Contextual tab in MathType Web

The Contextual tab provides controls for modifying the mathematical structure or element currently being edited in MathType Web. Its contents change according to the cursor position or selection, allowing authors to adjust matrices, multiline expressions, fences, elementary math layouts, stretchable operators, number separators, spacing elements, and the position of individual elements without recreating the equation.

Applies to

MathType Web · Versions that include the Contextual tab · Web

Page layout

The Contextual tab appears in the MathType toolbar. Unlike tabs with a fixed set of controls, it updates automatically to show the controls available for the active mathematical structure or selected element.

• Toolbar tab: Displays the controls that apply to the current cursor position or selection.
• Control groups: Provide commands for structures such as matrices, multiline expressions, fences, stretchable operators, elementary layouts, number separators, spacing elements, and selected symbols.
• Editing area: Determines which controls appear. Moving the cursor or changing the selection updates the tab automatically.

Availability and configuration

The Contextual tab is normally available while an equation is open for editing. No separate permission is required: anyone who can edit an equation can use the contextual controls available in that editor.

The controls displayed depend on the active mathematical structure, the cursor position or selection, the MathType integration, and the enabled editor features. A custom toolbar configuration can also affect whether the tab or a particular control is available.

If an expected control is not displayed, place the cursor inside the relevant structure or select the element you want to modify. If the control remains unavailable, the integration or toolbar configuration may not include that feature.

Controls overview

The controls are grouped according to the mathematical context they modify. Not all groups are displayed at the same time. The table below summarizes the available categories; the screenshots and individual button names are provided under Control details.

Spacing values and units

Controls that change spacing require a numerical value followed by a supported unit. This applies to controls such as Column spacing at right, Row spacing below, Horizontal frame spacing, Vertical frame spacing, Left spacing, Right spacing, and the <mspace> dimension controls.

The supported units are:

• px: Pixels. This is a fixed unit based on screen pixels.
• em: A relative unit based on the current font size.
• ex: A relative unit based on the x-height of the current font.

Enter the value and unit together, without a space, for example 2px, 0.5em, or 1ex. Values entered without one of these units are not applied.

Control details

Matrices, tables, and multiline structures

When the cursor is placed inside a matrix, table, piecewise function, or supported multiline expression, the Contextual tab displays controls for changing the structure, alignment, dimensions, and spacing of its rows and columns.

Control group	Controls	Buttons	Description
Baseline position		Baseline Middle Middle-baseline	Changes how the complete matrix, table, or multiline structure is positioned relative to the surrounding equation.
Structure alignment		Align with axis Align with baseline Align to row Align with top Align with center Align with bottom	Aligns the complete structure in relation to the surrounding equation elements.
Rows and columns		Insert row below Insert row above Insert column at right Insert column at left Remove row Remove column	Changes the number of rows or columns in the active structure.
Frames and lines		Insert frame Remove frame Insert line below Insert right line Remove line below Remove right line	Adds or removes an outer frame or dividing lines in the active structure.
Cell and row alignment		Align left Align center Align right Align rows to top Align rows to center Align rows to bottom Align rows to baseline Align rows to axis Decimal align Relation align	Aligns the contents of the active cells, rows, or columns. Decimal alignment uses the selected decimal separator, while relation alignment aligns expressions at their relation symbols.
Equal dimensions		Force equal row heights Force equal column widths	Applies uniform heights to the rows or uniform widths to the columns in the active structure.
Structure spacing		Column spacing at right Row spacing below Horizontal frame spacing Vertical frame spacing	Adjusts spacing next to the active row or column or between the contents and the surrounding frame. Enter a numerical value followed by px, em, or ex.

Elementary math layouts

When the cursor is placed inside a supported elementary layout, such as long division or stacked arithmetic, the Contextual tab displays the controls that apply to the active part of the structure. The exact controls depend on the layout and the cursor position within it.

Control group	Controls	Buttons	Description
Lines and digit grouping		Insert line Up diagonal strike Join the selected digits in a single column	Adds a line or diagonal strike or groups selected digits into one column.
Rows		Prepend row Append row	Adds a row before or after the active row.
Carries		Set carries location at north-west Set carries location at north Set carries location at north-east Set carries location at west Insert carries in this row Set carries location at east Set carries location at south-west Set carries location at south Set carries location at south-east	Inserts carries in the active row and determines where they appear in relation to each digit.
Row position		Move to left Move to right	Moves the active row horizontally within the elementary math layout.
Digit spacing		Digit spacing	Changes the spacing between digits in the active elementary math layout.

