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ArXiv now offers papers in HTML format

blog.arxiv.org

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Re: ArXiv now offers papers in HTML format

#251

Post by GoblinSlayer »

wolverine876 wrote: post #168
LordDragonfang wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

...What are you talking about? HTML files are readable on basically every platform, even moreso because they are fundamentally text files (unlike PDFs, which are binaries). PDFs need special software, html can be read on the command line . Likewise, HTML is dead simple to edit and annotate. Seriously, name a single device that has PDF support that doesn't allow you to view HTML. I think you're conflating "html" and "…

How do I save an HTML document locally, and annotate it, in an easily sharable form, and in a form that is stable - i.e., in a way that will be readable and useable in 20-50 years?

You say it as if pdf is somehow better. To begin with it's a proprietary format. If Adobe goes bankrupt or obscure tomorrow, pdf will go out of use as a failed technology.

Re: ArXiv now offers papers in HTML format

#252

Post by quickthrower2 »

CaptainOfCoit wrote: post #205
digging wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those are issues with JavaScript, not HTML. Wouldn't filtering out iframes pretty much keep us in the clear?

> Those are issues with JavaScript, not HTML What about various HTML tags that remote load resources? From script, link, to things like img or CSS `background-image` attribute, added in a `style` attribute. There is a bunch of ways to do remote requests even without HTML.

The same problem exists in HN comments. This comment gets converted to html.

   But it is fine!

Re: ArXiv now offers papers in HTML format

#255

Post by fdupress »

quickthrower2 wrote: post #252
CaptainOfCoit wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Those are issues with JavaScript, not HTML What about various HTML tags that remote load resources? From script, link, to things like img or CSS `background-image` attribute, added in a `style` attribute. There is a bunch of ways to do remote requests even without HTML.

The same problem exists in HN comments. This comment gets converted to html. But it is fine!

"gets converted to" and "gets rendered as uploaded by the user" are two different things.

There are no issues with arXiv generating the HTML and sending that over: they control the generation process, and users who visit arXiv already trust it to not be malicious. The issue is with letting the user upload their own and having it sent on to other users as is.

Re: ArXiv now offers papers in HTML format

#257

Post by IlliOnato »

dataflow wrote: post #154
IlliOnato wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it would not. It's critically important that there is only one "logical" article, albeit with different representations. In other words, a single "source of truth". With "sideloading" of HTML there is no way in general to make sure that the contents of LaTeX (and PDF) on one side and HTML on the other side is the same.

> With "sideloading" of HTML there is no way in general to make sure that the contents of LaTeX (and PDF) on one side and HTML on the other side is the same. Is it not possible to write LaTeX code that produces different contents in HTML vs. PDF?

Well, perhaps by exploiting bugs/shortcomings in PDF and HTML converters. Not by design.

However, bugs get fixed, and since the PDF and HTML are generated dynamically, any such hack would be extremely fragile.

And while "single source of truth" can help to prevent such malicious discrepancy, it's unlikely that people would try to hack the system this way: what for?

Far more likely scenario is unintentional discrepancy, and single source of truth definitely helps to prevent that!

Re: ArXiv now offers papers in HTML format

#258

Post by IlliOnato »

FredPret wrote: post #100
IlliOnato wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which checkbox? I cannot find anything relevant in any of the 3 browsers I use (Vivialdi, Firefox, Chrome). Would really appreciate this option. A quick search gave some apparently unmaintained browser extensions, and it's it.

No, I'm saying there should be a checkbox. That way, you can switch between two columns formatted like LaTeX and that font they always use, and one column with Helvetica / Arial.

It would be nice, but I am not holding my breath.

Re: ArXiv now offers papers in HTML format

#259

Post by IlliOnato »

jez wrote: post #113
kjkjadksj wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most authors probably have no interest in learning html. Also most authors want nothing to do with the work by the time its submitted. It was probably hell getting the project to that point of publishing, they want to be done with it and move on to the next thing going on in their career asap.

I think this is an argument in favor of doing automatic PDF -> HTML conversion for the authors that don't want to touch it, but I don't think it's an argument against letting those who are fine with HTML provide their own.

HTML is not generated from PDF. Both PDF and HTML are generated from LaTeX.

Re: ArXiv now offers papers in HTML format

#260

Post by IlliOnato »

jez wrote: post #116
tiagod wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was under the impression the source authors publish to arxiv was a latex file

Ah, thanks for clarifying! I looked up the submission formats, and it looks like if you authored the paper in TeX/LaTeX, they do not accept pre-rendered versions of the document. https://info.arxiv.org/help/submit/index.html#formats-for-te... But if you did not author it in TeX/LaTeX (e.g., Word, Google Docs, etc.) it appears you can upload a PDF or HTML yourself.

But it's still a single source of truth. Only one document is submitted. So for works submitted as HTML no PDF or LaTeX version is available.
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