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From: scavo@cie.uoregon.edu (Tom Scavo)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps
Subject: Re: WYSIWYG equations.
Summary: Word glossary available via anonymous ftp
Message-ID: <1991Jun25.195214.20761@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: 25 Jun 91 19:52:14 GMT
References: <73043@microsoft.UUCP> <17298@chopin.udel.edu>
Organization: Campus Information Exchange, University of Oregon
Lines: 60

In article <73043@microsoft.UUCP> lauriekl@microsoft.UUCP (Fuzzball) writes:

>A little known fact:  Microsoft Word 4.0 has formulas - a feature that
>allows you to build complex mathmatical formulas.  You build the formula
>in 'show paragraph marks' mode, and view what will actually print in 
>'hide paragraph marks' mode (toggle from one mode to another with 
>command-Y).  
>
>For example, 1/square root(x^2 + 5) (pretend that this looks pretty, on
>the right levels, etc) would be \f(1,\r(x\s(2) + 5))   
>(side note, "\" stands for the key combination (command-option-\)). 
>
>Really, it's easy.  Page 98 in the reference manual.

But, as regular readers of this newsgroup already know, Word's formula 
processor is far from perfect.  One major shortcoming is that subscripts 
and superscripts require manual positioning.  Another is the flawed 
display of integrals.  And why can't the columns of arrays be aligned on 
a decimal point, or tabs/linefeeds be imbedded in argument lists (for 
readability and debugging)?

And then there are bugs.  I just posted an article the other day that 
pointed out how the \Array command chokes on more than 39 arguments.  The 
\Bracket command also has some serious problems (which I won't go into 
here), as does the glossary.

Be that as it may, Word formula commands are very handy and even quite 
easy when used in conjuction with the glossary (see below).

In article <17298@chopin.udel.edu> garrett@chopin.udel.edu (Joel Garrett) 
writes:

>It is even easier if you make use of the "Formula Glossary" stuff in the
>folder with the same name on one of the distribution disks.  This folder 
>holds a glossary that has all the equations and symbols and such in it, and
>a settings file that adds the ability to paste these things into your document
>via an added "Work" menu on the menu bar.  Even comes with documentation...
>nice stuff...

Yup, that's how I got started, too.  But all of the formulas in the 
glossary included on the Word 4.0 distribution disks required tweaking, 
while some needed a major overhaul.  Important Symbol font characters 
were also missing (the subset operator, for instance).

About a year ago, I e-mailed an enhanced Mathematics Glossary to about 
100 readers of this group.  Since that time I've added a bunch of new 
things like in-line mathematical expressions, a LaTeX-like "eqnarray" 
environment, and commutative diagrams.  The original package (which 
includes a Mathematics Glossary, a README file, a Quick Reference Guide, 
*and* a corresponding Settings file) is now available by anonymous ftp 
from cie.uoregon.edu <128.223.24.36> in pub/glossary1.hqx.   The latest 
and greatest version (minus the Settings file) will also be found there:  
it's located in pub/glossary2.hqx.

Feel free to send comments about either of the glossaries to me at 
scavo@cie.uoregon.edu.

-- 
Tom Scavo
scavo@cie.uoregon.edu