Category Archives: Writing

Paper writing, software for writing

Software for Knowledge Management

Each day we get an overwhelming amount of information. Web surfing, books, scientific papers are all the sources of new data. To keep up with all these data, we need to use some software. Unfortunately, there is no a single software that will keep all our knowledge, with fast and simple editing tools, and that will be able to search/remind/find answers to our questions. Also, not all softwares are able to keep math formulas (see the following discussion).

The main question here is how we remember things…How can I find something that I (or somebody else) had inserted in some knowledge database, if I don’t know/remember if it exists at all?

Comparison of Mathematical Add-ins for Wikis and Onenote

The math formulas should be easily included in blogs, or knowledge databases, but, unfortunately, most HTML and proprietary formats do not support math. These math tools should be included as add-ins. Each add-in has its own pros and cons, and I want to compare those from my perspective. Since I work with Latex, I’d like the formulas to be converted easily to Latex, or written in Latex. The formulas should be convertible to one of MathType formats. I also prefer WYSIWYG type of inserting formulas.

WinEdt 6 Configuration

Borrowed from Jeromy Anglim:

WinEdt 6.0 for LaTeX: Features, Configuration, and Resources

Features that I like

In particular there were several Features in WinEdt that I liked at first glance:

• Tree View can be customised
• Automatically display your current location in TOC
• Colour coding that aids usability
• Intelligent defaults
• Options to customise almost anything
• Easy configuration interface with MikTeX
• One click build process for LaTeX documents
• Intuitive default shortcut keys and intuitive alt menu letters
• Ctrl+Up and Ctrl+Down navigates between paragraphs.

The remainder of this post discusses: configuration, features, and set up ideas.

Add MathType support to WinEdt 6

In the MathType, choose Preferences→Cut and Copy Preferences: set MathML or text bullet, LaTeX 2.09 and later, uncheck all the check boxes.
We want to add two new buttons that run MathType formula editor (supposed installed).
The first one, inserts $formula$ inline: it opens the MathType, then the formula is manually written and copied to the clipboard, and MathType is closed; then the formula is inserted between the dollar signs.
The second one, inserts labeled and numbered formula in the equation environment.

Add automatic functionality to Cite and Ref buttons (WinEdt 6)

Automatically open Graphical prompts for choosing citations and references for citation and reference buttons.
2. Find item: ITEM=”Citation”
3. For that item replace the MACRO by:
4. For the following item: ITEM=”Reference”, replace the MACRO by:
5. Right click on MainMenu, and Load script to update the buttons.

Unhide cite, ref, label, and footnote buttons (WinEdt 6)

In the default toolbar all these buttons are hidden in the drop-down menu. I want to unhide them and to put them in line.
1. In Options→Options… menu, choose “Menus and Toolbar…→Toolbars→Toolbar (2 Rows)” in options panel (opens the file “Toolbar2.ini”).
2. Find the line: BUTTON=”Citation”
3. Comment 7 lines after that, namely: // TYPE=6 … // MENU=”Footnote”
• BUTTON=”Reference”

• BUTTON=”Label”

• BUTTON=”Footnote”

5. Right click on Toolbars→Toolbar (2 Rows), and Load script to update the buttons.

Connect to WordWeb and create Thesaurus button (WinEdt 6)

WordWeb is one of the best free software thesauruses, that can be incorporated into WinEdt 6 editor. One can look for synonyms, or antonyms, as well as for wiki-like definitions. I propose to add a button for using WordWeb with a single click.

1. Install the WordWeb.
2. In Options→Options… menu, choose Menus and Toolbar…→Toolbars→Toolbar (2 Rows) in options panel (opens the file “Toolbar2.ini”).
3. Choose an appropriate place for you button (e.g., after “BUTTON=”Paste””).
4. Insert the next line: BUTTON=”Thesaurus
5. Right click on Toolbars→Toolbar (2 Rows), and Load script to update the buttons.

GUI for image insertion button (WinEdt 6)

Instead of inserting text with spacers for Caption, Label, and image filename, I propose to call a built-in MUI (GUI) application for this purpose, by reprogramming the figure insert button.
1. Open for editing: %B\Menus\Insert\Image.edt file (where %b is the base directory, e.g., C:\Program Files\WinEdt Team\WinEdt 6\).
2. Comment with “//” all the lines in :TeX::— section, and insert instead:
Exe(‘%b\MUI\Graphics\Graphics.edt’,’%P’);
JMP(‘Exit’);