is there a program that automatically convert old printings into TeX files?

Question

When we download scans of old printings about math and physics, we usually see terrible typesetting like this:

The look of it is terrible, the text is not recognized correctly (when I copy it, it says "2 :: Apj{3p = p=l 0"), and it seems to be wasting space to store the details of the letter.

is there an auto program to make this into

$$\sum_{p=1}^{m}A_{pj}\beta_{p}=0$$

and do the same to the entire book?

This is one of the few things ChatGPT is useful for. At least, the paid version tends to do a pretty good job. You can just paste the image directly into the chat box. I don't know about doing it for the entire book, though. — N. Virgo, Jan 14 '24 at 01:42
speaking of which, see also math mode - Why is [ ... ] preferable to $$ ... $$? - TeX - LaTeX Stack Exchange — user202729, Jan 14 '24 at 06:02

score 19 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 13 '24 at 11:00

19

If I highlight a region of your question and paste it into

https://snip.mathpix.com

(using their free demo login, which does require you to sign up, and has some restrictions on commercial use) I get

When we download scans of old printings about math and physics, we usually see terrible typesetting like this:
$$
\sum_{p=1}^m A_{p j} \beta_p=0
$$

as text and display:

answered Jan 13 '24 at 11:00

David Carlisle

757,742

Yup: Mathpix is scarily good at this sort of stuff. It can even recognise handwriting and double-column text, for heaven's sake. – Norman Gray Jan 14 '24 at 11:42

is there a program that automatically convert old printings into TeX files?

1 Answers1