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AlexanderHolmgaard

Member

Registered: 2014-11-18

Posts: 57

Make equation in LibreOffice Writer

I have a problem that occurs when I want to make an equation in Writer.
I am studying chemistry now, so I need a lot of subscripts and superscripts, and at the same time create mathmatical equations.

E.g.: n(H2O) = m(H2O) / M(H2O)

This is an example where I need subscripts, and I need the "divide" to be positioned above and under a line (excuse my bad wording, hopefully you know what I mean).

I know I can create a formula that allows the way to "divide" that I need, but when I use it, it cancels the sub-/superscripts.

Does anyone know a way to achieve the "correct" way of writing it? If it helps I am also open towards using other application, but it would be preferable if I could stay with LibreOffice Writer.

The Infinity

Member

Registered: 2014-07-05

Posts: 92

Website

Re: Make equation in LibreOffice Writer

I'm not sure what you mean, but I would write the formula in the following way:

n( H_2 O ) = { m(H_2 O) } over { M(H_2 O) }

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AlexanderHolmgaard

Member

Registered: 2014-11-18

Posts: 57

Re: Make equation in LibreOffice Writer

Oh my god, you just saved my life! Thanks a lot!
Do you by the way know a way to make subscipts easier? Right now I am using the shortcut Ctrl+Shitft+B, but it would be nice if I could, for example, write H_2O, and then it would be corrected.. Do you know anything like this?

Last edited by AlexanderHolmgaard (2015-02-10 20:41:05)

The Infinity

Member

Registered: 2014-07-05

Posts: 92

Website

Re: Make equation in LibreOffice Writer

As far as I know there is an auto correction feature, but it can only replace characters and not apply text formats.
If you need to write a lot of formulas LibreOffice is not the right tool I think.

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FlyingHappy

Member

From: Cincinnati, OH

Registered: 2011-04-18

Posts: 192

Re: Make equation in LibreOffice Writer

With libre office, you can use the auto-correct function, I just tried it and it worked.  You have to select a subscript character from the symbols menu when setting it up, but it did work fine here.

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 20,722

Re: Make equation in LibreOffice Writer

If it helps I am also open towards using other application, but it would be preferable if I could stay with LibreOffice Writer.

Have you looked a LaTeX?   It is not a wysiwyg application, but what you get is simply the best typesetting possible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaTeX

For formulae, there is no peer.

Last edited by ewaller (2015-02-10 22:26:51)

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thisoldman

Member

From: Pittsburgh

Registered: 2009-04-25

Posts: 1,172

Re: Make equation in LibreOffice Writer

LibreOffice Math is an equation editor that can write chemical formulas.  Downloadable guides can be found at http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/documentation/. Of course the documentation lags the software a little. Don't know if using the equation editor is worth all the effort.

OpenOffice has a few chemistry extensions, but I forget exactly which one is the correct one for your needs. I remember using an extension to format chemical sub- and superscripts in OO Write.

For MSOffice, required by my job, I've found chemformatter to be a time saver.  This addon works in MS Word and MS Excel. Sourceforge is currently having server difficulties but downloading the zipfile is still possible from this page: http://sourceforge.net/projects/chemformatter/files/

AlexanderHolmgaard

Member

Registered: 2014-11-18

Posts: 57

Re: Make equation in LibreOffice Writer

Thanks for all of your suggestions, guys! I'm gonna stick to LibreOffice for now, and then check out LaTeX at some point.

Last edited by AlexanderHolmgaard (2015-02-11 12:10:07)

AlexanderHolmgaard

Member

Registered: 2014-11-18

Posts: 57

Re: Make equation in LibreOffice Writer

One last question actually:

When writing it like:

n( H_2 O ) = { m(H_2 O) } over { M(H_2 O) }

is there any way to also keep the "%"? It removes them as well..

Awebb

Member

Registered: 2010-05-06

Posts: 6,688

Re: Make equation in LibreOffice Writer

You know, the document foundation has a truckload of documentations for all their document formats. They just love documents. Try this document: https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/ima … hGuide.pdf

But I second LaTeX. it will not only allow you to detach yourself from your own thoughts far enough to ignore the fact, that you have a paper to write, it will also bring you closer to your ancestors, as you dive through the meta-documentation, explaining what package you should use to produce which behavior it was initially not written for.

The Infinity

Member

Registered: 2014-07-05

Posts: 92

Website

Re: Make equation in LibreOffice Writer

Although it is always advisable to read the documentation, sometimes you just need to play around a little bit. I think it is quite intuitive that you just need to use quotes when you want text which should just be printed and not evaluated. Same for the use of braces which was your first question.

Anyways, you should definitely check out LaTeX.

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