MoM ' s ridiculously complex math-typing tutorial

Keyboard typing lessons for Math-o-mir v1.91

Lesson 1

Starting and ending the Typing mode

left-mouse-click

...the blue blinking cursor

appears and the mouse
pointer re-shapes.

mouse-click
anywhere at
empty area...

right-mouse-click
(or the Esc key)

Note: The Typing mode will also start if you click at any insertion point inside any existing equation. That way you
start editing this particular equation.

a + b + c = 2d

Lesson 2

Typing numbers

Do not separate thousants, millions... write the number all compact

64371

Use the dot as the decimal separator

64371.37

If you insist to use comma as the decimal separator, check the following
menu option: Options Keyboard Allow comma as decimal separator

64371,37
-1-

Lesson 3

Typing variables
Single-letter variables, you just type

a + bc
To generate Greek symbols, you should quickly stroke letters twice

aa + bb GG

To enter multi-letter variables, start them with the apostrophe key

' size

any math operator or

the Spacebar or the Enter key

size

Note: If you are mostly using the multi-letter variables, you can turn on the General Variable Mode. In this mode
you don ' t have to use the apostrophe symbol to enter multi-letter variables, but unfortunately, you then must use the
spacebar key to separate two variables (invisible times) if you placed no other explicit operator between them.
If you decide to use the General Variable Mode, stick to it. Jumping always from simple to general mode is too confusing.
To turn on the General Variable Mode, check: Options Keyboard General Variable Mode

Note: The "single-finger-shift" feature is an alternative way to type uppercase letters and some other characters that are
normally typed with the shift key: just press a key and keep it pressed for about 0.5 seconds - the character
will convert into its shifted variant.
This feature is useful when you need to place an uppercase letter into index or into exponent because you can
use two-key combinatons (say, Alt+x, held for 0.5s) instead of three-key combinations ( say, Alt+Shift+x).

Lesson 4

Typing Parentheses
hit the ' ( ' or ' [ ' or ' { ' or ' | ' to create parentheses

after you filled the content, hit the Enter key, or ' ) ' , ' ] ' , ' } ' keys, to exit parentheses
Note: Create double bar parentheses by stroking the ' | ' key twice:
In fact, you can also type the following sequences to create various parentheses:

( ] , [ ) , < >, < ] , [ > , | >

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Lesson 5

Typing mathematical operators and symbols

Some symbols are generated by hitting an appropriate key on your keyboard

<
,

>
;

=
?

However, hitting the @ and keys will generate alternative symbols

generates
generates

Arrows can be produced by ALT+arrow_key (hit the arrow key twice to create double arrows)

You can also use following two-stroke or three-stroke sequences:

<= to create
>= to create
/= to create
<< to create <<
>> to create >>
to create
= to create

+- to create
-+ to create
:= to create :=
=: to create =:
... to create
*** to create
= to create

Finally, using the Ctrl+X you can generate the multyplying cross:

->
+>
=>
\#
\@
\*
\{

to create
to create
to create
to create
to create
to create

#
@

to create

Note: There are symbols that you cannot type any other way than by defining a toolbox accelerator or by
casting a command. Check Lesson #11 to learn about commands.

-3-

Lesson 6

Typing indexes
General way - using Underline

ak

hit the underline key ' _ '

type the index
hit any math operator (+, - , /, ,... )
or the Spacebar key or the Enter key
to resume typing on the main line

That ' s the latching

method.

Note: if you use the General Variable Mode, then entering operators into index will be allowed and the
only way to resume from index-typing would be by using the Enter key.

Fast way - using Spacebar

ak

press and hold the spacebar key

type the index (still holding the spacebar key)
release the spacebar key

That ' s the non-latching

method.

Note: to enter an uppercase letter into variable index, instead of using unhandy Spacebar+Shift+Letter combinaton,
you can hold down the Spacebar+Letter combination for about 0.5 seconds and the uppercase letter will be produced..

Lesson 7

Typing exponents
General way - using ^ or using "

hit the ' hat ' key (^) or the double-quotation key (")
type the exponent
hit the Enter key to resume
typing on the main line.

Fast way - using ALT

press and hold the ALT key

type the exponent (still holding the ALT key)
release the ALT key

2y +

1
z

Note: to enter an uppercase letter into variable exponent, instead of using unhandy Alt+Shift+Letter combinaton,
you can hold down the Alt+Letter combination for about 0.5 seconds and the uppercase letter will be produced..

