I'm often asked by LyX users why LyX behaves in the following way: 1. Start math and type X to the power \alpha. 2. Inside the math inset, copy the contents. 3. Outside the math inset, paste.
The text "X^{\alpha}" is pasted. The user seems to expect a math inset to be
created and for it to contain X to the power alpha.
The workaround is easy: just create a math inset before pasting (or in
this case, select the entire math inset instead of its contents).
However, enough users have asked me about this behavior and expressed
their confusion, and I realized I don't know why we do it this way,
since it seems uncommon that the user would actually want the LaTeX
"X^{\alpha}".
I understand if pasting outside of LyX, we need some plain-text
representation, but when inside LyX, would it make sense to always
create an inline math inset (e.g. even if the copy was made inside a
display equation) and paste the contents in it?
Is there a missing feature here?
Scott
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