Aligning a series of equations in W2007?

K

Karyn H

I am trying to align a series of equations to the = and even though I select
this character - the alignment does not change. I also am used to being able
to cluster equations together in a line - can this still be done in Word 2007?
 
B

Bob Buckland ?:-\)

Hi Karyn,

The method can depend on which Equation editing tool you're using.
The classic Equation Editor (v3.0) is still available through
Insert=>Object=>Object
if you prefer to use that tool.

If you're using the Word 2007 Equation editor the procedure for aligning included in this article on using the 2007 Equation Editor
may be helpful
http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/ec/equations/equation2007.html

(you may also find the Word 2007 Microsoft Math add-in useful
http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/CD10209461033.aspx )

==============
I am trying to align a series of equations to the = and even though I select
this character - the alignment does not change. I also am used to being able
to cluster equations together in a line - can this still be done in Word 2007? >>
--

Bob Buckland ?:)
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*
 
B

Bob Buckland ?:-\)

Hi Jay,

Thank you for checking :) It doesn help if I don't leave
out one of the characters in the link and remember that the OfficeOnline links are often locale specific :)

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/CD102094631033.aspx
(although it eventually all ends up at the same place) <g>.

==============
Hi Bob,

It looks like Microsoft might be doing another of their periodic "let's move
everything so all the old URLs are invalid" tricks. The Math add-in is now
at
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=030FAE9C-704F-48CA-971D-56241AEFC764

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP >>
--

Bob Buckland ?:)
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*
 
K

Karyn H

The Math Add-in doesn't facilitate formating - it only adds computational
ability. As for the other option, it is not a simple process for the complex
series of equations that I have.

I am interesting in knowing how the "align at this character" function
(right click) is supposed to work. This function would appear to suggest
that the Equation editor should align equations.... If I have to I can go
back to the old Equation Editor 3.0

Thanks,
Karyn
 
B

Bob Buckland ?:-\)

Hi Karyn,

Yes, I should have been clearer that the Math add-in just adds a bit of functionallity to the new Equation Editor, but it doesn't do
anything for the formatting alignment directly in your question. :(

When entering equations that you want to use the Align at this character feature on, use Shift+enter rather than enter while in a
math region to move to the next equation

When you define the Alignment character in two or more equations you should see them align at this character when you use
Shift+Enter while in a Math region. It may not appear to have worked if you are setting center/indent formatting, justification
and align to character all at the same time on a single equation or group of equations :)

For example if you have a long equations (width wise in the document) and a couple of short ones below that one, each except the
last terminated by Shift+Enter and you have them all set to Justification=>Center, then the alignment point may cause the two
shorter (narrower) ones to align to the selected character but not the wide one until you change to a different alignment. (i.e.
text formatting/alignment can override the alignment point.

One thing to try in that case is to select the long (unaligned one) and change the justifcation from centered to Center as group and
see if it then latches onto the one below it at the alignment point


You may find that using the technique for numbering equations in this article (even if you don't plan on using equation numbering)
to help with the alignment and appearance by placing multiple equations in the same row of a table
http://blogs.msdn.com/microsoft_office_word/archive/2006/10/20/equation-numbering.aspx . The article includes links to short step
by step video examples, one at the start of the article and one at the end of the article. The one at the top will help set up a
template to use for grouping equations together to also help with the alignment. I sometimes use this on a group of equations and
then copy and paste them outside the table later one.


===========
The Math Add-in doesn't facilitate formating - it only adds computational
ability. As for the other option, it is not a simple process for the complex
series of equations that I have.

I am interesting in knowing how the "align at this character" function
(right click) is supposed to work. This function would appear to suggest
that the Equation editor should align equations.... If I have to I can go
back to the old Equation Editor 3.0

Thanks,
Karyn >>
--

Bob Buckland ?:)
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*
 
B

Bob Buckland ?:-\)

Hi Karyn,

I forgot to mention that to see the 'Align to this character' marker in the equations use the 'Show/Hide' icon (top right of the
paragraph group of the Ribbon home tab).

===============
The Math Add-in doesn't facilitate formating - it only adds computational
ability. As for the other option, it is not a simple process for the complex
series of equations that I have.

I am interesting in knowing how the "align at this character" function
(right click) is supposed to work. This function would appear to suggest
that the Equation editor should align equations.... If I have to I can go
back to the old Equation Editor 3.0

Thanks,
Karyn >>
--

Bob Buckland ?:)
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*
 

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