Problem with Math symbols

[johnny_XP]

Well i'm running FM 9 under XP SP2 ana i have a very nasty problem with math fonts in equations . When i'm trying to insert a symbol (intergal, summation etc) FM displayes a ? instead of the symbol !

I tryed a lot of thinks, but i cannot find a solution. I intall im my system additional fonts like Math PI an Times, but in the math symbols popup menu the only option is the use of Symbol fonts . I also tryed to change the mathchar.cfg file manuallym but also not luck...

I tried to install FM 9 under Vista or even Windows 7 RC, but the behavior is exactly the same.

I'm living in Greece, so i have Greek preferences in my regional and labguage settings. May be this affect FM? I dont know!

Please if any have any ideas i ll be very greatfull...

[Art Campbell]

Have you installed both FM9 patches?

Are you working in new FM9 files, or older files that you've brought forward by converting to the FM9 file format?

Art

[MichaelKazlow]

You are running into problems due to the new unicode foundations that FrameMaker now respects. You probably need to have fonts where the characters are in the places that Unicode expects them to be and then insert them use the numeric keypad.

[johnny_XP]

I now have installed both patches. No, i don't open older FM files.

tryed a lot of thinks the last hours, but no solution yet. It looks like that the font mapping is incorrect. For example in the mathchar.cfg file the entry < alpha     61 Symbol Regular> that describes the greek letter 'a' is not coresponding to the correct font in Symol fonts, so FM instead of the Greek alpha displayes a  dot ('.') or what ever. The same holds for all definitions in mathchar.cfg....

This is BEAutifull! Ain't? Except that really breaks my nervous system!

[Guest]

Johnny, if you haven't yet done so you might try to do some searches on the Framers list archive, as it seems inconceivable that somebody hasn't noticed this issue previously. Unfortunately it might be a tricky thing to search for 

http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/

you can also search the Framers archive by using google, doing this:

SearchTerm site:frameusers.com

If your search term has spaces, put quotation marks around it, e.g.

"master page" site:frameusers.com

[Shlomo Perets]

I cannot tell what causes the problem, but I encountered it too with FM9 (and FM8), even when Unicode fonts are used.

Workaround : In Windows' Regional and Language Options, under Advanced,
select English under the field titled "Select a language to match the
language version of the non-Unicode programs you want to use:". Restart the
computer (typically required); large operators/symbols should display
properly now.

[This may cause text in some non-Unicode applications to be displayed incorrectly, so you may need to switch this property off and on again in different sessions, depending on the applications being used]

Shlomo Perets

MicroType * http://www.microtype.com
FrameMaker training & consulting * FM-to-Acrobat TimeSavers

[johnny_XP]

@Sheila Carlisle: I searched but nothing helpfull

@Shlomo Perets: Good tip. Actually i had it in my mind, but didn't tried because i thought FM 9 is unicode (is not? ).

I want to write my Phd, and there are tons of equations... Latex is not the case for me because i have to typeset in Greek language and there are so little greek fonts for latex...

Not a change to try Word because sooner or latter will be a massive failure due to the size of the document...

InDesign is nice. I like it.... but the math equations support sucks (even with plugins).... Jesus-Christ we are in 2009 guys come on!

[Arnis Gubins]

Johnny,

If you're going to be using lots of equatiosn, then I would recommend using MathType to create the equations and export them as EPS for inclusion into FM as graphics. That should save you lots of wear & tear on the hair, as well as keeping it from turning grey prematurely.

[Art Campbell]

Arnis,

Gray hair is almost a prerequisite for any PhD dissertation that uses equations...

And if Frame can help generate it, it would be a feature, not a bug.

;-  )

[johnny_XP]

The good news: No gray hairs untill now. This is the workflow following untill now. Generate equations is Math Type and import as EPS in InDesign, but this is problematic for a guy like me who wants to change thinks, because any time you want to edit an equation you have to go back to MathType, edit, re-export, update link in InDesign . File naming is also a problem... Anyway this workflow is bad... I need a tool that has a built-in equation editor, bad i dont have any!

Maybe this Christans a have to post a letter to Adobe instead of Santa!

Is heronic that i'm studying a Phd in Chemical Engineering, but finally becoming a technical DTP expert

[Arnis Gubins]

There are work-arounds to being able to double-click on the equation (graphic) in FM and have it open in MathType for editing. First, make sure that you import your EPS files by reference. Second, change the system level file association of EPS to MathType.

Cons: If you use Illustrator (or other graphics programs), then you break the EPS association with that application.

[johnny_XP]

Shlomo Perets you are the man! After changing the unicode settings FM is happy... so displays correctly the math symbols!