From: philip@utstat.uucp (Philip McDunnough)
Subject: Re: EquationBuilder - WriteNow - Create, questions, etc.
Organization: University of Toronto, Dept. of Statistics
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 17:37:56 GMT

In article <1992Aug20.195523.4994@hamblin.math.byu.edu> bill@mathnx.math.byu.edu (Bill Smith) writes:
>A few questions for those of you who are using equation builder:
>1.  When you want to write   lim f(x) = f(a), for example, can
>you put the  x -> a  *under* the "lim" ?

Yes it's very easy. (One way is to use the subscript.).

>2.  Does it allow you to place superscripts and subscripts (both)
>on any character?

Yes, to multiple levels.

>3. How about built-up fractions containing things like integrals
>and derivatives and limits and summations and ...

Yep.

>4. Can you paste into WriteNow (the one distributed by NeXT before
>appsoft came along)?

Ah, the interesting question. I use both WriteNow and EquationBuilder(EqB).
EqB is, in my view, the very best equation editor I have ever used (and I've
used all the Mac ones). At the moment I am using it as the lazy person's
way of dealing with LaTeX ( I am not a TeX fan, although I do recognize
its need, power, etc...). EqB and TeXmenu make using LaTeX very easy. And
there's loTeX which is neat. However, as someone with an instinctive
dislike of TeX, I do find EqB makes TeX great (for me).
 
The problem with pasting into the current WriteNow is that the EPS baseline
information is not carried over. This will, I am told, be fixed in the 
next version of WriteNow. It is supported in PasteUp. It's an addition to
the EPS spec.

>5.  Assuming cost is not a factor, how does it compare with something 
>like "Create" for constructing technical documents, papers, texts, etc.
>6.  Will the "new" version of WriteNow allow for overstrike, so
>you can place superscripts and subscripts on the same character?

WriteNow3.0+EqB will allow you to type mathematical documents without 
resorting to TeX. So will Pasteup and EqB.       

>7.  Can you copy one of your EquationBuilder creations from the document
>you pasted into, and then put if back into EquationBuilder to modify it?

Yes.
>
>For a while now, I have been using the old Draw from the Demo folder to
>do things like make systems of pde's or built up fractions, summations,
>etc.  Also to modify things like Mathematica plots (adding text,
>shrinking, etc.) and then just pasting into WriteNow.  The main problem
>with this is that you must save all such items with Draw because once
>you paste them into the document, you have no way to modify it later
>(you can copy it from the doc all right, but when you paste back into
>Draw, you can't do anything with it).

This is not the case with Equation Builder. It's a really great application.
I should imagine even TeX enthusiasts would find it interesting, although
they might not see a need for it themselves (even that's not clear). A
quite objective "review" of Equation Builder by Tom Marchioro, who is very
informed on both TeX and EqB, was posted here a month or so ago. I would
say that was the view of a TeX enthusiast, and it was a very positive one.
>
>Users comments very welcome.

Philip McDunnough
Professor, Department of Statistics
University of Toronto
philip@utstat.toronto.edu

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