Problem with placing MS Word equations in InDesign

You might want to see if MathType will convert the Word equations into MT ones. I seem to remember it can but it has been a while since I used MT and no longer have access to it.

Mike

Wouldn't it be great if Word's equation editor worked across all technologies, and not just in Word itself? Sure would help those who create and use STEM documents, as well as those who create accessible documents or use them.

Here's a workaround so that you can get high-quality vector versions of the equations your author inserted into the Word document.

1. Open the Word document in Word.
2. Export a print or press-quality PDF from Word.
   1. Be sure to tweak the PDF Conversion settings so that it embeds all fonts, subsets if less than 100% were used.
   2. And particular to Word, clear out the 2 field boxes in the lower right.
   3. You might need to explore the Advanced Settings in the export dialogue in order to get to these settings.
3. Once exported, open the PDF in Acrobat.
4. Bring up the Edit PDF toolbar and select the Edit tool.
   1. Select all of the pieces that make up the equation. You can drag a marquee select around them.
   2. Make sure you catch all of the equation's pieces, as it's easy to miss an exponent or something small.
5. Right-click on the selected equation and select Edit Using / your favorite vector drawing program, such as Illustrator.
6. Once in Illustrator (or another graphics drawing program), you now have a graphical version of the equation. Since it's vector, you'll be able to scale it up/down without any resolution problems.
7. Crop the artboard to fit the equation graphic.
8. Save it as an AI, EPS, PNG, or graphical PDF file as needed, and place it in your InDesign layout.