Navigate the MathType editor using a keyboard

You can navigate the MathType editor, create equations and select mathematical symbols using a keyboard instead of a mouse. This navigation model also helps users operate the editor with assistive technology.

This article explains how to move between the main areas of the web-based MathType editor, navigate the symbol toolbar, manage the default equation formatting in supported integrations and insert an equation. The way you open MathType depends on the application or platform in which it is integrated.

Before you begin

Requirements

• MathType must be available in the application or HTML editor you are using.
• If you use assistive technology, start it before opening MathType.
• Follow the instructions for your application or platform to open the MathType editor.

Interface variations

Some controls and labels vary between integrations. For example, the button used to apply an equation may be labelled Insert, Accept or OK.

MathType for Microsoft 365 and MathType for Google Workspace also include a control for keeping the current font and size as the default formatting for new equations. In these integrations, the controls at the bottom of the editor appear in the following order:

1. The default-formatting control.
2. The Cancel button.
3. The Insert button.

In other integrations, the confirmation button normally appears before the Cancel button. Additional links or browser controls may also appear in the keyboard focus order.

Steps

Open the MathType editor

Keyboard navigation within MathType becomes available after the editor has opened and finished loading.

1. Open MathType using the controls provided by your application or HTML editor.
2. Wait for the MathType editor to finish loading.
3. Confirm that keyboard focus is in the equation-editing area.

In the standard editor workflow, focus is initially placed in the equation-editing area so that you can begin entering an equation immediately.

Checkpoint: Type a number, letter or mathematical character. It should appear in the equation-editing area.

Move between interface areas

MathType contains several interface areas that provide different controls for writing, formatting and inserting equations.

Use the following keys to move through the interface:

• Press Tab to move forwards to the next interface area or control.
• Press Shift+Tab to move backwards to the previous interface area or control.
• Use the arrow keys to move between controls inside the current area.

The principal areas of the MathType editor are:

1. The toolbar tab list, where you select a group of mathematical symbols or templates.
2. The symbols area, which contains the symbols and templates available in the selected toolbar tab.
3. The equation-editing area, where you write and modify the equation.
4. The default-formatting control, available in MathType for Microsoft 365 and MathType for Google Workspace.
5. The controls used to insert the equation or close the editor.
6. Documentation or help links, when they are included in the integration.

Write an equation

Characters available on your physical keyboard can be entered directly in the equation-editing area.

1. Move focus to the equation-editing area.
2. Type the numbers, letters or operators required for your equation.
3. Use the arrow keys when you need to move within the mathematical structure.

Checkpoint: The characters you type should appear in the equation at the current cursor position.

Select a toolbar tab

The toolbar provides mathematical symbols and structures that may not be available on a standard keyboard.

1. From the equation-editing area, press Shift+Tab until focus reaches the toolbar tab list.
2. Use the Left Arrow and Right Arrow keys to move through the available toolbar tabs.
3. Stop when you reach the tab containing the type of symbol or structure you need.
4. Press Tab to move into the symbols area for the selected tab.

In the standard editor layout, the toolbar tab list is commonly two backward tab movements from the equation-editing area. The exact number of movements may vary if the integration adds other controls to the focus order.

Checkpoint: Focus should be inside the symbols area belonging to the selected toolbar tab.

Find and insert a symbol

Symbols inside a toolbar tab are arranged in grids rather than in a single linear list.

1. Use the Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys to navigate through the symbols.
2. When you reach the required symbol or structure, press Space or Enter to insert it.

Symbols with related meanings are grouped into arrays. The dimensions of each array can vary, so you may need to navigate both horizontally and vertically.

After you insert a symbol, MathType returns focus to the equation-editing area. You can continue typing or return to the toolbar to insert another symbol.

Checkpoint: The selected symbol should appear at the current cursor position in the equation.

Use additional symbol sections

Some less frequently used symbols are stored in collapsible sections associated with related symbol groups.

1. Navigate through the symbol grid until you reach the control for the additional section.
2. Press Space, Enter or Down Arrow to expand the section.
3. Use the arrow keys to navigate through the additional symbols.
4. Press Space or Enter to insert the selected symbol.
5. If you want to leave the section without inserting a symbol, press Escape.

Set the default equation formatting in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace

MathType for Microsoft 365 and MathType for Google Workspace let you use the font and size of the current equation as the default formatting for new equations.

This step applies only to MathType for Microsoft 365 and MathType for Google Workspace.

1. In the equation-editing area, select the font and size that you want to use.
2. Press Tab until focus reaches the default-formatting control at the bottom of the editor.
3. Activate the control to use the current font and size as the default for new equations.

If the option is already enabled, activate the same control again to disable it. New equations will then use the editor's original default formatting.

Checkpoint: The state of the control should indicate whether the current font and size will be kept as the default for new equations.

Insert or cancel the equation

The controls at the bottom of the editor let you apply the equation or close the editor without applying your changes.

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace

1. From the equation-editing area, press Tab to move through the controls at the bottom of the editor.
2. After the default-formatting control, focus moves to the Cancel button.
3. Press Tab again to move to the Insert button.
4. Activate Insert to apply the equation, or activate Cancel to close the editor without applying your changes.

Other integrations

1. From the equation-editing area, press Tab until focus reaches the confirmation button.
2. Activate Accept or OK, depending on the integration, to apply the equation.
3. To discard your changes, continue to the Cancel button and activate it.

Checkpoint: If you activated the confirmation button, the equation should appear or be updated in the application. If you activated Cancel, the editor should close without applying your changes.

Keyboard command reference

Verify it worked

• You can move between the principal editor areas using Tab and Shift+Tab.
• You can select a toolbar tab using the left and right arrow keys.
• You can move through symbol grids using all four arrow keys.
• Activating a symbol inserts it into the equation and returns focus to the equation-editing area.
• In Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, you can enable or disable the option that keeps the current font and size as the default for new equations.
• You can reach the confirmation and cancellation controls without using a mouse.

Options and variations

Opening MathType

The keyboard procedure for opening MathType depends on the application in which it is integrated. Refer to the documentation for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or your HTML editor integration before following the navigation steps in this article.

Confirmation button labels and order

In Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, the Cancel button appears before the Insert button. In other integrations, the confirmation button normally appears before Cancel and may be labelled Accept or OK.

Optional interface elements

Some installations include documentation links or additional browser controls in the focus order. Other installations omit these elements. This can change the number of times you need to press Tab or Shift+Tab.

Common errors

I cannot find the required symbol

Make sure you have selected the appropriate toolbar tab. Once inside the symbols area, use all four arrow keys because symbols are arranged in two-dimensional grids.

I cannot leave an additional symbol section

Press Escape to close the section. The arrow keys navigate between its symbols but do not close it.

Focus moves to browser controls

If you continue past the last control in the editor, focus may move to browser controls or return to the beginning of the interface. Use Shift+Tab to move backwards until you return to the required MathType control.

The number of Tab movements does not match the article

The focus order can include different surrounding controls depending on the MathType integration. Navigate according to the control that currently has focus instead of relying exclusively on a fixed number of keystrokes.

Focus does not start in the equation-editing area

Wait for the editor to finish loading. If focus is still placed elsewhere, use Tab or Shift+Tab until you reach the equation-editing area.

Related articles

• Accessibility in MathType for HTML editors.
• Accessibility in MathType for Microsoft 365 in Word.
• Accessibility in MathType for Google Workspace.
• Toolbar and keyboard shortcuts.