Operation Manual

Changing formula color
Character color
Formula color for the characters used in a formula is changed by using the command color in the
mark up language. This command only works on the formula element immediately after the color
name. For example, entering the markup language color red ABC 5 times 4 gives the result
ABC 5×4
.
To change the color of the whole formula, you have to enclose the whole formula within brackets.
For example, entering the markup language color red {ABC 5 times 4} gives the result
ABC 5×4
.
For information on the colors available in Math, see the Math Guide.
Tip
For ease of use, the Elements window includes the category Attributes, which lists
standard colors. Click on the required color to insert the command into your formula.
Background color
It is not possible to select a background color for formulas in LibreOffice Math. The background
color for a formula is by default the same color as the document or frame that the formula has been
inserted into. However, in LibreOffice documents, you can use object properties to change the
background color for a formula. For more information on using a background color (area fill for
objects) with a formula, please refer to the user guides for Writer, Calc, Draw, and Impress.
Formula library
If you regularly insert the same formulas into your documents, you can create a formula library
using formulas that you have created using the Formula Editor. Individual formulas can be saved
as separate files using the ODF format for formulas with the file suffix of .odf, or in MathML format
with the file suffix of .mml.
You can use LibreOffice Math, Writer, Calc, Draw, or Impress to create formulas and build up your
formula library.
Using Math
1) Create a folder on your computer to contain your formulas and give the folder a memorable
name, for example Formula Library.
2) In LibreOffice, go to File > New > Formula on the menu bar, or click on Math Formula in
the opening splash screen to open LibreOffice Math and create your formula using the
Formula Editor. See “Formulas as separate documents or files” on page 265 for more
information.
3) Go to File > Save As on the menu bar or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+S to open a
Save As dialog.
4) Navigate to the folder you have created for your formula library.
5) Type in a memorable name for your formula in the File name text box.
6) Select from the drop-down list for File type either ODF Formula (.odf) or MathML 1.01
(.mml) as the file type for your formula.
7) Click Save to save the formula and close the Save As dialog.
Chapter 9 Getting Started with Math | 281