MathType One-Time Initial Configuration

These steps only need to be performed once on your device—after downloading and properly installing MathType for XML from the Wiris Store, and once Arbortext Editor is installed. For some of the steps, you may need admin permissions.

1. Set environment variables

• Open Settings in your PC and go to the “Edit the system environment variables”.

• Add the following system variables:
  • APTCUSTOM: Set the path to the MathType folder inside the Arbortext directory, i.e. [Program Files]\[Arbortext folder]\samples\mathtype\custom;%D
  • APTMATHTYPEPATH: Set the path to the MathType for XML Editors executable file, i.e., [Program Files]\mathtype-for-xml-editors\mathtype-for-xml-editors.exe.

2. MathType reference in Arbortext Editor

• Open this file with Notepad and search for element="mathml".
  If you find hidden="yes", change it to hidden="no".
  Don’t forget to save the file—you may need administrator rights to do so.
• Locate the file mathtype_custom.acl in the MathType demo folder, which is:
  [Program Files]\[Arbortext folder]\samples\mathtype\custom\init.
• Copy this file and paste it into the [Program Files]\[Arbortext folder]\custom\init directory. This ensures that MathType will be loaded when Arbortext Editor starts.
• If Arbortext Editor was open during the configuration, we recommend closing and reopening it to ensure the changes are applied.

3. Doctype configuration

• Find the Doctype (.dcf) configuration file corresponding to the template you use, for example, the one for DITA Technical content 1.3 is placed in  [Program Files]\[Arbortext folder]\doctypes\dita\ditabase\ and called ditabase.dcf. Open it with Notepad and add the following piece of code just before the closing clause, see the image as example:

<Specials>
<XuiControl element="m:math" xuiFileName="mathtype_embed.xml" condition="parent::node()[@id]"/>
</Specials>

Doctype configuration check

Once you're working on your XML file in Arbortext Editor, it’s useful to check whether the DCF configuration file you edited is the one your template/DITA file is using.

You can do this by navigating to: Help > Session > Document tab and checking the reference, as shown:

 

Example: Starting a new document from a template

• Open Arbortext Editor. Set a new document DITA Topic in folder DITA Technical Content 1.3.

• As a reminder, the doctype configuration file must be modified to allow MathType for XML Editors to render and edit the mathematical expressions in your document (see the configuration file section above).
• Insert a new markup mathml > m:math, wherever you want. When clicking, the markup options will be opened and choose mathml > m:math.

• An ID is needed to the m:math, so press modify attributes (right button):

• Add an id for the m:math, in Reference section, or just assign one randomly by pressing the magic wand and press OK.

• After completing this process, the rendering should appear. If it doesn’t happen immediately, try saving the DITA file, closing it, and reopening it.

• By clicking the pencil icon, MathType for XML Editors will automatically open and load the equation, if one exists. You can create or edit the equation, then click “Add equation” to insert it.
• You can add more equations by repeating this process.
• There is a button with a pencil that, if you press it, you will open MathType and write and save the equation.