Microsoft support page needs improvement

[ways2read]

eDAD tracking ticket for this issue is Accessibility 228269 and possibly updated to Accessibility 228601

Math AutoCorrect in Word has many codes for creating math expressions from the keyboard but looking these up is challenging. One of the few places to find the codes is in a table on the page Linear format equations using UnicodeMath and LaTeX in Word.

Areas for improvement:

• The table is difficult to locate within the page and would benefit from being included on a simpler page with a helpful URL.
• The table could be more usefully organized to help find the code you are looking for.
• Many of the images in the table have the unhelpful alt text "Mathematical symbol".

[ways2read]

One example of organizing the shortcodes is at List of LaTeX mathematical symbols as references in #11.

Alternatively/additionally, the codes could be organized in the order in which they are typically learned.

A fairly small number of symbols are frequently used. To learn more take a look at Improving Usability of Math Editors (link to Word document).

[ways2read]

A Word document with the symbols and codes is in draft at Short codes for Office Math Autocorrect (link to Word document).

[MurrayIII]

Adding the math autocomplete facility helps a lot since you don't need to know (or type) the complete control words. Tye it out by typing in https://murrayiii.github.io/UnicodeMathML/playground/. This facility is implemented in the Microsoft Office math facility in RichEdit and could be integrated into Word

[jkhurdan]

In github, there is an optional tab you can enable call discussions. Would it be a bad idea if we separated out items like this into the discussion section? That section opperates like a threaded forum that people can continue to contribute to, and it would leave the issues section as true issues/bugs/feature requests.

[brichwin]

Oh, interesting. We should discuss that today! From: Jason Khurdan ***@***.***> Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 at 8:34 AM To: daisy/math-a11y ***@***.***> Cc: Subscribed ***@***.***> Subject: [External] Re: [daisy/math-a11y] Microsoft support page on needs improvement (Issue #12) This message was sent from a non-IU address. Please exercise caution when clicking links or opening attachments from external sources. In github, there is an optional tab you can enable call discussions. Would it be a bad idea if we separated out items like this into the discussion section? That section opperates like a threaded forum that people can continue to contribute to, and it would leave the issues section as true issues/bugs/feature requests. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#12 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAA4WLV7MWNYCR4WNTQWWY3ZSHQ4FAVCNFSM6AAAAABMQ3KRVGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDEOJWGQ3DMOBWGU>. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[jkhurdan]

I verified this issue. Our group is looking for the MS team to improve the documentation available for codes needed to write various expressions. We understand there may be an auto-complete option but with out knowing the first few letters of the syntax this has proven to have varying degrees of reliability. Some suggestions on how to organize this information was to do so by subject area (i.e Algebra, Geometry, etc) and ensuring someone could use a Ctrl F (find function) to find it via text displayed on the screen associated with the element.

[jenmarsala]

1. I agree that the autocorrect codes table was difficult to find on the website Linear format equations using UnicodeMath and LaTeX in Word; I did not expect to find the autocorrect codes under the heading, "Automatically convert expressions to professional format." I agree that these codes should ideally placed in a simpler page. A temporary adjustment/improvement could be to move the table to a new heading on this page such as "List of Unicode autocorrect codes" - or even to include the table of autocorrect codes within the heading on "UnicodeMath Editing Examples" as I believe that is a more suitable location given the current heading structure.
2. I believe that tables should also include the common name for the symbol. For example, the line with the union symbol could include the union symbol, ∪, the autocorrect code /cup, and the word "union" in another column.
3. It would also be good to let users know that the autocorrect codes can be found within Microsoft Word within the Equation Toolbar, by expanding the Conversions menu to view Equations Options, selecting "Math AutoCorrect" and exploring the table listed there.