On 02/27/2017 12:41 PM, Scott Kostyshak wrote:
> 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?I run into this all the time, actually. If it could be done the way you suggest, I think that would be much better. One can always "paste as plain text" if one wants the other behavior. Richard
