Block Macro

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What is the Block Macro?

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When to Use Block Macros

• ✅ Displaying important equations
• ✅ Creating multi-line mathematical expressions
• ✅ Showing complex formulas that need emphasis
• ✅ Using matrices, systems of equations, or aligned expressions
• ✅ Presenting theorems and proofs

• ❌ Simple variables within text
• ❌ Short formulas in sentences
• ❌ Inline mathematical notation

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How to Add a Block Macro

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Method 1: Slash Command (Recommended)

1. Open a Confluence page in edit mode
2. Position your cursor on a new line
3. Type:
   Copy

   /latex
   
4. Select “LaTeX Math for Confluence” or “LaTeX Math for Confluence (Block)”
5. Enter your LaTeX equation
6. Save the macro

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Method 2: Insert Menu

1. Open a page in edit mode
2. Click “Insert” → “Other macros”
3. Search for “latex”
4. Select “LaTeX Math for Confluence”
5. Click “Insert”

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Writing Block Equations

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Syntax Options

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Display Math Delimiters

\[
E = mc^2
\]

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Double Dollar Signs

$$
E = mc^2
$$

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No Delimiters (Automatic Display Mode)

E = mc^2

The macro automatically renders in display mode

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LaTeX Environments

\begin{equation}
E = mc^2
\end{equation}

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Alignment Options

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Center (Default)

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Left Align

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Right Align

1. Edit the macro
2. Use the alignment buttons in the preview pane
3. Save changes

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Examples

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1. Simple Equations

\[
E = mc^2
\]

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2. Fractions and Roots

\[
x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}
\]

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3. Integrals

\[
\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-x^2} dx = \sqrt{\pi}
\]

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4. Summations

\[
\sum_{i=1}^{n} i = \frac{n(n+1)}{2}
\]

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5. Matrices

\[
A = \begin{bmatrix}
a & b \\
c & d
\end{bmatrix}
\]

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6. Systems of Equations

\[
\begin{cases}
x + y = 5 \\
2x - y = 1
\end{cases}
\]

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7. Aligned Equations

\[
\begin{align}
f(x) &= x^2 + 2x + 1 \\
&= (x + 1)^2
\end{align}
\]

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8. Limits

\[
\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{1}{x} = 0
\]

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9. Partial Derivatives

\[
\frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial t^2} = c^2 \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial x^2}
\]

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10. Complex Formulas

\[
\oint_C \vec{F} \cdot d\vec{r} = \iint_S (\nabla \times \vec{F}) \cdot d\vec{S}
\]

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Advanced Features

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Multi-line Equations

\begin{align}
a^2 + b^2 &= c^2 \\
\sin^2\theta + \cos^2\theta &= 1 \\
e^{i\pi} + 1 &= 0
\end{align}

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Matrices and Arrays

% Regular matrix
\begin{matrix}
a & b \\
c & d
\end{matrix}

% Parentheses
\begin{pmatrix}
a & b \\
c & d
\end{pmatrix}

% Brackets
\begin{bmatrix}
a & b \\
c & d
\end{bmatrix}

% Vertical bars (determinant)
\begin{vmatrix}
a & b \\
c & d
\end{vmatrix}

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Chemical Equations

\[
\ce{CO2 + H2O -> H2CO3}
\]

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Text in Equations

\[
f(x) = \begin{cases}
x^2 & \text{if } x \geq 0 \\
-x^2 & \text{if } x < 0
\end{cases}
\]

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Best Practices

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✅ Do’s

1. Use for important equations - Make key formulas stand out
2. Add spacing - Leave blank lines before/after block macros
3. Organize content - Use one equation per block for clarity
4. Test rendering - Preview before saving
5. Use proper environments - Choose the right LaTeX environment

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❌ Don’ts

1. Don’t overuse - Too many blocks can overwhelm readers
2. Avoid inline delimiters - Don’t use $...$ in block macros
3. Don’t mix content - Keep equations separate from text
4. No excessive whitespace - Clean LaTeX is better

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Editing Block Macros

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Edit Existing Macro

1. Hover over the equation block
2. Click the edit icon (⚙️)
3. Modify your LaTeX in the editor
4. Use Live Preview to verify changes
5. Save when satisfied

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Change Alignment

1. Open the macro editor
2. Click alignment buttons in the preview pane:
   • Left align button
   • Center align button
   • Right align button
3. Save changes

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Mixed Content

Consider the equation:
\[
E = mc^2
\]
where $E$ is energy, $m$ is mass, and $c$ is the speed of light.

Note: Inline equations ($...$) within block macros work as expected.

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Troubleshooting

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Equation Not Centering

1. Open the macro editor
2. Check alignment setting in preview pane
3. Select Center alignment
4. Save changes

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Line Breaks Not Working

1. Use proper LaTeX environments (align, gather)
2. Use \\ for line breaks within environments
3. Don’t use \n or \newline

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Matrix Not Rendering

1. Verify you’re using \begin{matrix}...\end{matrix}
2. Check for proper \\ line breaks
3. Use & for column separation
4. Ensure balanced braces

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Spacing Too Tight

1. Add blank lines before/after the macro in Confluence
2. Don’t add extra LaTeX spacing commands
3. Let Confluence handle paragraph spacing

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Performance Considerations

• ✅ Block macros handle complex equations efficiently
• ✅ Multiple blocks on one page are supported
• ⚠️ Very large matrices (>10×10) may slow rendering
• ⚠️ Limit to 20-30 block macros per page for best performance

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Common Use Cases

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1. Textbook Equations

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2. Research Documentation

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3. Engineering Specifications

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4. Scientific Papers

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5. Data Science

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Related Documentation

• 📖 Inline Macro - For inline equations
• 📖 Live Preview - Real-time rendering
• 📖 LaTeX Syntax Guide
• ❓ FAQ

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Need Help?

• 💬 Contact Support
• 📚 View All Documentation
• 📖 LaTeX Tutorial