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How do I: How do I edit my own comments?

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    I've tried to find out how to do this on the FAQ and by trial and error, but I can't figure it out. I can edit my own posts, and my own answers, but I can't seem to edit my own comments. (I know how to delete them.) Is there a way? Does it require a certain minimum reputation?

    A related question: I always see the LaTeX-compiled preview of my questions and answers, but not for comments. Is there any reason why this can't be done? It actually makes it less likely for me to want to post a comment when I can't preview it and/or edit it afterwards.
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    Typically, what I do when I note something I need to change, is to delete the old version, and post a new, revised version. As far as I know, the current software does not allow us to edit comments. Sometimes people comment on what you wrote, in those cases rather than deleting the old version, adding a new one may be the solution.
    • CommentAuthorWillieWong
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2010
     

    You cannot edit your comments (this is one of the changes to SE2.0 which I like).

    This and that you cannot preview comments are both "features" of the original stack-exchange software. Remember that the original software did not support mathematics using LaTeX expressions: that was a customization for MathOverflow. So for the most part there was no need to "check the layout" of the comments.

    That said: the usual blurb about how the actual software is outside of our control should be inserted here.

    BTW, because of the lack of previews in comments, Will Jagy has the habit of doing his comments in a separate editor, test compile it, before copying over to MO. I think he won't mind if you e-mail to ask about his workflow.

    • CommentAuthorWill Jagy
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2010
     
    Hi Willie. It is also for answers now. I have an old browser and need to click on the "reprocess with jsmath" to actually see any mathematics at all. And that is not even an option in an answer window. So I keep a growing latex file, each time I have something long I typeset it between newpage commands until it is, well, perfect. There are a few instances where small changes are still needed for MO, triple backslashes mostly. But by and large I have something from an actual .tex file to paste into any given input box.

    Comments are shorter, but if I have doubts I still do the same thing, sometimes it takes a few tries to get it right, delete, slightly edit the .tex, paste, post comment, if wrong repeat.

    It hit me today that I did not have enough variety in my saved comment for "why is this question gong to be closed" So I have a new one with one character to spare, stolen from various comments of the past few days,

    It has been well established that we do not entertain "please comment on my paper" type of questions here on MO. MathOverflow is not for announcements of research results. MathOverflow is not here to pre-masticate papers for you, or to comment on papers by other people. MO is not here to teach you basic mathematics. MO is not here to struggle with known open problems, or provide new proofs of insanely difficult theorems. It is not here for other people to work on your problems if you show little evidence of your own effort. MO is not here for public discussions of tenure or article referees.
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    When I post a longish comment, I usually select-all and copy before pressing the button; that way, if I see something I want/need to change, I can delete and paste and edit without having to retype the whole thing.
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    For those like Spiro who search in the FAQ, perhaps it would be useful leave a remark about the differences between comments and posts: Comments cannot be edited, <a href...> </a>
    doesn't work in comments but the raw URL does work, etc. If not all explained in the FAQ, it could be explained in a separate page linked from the FAQ. Perhaps there should be a [sticky] Discussion category for "Items to add to the FAQ (someday!)"? Each new user must discover these nuances on their own.
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    Thanks everyone. I will take the advice and test/preview my comments in a separate location before pasting. (I use TeXShop on a Mac). If we ever do get to control and/or modify the software, though, these two gripes would be at the top of my list.
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    I agree that it is annoying that one can't preview. I often write my comment in the answer box but cut and paste it into the comment box (w/o submitting as an answer of course) once it looks good. SIlly to have to do that IMHO. Also, not perfect. I can't quite see how to get new lines in a comment. One could go to a new comment for each "paragraph break" but that would be obnoxious.

    • CommentAuthorWill Jagy
    • CommentTimeNov 24th 2010
     
    Aaron, to get a new line I just put in a fake displayed formula as two pairs of dollar signs, perhaps it will show them $$ $$

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