As described previously, basic methods of including mathematical notation in web pages rely on the mark-up, entity, and graphics capabilities of HTML itself.

More advanced methods utilize other software and file formats. I'll provide you with external links to a number of sources for relevant software tools, and to some examples how they can be implemented. You should at least browse through as many of those sites as you can, but understand that I do not expect everyone to become fully competent in all of them by the end of our three weeks together, and certainly not in merely one day (even I admit to knowing much more about some than others). What I do expect is that you'll find a few that will be useful to you, a few that you'd like to use but which may not be feasible for you (e.g., for hardware requirements, or the level of technical expertise and/or support required, or other reasons), and a few that are so far outside your needs that you can ignore them completely.

The methods we will consider next are (where there is no real significance to the order in which they are listed here):

Some Popular Image-based Software

• latex2html -- converts entire LaTeX documents

• TeXtoGIF -- converts single equations

• HTeX -- converts LaTeX equations within an HTML file (runs under Windows)

• HTMX -- converts LaTeX equations within an HTML file with more flexibility

Some Font-based Resources

• TTmath -- uses Computer Modern TrueType fonts and tables

• tth -- converts plain TeX into HTML using the Adobe symbol font and tables

• DVI files (e.g., using HyperTeX and its relatives)
  • xhdvi, DviWin, etc -- stand alone dvi viewers (i.e., they launch a separate viewing package)

    (DviWin problem: As of 16 July 97, the ora.com link, given here, is failing, and CTAN is not responding so I can't check into that as an alternative...)

  • IDVI, nDVI -- embedded dvi viewers (i.e., they display on a new page inside the browser you are running)

• Adobe PostScript files
  • Ghostview

• Adobe PDF files
  • Adobe Acrobat -- stand alone PDF viewer

• SGML documents
  • SoftQuad Panorama browser

Embedded Element Software

• WebEQ -- a Java applet for equation rendering
  • a sample file

• IBM techexplorer -- a Netscape plug-in

• OmegaMath -- an ActiveX control

Each of these techniques has its own strengths and weaknesses, since many worthwhile goals are in conflict: HyperTeX and PDF files offer control over document layout, but sacrifice interactivity with other web media; WebEQ preserves the interactivity at the expense of download time; and so on.

Overall Advantages when compared to Basic Methods

• Better output quality
• More control over document layout
• Relatively easy authoring and editing
• Greater interactivity
• Promising upgrade path

Overall Disadvantages

• Methods are still experimental
  • Reduced audience
  • Expert knowledge required for system setup
  • High maintenance costs as software evolves
• Long download times
• Difficult to search and interface with other web content