Talk:Documentation/How Tos/Calc: CHIDIST function

Does an English norm exists to write the formula this way? In German we have:

- The limits are above and under the int-sign not on its right side.
- The e for the exp-function is regular not italic
- the d in dt is regular not italic

Other remarks concerning the formula:

- The x in the limit should have another font. Now it looks like a chi.
- There are () missing for the Gamma function.

Or using Wiki-math and no picture at all:

Regina 01:27, 14 September 2008 (CEST)

Thanks Regina:

Examples:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integral - limits on right and italic d

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponential_function - italic e

I think that web representations tend to be a bit less picky - text books would tend to have non-italic d and e, although limits on right is OK (saves space).

The acid test is - does it worry anyone? So if it worries you, perhaps it needs fixing ;).

I've used images for formulae rather than wikimath so that if these make it into Calc Application Help it is easier. I've used Microsoft's renderer, because it is clearer than OOo, and often I've manually tweaked the formula in a paint program. But I do like the wikimath version! I'll replace the picture. I'll have to read up how to non-italicise ;) You can't do it in Microsoft - at least the version I have.

drking 06:15, 27 September 2008 (GMT)

OK, how about:

 ?

Doesn't look as pretty, but is probably more technically correct. You choose...

drking 06:30, 27 September 2008 (GMT)

It is much better then the existing. The text of the link you provide me, seconds that e has to be non italic. With the d I also found italic d in books, which I consider they are set professionally, like the German "Brockhaus" or the "Bronstein/Semendjajew". Therefore perhaps we should use it in italic. You are also right with borders beside the integration sign. The German wikipedia article http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formelsatz about typography of formulas says, that it differs with countries, especially between American and European texts.

The wikimath way is better in other parts too. Look for example at the minus signs in the old version, they are much to short and in wrong vertical position, I guess they are no minus signs but hyphens.

I don't know TeX yet but have found a guide for math in TeX http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~anirbans/mathmode.pdf. It seems non italic is written by \mathrm if it is part of a formula, and \textrm is used for real text.

According to the http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Formula \,\! at the end of the formula should force a picture, although this special formula comes out with picture on my browser anyway. In the alt-attribute it has the formula source text. That might be a good thing for those who need screen readers. Is it enough if it becomes a picture when delivered to the browser, or do you need a stored picture? Concerning "so that if these make it into Calc Application Help it is easier", could you explain me how that will work? If the version with forced picture would work, we can discuss to change the formulas. But I do not think, that you should do this. The typography bothers me, so I would have to change it.

So here's a version with italic d

and one with regular d.

You might perhaps also look at the formulas in my draft for the upcoming CHISQDIST on http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/User:Regina#Semantic Regina 18:47, 27 September 2008 (CEST)

>Concerning "so that if these make it into Calc Application Help it is easier", could you explain me how that will work?

The current Help software uses a special format ("xhp") which is processed to become simple HTML. There was talk about upgrading it, but that hasn't happened yet. One thing for sure is that there is no <maths></maths> tag now, or likely in the future - so someone would have to insert the formulae as images. So I was just trying to make life easier. It doesn't matter whether the wiki renders as image or HTML - although these formulae couldn't be HTML - I think that's only for the simple things like a^b.

So I'll use your example with italic d - it looks good. I think it's worth keeping the image.

Wonderful to see you've been working on a page for your functions :)

drking 08:30, 28 September 2008 (GMT)