WD98: How to Insert a Caption Next to an Equation or Object (180181)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q180181 SUMMARY
Word does not offer a built-in method to automatically insert a caption
flush with the right margin of the document. Many scientific journals
require equation objects to be in one of two formats: the equation is
centered and the caption is right-aligned; or, the equation is left-
aligned and the caption is right-aligned. In both cases, the caption number
is enclosed in parentheses. This article describes several methods for
formatting equation objects in one of these styles.
NOTE: This article uses the term "equation," but this method applies to any
item (such as a figure or picture) where the caption needs to appear on the
same line as the object.
Examples of scientific journal formats:
y = mx + b ( 1 )
y = mx + b ( 1 )
MORE INFORMATIONStep 1: Setting Up the Caption
To create the caption label with the parentheses, follow these steps:
- On the Insert menu, click Caption.
- Click New Label.
- In the Label box, type an opening parenthesis.
- Click OK.
- In the Caption box, to the right of the number, type a space.
- Type a closing parenthesis.
- Click OK.
Once you create the caption format, you can insert additional captions by
doing the following:
- On the Insert menu, click Caption.
- In the Caption box, to the right of the existing caption, type a space
and a closing parenthesis.
- Click OK.
Step 2: Aligning the Equation and Caption
NOTE: If you intend to cross-reference the caption number, use Method 2.
Method 1: To set a right-aligned equation and caption number:
To set a right-aligned equation and caption number, follow these
steps:
- On the Insert menu, click Caption.
- Under Label, select the Open Parenthesis, type a space and a closing
parenthesis, and then click OK.
- Move the insertion point to the beginning of the line, before the
caption.
- Set a right-aligned tab at the right margin. For example, if the right
margin is six inches from the left margin, set the right-aligned tab at
six inches. To do this, follow these steps:
- On the Format menu, click Tabs.
- Under Tab Stop Position, enter 6.
- Under Alignment, click Right.
- Click OK.
- Insert the equation.
- Press the TAB key to move the caption to the right edge of the page.
NOTE: When you insert the equation, clear the Float Over Text check
box. The equation object must be an inline object for this method to
work.
Method 2: To set a left-aligned Equation:
- On a new, blank line, insert the equation.
NOTE: When you insert the equation, clear the Float Over Text check
box. The equation object must be an inline object for this method to
work.
- Exit the Equation Editor by clicking anywhere in the document area.
- Press TAB and then insert the caption.
- Select the entire line containing the equation and caption. On the
Table menu, click Convert Text to Table.
The selection is converted to a two column table.
- Remove the border around the table by doing the following:
- With the table selected, on the Format menu, click Borders and
Shading.
- Under Setting, select None.
- Click OK.
- Select the table cell that contains the caption and then click the
Align Right button on the Formatting toolbar.
Method 3: To set a center-aligned Equation:
- On a new, blank line, press TAB, and then insert the equation.
- Exit the Equation Editor by clicking anywhere in the document area.
NOTE: When you insert the equation, clear the Float Over Text check
box. The equation object must be an inline object for this method to
work.
- Press TAB and then insert the caption.
- Select the entire line containing the equation and caption. On the
Table menu, click Convert Text to Table.
The selection is converted to a three column table.
- Remove the border around the table by doing the following:
- With the table selected, on the Format menu, click Borders and
Shading.
- Under Setting, select None.
- Click OK.
- Select the table cell containing the equation and click the Center
button on the Formatting toolbar.
- Select the table cell containing the caption and click the Align Right
button on the Formatting toolbar.
Method 4: Create a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro:
Create a macro that automates the process outlined in Method 2.
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either
expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes
that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the
tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can
help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not
modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to
meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may
want to contact a Microsoft Certified Partner or the Microsoft fee-based
consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified
Partners, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:
For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Sub CaptionRight()
Dim Align As Integer
On Error GoTo bye
If Selection.Information(wdWithInTable) Then
MsgBox "You are in a table. Please move outside of the " _
& "table to run this macro.", vbInformation
Exit Sub
End If
Align = MsgBox("Would you like the Equation to be " _
& "centered? (Selecting No will left-align the " _
& "Equation.)", vbYesNoCancel)
If Align > 2 Then
Selection.InsertParagraphAfter
Selection.Collapse (wdCollapseEnd)
W = ActiveDocument.PageSetup.PageWidth
L = ActiveDocument.PageSetup.LeftMargin
R = ActiveDocument.PageSetup.RightMargin
RTMarg = W - R - L
CaptionLabels.add Name:="("
If Align = 6 Then
tblT1 = Selection.Tables.add(Selection.Range, 1, 3)
Else
tblT1 = Selection.Tables.add(Selection.Range, 1, 2)
End If
tblT1.Select
With Selection
If Align = 6 Then
.Columns(1).Cells.Width = 50.4
.Columns(3).Cells.Width = 50.4
.Columns(2).Cells.Width = RTMarg - 100.8
'Represents 1.5" in Points
Else
.Columns(2).Cells.Width = 50.4
.Columns(1).Cells.Width = RTMarg - 50.4
'Represents .75" in Points
End If
.InsertCaption Label:="(", _
Position:=wdCaptionPositionBelow, Title:= " )"
.HomeKey unit:=wdLine, Extend:=wdExtend
.Cut
.MoveRight unit:=wdCharacter, Extend:=wdExtend
.Delete
.MoveLeft unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=2
.Paste
.Rows(1).Select
For Each x In Selection.Borders
x.LineStyle = wdLineStyleNone
Next x
.Borders.Shadow = False
.Cells(9 - Align).Select
.ParagraphFormat.Alignment = wdAlignParagraphRight
.Cells(1).VerticalAlignment = wdCellAlignVerticalCenter
.Font.Bold = True
.Rows(1).Select
If Align = 6 Then
.Cells(2).Select
.ParagraphFormat.Alignment = wdAlignParagraphCenter
.InlineShapes.AddOLEObject ClassType:="Equation.3", _
FileName:="", LinkToFile:=False, DisplayAsIcon:=False
Else
.Collapse
.InlineShapes.AddOLEObject ClassType:="Equation.3", _
FileName:="", LinkToFile:=False, DisplayAsIcon:=False
End If
End With
End If
End Sub
Several methods exist for inserting captions. AutoCaption will insert a
caption either above or below an inserted object; manually inserted
captions are placed above or below the object when the object is selected,
or to the immediate right when the insertion point is to the right of the
object.
For additional information, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
181058 OFF98: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles
REFERENCES
For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications,
please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
163435 VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications
Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 6/17/2005 |
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Keywords: | kbdtacode kbfield kbhowto kbinfo kbmacroexample KB180181 |
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