From 77b513204637ce545150d006695b36c132ea3c67 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: rocky <rb@dustyfeet.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:03:16 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] Allow Matplotlib to render TeXForm output

This is done if Settings`$RenderTeXForm is True and matplotlib is
installed.

Settings`$RenderTeXForm is set to True by default.
---
 mathicsscript/autoload/settings.m |  3 +++
 mathicsscript/format.py           | 40 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++----
 2 files changed, 39 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/mathicsscript/autoload/settings.m b/mathicsscript/autoload/settings.m
index e5f59fe..e475f0c 100644
--- a/mathicsscript/autoload/settings.m
+++ b/mathicsscript/autoload/settings.m
@@ -45,3 +45,6 @@
 
 Settings`$GroupAutocomplete::usage = "This Boolean variable sets whether mathicsscript should automatically close braces."
 Settings`$GroupAutocomplete = True
+
+Settings`$RenderTeXForm::usage = "If this Boolean variable is set True, TeXForm output is rendered via Matplotlib.";
+Settings`$RenderTeXForm = True
diff --git a/mathicsscript/format.py b/mathicsscript/format.py
index 3ef00d1..35a90eb 100644
--- a/mathicsscript/format.py
+++ b/mathicsscript/format.py
@@ -19,12 +19,15 @@
     SymbolGraphics,
     SymbolGraphics3D,
     SymbolImage,
+    SymbolInterpretationBox,
     SymbolMathMLForm,
     SymbolOutputForm,
+    SymbolPaneBox,
     SymbolPlot,
     SymbolStandardForm,
     SymbolTeXForm,
 )
+from mathics.format.box import format_element
 from mathics.session import get_settings_value
 from mathicsscript.asymptote import Asy, write_asy_and_view
 
@@ -68,11 +71,11 @@ def format_output(obj, expr, format=None):
     it can't make use of a front-ends specific capabilities.
     """
 
-    def eval_boxes(result, fn: Callable, obj, **options):
+    def eval_boxed(result, fn: Callable, obj, **options):
         try:
-            boxes = fn(evaluation=obj, **options)
+            boxed = fn(evaluation=obj, **options)
         except BoxError:
-            boxes = None
+            boxed = None
             if not hasattr(obj, "seen_box_error"):
                 obj.seen_box_error = True
                 obj.message(
@@ -81,7 +84,7 @@ def eval_boxes(result, fn: Callable, obj, **options):
                     Expression(SymbolFullForm, result).evaluate(obj),
                 )
 
-        return boxes
+        return boxed
 
     if format is None:
         format = obj.format
@@ -104,6 +107,35 @@ def eval_boxes(result, fn: Callable, obj, **options):
         elements = expr.elements
         if len(elements) == 1:
             expr = elements[0]
+        render_TeXForm = get_settings_value(
+            obj.definitions, "Settings`$UseMatplotlib"
+        ) and get_settings_value(obj.definitions, "Settings`$RenderTeXForm")
+        if render_TeXForm:
+            boxed = format_element(expr, obj, SymbolTeXForm)
+            if hasattr(boxed, "head") and boxed.head is SymbolInterpretationBox:
+                inner_box = boxed.elements[0]
+                box_str_sans_quotes = inner_box.value[1:-1]
+                box_str_display_math = rf"${box_str_sans_quotes}$"
+                try:
+                    # Create a figure and axis with no visible borders
+                    fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(3, 2))
+                    ax.axis("off")
+                    # Render the LaTeX string in the center
+                    # 'transform=ax.transAxes' ensures 0.5 is the exact middle of the window
+                    ax.text(
+                        0.5,
+                        0.5,
+                        box_str_display_math,
+                        size=50,
+                        ha="center",
+                        va="center",
+                        transform=ax.transAxes,
+                    )
+                    plt.show()
+                    return String(box_str_sans_quotes)
+                except:  # noqa
+                    pass
+
     elif (
         expr_head is SymbolImage
         and get_settings_value(obj.definitions, "Settings`$UseMatplotlib")