September 2025 - ntg-context

Why is this description environment not showing the correct title?
by Joel 13 Feb '26

13 Feb '26

\definedescription[latexdesc][headstyle=bold, style=normal, align=flushleft, alternative=hanging, width=broad, margin=1cm] \starttext \latexdesc{1540} some event happened \latexdesc{1541} some other event happened \latexdesc{1542} some event happened quite different \stoptext I found the above code (the first line) in the ConTeXt Wiki, as a way to create the equivalent of a desc environment from LaTeX. The items inside {} should be bold, then there is a gap before the next text. I am using this to display a simple timeline. Though the formatting looks perfect, very strangely when I compile it, it changes all of the dates to say "1540" (or whatever date was used first). Why is it showing the wrong title on the desc environment? --Joel

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missing metadata in LMTX
by Pablo Rodriguez 18 Nov '25

18 Nov '25

Dear list, this issue has been bugging me for some time: \startbuffer[demo] <doc> <meta> <author>author</author> <title>title</title> </meta> <text> text </text> </doc> \stopbuffer \starttext \startxmlsetups xml:initialize \xmlsetsetup{#1}{code|meta|text}{xml:*} \stopxmlsetups \xmlregistersetup{xml:initialize} \startxmlsetups xml:doc \xmlflush{#1} \stopxmlsetups \startxmlsetups xml:meta \setupinteraction [author={\xmltext{#1}{/author}}, title={\xmltext{#1}{/title}}] \stopxmlsetups \startxmlsetups xml:text \xmlflush{#1} \stopxmlsetups \setupinteraction[state=start] \xmlprocessbuffer{main}{demo}{} \stoptext With LuaTeX, I get PDF metadata. With LuaMetaTeX, I cannot get them. For both, I’m using current latest (from 2024.02.27 09:21). Could anyone confirm the issue or explain me what I am missing? Many thanks for your help, Pablo

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More on accessibility/checking with Canvas
by Matthias Weber 17 Nov '25

17 Nov '25

Dear List, Using the current version, it is now pretty straightforward to create PDFs that pass VeraPDF with PDF/UA-2. Canvas (which is commonly used in the US) has an accessibility checker: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Basics-Guide/How-do-I-use-the-Acc… The file tagging-basic.pdf scores 40% accessibility, with three complaints: This PDF does not have headings This PDF does not have a title This PDF contains text with insufficient contrast The last item I can fix. A title can be added in Canvas. Of course, the document has all the ConTeXt headings, but apparently Canvas is not able to see them (nor the title). On the Canvas page it says about headings: • Sequential headings: Heading levels should not be skipped (e.g. H2 to H4). However, the tool does not check if the first header starts with H2 or whether the headings are sequential with the rest of the content in the page. Tables do not begin with H1, which is designated for the page title. Is there a way to make the headings visible in the PDF? Thanks, Matthias (I can help with testing and give you access to a Canvas site, if needed)

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index "entry not flushed" and {0}{0}{0} in bookmarks
by Henning Hraban Ramm 13 Nov '25

13 Nov '25

Since one of the latest updates, I get a lot of “entry not flushed” entries in my indexes, and some PDF bookmarks start with “{0}{0}” (at least 2, up to 5). Besides rare unflushed entries I didn’t have that problem without changing anything in the headers or indexes. I don’t know where to start debugging. Hraban

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Chemistry module
by fabio.delima21＠gmail.com 24 Oct '25

24 Oct '25

Hi Evebody I try used chemical modules for reaction organic, Maybe I didn't read all the manuals but I can list some things I didn't find. I am used packages Latex and future migrate to Context - arrow organic reaction mechanism. - Lewis structure - Cancel reactions - Law Hess reactions - Energy diagram Entalphy where can I get more information about chemistry and Context

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setupitemize reverse not working with start value
by Aditya Mahajan 07 Oct '25

07 Oct '25

Hi, When reverse option is set in \startitemize, the value of the start key is ignored. MWE: \starttext \subject{Without reverse} \startitemize[n][start=3] \item Four \item Three \stopitemize \subject{With reverse} \startitemize[reverse,n][start=3] \item Four \item Three \stopitemize \stoptext What can I go if I want reverse numbering starting from a particular value. Aditya

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Negative font slant broken with compact fonts
by Max Chernoff 06 Oct '25

