Text Formatting ⇒ Replacing * with \cdot

[creative]

Hi guys,

i have no idea if this is the right place for this question, so if not pls move it for me.
what i generelly want is a script or something which is able to replace the "*"-character with a \cdot. But the script should only replace the * if i'm in mathmode and not in the normal text mode. What i already found on another board is this:
1:
2: \catcode '\*=\active
3: \def *{\cdot}
4:
5:
6: \begin{document}
7:
8: $a*b=c$
9:
10:
11: Ein Stern: $\ast$
12:
13: \end{document}

it actually already works perfectly, the only problem is that it replaces ANY *-character, although i only want those to be replaced that are written in mathmode. So what i need is an if-else-kinda thing, that can check if i'm in mathmode or not. Does anyone of you have an idea how i can realise this?

[Johannes_B]

Hi, i strongly discourage that. Use the search and replace feature of your editor and check every single instance for sanity. Reason: Asterisks are sometimes used as superscripts to denote a special meaning, it is not always meant as a multiplication sign.

[creative]

Well i am not going to use THIS exact script. but if i would add that switch that can recognise if i'm in mathmode it would be allright, wouldn't it? or is there any superscript use of the asterisks within the mathmode?

[rais]

A test for math mode is simple: \ifmmode ... \else ... \fi
But making the asterisk active also breaks commands + environments, that use it already, such as \newcommand* or, speaking of math, the *-variants like align* (amsmath)...

KR
Rainer