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From: ICBAL@ASUACAD.BITNET
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps
Subject: Re: Info on MathWriter 2.0
Message-ID: <91143.062348ICBAL@ASUACAD.BITNET>
Date: 23 May 91 13:23:48 GMT
References: <0E010025.dhbxgc@tidbits.UUCP>
Organization: Arizona State University
Lines: 27

There is a review of MathWriter in the current issue of MacWeek.
The ability to import EPS graphics really sounds nice (and as many
of us know, that is something Word cannot do).  But on the other
hand, the reviewer did have some negative things to say about it.

Although MathWriter can import RTF files, it cannot export them.
So MathWriter can only save in its own format, or as plain text.
This might be OK if you are creating your documents in a vacuum, but for
those of us who interchange Mac math documents, there are two standards--
Word or TeX.  MathWriter wants to make a 3rd standard--forget it!

The review says equations can be saved in PICT format, whereas MathType
will save in either PICT or EPS.  My experience is that when PICT
equations are pasted into draw programs they tend to break up, which is
one reason why MathType is preferred for its EPS output. And MathType
can translate it's equations into TeX format, which is very handy when
a novice has to hastily prepare an abstract in TeX; MathWriter has no
listed TeX capability.

Admittedly, the Word/MathType combination is somewhat clumsy, but can be
streamlined considerably by the use of QuicKeys macros.  Meanwhile,
MathWriter will have to offer much more before we would consider switching.

Bruce Long
Department of Mathematics
Arizona State University
icbal@asyvm.inre.asu.edu