06 Oct '25

Hi, Using the latest ConTeXt (2025.02.19), negative slants are broken with compact fonts. Example document: \definefontfeature[default][default][Slant=-1] \startTEXpage Hello, world! \stopTEXpage When compiled with "context", I get the error message tex error > tex error on line 1 in file ./context-negative-slant.tex: Scale factor (-1000) should be in the range 0..100000 [...] I'm going to use 0 instead of that illegal code value. but when compiled with "context --nocompactfonts", I get the correct result. Thanks, -- Max

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Sectionnumber and foo on the same line
by Ursula Hermann 01 Oct '25

01 Oct '25

Dear List, I have the followimg example, where the Sectionnumber Is not in the same line, as the text after the frame. \setuppapersize[A4,width=19cm,height=24cm]] \starttext 3.11\line{\framed[frame=,leftframe=on,rulethickness=4pt,framecolor=red]{foo} } \stoptext How can I put both in the same line? Many thanks Uschi

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Indexing with Luacode: an issue
by Jean-Pierre Delange 01 Oct '25

01 Oct '25

Hello everyone, I am trying to automatically build *two indexes* (nominum & rerum) from two lists (|nomen-list.txt| and |rerum-list.txt|) *without having to* manually tag the text. * *ConTeXt LMTX* (ConTeXt Process Management 1.06 * mtx-context | current version: 2025.07.27 21:43 * OS: Windows * Compile commands: |context --purgeall MWE_setregisterentry.tex| |context MWE_setregisterentry.tex| Approach: * I use *|input.processors.add(“autoindex”, filter)|* + |\enabledirectives[input.processors=autoindex]| (no |callbacks.register|). * In the processor, I search for *literal* occurrences (accents OK; |'|/|’| and |-|/|–|/|—| tolerated). * Instead of injecting the classic command |\index[...]|, I call *|\setregisterentry|* to properly register the entry (key/display). * The registers are defined in the preamble, |state=stop| then *|state=start| just after |\starttext|*, and printed with |\placeregister[...]| in the backmatter. Problem: * The MWE *compiles perfectly* (PDF produced, pages OK) but *both indexes remain empty*. * I wonder if the processor injects the command during a *preroll* (or “trial typesetting”), which would cause the entry to be “lost.” Is there a recommended *flag* (e.g., |\ifprerolling| or equivalent) to *neutralize* |\setregisterentry| during prerolls and execute it *only at the right time*? Questions: 1. Is the approach via |input.processors.add| + |\enabledirectives[input.processors=autoindex]| the *right* one for LMTX (rather than the old callbacks)? 2. Is there a *recommended method* for calling |\setregisterentry| from an input processor in a *reliable* way? 3. Is the signature |\setregisterentry[reg][keys={...}][entries={...}]| preferable to the /n/-level form (|keys:1|, |entries:1|) in this use case? 4. Would you recommend *anchoring* detection on *short units* (e.g., “Aquin,” “Augustin”) and then forcing the key/display for sorting (|Aquin, Thomas|Thomas d'Aquin|)? I know: French diacritical marks, apostrophes, and other characters add an additional constraint to the indexing of proper names and nouns (see the word “aujourd'hui” and others). Thank you in advance for your insights!

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possible issues with mkii / pdftex
by Hans Hagen 30 Sep '25

30 Sep '25

Hi, There are probably not that many mkii users but just in case you use it to make something that you include in mkiv / lmtx or similar cases, the current version of pdftex (tl 2025) has some issue: \starttext \startTEXpage this is a\externalfigure[t:/sources/cow.pdf][height=20pt]cow \stopTEXpage \stoptext Basically anything at the bottom of a tight page setup with no depth, in the case of text it can be a whatsit, or rule mixed in, spaces don't matter, will trigger this. It relates to "using space in the perspective of tagged pdf" features introduced in the engine that also interfere when that feature is not enables. We don't set up this feature in mkii but the issue occurs independent of it being set up. As said, it's probably not that relevant for context users but I know that sometimes mkii is still used for imposition or independent graphics, like: \starttext \startTEXpage \startMPcode draw textext("xxx"); draw unitcircle scaled 1cm ; draw textext("xxx") shifted (1cm,0) ; \stopMPcode \stopTEXpage \stoptext So again, no depth, bottom of page, text mixed with non-text. This issue actually might impact mptopdf in combination with pdftex. Hans ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE Ridderstraat 27 | 8061 GH Hasselt | The Netherlands tel: 038 477 53 69 | www.pragma-ade.nl | www.pragma-pod.nl -----------------------------------------------------------------

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