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Using MathType with Corel WordPerfect

TechNote 56

Applicability

The information on this page applies to:

MathType for Windows

Corel WordPerfect X4-X9

Issue

Some customers experience problems using MathType with WordPerfect. These problems can usually be addressed by changing a WordPerfect setting and fully updating WordPerfect.

Many customers would like to know how to use MathType as their default equation editor with WordPerfect so that they can use the Insert Equation command in the Edit menu of WordPerfect to insert MathType equations and also place a button on WordPerfect's toolbar for inserting MathType equations. This notice explains how to do so.

Solution

For best results, you should ensure that you have fully updated WordPerfect and that it is configured correctly to handle MathType equations, which are graphics in the Windows Metafile Format (WMF). This notice will explain how to set up WordPerfect so that it is optimized to easily include MathType equations in documents.

The following topics are addressed in this notice:

Updating WordPerfect

We suggest you periodically check with Corel for any required service packs and updates for your version of WordPerfect. These can be found at Corel's website.

Confirm WordPerfect's graphics setting: WMF and WPG

As we mentioned, MathType equations are by default WMF graphics. WordPerfect has its own graphics format: WPG (WordPerfect Graphic). In earlier versions of WordPerfect, this was the default, but in the most recent versions, WMF is the default. This setting is important enough to verify since having the wrong graphics setting will produce undesirable results both with Corel Equation Editor and MathType objects. Some characters will be substituted. Braces and embellishments may become letters, for example.

To verify this setting, do the following:

  1. Launch WordPerfect.

  2. Choose Tools > Settings to open the Settings dialogue.

    tsn56-wordperfect-settings.png
  3. Click Convert to display the Convert Settings dialogue.

  4. Choose the Convert tab.

  5. Ensure that the "Retain metafile (.WMF) format" option is selected.

    tsn56-wordperfect-convert-settings.png
  6. Click OK to save this setting and close the Convert Settings dialogue.

  7. Leave the Settings dialogue open, and proceed to the next section.

Placing a button on WordPerfect's toolbar to insert MathType equations

By placing the toolbar button for WordPerfect's CorelEquation equation editor on WordPerfect's toolbar, you can use it to insert MathType equations.

  1. If the Settings dialogue is still open from the previous section, proceed to step 3.

  2. Choose Tools > Settings to open the Settings dialogue.

    tsn56-wordperfect-settings-2.png
  3. Click Customize to open the Customize Settings dialogue.

  4. Choose the Toolbars tab, and under Available Toolbars, make sure the box next to WordPerfect is checked.

    tsn56-wordperfect-customize-settings.png
  5. Click the Edit button to open the Toolbar editor.

  6. Choose the Features tab. Under Feature Categories, select Insert or type I .

  7. Under Features, please scroll down to locate Equation and select it.

    tsn56-wordperfect-features-equation.png
  8. Click Add Button to add tsn56-wordperfect-insert-equation.gif to your WordPerfect toolbar. The button will be placed at the far right of your existing toolbar. If you prefer a different location, click and drag it wherever you want.

  9. Click OK to close the Toolbar Editor dialogue.

  10. If you want to create a shortcut to insert MathType equations, leave the Customize Settings dialogue open and proceed to the next section. Otherwise, click Close to close the Customize Settings dialogue, and click Close to close the Settings dialogue.

You should now be able to insert MathType equations into your WordPerfect documents by clicking the tsn56-wordperfect-insert-equation.gifbutton on your WordPerfect toolbar.

Creating a keyboard shortcut to insert MathType equations

Once you have installed MathType , you can use WordPerfect's built-in keyboard shortcut for inserting equations, which is Alt+I , U (that's press & release Alt+I , then press & release U — for Insert > Equation). If you prefer a shortcut that only requires a single keystroke, you can change WordPerfect's default keyboard shortcuts to something simpler.

  1. If the Settings dialogue is still open from the previous section, proceed to step 3.

  2. Choose Tools > Settings to open the Settings dialogue.

    tsn56-wordperfect-settings-2.png
  3. Click Customize to open the Customize Settings dialogue.

  4. Choose the Keyboards tab. Under Available Keyboards, select the keyboard for the version of WordPerfect and the keyboard layout you are using.

    tsn56-wordperfect-keyboards.png
  5. Click Edit to open the Keyboard Shortcuts dialogue.

  6. Choose the Features tab.

  7. Under Feature Categories, select Insert.

  8. Under "Assign a feature to the shortcut key", scroll down and select Equation.

  9. On the left side of the dialogue, locate and select the keyboard shortcut you would like to use for inserting MathType equations. Q+Alt (usually written Alt+Q ) doesn't have a default assignment, so let's select that. (If you want to choose a keystroke that already has an assignment, that's no problem. Select it for now, and proceed to step 10.)

    tsn56-wordperfect-keyboard-shortcut.png
  10. Click Assign Feature to Key.

  11. Click OK to close the Keyboard Shortcuts dialogue.

  12. Click Close to close the Customize Settings dialogue, and again to close the Settings dialogue.

You can now insert equations using the new shortcut key that you have assigned and the built-in shortcut, Alt+IU .

Reinstall MathType after upgrading WordPerfect

MathType may need to be reinstalled if you upgraded or reinstalled WordPerfect on a machine that already has MathType installed. If the keyboard shortcuts or equation toolbar icon you created using the steps above don't launch MathType reinstall MathType

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We hope this has been helpful. As always, please let us know if you have questions about this or if you have additional techniques that work. We'd love to hear from you.