TechNote

Configuring the Equation Editor (Math Package) in FrameMaker (6.x and 7.x)

What's covered

• Syntax of the Math Character definition file
• Editing the Math Character definition file (UNIX)
• Editing the Math Character definition file (Windows)
• Editing the Math Character definition file (Mac OS)

Note:The procedures below involve changing your FrameMaker system configuration, so make sure to back up your system first.

When you edit a FrameMaker document that includes equations, you can open the Equation palette by choosing Special > Equations. Then choose Equations > Equation Fonts to open the Equation Fonts dialog box to select which MetaFamily font set is used to alter the appearance of FrameMaker equations on a per-document basis.

By default, Greek characters in equations in FrameMaker documents are displayed using characters from the Symbol font. Mathematical symbols are typically displayed using a mixture of characters from the Symbol and Times PostScript fonts.

Note:These steps assume that the fonts are available on your system, and are accessible to FrameMaker. If you need to share Type 1 PostScript fonts between multiple versions of FrameMaker or other UNIX applications, you will need to install the fonts in a directory on a shared UNIX Network File System, and you will need to ensure that applications can access fonts using the PSRESOURCEPATH environment variable method. For FrameMaker 6.0 on UNIX, follow the instructions in document 326390 , ''Adding type 1 fonts to FrameMaker (6.0 on UNIX).'' For FrameMaker 7.0 on UNIX, follow the instructions in the online manual, ''Working with Fonts in FrameMaker for UNIX.''

Syntax of the Math Character definition file

A Math Character file consists of one or more MetaFamily statements, which in turn contain CharacterName mapping statements. The CharacterName mapping statements are then used to map specific mathematical symbols and letters to specific characters in specific font families, and to specific angles.

All statements are case-sensitive, and are enclosed in angle brackets ("<" and ">"). Text outside of the angle brackets is treated as a comment. Do not include angle brackets in comments.

MathCharacterName statements have the following format:

<MathCharacterName CharacterCode(s) FontFamily FontAngle>

where MathCharacterName is the FrameMaker Equation symbol name. Examples of MathCharacterNames can be found in the "MathFullForm statement" section of the "MIF Reference" online manual. Hexadecimal values for CharacterCodes can be found in the "FrameMaker Character Sets" online manual.

Note:When a FontFamily has more than one angle available, the FontAngle should be specified as the first instance of the font. For example, Times Regular.

The <MetaFamily> statement includes a character statement for each math character in the font family. The closing angle bracket must follow the last character statement. MetaFamily statements have the following format:

<MetaFamily MetaFamilyName

< CharacterNameStatements>

>

For example, the Symbol MetaFamily has this MetaFamily statement:

<MetaFamily Symbol

< alpha 61 Symbol Regular>

...

< plus 62 TimesNewRoman Regular>

...

< curl d1b4Symbol Regular>

< diver d1b7 Symbol Regular>

>

This statement indicates that the Symbol MetaFamily includes a character for the Greek letter alpha from the Symbol font family, and uses the plus sign from the TimesNewRoman font family. The "curl" and "diver" mathematical operators use two Symbol characters to produce the mathematical symbols "" and "."

Note:If you do not create all the definitions of the Equation palette symbols in your MetaFamily, undefined characters will not be displayed.

Note:The Equation MetaFamily is a property stored with each document. If a document uses a MetaFamily definition or a font that is not available on your computer, the Symbol MetaFamily is used, and a warning is shown in the FrameMaker console.

Note:Do not change MathCharacterName statements that reference Character codes of "00"; such as "substitution", "lap", "box" , "boxdot", or "box2".

Editing the Math Character definition file (UNIX)

To add a MetaFamily font to a FrameMaker product on Unix platforms:

1. Quit FrameMaker.

2. Locate the Math Characters file, named "MathCharacters." If you're adding fonts for a site, edit the MathCharacters file in the ${FMHOME}/fminit/ directory. If you're adding fonts only for your own use, copy the ${FMHOME}/fminit/MathCharacters file into your personal ${HOME}/fminit/ directory, and then make changes to your personal copy.

3. Open the file in a text editor.

4. Edit the file.

5. Save the file in text-only format.

6. Open FrameMaker.

Editing the Math Character definition file (Windows)

To add a MetaFamily font to a FrameMaker product on Windows platforms:

1. Quit FrameMaker.

2. Locate the Math Characters file.On Windows platforms, the location of the Math Characters file is defined by the MathCharacterFile statement entry in the maker.ini file, located in the FrameMaker installation directory. The default MathCharacterFile entry is "fminit\mathchar.cfg."

3. Open the file in a text editor, such as Notepad.

4. Edit the file.

5. Save the file in text-only format.

6. Open FrameMaker.

Editing the Math Character definition file (Macintosh)

On Macintosh platforms, FrameMaker is supplied with three sets of MetaFamily definitions for use with Symbol, LucidaMath, and MathematicalPi font families. These MetaFamily definitions are pre-compiled into the FrameMaker application file so you will need to create a personalized MetaFamily definition file, and then use the "MakeMathFontModule" application to create a MathFontData module file.

Note:FrameMaker is not supplied with MathematicalPi, or Lucida Math font families.

Note:The MakeMathFontModule utility historically used Macintosh Type 1 PostScript ASCII Font Metric (AFM) files to fine-tune the appearance of printed and on-screen characters. As a result, the MakeMathFontModule application requires at least one font metric file to be located in the same folder as the Math Character definition file--even if you are using OpenType fonts from Adobe. If you are unable to locate a suitable Macintosh AFM file, contact your font vendor.

To add a MetaFamily font to a FrameMaker product on Macintosh platforms:

1. Quit FrameMaker.

2. Locate the Sample Math Characters file named "MathCharactersSample," located in the Font/MathFonts folder.

3. Open the file in a text editor such as SimpleText.

4. Edit the file.

5. Save the file in text-only format.

6. Open the "MakeMathFontModule" application located in the Fonts/MathFonts folder.

7. Specify the Math Characters file.

8. Move the MathFontData module file to the FrameMaker product's Modules folder.

9. Open FrameMaker.

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