WebEQ Equation Editor is a third-party tool that students can use within WebCT to create, save, and view complex equations. It consists of an Equation Editor and a Equation Viewer. The Editor allows you to build equations graphically. The equations are then stored as MathML, which is mark-up language for encoding the structure of mathematical expressions so that they can be shared over the Web. The Viewer allows MathML to be displayed in any browser.
To improve response time when using the WebEQ Equation Editor, WebCT recommends that students download the WebEQ Equation Editor plug-in.
The WebEQ Equation Editor is available from within several tools, including Content Module, Discussions, Mail, and Quiz. Follow the links below for tool-specific instructions, or read an overview of its functionality.
- Content Module
- Discussions
- send a message containing an equation
- edit an equation inserted into a message
- reply to a message containing an equation
- quote a message
- Quiz
If the WebEQ Equation Editor is available within a tool, you will see a large text area followed by an Equation drop-down box, and an button.
Entry to the Equation Editor
You use the icons and your keyboard to create equations or expressions.
The First Equation Editor screen
Important: The Macintosh version of the Equation Editor has two screens: the first allows you to create an equation, and the second allows you to choose settings and preview your equation. To create an equation:
- From the Equation list box, select Create new equation.
- Click . The first Equation Editor screen appears.
- Create an equation using the icons in the toolbar together with keyboard numeric elements. Click the icon to view Help specific to creating an equation. Important: Do not enter spaces between elements in your equation, as spaces appear as boxes when displayed in the Viewer.
- In the Title textbox, enter a title for the equation. You may also enter a title for the equation on the next screen.
- Click . The second Equation Editor screen appears.
- On the second Equation Editor screen in the Title text box, enter a title for the equation if you haven't already done so. A default title is provided by the Equation Editor.
- From the Font Size list box, choose a font size for the equation. Note: Clicking Larger or Smaller takes you to the first Equation Editor screen again, and the portion of the screen in which you create the equation will have become larger or smaller.
- If necessary alter the height and width and click . You will now see the refreshed preview of the equation. Important: Ensure that the entire equation is visible in the preview window, as the equation will display exactly as shown.
Second Equation Editor Screen
- If you want to return to the original screen without saving the equation, click . The Equation Editor Entry screen reappears.
- If you want to attach the equation, click . The Equation Editor Entry screen will reappear with a reference to the equation in the text box, specifying the Equation id and title. The equation will also now appear in the Equation drop-down box, so you may select it for editing.
Equations on a content page, in a discussion or mail message, or in a quiz are usually automatically displayed in the Equation Viewer. In some cases, the equation is displayed above the large text area and the Equation drop-down box and button, as below. In other cases, the equation is displayed on its own, as below, except without the large text area and buttons representing the entry to the Equation Editor.
An Equation displayed in the Equation Viewer
Finally, in certain cases, instead of seeing the equation automatically displayed in the Equation Viewer, you will see a reference to the Equation id and title. When this is the case, you may edit the equation rather than simply view it. To do so, you must select the Equation id from the Equation list box to view it in the Editor, as below.
Selecting a Reference to an Equation to View it in the Editor
Equation Displayed in Editor
Equations are never actually edited. Each time you access an equation and save changes made to it, a new equation is created, and the Equation Editor assigns it a new Equation id number. You will need to remove the reference to the original equation, or viewers will see two equations, the original and the edited.
Equation Reference Prior to Editing
Equation Reference After Editing
To improve response time when using the WebEQ Equation Editor, WebCT recommends that you download the WebEQ Editor and Viewer from WebCT's download area: http://www.webct.com/equation.