Fences and stretchable operators

When the cursor is placed inside a fenced expression, the Contextual tab displays controls for changing its delimiters. Compatible operators and delimiters also provide controls for stretchiness and surrounding spacing.

Control group	Controls	Buttons	Description
Opening and closing fences		Opening and closing fences	Changes the opening delimiter, closing delimiter, or separator of an existing fenced expression. The opening and closing delimiters can be selected independently.
Stretchiness		Stretchiness	Controls whether a compatible operator or delimiter stretches to match the surrounding content.
Baseline position		Baseline Middle Middle-baseline	Changes how the complete fenced structure is positioned relative to the surrounding equation.

Use the fence selectors to choose the opening delimiter, closing delimiter, and separator independently. This can be used to change interval notation or create an expression with different delimiters on each side. Select the required delimiter directly from its menu.

Enabling Stretchiness allows a compatible element to expand with the surrounding content; disabling it keeps the element at its standard size.

General element and multiline controls

Some contextual controls apply to more than one type of mathematical structure. The spacing controls can appear for operators and fences, while the multiline alignment controls appear when an equation contains multiple lines, even when those lines are not inside a matrix or table.

Control group	Controls	Buttons	Description
Element spacing		Left spacing Right spacing	Changes the space immediately before or after the active operator or fence. Enter a numerical value followed by px, em, or ex.
Multiline alignment		Align left Align center Align right Relation align	Aligns complete lines in a multiline equation. Relation align aligns the lines at their relation symbols.

Position adjustments

When an individual element is selected, the Contextual tab can display controls for moving it horizontally or vertically. These adjustments affect only the selected element and are intended for small visual corrections within a complex expression.

You can also adjust the selected element using the keyboard. Press Ctrl+Shift together with an arrow key to nudge it in the corresponding direction.

Control group	Controls	Buttons	Description
Horizontal and vertical position		Nudge up Nudge right Nudge left Nudge down	Moves the selected element horizontally or vertically in small increments.

Publishing-oriented structure controls

The Contextual tab includes controls for modifying publishing-related MathML structures that already exist in an equation. These controls complement the commands available in the Publishers tab.

Control group	Controls	Buttons	Description
Number separators		Merge or unmerge number separators	Includes a selected separator in an <mn> element or separates it into its own element.
<mspace> dimensions		Space width Space height Space depth	Changes the width, height, or depth of an existing <mspace> element.

Number separators

Select an existing number and separator to display the control for merging the separator into the surrounding <mn> element or separating it into its own element. For example, merging the separator changes:

<mn>1</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>5</mn>

to:

<mn>1.5</mn>

The related control in the Publishers tab is useful when working with digit separators. See Publishers tab in MathType Web.

<mspace> width, height, and depth

Place the insertion point next to an existing <mspace> element, select the corresponding control, and enter a numerical value followed by a supported unit. The following example contains an <mspace> with width 1em, height 3ex, and depth 2ex. The element is normally invisible but is selected in the image to make its dimensions visible.

Behaviour and interactions

• The Contextual tab may contain few or no structure-specific controls when the cursor is not inside a supported element.
• Moving the cursor to another structure or changing the selection updates the available controls automatically.
• Controls that do not apply to the active structure are not displayed.
• Some controls modify the complete active structure, while others affect only the selected row, column, delimiter, symbol, separator, or spacing element.
• The Contextual and Publishers tabs can be used together when a workflow requires both structure-specific adjustments and publishing-oriented MathML controls.

Limitations

• Not every contextual control is available for every mathematical structure.
• The same control may not be available in every MathType integration or toolbar configuration.
• A control may remain hidden until the cursor is placed in the required part of a structure or the relevant element is selected.
• Position adjustments are intended for fine-tuning individual elements and should not replace an appropriate mathematical template or structure.
• Existing <mspace> elements can be edited, but they cannot currently be inserted directly using the MathType user interface.

Related articles

• Examples using the Contextual tab in MathType Web.
• Publishers tab in MathType Web.
• Configure the MathType toolbar.
• Toolbar XML reference.
• Toolbar and keyboard shortcuts in MathType Web.