Advanced: When you use the ALT key to type into exponent, then any hit to the = key, will surprisingly generate the + operator. This way you don ' t need to reach for the Shift key to type the + operator on some
keyboards.

Lesson 7b

Typing exponents of base e

type the letter ' e ' , then hit the period key

e.

e
-4-

Lesson 8

Typing functions
type the backslash ' \ ' key to start the command entry
type the function name
hit the Enter key, or Spacebar key , or the ' ( ' key

\ress
\ress

the Spacebar
or the Enter

the ' ( ' key

This is the command-casting

method. See lesson #11

ress
ress

type the function name

hit the dot key '.' to convert the name into function

f
sin

the dot key

the dot key

This is the conversion method,

aka the "mighty dot" method.
See lessons #7b, #12 and #13.

f
sin

Note: If you use the General Variable Mode, you will be able to use the conversion method even for function
names unknown to Math-o-mir.
Note: Once you create a function, the cursor is moved into its argument box. If you now immediately hit
the Enter key, the argument box will be deleted. This is how you create functions without an argument box.

Lesson 9

Typing fractions
First you must enter the fraction line by stroking the slash key ' / ' twice:

//
Once you finished with the numerator, hit the Enter key to move the cursor into the denominator

+ 2
Finally, hit the Enter key to resume at the main line

-5-

Lesson 10

Typing simple fractions

You can start by typing the numerator

1
Type the # key (or the grave accent ` key) to put the fraction bar

1
Note: It is possible to put more than one element into the numerator. Just type all the elements that make the numerator,
and then hit the # key (or ` key) as many times as there are elements. For every # hit, a single element will be sucked in.

Lesson 11

Casting commands
start with the backslash key ' \ '
type the command name
hit the Enter key or Spacebar key or any math-symbol key to execute it

\aleph
There are commands that will create symbols
(examples: \infty, \aleph, \bullet, \oplus, ...)
there are commands that will change text properties
(examples: \red, \blue, \big, \small, \bbig, \h1)
All Greek symbols can also be created
(examples: \gamma, \Gamma, \epsilon, \ep)

red

blue

big

small

bbig

h1

Some more complex objects can be inserted

(examples: \sqrt , \sum, \int, \oiint)

units of measurement can be inserted - this is

case-sensitive. (examples: \kg \GW \ft \mps)

spacebar

kg

GW

ft

m/s

any ' unknown ' command that you may enter will be converted into a function (see lesson #8)

-6-

Lesson 12

Typing differentials
hit ' d ' key , and then hit the dot '.' key

the dot key

type ' par ' , and then hit the dot '.' key

par

the dot key

type \d or \par command and then hit the Spacebar (or Enter) key

\d

the spacebar

\par

the spacebar

you can also use \dx , \dy , \dz , \dt commands to gain some speed

\dx

the spacebar

dx

you can also use more complex \dd , \ddx , \ddy , \ddz , \ddt , \parpar commands

\ddx

the spacebar

\parpar

the spacebar

d
dx

-7-

Lesson 13

Typing Summation, Product and Integral signs

cast a command ( \sum , \prod , \int , \iint , \iiint , \oint , \oiint or \oiiint )

the spacebar

\sum

if you immediately hit the underline ' _ ' key, the cursor will move into the lower-limit box

Advanced way to put the cursor

into the lower limit box :

the underline

\sum

spacebar hit
and held

\sum

any letter
(say ' n ' )

release the spacebar now and

continue typing

There are two quick ways, sum. and int. to create summation and integration signs

sum
int

the dot key

the dot key

Note: the sign will be generated without limit boxes, but you can generate them if you hit the
underline key immediately.

Lesson 14

Typing a plain text

Start a new box (see Lesson #1).
While the box is still entirely empty hit the spacebar key - this activates the text-typing mode

spacebar

When text-typing mode is active, the cursor will be of green color

Note: When typing a plain text, the Enter key will normally wrap the text line

-8-

Lesson 15

Mixing math and text

You can anytime toggle between text-typing mode and math-typing mode
by using ALT+Spacebar combination.

x 2 + 1;

ALT+spacebar

x 2 + 1; where
ALT+spacebar

x 2 + 1; where x << y
Note to Linux users : Instead of ALT+spacebar, you can use Spacebar+ALT. In fact, it is also possible to
toggle between math and text by hitting the comma key twice or by hitting the CapsLock key if the
' Options->Keyboard->Use CapsLock to toggle typing mode ' option is enabled.

