Perhaps I am doing something wrong, but to me, writing Matrices and tables in LaTeX code is rather onerous. Would it be possible to produce an n x n matrix using a format such as Python or Matlab:
A = [1 2 3; 4 5 6; 7 8 9]
Which should produce a square matrix with elements 1-9.
I understand tables and some matrix options would need to be specified in order for this to work, but that seems doable.
nicematrix is so cute...
\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage{nicematrix}
\begin{document}
$\begin{bNiceMatrix}[light-syntax]
1 2 3; 4 5 6; 7 8 9
\end{bNiceMatrix}$
\end{document}
If you want, you can even create a dedicated macro.
\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage{nicematrix}
\newcommand\matlabmat[1]{%
\begin{bNiceMatrix}[light-syntax]
#1
\end{bNiceMatrix}%
}
\begin{document}
$\matlabmat{1 2 3; 4 5 6; 7 8 9}$
$\matlabmat{1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 4 ; 5 ; 6}$
\end{document}
This gives:
Here's the link to proposed package nicematrix:
If you are an AUCTeX/Emacs user, just active the embedded calc mode the point (cursor) on this expression (C-x * e)
\[A = [1 2 3; 4 5 6; 7 8 9]\]
instantanly the expression is converted in
\[A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 \\ 4 & 5 & 6 \\ 7 & 8 & 9 \end{pmatrix} \]
This operation is reversible: still in calc embedded mode the command d N does it.
Unfortunately it do not seem possible to chose the matrix environment (bmatrix for example), you have to change it `manually'.
To do so you can configure the LaTeX langage mode 2 to display the output in two dimensional mode. C-u 2 d T do the trick. It can be
% [calc-mode: language: (latex 2)]
\[
A = \begin{pmatrix}
1 & 2 & 3 \\
4 & 5 & 6 \\
7 & 8 & 9
\end{pmatrix}
\]
Don't forget to return back to latex mode (C-x * e).
To change the pmatrix into bmatrix (or whatever matrix environment you want) Just C-u C-c C-e as usual. It may be easier to do a simple find and replace.
Note that calc can perform a large number of matrix operations for numeric or symbolic values, the ability to compose in LaTeX syntax is a very basic although excellent functionality.
\begin{pmatrix}1&2&3\\4&5&6\\7&8&9\end{pmatrix}.texand then use\input{<file>.tex}to import in LaTeX. I have made very long tables in this way with MATHEMATICA.