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MathType works with  Apple iWork '09: Pages, Keynote, and Numbers

Summary

MathType works well with iWork '09 and later. If you own earlier versions of iWork, you are strongly advised to upgrade. Here are the main points:

  • Equations can be inserted into all three iWork applications: Pages (word processor), Keynote (presentations), and Numbers (spreadsheet).
  • Import of Microsoft Office for Macintosh documents containing Equation Editor or MathType equations is supported, while export is not.

MathType Equation command on the Insert menu

Once MathType has been installed, a MathType Equation command appears on the Insert menu within all three iWork applications. Choosing that command opens the MathType window, allowing you to create a new equation. Once the equation is complete, close the window and the equation will appear in the document.

Copy-and-paste, drag-and-drop equations to/from MathType

You can also create an equation in a MathType window, cut or copy it to the clipboard, then paste it into any iWork application. Copying the opposite direction also works, as does drag-and-drop.

Double-click an equation to edit

When you need to edit an equation in a document, presentation, or spreadsheet, just double-click it and it will open in the MathType window. Make changes to it, then close the window to update the equation in the document.

Compatibility with Microsoft Office for Macintosh

Importing a Microsoft Word or PowerPoint document containing MathType or Equation Editor equations works fine for Mac Office documents. The equations in such a document will be fully editable. Unfortunately, equation numbers created using MathType's equation numbering feature will not import properly and will have to be recreated. With Office 2008, documents should be saved as .doc and .ppt formats, not .docx and .pptx, for import to work properly. Equations in .docx and .pptx files will become pictures when imported into iWork, and will not be editable in MathType.

Exporting an iWork document containing equations does not work so well. Its MathType and Equation Editor equations will be converted to graphic images that cannot be edited in MathType.

Compatibility with Microsoft Office for Windows

Importing a Microsoft Word or PowerPoint document containing MathType or Equation Editor equations directly into the corresponding iWork application does not work. Its MathType equations will be converted to graphic images that cannot be edited in MathType. Find someone with Mac Office and use it to open the documents and then re-save them using Save As, making sure to save them as .doc or .ppt as described above (not .docx or .pptx). Then open them in the appropriate iWork application.

Giving feedback to Apple

While Apple must be applauded for supporting MathType in iWork '09, there are still missing features that would be helpful to many MathType users: equation numbering, better compatibility with Microsoft Office, and "Save as DAISY" capability for creating materials accessible to those with print disabilities, to name just a few. Apple has provided a feedback mechanism for reporting issues and requesting enhancements. We encourage you to take advantage of this. While Design Science works with Apple on making MathType work well with iWork, Apple prefers to hear from its customers and bases its development priorities on what its customers say. Here are Apple's feedback pages:

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