Lesson 16

Keyboard selections
Use Shift+left_arrow or Shift+right_arrow to make selections

x g +z

Shift+left

x g +z

Shift+left

x g +z

Shift+left

x g +z
Selected objects become blue-colored.
Once you made the selection, you can hit:
- CTRL+X (cut), CTRL+C (copy)
- Del (delete), Backspace (delete)
- R (red), G (green)
- B (bold) , I (italic)
- U (underline), O (overline), S (strikeout)
- / or # or ` (puts fraction line below the selection)
- ( or [ or { (puts parentheses around the selection)
- \ (puts the selection in function argument)
- 0...9 (puts the selection to the power)
b
- C (puts constraint (restriction) line: a c )
- Enter (opens the context menu)

Example:

x g +z

' [ ' key

x g +z
-9-

Lesson 17

Creating matrices and tables

Hit the Shift+Tab to add columns

Shift+Tab

Hit the Shift+Enter to add rows

a b

Shift+Enter

a b

You can use Enter key to move to the next cell

a b
c

Lesson 18

Enter

a b
c

Using accelerators
Right mouse-click on any toolbox item - a popup menu will open
Choose any accelerator you like
Use the accelerator when you are typing your equations
Note - there are three types of accelerators :
CTRL+ accelerators - these can be used even with hand-drawings
double-stroke accelerators - these are timed, double-stroke them quickly
Easycast accelerators - these enable you to define "any" key-sequence you like

Note: If you define certain dobule-stroke accelerators, you will not be able to type certain Greek letters easily
(see lesson #3). Therefore you will have to use commands to cast Greek letters (see lesson #11).

Danijel Gorupec, 2015

all help reserved

- 10 -

Appendix - Math-o-mir cirb notes (v1.91)

Keystrokes and
commands to
enter simple
symbols

<<
>>

:=
=:

|
Keystrokes and
commands to
enter greek
symbols

Keystrokes and
commands to
enter complex
symbols

keystroke command
keystroke command

\cdot
\approx

+
\aleph
-+

\emptyset
@
\infty
\*
\ast

<<
HH
\nabla

>>
Ctrl+X
\times

/=
\neq
BB
\bullet

<=
\leq
\div

>=
\geq
\oplus

:=
\otimes

=:
UU
\cup

...
\cap

Tab
\space
\sim
=
***
\doteq
MM
\mid
\setminus

keystroke
command
aa
\alpha\Alpha
bb, BB
\beta\Beta
cc
\chi\Chi
dd, DD
\delta\Delta
ee
\epsilon\Epsilon
ff, FF
\phi\Phi
gg, GG \gamma\Gamma
hh
\eta\Eta

parentheses:

fraction:

keystrokes
(, [, {, |

command

// (slash twice)

\frac

fraction (simple numerator):

exp

exponent (the non-latching method): a

index (the latching method): andx

(or `)
^

exp

Alt+key
_ (underline)

index (the non-latching method): andx

square root, root:

keystroke
command
keystroke command

-> Alt+right
\to
\subset

Alt+left
\supset

Alt+up
\subseteq

Alt+down
\supseteq
=> Alt+right (x2)
II
\parallel

Alt+left (x2)
TT
\perp

Alt+up (x2)
\propto

#
Alt+down (x2)
\#
+> Alt+right (x3) \mapsto @
\@

=
\elm
\cong
=

\owns
\equiv

\notin
OO
\circ

EE
\exists

\deg

AA
\forall
\therefore
%%
\because

keystroke
command
keystroke
command
ii
\iota \Iota

rr
\rho\Rho
jj, JJ
\varphi\Varphi

ss, SS
\sigma\Sigma
kk
\kappa\Kappa

tt
\tau\Tau
ll, LL
\lambda\Lambda
uu
\upsilon\Upsilon
mm
\rho\Rho
ww, WW \omega \Omega
nn
\sigma\Sigma

xx, XX
\xi \Xi
pp, PP
\tau\Tau
yy, YY
\psi\Psi
qq, QQ
\upsilon\Upsilon
zz
\zeta\Zeta

exponent (the latching method): a

SpaceBar+key

\sqrt\root
\binom

binom:
summation, product:

Integrals:

Listed keystrokes are valid for math-typing mode.

