0.1 Preparing for writing mathml

This course heavily relies on practicing codes in MathML. For this reason, a frame work enabling practice in desktop environment is planned, which does not require any specialized tool or software. The requirement for practicing MathML is two fold : (i) a text editor that composes code lines as plain text without introducing any formatting characters and (ii) a browser that is capable to implement MathML.

It is recommended to use an advanced text editor like MS Word to handle the first task. We shall use it in a specialized mode to serve our purpose. Use of advanced text editor, as against editors designed to save file as plain text like notepad available on Windows platform, is recommended. This preference is mainly owing tot to the advanced editing facilities available and the ease of inserting mathematical symbols available in professional text editor. Subsequently, we shall also learn to use macros available with advanced editors to replicate basic code blocks.

The other issue of using a MathML enabled browser is extremely important as mathML rendering would ,otherwise, be severely distorted. Most of the advanced browser has inherent capability in this regard or with available plug-ins. This aspect, however, may not be overlooked for implementation of MathML features in its complete manifestation – particularly when such browsers are available free and takes less than 5 minutes to install on the desktop.

We must understand that MathML specifications are W3C guidelines for the renderer (the product or program that displays content like browsers). It is, therefore, always likely that there are differences in details in the style of presentation by different browsers – even though they are MathML compatible. Notwithstanding the subtle differences, the browsers should be capable to implement MathML codes and hence the requirement of one such to experiment with MathML codes.

Further, we need a separate folder to work with the tutorials and experiment with MathML codes. In the following paragraphs, we enlist precise instructions to prepare the enviorment for MathML code testing :

1: Create a separate working folder for experimenting with the mathML codes (say C:/MathML/testing).

2: In case, you do not have MathML compatible browser already installed on your desktop, download Mozilla Firefox form www.mozilla.org . Install the same by double clicking the Firefox executable setup file. While installing, let the set up program fetches your preferences and other parameters from the browser already installed on the desktop. The set up program shall eventually ask you to whether set Firefox as the default browser on your desktop. For the time being, you may choose to retain the already installed browser as the default one.

2: Ensure that all fonts required for rendering MathML is installed on your computer. In case, you are using Mozilla browser, visit Mozilla web page (External Link) . The page lists “Fonts to Install”. Click the “font installer” hyper link and download the font installer on your desk top. Once the installer is downloaded, just open the same to install the fonts.