# Transform 150,000 computer generated TeX images to LaTeX code

The Encyclopedia of Mathematics is based on an encyclopedia that had its formulae written in TeX, which were saved as png images. On its way through the various publishers the original TeX source code was lost. Thus, the encyclopedia now contains a bunch of png images with computer generated TeX formulas. Example:

I thus want to transform all these images (about 150,000 of them) back to TeX code. I have found the Mathpix API, however they are not open source. Do you know of any open source alternatives?

• Hi. Why do you want to convert all of them to TeX codes? – user156344 Apr 6 '19 at 14:28
• So you can easily edit, expand and index the articles. Right now, if you want to change a formula in the Encyclopedia , you have to retype the whole thing (also the images look worse than MathJax rendering but that’s not so important) – Maximilian Janisch Apr 6 '19 at 14:29
• I don't know of a script that can do the job, but there are some softwares / extensions / etc. which let you convert an equation to TeX code by screen-cropping. – user156344 Apr 6 '19 at 14:30
• Related: tex.stackexchange.com/q/155166/35864 (but unfortunately the only real solution for this task mentioned there seems to be Mathpix, which you know already :-(). More distantly related: tex.stackexchange.com/q/1443/35864. Google also returned inftyproject.org/en/index.html – moewe Apr 6 '19 at 14:33
• $600 does not sound a lot for say a few days work but it would take me you or 1000 volunteers longer than 3 days to process. If they guarantee to rectify 150,000 errors for$600 then cloud funding on the pages may work. just my 2 \$ worth of cents – user170109 Apr 6 '19 at 15:14