Equation Editor doesn't consistently allow size/style changes

[Math Teacher Lady]

I'm using the Equation Editor that is part of Office Word 2003. As a math
teacher, I type equations in Word documents nearly every day. I've always
found Equation Editor, as embedded in every version of Word, to be basically
adequate for the job, but have frequently (and intermittently) encountered
mystery problems with the software. The one I'm most puzzled/frustrated by is
why the software occassionally will not allow me to redefine the size or
style of font that I am writing in. Sometimes it works just fine. Other times
when I try to Define the Style or Size, I click on Define from one of those
two drop down menus and ... nothing happens. No dialogue box opens. It's as
if I have done nothing. It's so frustrating, particularly when I'm working up
against a deadline. I've tried closing the program and starting over. I've
tried opening documents in different ways. It's almost like I've lost some
kind of daily lottery, where the computer randomly decides whether or not it
will allow redefinition of Size or Style. Yesterday, I changed my settings
with no problems, in a different document. Tomorrow, having changed nothing,
I will go through the exact same procedure and it will probably work. But
today, it's having none of it. Since I regularly have to write both
overheads with size 18 font and handouts with size 12 font, it is imperative
that I be able to change these settings easily.

This problem makes me crazy with anger. I haven't broken anything yet, but
honestly, I often fantasize about it, and it's really out of character for
me. Please, please, please fix this program!

----------------
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[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I have had this problem, too, and have concluded that the document in
question may be corrupt. You can look for changes in EE in Office 12.

I'm using the Equation Editor that is part of Office Word 2003. As a math
teacher, I type equations in Word documents nearly every day. I've always
found Equation Editor, as embedded in every version of Word, to be basically
adequate for the job, but have frequently (and intermittently) encountered
mystery problems with the software. The one I'm most puzzled/frustrated by is
why the software occassionally will not allow me to redefine the size or
style of font that I am writing in. Sometimes it works just fine. Other times
when I try to Define the Style or Size, I click on Define from one of those
two drop down menus and ... nothing happens. No dialogue box opens. It's as
if I have done nothing. It's so frustrating, particularly when I'm working up
against a deadline. I've tried closing the program and starting over. I've
tried opening documents in different ways. It's almost like I've lost some
kind of daily lottery, where the computer randomly decides whether or not it
will allow redefinition of Size or Style. Yesterday, I changed my settings
with no problems, in a different document. Tomorrow, having changed nothing,
I will go through the exact same procedure and it will probably work. But
today, it's having none of it. Since I regularly have to write both
overheads with size 18 font and handouts with size 12 font, it is imperative
that I be able to change these settings easily.

This problem makes me crazy with anger. I haven't broken anything yet, but
honestly, I often fantasize about it, and it's really out of character for
me. Please, please, please fix this program!

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...9d2f44&dg=microsoft.public.word.docmanagement

 

[Nick]

I too get incredibly frustrated by this bug, but today I found a solution -
albeit not very satisfying.

When the menu items are not working, the keyboard shortcuts DO still work. I
don't know if there is a shortcut to get to the Define Styles window, but you
can set predefined styles (such as Matrix-Vector) with key strokes. I
searched on Google and found this list:
math.arizona.edu/~lacotta/Busmath/MSEqnKeyboard.pdf

Nick

 

[Bob Mathews]

I'm using the Equation Editor that is part of Office Word 2003. As a
math teacher, I type equations in Word documents nearly every day.
I've...encountered mystery problems with the software. The one I'm
most puzzled/frustrated by is why the software occassionally will not
allow me to redefine the size or style of font that I am writing in.

And on 11-Apr-2006, Nick responded:

I too get incredibly frustrated by this bug, but today I found a solution
- albeit not very satisfying.

When the menu items are not working, the keyboard shortcuts DO still
work. I don't know if there is a shortcut to get to the Define Styles
window, but you can set predefined styles (such as Matrix-Vector) with
key strokes. I searched on Google and found this list:
math.arizona.edu/~lacotta/Busmath/MSEqnKeyboard.pdf

The keyboard shortcuts are also listed in the Equation Editor Help file
under Reference Information > Keyboard Guide.

As to the problem of not being able to select Equation Editor menu items, I
don't doubt the fact that you're having the problem, but I've never seen it.
It sounds to me like some conflict within Word, or perhaps another Word
add-in conflicting with Equation Editor. One thing you might consider is
using the Evaluation version of MathType (available at the link in my
signature). This will work for 30 days with full MathType functionality, and
will work indefinitely beyond 30 days, but with the extra MathType features
disabled.

--
Bob Mathews bobm at dessci.com
Director of Training
http://www.dessci.com/free.asp?free=news
FREE fully-functional 30-day evaluation of MathType 5
Design Science, Inc. -- "How Science Communicates"
MathType, WebEQ, MathPlayer, MathFlow, Equation Editor, TeXaide

 

[Nick]

And there in lies the rub. The problem is that the Equation Editor menu stops
working entirely (it's done it again to me just now, but yesterday it was
fine - in the same document), so you can't get to the Equation Editor Help
WITHOUT using the shortcut key F1. Granted, the F1 shortcut is the only one
listed in the menu, but still it shows the problem.

And there is no way that as a student I am going to fork out $100 for the
"full version" when the version freely included in Office completely
fullfills my needs ... except for a major bug. I have looked at the full
version and I do not need a single one of the extra "features". I just need a
functional basic version. The Academic price for Mathtype is rediculous given
that the Academic license for MS Office Pro 2003 is only $200 - twice the
price for so much more!

But perhaps I will try the evaluation MathType and lose those extra features
I don't need.

Nick