julia> using Markdown
julia> x = 5; y = 7; z = 10;
julia> md"""
Here I interpolate x: $(x). Then I also interpolate y: $(y) but for z I want a \$ sign before the value: \$$(z)m.
"""
Here I interpolate x: (x). Then I also interpolate y: $(y) but for z I want a \ sign before the value: $10m.
As Discourse is lacking colours it’s hard to tell, but the middle part of the string is now LaTeX, Pluto output:
So the first time I use an escaped dollar sign \$, it somehow goes back and turns the first variable interpolation dollar sign in $(x) into a “start inline LaTeX” dollar sign. This doesn’t happen for the second \$, which displays the dollar sign as expected and leaved the text after it unaltered.
If I remove the first \$, then everything works:
julia> md"""
Here I interpolate x: $(x). Then I also interpolate y: $(y) but for z I want a dollar sign before the value: \$$(z)m.
"""
Here I interpolate x: 5. Then I also interpolate y: 7 but for z I want a dollar sign before the value: $10m.
Why does using \$ somewhere later in the markdown string change the meaning of the first $(x)? What am I doing wrong?
let
x = 5; y = 7; z = 10;
md"""
Here I interpolate x: $(x). Then I also interpolate y: $(y) but for z I want a $ sign before the value: \$$(z)m.
"""
end
I would think that you do not need to escape the $ if it is alone.
Interesting, that’s definitely an improvement. My problem is that in my actual use case I want to write something like but z is more than $1, indeed it is $10, in which case the dollar sign disappears when placed right before the 1 (I can of course use $ 1, but then there’s an awkward space that I don’t want).
I’d still be interested in understanding how a \$ later in the string changes the meaning of the first $ from variable interpolation to start of inline LaTeX.
To tell you the true, I don’t have much idea how Markdown works exactly. But if you use for example \$$(z)m you will get $10m without a space.
In your first code, if you eliminate the \$ that is alone, it works well.
md"""
Here I interpolate x: $(x). Then I also interpolate y: $(y) but for z I want a $ sign before the value: \$$(z)m.
"""
Here I interpolate x: 5. Then I also interpolate y: 7 but for z I want a $ sign before the value: $10m.
It’s probably a bug covered by one of the open ones with the markdown label. You may be better off using Markdown.parse and avoiding the :julia “flavor” of syntax like so:
julia> Markdown.parse(
"""
Here I interpolate x: $(x). Then I also interpolate y: $(y) but for z I want a \$ sign before the value: \$$(z)m.
""";
flavor = :common
)
Here I interpolate x: 5. Then I also interpolate y: 7 but for z I want a $ sign before the value: $10m.
No idea whether Pluto supports that or not though.
Another option is to try and see if CommonMark.jl works right for your usecase, though I’m not sure whether Pluto has fixed the macro issue yet to allow you to actually use CommonMark.@cm_str like you would with Markdown.@md_str.
Ok, Unfortunately I didn’t try changing the variables and they are still not updating inside the cm"" block.
I’ll check if it’s a bug and an issue should be filed (other macros are analyzed correctly)
If we need to adjust what cm"" expands to then I can look into doing that. Please tag @MichaelHatherly when you open an issue so I can stay in the loop, thanks.
