<p class="Head1"><help:to-be-embedded Eid="main0503"><help:link Id="67294">Functionality of OpenOffice.org Math</help:link></help:to-be-embedded></p>
<p class="Paragraph">An overview of the possibilities that OpenOffice.org Math offers can be found in this summary.</p>
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<p class="Paragraph">OpenOffice.org Math provides numerous operators, functions and formatting assistants to help you create your formula. These are all clearly ordered in a selection window and you only need to click on the required element with the mouse to insert the object into your work. Furthermore there is an exhaustive <help:link Id="67326" Eid="referenz" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">reference</help:link> list and numerous <help:link Id="67332" Eid="beispiele" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">samples</help:link> contained in the Help.</p>
<p class="Paragraph">Choose <span class="T1">File - New - Formula</span> to open OpenOffice.org Math.</p>
<p class="Paragraph">You create formulas in much the same way you charts or images, usually within a document. For example, in a text document position the cursor where you want to put the formula and choose <span class="T1">Insert - Object - Formula</span>. Then edit the formula and when its ready, click the text twice (not the formula, but anywhere else) to continue working on the document. You do not have to save the formula as a file on its own (although it is possible).</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:key-word value="OpenOffice.org Math formulas; entering in text documents" tag="kw67294_3" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>You can also enter a formula in another way. For example, write in a text document "The formula is: a sup 2 + b sup 2 = c sup 2." Select the formula part of the text and open the <span class="T1">Insert Objects</span> floating toolbar from the main toolbar and click <span class="T1">Insert OpenOffice.org Math object</span> icon. The text will be replaced with a formatted formula.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:key-word value="formula editor; in OpenOffice.org Math" tag="kw67294_2" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>By the way, formulas cannot be calculated here because this is only a formula editor (for writing and showing formulas), not a calculation program. Use spreadsheets to calculate formulas, or for simple calculations use the text document <help:link Id="67738" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">calculation function</help:link>.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:help-id value="HID_SMA_COMMAND_WIN_EDIT" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">Use the OpenOffice.org Math Commands window to create a formula. As you make entries in the Commands window you see them in the text.</help:help-text> To maintain an overview when creating long and complicated formulas, use the formula cursor on the toolbar. It shows you in the text window, where in the Commands window you are in the formula and vice versa. If you click a specific location in either one of the windows, you will see it in the other one.</p>
<p class="Paragraph">Alter the spacing between the individual parts of formula and also that in the individual elements (e.g. the spacing of an index to the radix) to conform to your wishes.</p>
<p class="Paragraph">You can also create your own symbols and adopt characters from other fonts. You can add any number of new symbols to the basic catalog of OpenOffice.org Math symbols, or create your own special catalogs. Numerous special characters are also available.</p>
<p class="Paragraph">Use OpenOffice.org Writer to create a list of formulas. First long-click the <span class="T1">AutoText</span> icon on the main toolbar to open the submenu. Rest your pointer on <span class="T1">Standard</span> in the list that appears and click the "FN - Formula Numbering" entry. This inserts automatic numbering commonly used in scientific works. Every time you insert this format, just overwrite the example formula with your formula.</p>
<p class="Paragraph">To make working with formulas easier use the context menus which can be called up with a right mouse click. This applies especially to the Command window. Not only does this context menu contain all the commands that are found in the Selection window but also many more possibilities. The context menu also contains operators, etc. which can be inserted into your formula by mouse click without having to key them into the Command window.</p>
