Getting MathJax to update after changes to AngularJS model

Question

I am trying to use AngularJS two-way binding text which includes Latex style equations. I would like to call MathJax to format the equations, but I\'m not sure of the best

Answer 1

A simple solution is to use $timeout to put MathJax.Hub.Queue(["Typeset", MathJax.Hub]) in the browser event queue (see Run a directive after the DOM has finished rendering).

Something like this:

            var app = angular.module('myApp', []);
            app.controller('myController', function ($scope, $timeout) {
                controller = this;

                $scope.Update = function () {
                    $scope.value = " \\( \\frac{5}{4} \\div \\frac{1}{6} \\)";
                    $timeout(controller.updateMathJax, 0);
                }

                this.updateMathJax = function () {
                    MathJax.Hub.Queue(["Typeset", MathJax.Hub]);
                }
            });

Answer 2

Take a look at http://jsfiddle.net/pz5Jc/

In your template:

    {{Label}} <span id="mathElement">{{Expression}}</span>

In your controller:

$scope.Update = function() {
    $scope.Expression = '\\frac{9}{4} \\div \\frac{1}{6}';
    $scope.Label = 'Updated Expression:'
    var math = MathJax.Hub.getAllJax("mathElement")[0];
    math.Text('\\frac{4}{4} \\div \\frac{2}{6}');
}

Couple of points:

I'm not too familiar with mathjax, but:

• Splitting the label out from the expression allows you to work with the expression directly.
• You need to manually pick up a DOM element to force a refresh of the expression. This isn't a very 'angular' way to do things unfortunately - but when mathjax parses the expression (and inserts it's own DOM elements), it pushes those elements outside the angular bindings.
• Fix here is to specifically select the correct mathjax element and call a text change function to update the expression.

Answer 3

I actually thought of another solution. When you render some angular and math you do this:

ANGULAR CONTROLLER

$scope x = 5;

HTML

<h3> {{ '$ Multiplication = '+ x + ' * 2 =' + (x*2) + '$'}} </h3>

Formated Math Jax result

Multiplication = 5 * 2 = 10

The key is to include the dollar signs inside the brackets as text. When Angular renders them, the dollar signs will appear as plain text, but when the Math Jax format comes into action it will recognize the dollar signs and do the magic.

Answer 4

I created a simple fiddle expanding on Ben Alpert's answer. Here's the fiddle and plunk.

Specifically If a text has only a part of it to be converted by Mathjax, you can use this. For inline mathjax you must surround the text by $, and for block display you must surround the block by $$. (You can use any format you like if you create the corresponding regex)

app.js

MathJax.Hub.Config({
    skipStartupTypeset: true,
    messageStyle: "none",
    "HTML-CSS": {
        showMathMenu: false
    }
});
MathJax.Hub.Configured();
var myApp = angular.module("myApp", []);
myApp.directive("mathjaxBind", function() {
    return {
        restrict: "A",
        scope:{
            text: "@mathjaxBind"
        },
        controller: ["$scope", "$element", "$attrs", function($scope, $element, $attrs) {
            $scope.$watch('text', function(value) {
                var $script = angular.element("<script type='math/tex'>")
                    .html(value == undefined ? "" : value);
                $element.html("");
                $element.append($script);
                MathJax.Hub.Queue(["Reprocess", MathJax.Hub, $element[0]]);
            });
        }]
    };
});
myApp.directive('dynamic', function ($compile) {
  return {
    restrict: 'A',
    replace: true,
    link: function (scope, ele, attrs) {
      scope.$watch(attrs.dynamic, function(html) {
          html = html.replace(/\$\$([^$]+)\$\$/g, "<span class=\"blue\" mathjax-bind=\"$1\"></span>");
          html = html.replace(/\$([^$]+)\$/g, "<span class=\"red\" mathjax-bind=\"$1\"></span>");
        ele.html(html);
        $compile(ele.contents())(scope);
      });
    }
  };
});
function MyCtrl($scope, $element) {    
    $scope.html = "A coin of is $ \\frac{5}{4} $ thrown $$\\frac{1}{6}$$ dfv";
}

index.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html ng-app="myApp">    
  <head>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
    <title>AngularJS Plunker</title>
    <script>document.write('<base href="' + document.location + '" />');</script>
    <script src="http://cdn.mathjax.org/mathjax/latest/MathJax.js?config=TeX-AMS-MML_HTMLorMML&delayStartupUntil=configured&dummy=.js"></script>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css" />
    <script data-require="angular.js@1.2.x" src="http://code.angularjs.org/1.2.7/angular.js" data-semver="1.2.7"></script>
    <script src="app.js"></script>
  </head>
  <body>
  <div ng-controller="MyCtrl">
     <input type="text" ng-model="html"/><br/>
     <div dynamic="html"></div>
  </div>
</body>    

style.css

input[type="text"] {
    width: 800px;
}
.red{
    color:red;
    display:inline-block;
}
.blue{
    color:blue;
    display:block;
}

Answer 5

I fiddled a bit more on Roney's solution. The display math should be displayed in display mode; with

<script type="math/tex; mode=display">

I added an attribute to the generated span to indicate that.

Fiddle is here http://jsfiddle.net/repa/aheujhfq/8/

Answer 6

Here's a directive that lets you use double curly markup inside the expression (and doesn't require setting an expression variable on the scope). It's based on this blog post, except I only support MathJax, and I save the compiled DOM, so that it updates on changes to scope variables.

As Alex Osborn said, it's best to separate non-math from math.

Usage:

<p>This is inline math: <latex>x^{ {{power}} }</latex>, 
and this is display math: <div latex> y^{ {{power}} } .</div></p>

In a snippet:

angular.module('app', [])
  .controller('ctrl', function($scope) {
    $scope.power = "\\sin(x^2)";
  })
  .directive('latex', function() {
    return {
      restrict: 'AE',
      link: function(scope, element) {
        var newDom = element.clone();
        element.replaceWith(newDom);
        var pre = "\\(",
          post = "\\)";
        if (element[0].tagName === 'DIV') {
          pre = "\\[";
          post = "\\]";
        }
        scope.$watch(function() {
          return element.html();
        }, function() {
          console.log(element);
          newDom.html(pre + element.html() + post);
          MathJax.Hub.Typeset(newDom[0]);
        });
      }
    }
  });

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.2.23/angular.min.js"></script>
<script src="https://cdn.mathjax.org/mathjax/latest/MathJax.js?config=TeX-AMS-MML_HTMLorMML"></script>

<div ng-app="app" ng-controller="ctrl">
  <p>Power:
    <input ng-model="power" />
  </p>
  <p>This is the inline latex,
    <latex>x^{ {{power}} }</latex>, followed by some display mode latex
    <div latex>y^{ {{power}} } = {{power}}.</div>And that's it!
  </p>
</div>