Microsoft Word Takes Longer to Launch After Installing MathType

The information in this document applies to:

Issue

After installing MathType, users with older computers report that launching Microsoft Word takes longer than it did previously.

Reason

When MathType is installed, it places an add-in in your designated Microsoft Word Startup folder. The add-in contains macros that add commands and toolbar buttons (Or MathType Ribbon) into Microsoft Word that help integrate MathType more fully into Microsoft Word. These macros are loaded when you launch Word.

The longer launch time for Microsoft Word is because MathType's add-in causes Word to load Microsoft's Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) which is a technology on which the add-in relies. While this is the normal behavior, if the majority of the work you do in Microsoft Word does not contain mathematical expressions, you may want to simply disabled the MathType commands from Word.

Solution

You can disable and likewise enable the MathType add-in while Word is running with no need to remove or reinstall. The following instructions provide information on how to do that.

• Word 2003
  1. Choose Tools>Templates and Add-ins.
  2. In the list of currently active templates, uncheck the box next to MathType Commands 6 for Word.dot.  
  3. Click OK.
  4. The MathType add-in will now be disabled temporarily.
  5. To reactivate the add-in, choose Tools>Templates and Add-ins, check the box next to MathType Commands 6 for Word.dot and click OK.
• Word 2007
  1. From the Office Button choose Word Options
  2. Along the left pane of the resulting window click on Add-Ins
  3. At the bottom of the window, next to "Manage" use the drop-down menu to choose Word Ad-Ins and click Go
  4. In the list of currently active templates, uncheck the box next to MathType Commands 6 for Word.dotm.
  5. To re-activate the add-in follow the steps detailed here but place a check next to MathType Commands 6 for Word.dotm.
• Word 2010 and later (Windows)
  1. From the File menu choose Options
  2. Along the left pane of the resulting window click on Add-Ins
  3. At the bottom of the window, next to "Manage" use the drop-down menu to choose Word Add-ins and click Go
  4. In the list of currently active templates, uncheck the box next to MathType Commands 6 for Word 201#.dotm.
  5. To re-activate the add-in follow the steps detailed here but place a check next to MathType Commands 6 for Word 201#.dotm.
• Word 2011
  1. From the Tools menu choose Templates and Add-Ins.
  2. In the list of Global Templates and Add-Ins, uncheck the boxes to the left of MathType Commands.dot and wordcmds.dot, then click OK.
  3. To re-activate the add-in, follow the steps detailed here but place a check next to MathType Commands.dot and wordcmds.dot.

Getting This Problem Addressed by Microsoft

It's important for Microsoft’s customers to report their experience of this problem so that Microsoft can appreciate how widespread it is and appreciate the need to devote their programming resources toward resolving it. We’ve reported the details of this issue, including sample documents to Microsoft, and we encourage all users who experience this problem to do the same.

• Sending feedback to Microsoft
• Contacting Technical Support at Microsoft
• Or call them at (800)936-5700

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