Adding an Equation Editor Tool

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 31, 2026)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

The Equation Editor allows you to easily define complex equations within a Word document. Many other WordTips have dealt with how to use the Equation Editor and format equations. Normally, you use one of these two methods to start the Equation Editor:

Double-click on an existing equation originally created with the Equation Editor.
Choose Object from the Insert menu. Word displays the Object dialog box. Choose Microsoft Equation from the list.

If you use a lot of equations in your documents, these methods can quickly become tedious. To make life easier, you can add an Equation Editor tool to any toolbar. To add the tool, follow these steps:

Choose Customize from the Tools menu. Word displays the Customize dialog box.
Make sure the Commands tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Commands tab of the Customize dialog box.

In the Categories list, choose All Commands.
In the Commands list, choose Insert Equation.
Drag the Insert Equation command to a position on an existing toolbar.
Click on Close.

Now, to invoke the Equation Editor, just click on the new tool. When you do, the Equation Editor springs to life, ready to help you.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1419) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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