WD97: How to Insert a Caption Next to an Equation or Object

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

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 INFORMATION

Step 1: Setting Up the Caption

To create the caption label with the parentheses, follow these steps:

1. On the Insert menu, click Caption.

2. Click New Label.

3. In the Label box, type an opening parenthesis.

4. Click OK.

5. In the Caption box, to the right of the number, type a space.

6. Type a closing parenthesis.

7. Click OK.

1. On the Insert menu, click Caption.

2. In the Caption box, to the right of the existing caption, type a space and a closing parenthesis.

3. 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:

1. On the Insert menu, click Caption.

2. Under Label, select the Open Parenthesis, type a space and a closing parenthesis, and then click OK.

3. Move the insertion point to the beginning of the line, before the caption.

4. 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 by:

   a. On the Format menu, click Tabs.

   b. Under Tab Stop Position, enter 6.

   c. Under Alignment, click Right.

   d. Click OK.

5. Insert the equation.

6. 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.

1. 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.

2. Exit the Equation Editor by clicking anywhere in the document area.

3. Press TAB and then insert the caption.

4. 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.

5. Remove the border around the table by doing the following:

   a. With the table selected, on the Format menu, click Borders and Shading.

   b. Under Setting, select None.

   c. Click OK.

6. Select the table cell that contains the caption and then click the Align Right button on the Formatting toolbar.

1. On a new, blank line, press TAB, and then insert the equation.

2. 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.

3. Press TAB and then insert the caption.

4. 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.

5. Remove the border around the table by doing the following:

   a. With the table selected, on the Format menu, click Borders and Shading.

   b. Under Setting, select None.

   c. Click OK.

6. Select the table cell containing the equation and click the Center button on the Formatting toolbar.

7. Select the table cell containing the caption and click the Align Right button on the Formatting toolbar.

Create a macro that automates the process outlined in Method 2.

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   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

   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

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q173707
   TITLE     : OFF97: 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:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for 
               Applications

ARTICLE-ID: Q123430

TITLE     : WD: How to Insert a Caption Next to an Equation or Object