Adding Lines in an Equation Editor Matrix

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 15, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

One of the strengths of the Equation Editor is the ability to express matrices. In some notations, matrices are shown with lines between the elements of the matrix. To add lines, follow these steps:

Select the matrix.
Choose the Matrix option from the Format menu. The Equation Editor displays the Matrix dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Matrix dialog box.

Use the mouse to click in the space between the matrix cells. Each click in the same space produces a different type of line—the first click results in a solid line, the second in a dashed line, the third in a dotted line, and the fourth click removes the line.
Click on OK.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (932) 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...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Missing Fonts in a Letterhead

When you create a document (such as a letterhead) that you want multiple people to use, you need to be concerned with ...

Discover More

Conditionally Formatting for Multiple Date Comparisons

When you compare dates in a conditional formatting rule, you need to be careful how you put your comparisons together. Do ...

Discover More

Setting the Left Indent of a Paragraph in a Macro

When using a macro to format text, you can set all sorts of attributes for paragraphs or individual characters. One ...

Discover More

Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 2013 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access) with VBA programming, using it for writing macros, automating Office applications, and creating custom applications. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2013 today!

More WordTips (menu)

Setting Embellishment Spacing in the Equation Editor

The equation editor is a great tool for adding mathematical equations into your document. The placement of many elements ...

Discover More

Setting Matrix Column Spacing in the Equation Editor

If you are using matrices in your equations, you may want to adjust the spacing used between columns.

Discover More

Setting Limit Height in the Equation Editor

You can adjust the distance between the equation body and a limit line.

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is six less than 8?

2022-02-21 13:02:12

Brandon Piereder

Hi Allen, LOVE your tips! I've been coming to your site forever it seems!

Does the matrix dialog box referenced here still exist? I can't find any way to access it in Word (I'm running 365 with version 2201 build 14827.20192).

I'm trying to make a partitioned matrix (like this: https://images.slideplayer.com/39/10842003/slides/slide_3.jpg) but the closest I can get to it looking like that without just drawing lines is by using a combination of fractions, "right-vertial-bar-only" bracket structures, and spaces to get things aligned nicely.

Did MS remove the dialog box?

2016-01-19 14:42:45

Luis Montoya

We have to Download this!!

http://www.dessci.com/en/support/mathtype/tips/mt_charts/default.htm

2016-01-19 13:55:09

Luis Montoya

Maybe this web is useful

2016-01-19 13:53:36

Luis

http://www.dessci.com/en/company/training/misc/ee-mt_tips.pdf

2016-01-19 13:07:12

Luis

Where is the format menu for Matrices?????????

2015-10-19 16:41:51

Mahmoud Mahmoud

Where is this format menue for Matrices?

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.