Amal Nagm

Equation Editor basics

What Is Equation Editor?

Equation Editor, a special version of the MathType equation editor from Design Science, Inc., is customized for use with Microsoft applications. For more information about MathType, see Upgrading Equation Editor to MathType.

Using Equation Editor, you can build complex equations by picking symbols from a toolbar and typing variables and numbers. As you build an equation, Equation Editor automatically adjusts font sizes, spacing, and formatting in keeping with mathematical typesetting conventions. You can also adjust formatting as you work and redefine the automatic styles.

Easy-to-Use Toolbar Symbols and Templates

The top row of the Equation Editor toolbar has buttons for inserting more than 150 mathematical symbols, many of which are not available in the standard Symbol font. To insert a symbol in an equation, click a button on the top row of the toolbar, and then click the specific symbol from the palette that appears under the button.

The bottom row of the Equation Editor toolbar has buttons for inserting templates or frameworks that contain such symbols as fractions, radicals, summations, integrals, products, matrices, and various fences or matching pairs of symbols such as brackets and braces. Many templates contain slots — spaces into which you type text and insert symbols. There are about 120 templates, grouped on palettes. You can nest templates — insert templates in the slots of other templates — to build complex hierarchical formulas.

Create an equation

You build equations by picking templates and symbols from the toolbar and typing variables and numbers in the slots provided. As you build an equation, Equation Editor automatically adjusts font sizes, spacing, and formatting in keeping with mathematical typesetting conventions. You can also adjust formatting as you work and redefine the automatic styles.

1 Do any of the following:

Choose a template from the bottom row of the toolbar and fill in the slots.

Choose symbols from the top row of the toolbar.

Type the text you want.

2 When you have built the equation, click anywhere outside the Equation Editor window to return to your document.

Tip To nest a template within a template, select the template you want to nest in the Equation Editor window and then choose a template from the toolbar..

Edit an equation

Using OLE, you can edit equations in your document. When you double-click an equation, the Equation Editor window opens for you to make changes. If you start Equation Editor as a separate application, you can edit an equation and then update it in your document.

1 Double-click the equation.

The Equation Editor toolbar appears and its menu bar temporarily replaces the application menu bar.

2 Make the changes you want.

You can add, delete, or change elements in an equation. You can also apply a different style, size, or formatting to text, or adjust spacing and location of elements.

3 When you have finished editing, click anywhere outside the Equation Editor object. If you started Equation Editor as a separate application, from the Equation Editor File menu, choose Exit and Return to Document Name. The equation is updated in the document.

You can type any text you want in an equation as long as you use the Text style. However, the Text style does not apply the special formatting that Equation Editor applies to equations. Generally, it is best to use the Text style only for putting alphabetical characters or text into equations, such as the expression "for all." For more information about using the Text style, click

Type text in an equation

· In most cases, Equation Editor automatically adjusts the spacing between numbers, symbols, and variables as you build an equation. You should use the SPACEBAR only when you are using the Text style. You can adjust spacing by using formatting commands or by choosing a spacing character from one of the symbol palettes. When you type text in an equation — for instance, a named variable — you automatically apply the Text style and can use the SPACEBAR to add spaces between words.

· As you type, press ENTER only when you want to create a new slot directly beneath the current one — for example, to create two lines of text or stack equations. To arrange most items, however, insert a template with slots in the appropriate positions.

· Unless you're using Text style, symbols automatically replace some characters as you type. For example, a minus sign with spaces on either side replaces a hyphen. In other cases, you need to choose symbols from the palettes instead of typing characters on the keyboard. For example, if you type brackets and then add to the expression they enclose, the brackets won't expand. If you need brackets that adjust to the size of the expression, insert the appropriate template from the Fences palette.