To toggle between the math-typing mode and the
text-typing mode, use Alt+SpaceBar.

\sum \prod

circular integrals:

\int \iint \iiint

differential: d , d x , d y , d z , d t ,
d
d
d
d
derivation:
,
,
,
d
dx
dy
dz

\oint\oiint \oiiint
\d \dx \dy \dz \dt \par
d
,
dt

\dd \ddx \ddy \ddz \ddt \parpar

\case

case:
module:
limes: lim

|| (v. bar twice)

\lim

various functions: sin , cos , ln , f

functions with reserved names: sum , case , frac
function with greek symbol names: ,

,
,
,
,
right-only and left-only brackets: ,
other brackests:

\sin \cos \ln \f ...

\funcsum \funccase \funcfrac ...

\funcalpha \funcOmega ...

<>, [), (], [>,<]
\}, \{, \[, \], \(, \), \|

... \ket \bra

- 11 -

Functions of keyboard keys

key
F1

function
displays help
(or, if configured,
sets zoom to 1:1)

key

function

key

function

F5

toggles between the edit mode and

the presentation mode

F9

generates bitmap image of the selected/touched

object and copies it into the windows clipboard

generates LaTeX code of touched/selected

F10
object and copies it into the windows clipboard
F3
decreases zoom
F7
not used
F11
stores the bitmap image of the selected/touched
starts the hand-drawing mode
F8
F12
F4
and displays the handy toolbox
object to disk (opens the file save dialgo box)

F2

increases zoom

F6

key

function
- quits the Typing mode
- deselects selection, if anything selected
Esc
- exits context menu, if open
(note: Esc behaves as the righ-mouse click)
- moves cursor to the beginning of the line
Home - with Shift - selects everything to the
beginning of the line

End

- moves cursor to the end of the line

- with Shift - selects everything to the
end of the line

- adds space between elements

- with Shift - adds column (matrix/table
construction)
- moves the cursor to the next logical point
- executes a command (like \sin )
Enter
- with ALT - forces new line
- with Shift - adds row (matrix/table)
- with Tab - adds matrix/table column
- with Enter - adds matrix/table row
Shift
- with arrow keys, End and Home
makes selections
- activates a toolbox accelerator
- with X - cuts selection
- with C - copyes the selection
Ctrl
- with V - paste
- with Z - undo
- with S - save
Tab

Alt

- creates exponents
- with space bar - toggles math / text mode
- with Enter - forces line wrap
- with arrow keys - inserts arrows
- with comma key - variable decoration

Ins

- reloads element/equation that was last

picked-up with the mouse

key
AZ
az

.
(dot)

function
- latin letters
- when double-stroked produce
greek symbols

arrow
keys

- move the cursor

- with Shift - keyboard selections
- with Alt - generate arrows

- an escape character to
start a command

PgUp

- scrolls the document

on page up

- decimal separator
- converts variable to function
- executes Autocomplete
- with ALT - adds dot or double dot
over a varaible

- division operator
- true fraction when typed twice
- list separator
- decimal separator (if configured)
- with ALT - adds arrow or dash
over a variable

- starts index editing (variables,

functions, brackets)
_
(underline) - starts lower-limit editing (integrals,
summation, product)

Del

toggles automatic guidelines

function

- list separator

Space

toggles ' snap to grid '

key

,
(comma)

activates the main menu

- creates indexes
- executes a command
- with Alt - toggles math or
text typing mode
- with arrow keys, adjusts equation
position
-deletes an element right of the
keyboard cursor
- deltes na object touched with
the mouse
- deletes selection

PgDown

'
(apostrophe)

# or `

^ or "

Backspace

- scrolls the document one

page down
- enables entering of multi-letter
variables when typed as a
first character of the variable
- inserts the infinity () sign

- inserts a fraction line below

an object
- multiplication dot
- adds asterisk to a variable
when used as a first
character in an exponent : x*
- bullet when used as a first
character in a text line

