendrickson
    amyh@texnology.com
    617 738-8029