ASCIIMathML.js uses the TeX typesetting language to represent equations. TeX is actually a large family of closely related languages, and MathType has support for import and export of several of the most important ones. So MathType and ASCIIMathML.js should be able to exchange equations in TeX format to some extent.

Copying Equations out of MathType using TeX Translators

TeX is a typesetting language invented in the late 1970's by Donald Knuth, a Stanford computer science professor. Although it is a very powerful document processor, especially for documents containing equations, it is also difficult to use. You can think of TeX as a sort of programming language for documents. If you don't get the syntax just right, you get "syntax error" instead of a document.

Because TeX is a language you type using regular alphabetic characters, it is a popular choice for web applications, where it is easy to type in a form.

Here is an example of the TeX language for the quadratic formula (generated by MathType's AMS LaTeX translator):

\[ \frac{{ - b\pm \sqrt {b^2 - 4ac}}}{{2a}} \]

If you work with TeX, MathType's TeX translators can help you. There are several 'flavors' of TeX, LaTeX being one of the most well-known. MathType includes translators for several of these different versions; check the list in the Translators Dialog for the complete list.

Translating Display and Inline Equations

When an equation appears in a document, it can be displayed inline with surrounding text, or it may be centered in a paragraph by itself. Users of MathType in Microsoft Word will already be familiar with this concept, since MathType's commands for Word use different commands to insert inline and display equations.

TeX also has a notation of inline and display equations, but it works differently. Since TeX is a programming language, the positioning of the equation in document must be specified in the TeX code for the equation. TeX uses special delimiter characters at the beginning and end of an equation to indicate whether it should be an inline or display equation. Different flavors of TeX use different delimiter characters, but the most common are $...$ for an inline equation and \[...\] for a display equation.

You can control which kind of TeX delimiter will be used when translating a MathType equation. Checking the "Inline Equation" property from MathType's Format menu will cause inline delimiters to be used for translation. Otherwise display delimiters will be used.

Importing TeX Equations into MathType

While MathType's TeX translators provide and easy way to export an equation as TeX code, MathType also allows you to paste TeX equations into MathType. MathType can read Texvc from the clipboard. MathType has a built-in Texvc translator, and there are no options or preferences for TeX import for users to choose.

The Texvc language is a subset of TeX, chosen for maximum compatibility with a variety of TeX flavors. Nonetheless, many TeX expressions may fail to paste properly into MathType. Equations containing user defined macros, or making use of non-standard styles or TeX packages are unlikely to properly import into MathType. For a complete description of Texvc, see the help topic Displaying a formula in the MediaWiki handbook for an explanation of this language.

It may also be useful to keep in mind that MathType supports Texvc input in two other contexts:

You can type Texvc directly into MathType.
If you use Microsoft Word, you can type Texvc directly into the Word editing area, and toggle back and forth between the Texvc view and the MathType view of the equation.

Since TeX comes in many variations, details of TeX use tend to be application-specific, and at this time we only have basic information about the TeX support in ASCIIMathML.js. If you can tell us more how best to use MathType with ASCIIMathML.js, we would love to hear from you. Please send questions, comments and suggestions to interop@dessci.com.

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