Comment 17 for bug 1698571

(In reply to Sergey from comment #13)
> I have an idea how to solve the problem simply and with much greater effect:
> allow users to use theys favorite EXTERNAL text editor to edit formula, i.e.
> parameter "External math text editor path" in settings needed. It it empty -
> LibreOffice Math runs, else the LibreOffice (or LibreOffice Math without
> GUI) run this actions:
>
> - create temp file XXXXX.eqn on trying to fornmula edit/create
> - run external text editor with this file as parameter
> - read file after editor closing and update formula object as it LibreOffice
> Math does
>
> It's AUTOMATICALY enables features on user side:
>
> - pair brackets highlighting
> - functions highlighting
> - more simple editing (change variable name with multicaret editing or vim
> commands, e.t.c.)
> - snippets (not only for math constructions, may be used to natural greek
> symbols writing - [a]+[Tab] -> α instead of %alpha - more simple reading)
> - macroses to text editing in some special cases
>
> It seems to be a great effect for easy implementation - don't you think so?

This would require the "external" editor to prepare formula in viable MathML that could be parsed back into ODF. Sorry, but I don't see how this would provide anything that can't already be accomplished adding logic to node composition in the current sm formula editor module with more direct changes.