InfoRapid Cardfile System supports a widespread Windows standard for linking and embedding objects called OLE. Since MathType equations are natively OLE objects, this means that MathType and InfoRapid Cardfile System work well together. Microsoft Word and MathType work together using OLE, so many MathType users will already be familiar with OLE-style math interoperability.

Mac Users: OLE is generally only available within Microsoft Office applications for the Mac, so the information may not apply on the Mac. We will be updating our Master Interoperability Registry with information specific to Mac applications over the next several months, so check back later for Mac interoperability tips.

In general, MathType works with OLE applications in two ways.

Insert Object

Many Windows applications support Object Linking and Embedding (OLE). Most of them have an Insert Object command (or an Object… command on its Insert menu or elsewhere). If your application doesn't have such a command, look up Object Linking and Embedding or OLE in the index of its user documentation. The Insert Object command brings up a dialog containing a list of all the kinds of objects that may be inserted. Simply choose "MathType 6.5 Equation" and MathType will open an equation editing window. Create your equation, close the window when you are done, and the new equation will appear in the document. Any time you want to edit the equation, simply double-click on it. If your favorite application does not support OLE, request it from the vendor. Most software vendors like to get feedback from their customers, just like we do.

Copy and Paste (or Drag and Drop)

At its core, a MathType equation is a graphical image (but a WMF vector image, rather than a bitmap one, such as GIF). If your application accepts graphics via the Windows clipboard, you can run MathType from the Windows Start menu, create an equation, and paste it into your application. Your application may also support drag and drop but that gives the same result. When using MathType this way, you don't have to restart it for each new equation. Just leave its editing window open for your entire session. When you need to create a new equation, bring the MathType window to the front, do Select All on the Edit menu (Ctrl-A), hit the Delete key to clear out the last equation, and create your new equation ready to paste. Later, if you need to edit an equation, you can usually use Cut or Copy and Paste it back into a MathType editing window. After you make your edits, just copy and paste it over the old one.

Though OLE's Insert Object and Copy and Paste model will be familiar to many users from working with MathType objects in applications like Microsoft Word, details vary from application to application. At this time we only have basic information about the OLE support in InfoRapid Cardfile System. So if you can tell us more, we would love to hear from you. Please send questions, comments and suggestions to interop@dessci.com.

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