Latex images not sent in notifications

[cjudge]

Hello, 

It's wonderful that I can use Latex in an Announcement.

But it's not so wonderful when the Latex is not embedded in the associated email notifications that Canvas sends to participants in the course. 

What's the point of allowing Latex in Announcements, when the associated emails do not contain it? 

[chriscas]

Hi @cjudge,

In general, the notifications are meant to give users a quick idea of what the announcement is, not be a total replacement for visiting Canvas to read the message.  Many notification methods (like mobile apps, for example) are plain text-based, and Instructure probably wanted to at least keep parity between the different notification methods people can pick from.  I definitely understand that it may completely throw off the message if you've embedded an equation and are referencing it throughout the announcement though.  That's not a great experience at all, but I'm not sure that there is a tech-feasible way to address this one.

I know this is more of an explanation of behavior than an answer, but I hope it at least shows why things are happening the way they are right now.

-Chris

[cjudge]

I am embed latex all the time in email messages, and I people are able to read them in email messages. So it's absolutely possible to do this (contrary to what chriscas says). 

Was hoping to get some real help here, but I was expecting too much.

[chriscas]

Hi @cjudge,

To clarify, I never said it was impossible to send latex via email.  What I said is that email is not the only kind of notification Canvas sends, and Instructure may have wanted to have parity between the different notification types.  There is also an important distinction between a message itself and a notification about a message.  I know this is not the answer you want to hear, but this is the current way Canvas functions, which is why my original answer was marked, but anyone is free to unmark a solution.  There is an open feature idea which may address this issue (thought it does not specifically call out latex) if Instructure selects it for future development.

-Chris

[cjudge]

HI @chriscas

You wrote "but I'm not sure that there is a tech-feasible way to address this one."

There are definitely tech-feasible ways to address this, but I guess it's just not something that Instructure has addressed yet.