How to type special characters (x-bar) and equations?

Question

Level 1

119 points

How to type special characters (x-bar) and equations?

I'm trying to use mathematical/greek/roman symbols in Keynote. In particular, I need to use the X bar symbol (a capital X with a bar over it). I suspect there are multiple ways to do this, but I can't figure it out.

Also, for more complicated equations, is there some sort of equation editor that works with Mac OS X and Keynote?

MBP 17 Core Duo (Week 23), Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Sep 9, 2007 9:17 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 9, 2007 10:22 AM in response to xmddmx

We had that one some time ago I think. One way of typing x̅ is to use unicode character 0305 or 0304 after an "x". With some fonts, that will look right. You can get to the unicode characters using the Character Palette.

As equation editor one can sometimes use the utility Grapher. Just copy and paste from the equation field.

Other people may have better proposals, but I hope the suggestions above will get you going for the time being?

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Answer 2

naaff

Level 1

15 points

Sep 9, 2007 10:36 AM in response to xmddmx

If you know (or are willing to learn) LaTeX then there is a nice tool for typesetting beautiful equations for use in Keynote:

http://evolve.lse.ac.uk/software/EquationEditor/

You can use the same basic trick if you can get PDF out of your favorite equation editor:

http://www.uoregon.edu/~noeckel/Keynote.html

Hope these links help.

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Answer 3

xmddmx Author

Level 1

119 points

Sep 10, 2007 7:24 AM in response to SermoDaturCunctis

Thank you -- entering 0304 or 0305 after the character works almost -- for example, if I use a lowercase "x" followed by 0304 or 0305 it looks fine. However a capital X followed doesn't look right -- the overline hits the character.

FYI - if you are reading this and don't understand how to type 0304 or 0305, do this:
1. From the edit menu, choose "Special Characters..." to get the Character Palette window
2. From the view menu on the window, choose "View: Code Tables:"
3. Scroll down the middle box until you see 0300
4. Across the top you will see #s 0 thru F
5. To get 0305, click the character at the intersection of the 0300 row and 5 column.

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Answer 4

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,210 points

Sep 10, 2007 7:37 AM in response to xmddmx

a capital X followed doesn't look right -- the overline hits the character.

How well that works depends on the font. The best results will probably be with Lucida Grande.

Another way to do 304 (macron above) is to activate the US Extended keyboard layout in system prefs/international/input menu and then type the base letter followed by Option + Shift + a.

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Answer 5

Sep 10, 2007 7:37 AM in response to xmddmx

Yes, I know it is not ideal. You really have to watch your fonts. In some fonts it will not work at all. It is possible that there are fonts where the bar is high enough to allow for a capital X, but I have not tried them all.

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Answer 6

Sep 10, 2007 7:52 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Tom Gewecke wrote:

Another way to do 304 (macron above) is to activate the US Extended keyboard layout in system prefs/international/input menu and then type the base letter followed by Option + Shift + a.

I tried that, or at least I think that is what I tried. It worked on about every single letter in the alphabet except x.

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Answer 7

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,210 points

Sep 10, 2007 7:58 AM in response to SermoDaturCunctis

It worked on about every single letter in the alphabet except x.

That's odd, works fine for me: x̄ X̄.

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Answer 8

Sep 10, 2007 10:08 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Silly me! What did not work was alt+a and then the base letter. Your combination works fine.

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