Publishing on the Web

The factors to consider in publishing mathematics-intensive documents on the Web are the same as publishing any other content online: Who is your intended audience? What browser do they use? What is their connection speed? What other software is available to them? The answers to these questions will influence your choice of Web publishing tools and viewing options.

Your Web Publishing Options

With Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, and Scientific Notebook, you can create mathematics-intensive information for the web in several ways:

• Create .tex files. You can create your document as a .tex file, just as you would create any other Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, or Scientific Notebook document. No special action is required. You can then place the file directly on the Web. When the file is saved to a reader's Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, or Scientific Notebook installation, any mathematics in the file is live.

• Create HTML files. With Version 4 of our software, you can export your .tex file as HTML. All mathematics and plots are ordinarily exported as graphics, although you can choose to export mathematics as MathML. The mathematics in an HTML file is not live.

• Create .pdf files. If you have Adobe Acrobat Writer installed, you can create .pdf files of your Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, or Scientific Notebook documents. From the File menu, choose Print and then select either Acrobat Writer or Distiller as your printer.

Your Readers' Viewing Options

Using Scientific Viewer

If your readers don't have Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, or Scientific Notebook, we recommend that they use our free Scientific Viewer to access the Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, or Scientific Notebook documents you place on the Web.

Advantages:

• The software is free for the reader.
• The mathematics that can be displayed and accessed is unlimited.
• The files can be downloaded quickly.
• Readers can print high quality documents from your website.
• Links to HTML files and TEX files can be intermixed.

Disadvantages:

• Readers must download the free software before viewing your document.
• Scientific Viewer is currently available only for Microsoft Windows® platforms.

Of course, your readers can also use any of our software products---Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, or Scientific Notebook---for maximum flexibility.

Using HTML

Any document created with Version 4 of Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, or Scientific Notebook can be exported as HTML (or more precisely, XHTML). You can export any mathematics and plots in these graphics formats: .bmp, .dib, .emf, .gif, .jpg, .png, or .wmf.

Advantages:

• The HTML output filter creates an accurate HTML version of your document.
• Readers can view your documents on many computer platforms with recent versions of the most popular browsers.
• You can further manipulate the HTML files with other Web authoring tools.
• The HTML filter interprets any HTML commands in your document.

Disadvantages:

• The files download relatively slowly (though more quickly with MathML).
• The mathematics is not live.

Using MathML

Any document created with Version 4 of Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, or Scientific Notebook can be exported as HTML (or more precisely, XHTML). Any mathematics in the document can be exported as MathML. MacKichan Software is a corporate member of the MathML standard committee, and is committed to supporting XML and MathML.

Advantages:

• The HTML output filter creates an accurate HTML version of your document.
• You can further manipulate the HTML files with other Web authoring tools.
• The HTML filter interpret any HTML commands in your document.

Disadvantages:

• The files download slowly.
• The mathematics is not live.
• MathML is not supported by all HTML browsers.
• MathML is interpreted differently by different browsers, so not all readers may see the same thing.

Using Latex2Html

Latex2Html is a freeware program that converts LaTeX files to HTML. Because HTML can't display mathematics correctly, Latex2Html converts mathematics to graphics (.gif) files.

Advantages:

• Any browser will display the resulting file, although some problems may arise.
• Readers need only their current browsers instead of additional software.

Disadvantages:

The conversion of mathematics to graphics causes several problems:

• File sizes expand quickly.
• Graphics files of mathematics are compressed bitmaps that look acceptable on the screen but grainy in print.
• When readers magnify text, the size of graphics files of mathematics may be too large or too small.
• Graphics files can't be magnified for visually impaired readers.
• The baselines for text and mathematics may not always line up.

Using IBM techexplorer

IBM techexplorer is a free IBM browser plug-in that can display LaTeX and MathML. A professional version is available for a fee. (Free browser plug-ins are available from other vendors as well).

Advantages:

• The plug-in integrates well with browsers.
• The display of mathematics is attractive on the screen and in print.
• The files are compact and download quickly.
• Scientific WorkPlace and Scientific Word are good authoring tools for techexplorer files.
• Links in Scientific WorkPlace and Scientific Word documents are preserved.

Disadvantages:

• Not all mathematics will display properly because the plug-in displays only a subset of LaTeX.
• Readers must download the free software before viewing your document.
• You have limited control over the style and look of the pages in your document.

Using Adobe Acrobat

Readers who have the free Adobe Acrobat reader can read .pdf files created from Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, or Scientific Notebook documents.

Advantages:

• The software is free for the reader.
• The mathematics that can be displayed and accessed is unlimited.
• The files download moderately quickly.
• Readers can print high-quality documents from your website.
• Links to HTML files and PDF files can be intermixed.

Disadvantages:

• Readers must download the free software before viewing your document.
• Hyperlinks must be added by hand in the Adobe Exchange program.

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