Manipulate Microsoft Equation Objects & Editor 1

[JTBorton]

Excel 2003

We use predefined spreadsheet templates for various calculations. The templates have the formulas set in the cells and the cells are protected. The formulas are then displayed as text at the bottom of the spreadsheet so that an engineer reviewing the calculations can follow them. Each formula is displayed as straight-line text inside the cell. Instead, we want to use the Microsoft Equation Editor to create an equation object for each equation. We want two objects per equation: one which shows the equation in general form, and then one which has been formatted with the values the user plugged in so that they can easily see the results.

I realise that this will involve a script that destroys the previous object and generates a new based on the values in the cells, but I have not been able to figure out how to access the microsoft equation editor through VBA code. I searched the object browser and the reference library. Can anyone give me any hints as to where I should look?

-Joshua
Well, You can try banging your head against the wall, but you just end up with lost-time injuries and damaged equipment. [M. Passman]

 

[combo]

Microsoft Equation Editor is installed by default in 'Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\EQUATION'. VBA does not allow to add reference to any of its files - program can't be accessed in VBA.

combo

 

[SkipVought]

Have you considered using the Evaluate Formula feature?

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[JTBorton]

Combo - Thanks for the information. As always you are a tremendous help. Perhaps there is a way I could format series of label controls on the spreadsheet... What are your thoughts? Although it might be difficult to format the mathematical symbols.

SkipVought - To my knowledge, the Evaulate function takes a text string and parses it for mathematical operations so that it can be evaluated. Is there a way I could use this to format and display a formula? Again I'd be interested to hear any additional thoughts.

-Joshua
Well, You can try banging your head against the wall, but you just end up with lost-time injuries and damaged equipment. [M. Passman]

 

[SkipVought]

have you checked out

http://www.mathtype.com/msee

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[combo]

I did a quick search and found a free add-in 'excelEquations.xla'. Can be a handy starting point in converting excel formula to image. The site is here. There may be other third party applications either for converting formulas or replacing standard ms equation editor.

combo

 

[combo]

I found that is not an isolate add-in, it passes formula to the site and gets back an image. I guess that the formula is parsed and converted to an image by latex libraries.

I found another solution that uses word EQ field here.

combo

 

[JTBorton]

Wow, that's a lot of information! Thanks alot guys, I'm sure you spent a lot of time digging that up. I'll review it with the team to find out what direction they would like to go.

-Joshua
Well, You can try banging your head against the wall, but you just end up with lost-time injuries and damaged equipment. [M. Passman]