- starts exponent editing

- deletes an element left of the

keyboard cursor

- 12 -

Keyboard examples
(Those examples are relevant for math-typing mode. Note that in some cases a [space] can be replaced with [enter] or vice versa)

example
a1

keystrokes (simple variable mode)

a [space held] 1 [space released]

keystrokes (general variable mode)

a [space held] 1 [space released]

a first

a [underline] f i r s t [enter]

a [underline] f i r s t [enter]

typing variable indexes using underline key

a1 , 2

a [underline] 1 , [underline] 2 [enter]

a [underline] 1 , 2 [enter]

typing a complex index using the

underline key

x2 a

x [Alt held] 2 a [Alt released]

x [Alt held] 2 a [Alt released]

typing an exponent using the Alt key

x [Alt held] - 2 [Alt released]

x [Alt held] -2 [Alt released]

x - [Alt held] 2 [Alt released]

x - [Alt held] 2 [Alt released]

x ^ y +1 [enter]

x ^ y +1 [enter]

x [Alt held] y + [Alt released] z / 2 [enter]

x [Alt held] y + [Alt released] z / 2 [enter]

et

e . t [enter]

e . t [enter]

one way to type simple negative exponents

another way to type simple negative
exponents.
typing more complex index using the ^ key .
(instead of the ^ we could also use the " key)
an alternative way to type complex indexes
(switches from non-lached to the lached
method)
typing exponent of base ' e ' using the dot key

sinx

s i n . x [enter]

s i n . x [enter]

resp x

\ r e s p ( x [enter]

\ r e s p ( x [enter]

resp x

' r e s p . ( x [enter]

r e s p . ( x [enter]

f1 x

f [space held] 1 [space released] . x [enter]

f [space held] 1 [space released] . x [enter]

f1 x

f [underline] 1 . x [enter]

f [underline] 1 . x [enter]

f1 x

\ f [underline] 1 ( x [enter]

\ f [underline] 1 [enter] ( x [enter]

dp

d. p

d. p

dp

\ d [space] p

\ d [space] p

dx

\ d x [space]

\ d x [space]

p a r. u

p a r. u

\ s q r t [space] x [enter]

\ s q r t [space] x [enter]

[Ctrl + R] x [enter]

[Ctrl + R] x [enter]

ww

ww

[Alt held] [left key] [Alt released]

[Alt held] [right key] [right key] [Alt released]

[Alt held] [left key] [Alt released]

[Alt held] [right key] [right key] [Alt released]

\ s u m [space held] k [space released] = 1

[enter] @ [enter] f . k [enter] [enter]

\ s u m [space held] k [space released] = 1

[enter] @ [enter] f . k [enter] [enter]

\ s u m [underline] k = 1 [enter]
@ [enter] \ f ( k [enter] [enter]

\ s u m [underline] k = 1 [enter]
@ [enter] \ f ( k [enter] [enter]

x
x

2
2

xy
xy

+1

+z / 2

f k
k=1

f k
k=1

note
typing variable indexes using space bar

typing a known function using the dot

key to generate function
typing an unknown function using by
command casting
typing an unknown function using the dot
key.
typing an indexed function using the
spacebar for index and dot key to
generate function
typing an indexed function using the
underline to generate index and dot key
to generate the function
typing an indexed function using command
casting to make the function and
underline key to generate index
typing differential using the dot key
typing differential using the command
casting method
typing a common differential usign
command casting
typing a partial diff. using the dot key
(alternatively, you could use \par command)
typing a sq. root by casting a command
the sq. root by using a toolbox accelerator.
(supposing the Ctrl+R is assigned to the
square root sign)
typing a greek letter using double-stroke
(repeat strokes fast - in less than 250ms)
typing an arrow using the Alt key
typing a double arrow using the Alt key
Typing a sum. sign with upper and lower
limits by casting a command, then typing
function by using the dot key
Typing the same summation sign using
alternative methods.

typing a squared function by using the

sin. [Alt held] 2 [Alt released] x [enter] [enter] sin. [Alt held] 2 [Alt released] x [enter] [enter] dot key to generate the function and
alt key for squaring
x = \ { 0 ; z < 0 [Alt held] [enter] [Alt released] x = \ { 0 ; z < 0 [Alt held] [enter] [Alt released] using \{ to cast left-only brackets; using
0; z < 0
x=
1; z 0
1 ; z > = 0 [enter]
1 ; z > = 0 [enter]
Alt+Enter to generate new line
demonstrating differences between
x [underline] a - 1 [enter] + b o t h
x [underline] a - [underline] 1 [enter] + ' b o t h
xa 1 + both + a b
+ab
+ a [space] b
simple and general variable mode

sin2 x

- 13 -