1.226 FAQ-991 How to add equations and special characters in Graph?

Add-Equations-Characters-in-Graph

Last Update: 3/4/2021

Origin provides three ways to help user insert equation or special characters in Graph.

	Text Tool with Unicode Support	LaTex App	Insert Equation
Effect
Rotate	✓	✓	X
User Friendly GUI	Partly	X	Fully
Substitution from Workbook Header	✓	✓	X
Weakness	Do not support complex character such as square root, brace ect	Need to install the corresponding software/plug-in in advance Mikitex and OAutotrace	Need to install the corresponding software/plug-in in advance MathType (Not free) or Microsoft Equation Editor(Not available if you installed January 2018 Office Update (PU))
How	Text tool button	Insert Equation button Choose Yes in the reminder dialog in the first time in use.	Insert Equation button :Choose No in the reminder dialog in the first time in use.

Notes:To decide the behavior of Insert Equation button , Set @IEE=0 to toggle the reminder dialog

LaTex App

How to use the LaTex App

1. When a graph is active, click Insert Equation button from the Tools toolbar
2. Click Yes when you saw the dialog.

   

3. The app and the two applications, Mikitex and OAutotrace, will be installed automatically. Once they are installed, relaunch Origin.
4. When a graph is active, click Insert Equation button from the Tools toolbar

To show LaTex equation in Axis Title and Legend or workbook

To show LaTex equation in Axis Title and Legend

• Add LaTeX equations to worksheet metadata area (e.g. Long Name, Units, Comments, etc.), using a \q() escape sequence.

If you also want the LaTex equation to be shown in workbook

• In addition to using \q() with LaTex equation, select the column label row and set Data Style to Rich Text

You may need to refer to other web page for LaTex Language, such as the one below http://www.sciweavers.org/free-online-latex-equation-editor

The App should work together with Origin 2017 or latter version You must have Mikitex and OAutotrace installed before you use the App

Insert Equation Tool

How to use the Insert Equation App

1. When a graph is active, click Insert Equation button from the Tools toolbar
2. Click NO when you saw the dialog.

   

3. Edit equations with MathType or Equation Editor dialog

   

To use the tool, you need to install the corresponding software/plug-in in advance MathType (Not free) or Microsoft Equation Editor(Not available if you installed January 2018 Office Update (PU))

Text Tool with Unicode Support

How to add equations or special characters with text tool

• See details in : FAQ-148 How Do I Insert Special Characters into Text Labels

Which font should be used for math equations

For simple equations, we can use text tool with math font. Usually we recommend following three popular math font

• Times New Roman (Same font as MathType and some Tex tool)
• Cambria Math (Same font as Equations in Microsoft Office)
• Latin Modern Math (Same font as some Tex Tool)

Time New Roman (Italic)	Cambria Math (Italic)	Latin Modern Math (Italic)

How can I find the unicode of special characters I need

Method 1: Refer to other Unicode Webpage

1. Browser webpage for unicode reference, such as the one below

   https://unicode-table.com/en

2. Search the character you want such as keywords as combining dot

Combining characters can work together with other character to create special character.

Method 2: Use Windows App - Character Map

1. Search and Open the Window App: Character Map
2. Choose the Font such as Times New Roman and Character Set as Unicode
3. Set Group by = Unicode Subrange
4. Choose desired subrange and find the symbol you want.

Keywords:Unicode, ALT+X, Greek, ASCII, Extended ASCII, ANSI, mu, pi, delta, alpha, beta, epsilon, lambda, degrees, superscript, subscript, extended character, escape sequence, overline, tilde, dot, rich text, angstrom, math, umlaut, worksheet header, column label, legend