Pass arbitrary data to LaTeX/whatever

One feature that has been requested in various ways is the ability to pass LaTeX code through MMD. In more general terms, this really is the ability to pass certain bits of text through the processing untouched.

One suggestion is the ability to include arbitrary files, using a syntax similar to that used to include images. This file could contain LaTeX, or XHTML, or RTF, or whatever.

The issues, as I see them:

1. How to keep this from being too confusing when read in plain text? (a primary goal for Markdown)

2. What XHTML syntax should be used to represent this data? (a certain class of <pre>, e.g. <pre class="latex">?) If so, then a syntax to add classes (as has been proposed for Markdown) would effectively eliminate the need for a separate feature.

I agree that the ability to include raw code for the target output would be useful for advanced users. I suppose it bothers me that this may not be human readable, but it could expand the utility of MMD.

I welcome input on this, as I am not convinced either way yet.

Update: Still thinking about this one, and leading towards the idea of a syntax to assign classes to various elements, and then using this to add other features, without needlessly complicating the syntax. We’ll see. See [[2007-05-18]] for more information.

More complex syntax for tables

Several users have written with suggestions for additional syntax for tables in order to allow cells to span multiple rows, to allow the MMD source for a single table row to span multiple text rows, etc.

My concern here is that the table should be easily understood in plain text, without too much markup. Ideally, there would be no markup, but it’s just too complicated to have MMD figure out what the layout means.

I welcome suggestions, but I plan to be somewhat strict on this one…. And remember, for complex tables you can always enter the raw HTML.

A syntax for adding forms?

This is less likely to happen, but it seems that adding some sort of basic syntax to manage forms would be pretty easy, and not very intrusive. Something like:

Please check all that apply:

[ ] Option A
[ ] Option B
[ ] Option C

Please choose one of the following:

( ) Option A
( ) Option B
( ) Option C

Please enter your first name:

[_______________________]

The idea would be to allow you to easily enter the necessary fields for a form, but not have to be concerned with the XHTML nonsense…. As always, input welcome.