Microsoft KB Archive/134342

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Error "Unable to Convert Badly Formed Equation"

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Q134342

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
 * Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0

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SYMPTOMS
In Word, when you open or save a WordPerfect 5.x document that contains an equation object, you may receive the following error message:

Unable to convert badly formed equation.

Continue with document conversion?

If you choose Continue, the document is converted, but the equation object is removed. If you choose Cancel, the file is not saved.

CAUSE
The above error occurs in the following cases:

Case 1: The equation was created in Word and contains a combination of letters or numbers used in conjunction with certain templates supplied with the Equation Editor.

For example, an equation that contains "(A2)" (without the quotation marks), where the 2 is superscript or subscript, would generate the error message during the conversion. The error occurs if the Superscript And Subscript template and Fence template were used to create the above equation.

Case 2: The equation was created using WordPerfect's equation editor, and either of the following commands are used in the equation:

LEFT \{

RIGHT \} Case 3: If the WordPerfect FUNC, ITAL, or BOLD commands are applied to something other than a group or a variable name.

Case 4: The equation was created using WordPerfect's equation editor, and the SCALESYM command is used in the equation.

Case 1
Use one of the following workarounds:

Method 1: In the Word Equation Editor, manually type the parenthesis. Then use the Superscript or Subscript template from the Equation Editor.

Method 2: Use the parenthesis supplied with the Equation Editor template, then do the following:

 Type the character that you want to superscript or subscript. Select the number and press CTRL+DOWN ARROW to nudge the character downward for a subscript effect, or press CTRL+UP ARROW to nudge the character upward for a superscript effect.

Cases 2 and 3
Using WordPerfect's equation editor, remove the commands shown in the Cause section, before you open or edit the document in Word.

Case 4
The only solution for Case 4 is to avoid using the SCALESYM command when creating the WordPerfect equation.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Equation Converter supplied with Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0c. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: 6.00a 6.00c ntword wordnt word6 textconv convert converting converted converts transfer translate translation equation equations formulas editor badly formed error object objects insert wpft5

Keywords : kbconversion

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