Equation Editor

Equation Editor (EE) is a standalone program that allows the user to create mathematical equations with ease. EE can be used in conjunction with any application program that has a feature to embed objects (OLE) such as Microsoft Word. In fact, EE is so helpful in MS Word that a special Microsoft version of EE comes with Word and other Microsoft Office programs on the install disc.

To insert a math expression, click the INSERT menu/ribbon, click on OBJECT, and Select Microsoft Equation 3.0.

EE is written by Design Science, Inc. Design Science also writes a powerful, full-featured version of EE called MathType™. From the help file in EE: "If you frequently include equations in your documents, you will find MathType is much better suited to your needs. MathType is as easy to use as Equation Editor and has many extra features to help you work faster and create better-looking documents. Design Science has a 30-day, FREE trial of MathType at www.mathtype.com/msee."

I prefer MathType over Equation Editor for three reasons: You can slash through expressions you are canceling, you can draw boxes around problem numbers and answers, and you can use colored font to emphasize a portion of an expression on which you are operating. The price of the MathType upgrade (for faculty and students) is $99.00; however, if you download the FREE trial version of MathType then let it expire at the end of the 30 days, it is still useable but reverts to a version called MathType Lite with a few less features. MathType Lite is still better than Equation Editor.

Using Word 2007? Use Equation Editor, not Equation Builder

Equation Editor 3.0 is not the same as "Equation" in Word 2007--Microsoft calls this button on the Insert ribbon "Equation Builder." Do not use the equation button at the end of the Insert ribbon as shown by the red arrow in the graphic below--do not use Equation Builder. Just as in Word 2003 and earlier versions, use the OBJECT button and select Microsoft Equation 3.0 as shown by the green arrow in the graphic below.

Placing a Button for Equation Editor on Your Toolbar in Word 2003 or XP

Equation Editor certainly won't be very helpful if you have to use the INSERT > OBJECT menu each time you want to type some mathematics. I recommend you place a button for EE on one of your toolbars:

1. Click the down arrow  (6) at the far right end of any visible toolbar.
2. Choose "Add or Remove Buttons"
3. Choose "Customize"
4. Click the middle tab for "Commands" where you will see all the menu commands.
5. Remember that EE is in Word's INSERT menu, so select the INSERT menu in the left pane of the Commands tab.
6. In the right pane, you will now see all the menu options available on the INSERT menu (and all sub-menus). Scroll down and locate Equation Editor. These commands are not in alphabetical order, so it might be easier to locate the EE button symbol:
7. Click and drag that button to any visible toolbar and drop it where you would like it to be.

Placing a Button for Equation Editor on Your Quick Launch Toolbar in Word 2007

Equation Editor certainly won't be very helpful if you have to use the INSERT > OBJECT menu each time you want to type some mathematics. I recommend you place a button for EE on your Quick Launch Toolbar:

1. Start up Word 2007

2. Click to make the VIEW tab active

3. Click "Macros" then select "Record Macro"

4. Name your macro EE and make sure it is "Store Macro in: All Documents (Normal.dotm)"

5. Click OK (this starts the macro recording the next several steps)

6. Click to make the INSERT tab active

7. Click "Object"

8. Click "Microsoft Equation 3.0" then click OK.

9. You now have EE open so you need to stop the macro recording:  click anywhere on the Word document, click to make the VIEW tab active, click "Macros," and then select "Stop Recording."

10. Now you have a macro that will start EE -- you want to put that macro as a button on the Quick Launch Toolbar. So right click on the Quick Launch Toolbar and select "Customize Quick Access Toolbar"

11. From the drop-down list for "Choose commands from," select "Macros"

12. Find your macro and click on it (it will be called Normal.NewMacros.EE)

13. Click the [ADD] button

14. OPTIONAL: You can click the [MODIFY] button to change the icon for the EE button

15. Click OK

Inserting a Mathematical Expression/Equation (any version of Word)

To insert a mathematical expression, click in your Word document where you want the math to appear. Click the EE button on your toolbar (or select Microsoft Equation 3.0 from the object menu on the Insert ribbon/menu). You will see an in-place object, the EE toolbar, and a different set of menus. Many beginners to EE do not notice the new menu bar. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the toolbar templates:

IMPORTANT: The top row of buttons on the EE toolbar has mathematical symbols. The bottom row of buttons contains templates. The templates are like stencils or place holders for various mathematical formats. For example, the second template is for fractions and radicals. Each symbol or template button you click displays a palette or menu of symbols and templates.

Let's suppose I want to write the fraction for 3 1/2:

1. Click the button for EE to start a new EE object.
2. Type the whole number 3
3. Click the template button for fractions. (You will see the place holders for the numerator and denominator with the cursor in the numerator ready to type.)
4. Type the numerator 1.
5. Press the Tab key to move the cursor to the denominator (or click in the denominator)
6. Type the denominator 2.
7. Press the Tab key to move the cursor out of the fraction.
8. Press the ESC key to leave EE and return to Word.

Template Keyboard Shortcuts

If we had to complete the eight steps above every time we wanted to write a fraction, it would takes us hours to type a math assignment. Most of the common symbols and templates in EE have keyboard shortcuts. Here are some of the most common template shortcuts:

Using these shortcuts, I can use the following eight steps to write the fraction 3 1/2:

1. Click the button for EE to start a new EE object.
2. Type the whole number 3
3. Press Ctrl-F for the fraction template.
4. Type the numerator 1.
5. Press the Tab key to move the cursor to the denominator (or click in the denominator)
6. Type the denominator 2.
7. Press the Tab key to move the cursor out of the fraction.
8. Press the ESC key to leave EE and return to Word.

You still have eight steps, but the process goes more quickly.

Adding Annotations

When showing all work (calculations) in an algebraic solution, it is often helpful to annotate or explain each step. Note in the list of shortcuts above the Ctrl-Shift-E allows you to add plain text, and pressing Ctrl-Shift-= allows you to go back to entering math. In the example below, I switched from math to text to write each explanation:

Want more help?

You can find many EE tutorials, videos, and tip sheets on the Internet. The first one below is my favorite:

• http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/ec/equations/equation.html  (great tutorial with mini-movies)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LGXtNRjrow

Extra for Experts

You can open Equation Editor or MathType as a separate program to use as an equation scratchpad. To open EE, use START | Find to locate EQNEDT32.EXE (on a Windows machine) or Equation Editor (on a Macintosh machine). Create a shortcut for this program on your desktop, in your START menu, or on your Quick Launch bar. Depending on the amount of memory in your computer, you can open several copies of EE simultaneously. When you create an equation in EE opened as a scratchpad, you must manually select all (Ctrl-A), copy the equation from EE (Ctrl-C), and paste it into your application (Ctrl-V). This will paste into an OLE-compliant application (such as Word) as a JPEG.

To open MT as a separate program, use START | Find to locate MATHTYPE.EXE (on a Windows machine) or MathType (on a Macintosh machine). Create a shortcut for this program on your desktop, in your START menu, or on your Quick Launch bar. Depending on the amount of memory in your computer, you can open several copies of MT simultaneously. MathType has a FILE menu that allows you to save your equation work as a GIF or WMF for easy insertion into Word.

Copyright (c) 2010, Jolene M. Morris, All Rights Reserved