Wikidata:Property proposal/rendered TeX string

rendered TeX string

Originally proposed at Wikidata:Property proposal/Generic

   Not done

Description	item label rendered in TeX or qualifier of TeX strings in rendered format
Represents	TeX (Q5301)
Data type	Mathematical expression
Domain	item, qualifier
Allowed values	TeX string
Example 1	pi (Q167) → $\pi$
Example 2	Ω (Q9890) → $\Omega$
Example 3	Λ (Q10897) → $\lambda$

Motivation

Hello, I have noticed that while I can enter TeX strings into Wikidata (TeX string (P1993)), I cannot enter rendered TeX strings. For titles, there is title in LaTeX (P6835), and for quantities, there is quantity symbol (LaTeX) (P7973), but there is nothing for rendered strings yet. MathTexLearner (talk) 09:14, 4 September 2020 (UTC)

Discussion

•  Oppose in favor of changing the TeX string (P1993) property to use the mathematical expression datatype. Mahir256 (talk) 16:58, 4 September 2020 (UTC)

• Mahir256, thank you for your insightful comment. As far as I understood, first a new property has to be created with the proper datatype (this one), then the old one can be nominated for deletion. Since creating this property seems to be a prerrequisite to delete the old one, would you mind changing your position to support? --MathTexLearner (talk) 22:58, 4 September 2020 (UTC)

• In most cases that process is necessary. It's not necessary for properties that are stored as strings in the database when the intended datatype is also a string. That's why we can change string properties into external ID properties. I would also support changing the existing datatype of TeX string (P1993) but I haven't looked much into it's existing usage. It would be good if somebody with domain expertise looks into it to analyse whether there might be issues when the datatype gets changed with the existing data. ChristianKl ❪✉❫ 11:33, 5 September 2020 (UTC)
  • I don't think that change of datatype is possible and the problem with TeX-datatype is that it still has some defects (or is incompletely supported by Wikibase). If you need to store and retrieve the raw string, there is no way around the string format.--- Jura 13:37, 5 September 2020 (UTC)

• Thank you for your comments. I have cancelled my proposal as requested. Looking forward to the change of data type of the other property. Please let me know when you have done it.--MathTexLearner (talk) 16:17, 5 September 2020 (UTC)
  • You are welcome. Please don't hold your breath. --- Jura 16:19, 5 September 2020 (UTC)

Hello Mahir256, ChristianKl, and Jura. My property proposal has failed catastrophically, and I feel bummed out with my own ability to move things forward. What do you suggest me to do? I spend some time thinking about this and I felt that a "rendered TeX string" would be a nice complement to the property "TeX string". I dreamed of having a simple way to render TeX strings on Wikidata, without having to misuse other properties for such purpose. However, reality has shattered my dream, and now I see no hope in sight. Changing the datatype of another property seems an arduous endeavour that, from the way you speak, it might take years, being optimistic. I am growing old, and I wished to see this property approved in my lifetime. Perhaps it is just a futile dream that will never be reached. It was nice meeting you, and that for a brief moment, the daringness of my proposal has allowed us to exchange some words before we become strangers again.--MathTexLearner (talk) 12:39, 6 September 2020 (UTC)