Copy and paste equations in MathType Web and other applications

You can copy equations or parts of equations within MathType, move them between MathType editors, and exchange them with other applications. What you can paste depends on the content you copied and the formats supported by the destination. This guide covers common copy and paste workflows. 

If you want to paste LaTeX or MathML code into the editor, or retrieve an equation's code in these formats, see Use LaTeX and MathML with MathType Web.

Before you begin

Requirements

• Access to the MathType editor and to the application containing or receiving the equation.

Applies to

MathType Web. The available copy and paste methods depend on the source and destination applications, browser, and operating system.

Steps

Copy within or between MathType editors

1. In the MathType editor, select the entire equation or just the part you want to copy. To move the selection instead, use Cut.
2. Select Copy or Cut in the toolbar, use the contextual menu, or press Ctrl+C or Ctrl+X on Windows. On macOS, press Command+C or Command+X.
3. Place the insertion point elsewhere in the same equation or in another open MathType editor.
4. Select Paste, or press Ctrl+V on Windows or Command+V on macOS.

If you need to move an entire document containing MathType equations between Word and Google Docs, follow Microsoft Word and Google Docs compatibility. That process explains how to keep the equations editable after moving the document.

Paste content from another source into MathType

You can paste the following types of content into the MathType editor:

• Equations or parts of equations copied from another MathType editor or a compatible source.
• Supported LaTeX or MathML code, which MathType converts into a visually editable equation.
• Individual characters, numbers, and text copied from other applications or websites.

 To paste any of these types of content into MathType, follow these steps:

1. Copy the character, equation, or LaTeX or MathML code from the source application or website.
2. Open the MathType editor and place the insertion point where you want the content.
3. Paste the content and review how it appears in the editing area. If you pasted supported LaTeX or MathML code, the result appears as an equation that you can continue editing with the MathType toolbar.

Some websites provide equations in a format MathType can interpret, while others provide only an image. An image will not become an editable equation simply by pasting it. To find a character without leaving MathType, see Insert special characters in MathType Web.

For more information about pasting code, see Use LaTeX and MathML with MathType Web. That article also explains how to view or copy the code of an equation already open in the editor using Ctrl+Shift+L for LaTeX or Ctrl+Shift+X for MathML.

When copying content from MathType, the result in another application depends on whether that application can interpret the copied equation data.

Exchange equations with MathType 7

For a Word document containing MathType 7 equations, use Convert from MT7 in the MathType for Microsoft 365 ribbon. This is the more reliable way to convert the equations in the document to the MathType for Microsoft 365 format. The feature is specific to that Word integration and is not available in other MathType Web integrations. See Convert MathType 7 equations to MathType for Microsoft 365 for the procedure and its limitations.

To copy an individual equation from MathType Web to MathType 7, open and copy it in MathType Web, then paste it into an open MathType 7 window. Check the resulting equation, particularly its symbols and formatting.

To copy an individual equation from MathType 7 to MathType Web, first configure MathType 7 to copy it as MathML:

1. Open the equation in MathType 7 and select Preferences > Cut and Copy Preferences.
2. In the MathML or TeX section, select MathML 2.0 (no namespace) and clear both options below the translator list. Select OK.
3. Copy the equation in MathType 7, paste it into the MathType Web editor, and review the result.

Copy equations between MathType and Word’s built-in equation editor

To copy an equation from MathType into Word, select and copy it in the MathType editor, then place the insertion point in Word and paste. Review the result in Word, as its appearance and editability depend on how Word interprets the copied content.

To copy an equation created with Word's equation editor into MathType, configure Word to copy equations as MathML:

1. In Word, select an equation created with Word’s built-in editor. In the equation tab that appears, click the small arrow in the Tools or Conversions group to open Equation Options. Then select Copy MathML, as shown in the screenshot below.
2. Select one equation or part of an equation in Word and copy it.
3. Open the MathType editor and paste the copied content.
4. Review the resulting equation and check that you can edit it.

In Word for macOS, open Format > Equation Options to enable Copy MathML. Copy an individual equation or subexpression: a selection containing both ordinary document text and equations cannot be pasted into the MathType editing area as one equation.

Copy between rich text editors

If MathType is integrated into a rich text editor, such as CKEditor or TinyMCE, you may be able to copy a complete equation from one editor area to another:

1. Select and copy the complete equation in the source rich text editor.
2. Place the insertion point in the destination editor and paste.
3. Open the pasted equation with MathType to check whether it remains editable.

This depends on how the website and its editors handle equation data. If the equation is no longer editable after pasting, try copying it between MathType editing areas or use a supported code format. For instructions on working with LaTeX or MathML code, see Use LaTeX and MathML with MathType Web.

Verify it worked

• Within MathType: The copied content appears at the intended position and remains editable. If you used Cut, it no longer appears at its original position.
• From another source into MathType: The equation or character appears in the editing area. If you pasted supported LaTeX or MathML, it appears as a visual equation that you can edit with the toolbar.
• In another application: The equation displays as expected. If you need to edit it there, open it with the relevant MathType integration to confirm that it remains editable.

Common errors

The browser restricts clipboard access

If selecting a toolbar button opens a browser dialog requesting clipboard access, use the corresponding keyboard shortcut to copy or paste.

A Word equation does not paste correctly into MathType

Check that Copy MathML is enabled in Word and copy only one equation or subexpression. A selection containing ordinary text and equations may not paste as an editable equation.

Code or an image appears instead of an editable equation

The source or destination may not support the format needed to exchange an editable equation. For example, an application without MathML support may display MathML as text, while a website may offer an equation only as an image. If supported LaTeX or MathML does not convert when pasted directly into MathType, check that you copied the complete code and consult Use LaTeX and MathML with MathType Web.

The equation changes after pasting

Compare it with the source. Some formatting or unsupported code may change during conversion. For MathML compatibility details, see the MathML coverage reference.

An equation pasted into a rich text editor cannot be edited

The destination editor may not have retained the MathType equation data. Try copying between MathType editing areas or check whether the source and destination rich text editors use compatible MathType integrations.

Related

• Use LaTeX and MathML with MathType Web.
• Convert MathType 7 equations to MathType for Microsoft 365.
• Microsoft Word and Google Docs compatibility.
• Insert special characters in MathType Web.
• MathML coverage reference.