Hi,

Why didn't MS just copy OO's equation editor? I have waited for so many years, hoping that MS would provide an equation editor that wasn't stupid, but now I dubt that will ever happend. (I'm desperatly trying to conceal my frustration over being stuck with MS at work, but it's impossible to contain all the steam. Hope you'll forgive me because, like I said, I'm stuck with it).

Anyway.. How do I produce the very common mathematical symbols that one might call: double arrows (looking a bit like => and <=>)? Is there a quick reference for the equation editor?

(MS Office 2010)

Thank you,
hpon

Hi hpon,

I won't bother with your spleen-venting about MS vs OO, for which the answer should be obvious. Hint: think intellectual property.

As for how to insert the symbols you're after, Word gives you two options! One is to insert the <, = & > characters individually, the other is to choose one of the <=> symbols from the 'Operator' dropdown. It would only have taken you a few seconds to find (the first time) if you were so inclined.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thanks for your reply Paul!

I had been hoping that MS would let them selves be inspired by OO and take a refreshing step back from the WYSIWYG consept (in the equation editor specifically), and I can't imagine anyone thinking that would be an intrusion on Intellectual Property. In my opinion WYSIWYG is an intrinsically flawed approach towards equation editing.

I believe I must clarify myself regarding my questions. The symbols I'm trying to produce look a bit like "<=>" and "=>", and mean "equivalent to" and "gives" respectively. The symbols that actually are "<", "=" and ">" can indeed be produced by typing them.

/hpon

Hi hpon,

Are not any of the various ⇔ and ⇒ symbols available via the Insert|Equation|New Equation > 'Operator' dropdown suitable for your purposes?

In any event, if I understand your descriptions correctly, you could also use the ⇔ and ⇒ characters (Unicode 21D4 and 21D2, respectively) via Insert|Symbol.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

macropod,

Unfortunatelly not (my browser does not display the symbols you entered in your message, but I assume we are talking about the same type of symbols).

Insert|Symbol does work though! Is there a way to make those symbols conveniently accessable? Could they be included in the dropdown? Are there quick commands for these symbols in the equation editor?

Thanks for your help!

Hi hpon,
1. Other than learning how to insert them via their Unicode values, not so far as I am aware
2. Not without some serious programming effort
3. other than what I've already said about the symbols that are available under the 'Operator' dropdown, see 1.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

OK, thanks macropod,

Do you know howto use Unicode in the equation editor? I've tried "\21D4" and "Ctrl+21D4", but without success.

/hpon

Hi hpon,

As indicated in the Insert|Symbol dialog - 21D4 followed by Alt-x!

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]