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It is recommended to always use the iMath menus to create or modify iFormulas. Nevertheless, sometimes it will be necessary to fine-tune equations by editing them directly.


All iMath commands start with the string <code>%%ii</code> at the beginning of a line, which will be interpreted as a comment by Openoffice. When the document is recalculated, iMath parses the string and generates the formula that is displayed. The generated lines are marked by <code>%%gg</code> at the end of the line. Editing such a line makes no sense because it will be deleted at the next recalculation! Always modify the <code>%%ii</code> lines if you want to tweak an iFormula. Formulas may also have lines without either <code>%%ii</code> or <code>%%gg</code>, these will not be touched by iMath.
There is also a reference section integrated into the Office help. Press F1 and enter "iFormula" into the Index tab of the help.
== Elements ==
The following elements can be part of an iFormula definition string
* <code>symbol</code>
The name of a mathematical symbol or function, e.g. <code>x</code> or <code>a_n</code>
* <code>unit</code>
The name of a physical unit, either preceded by a percent sign or enclosed in quotation marks, e.g. <code>%meter</code> or <code>"meter"</code>
* <code>expression</code>
A mathematical expression in Openoffice math format
* <code>equation</code>
A kind of expression which has the form <code>expression1 = expression2</code>
* <code>vector = expression1 : expression2 : expression3</code>
A vector of expressions where expression1 is the first element, expression2 the second element and the optional expression3 the step. By default the given interval will be subdivided into 20 steps, so for example <code>x = 1:20</code> will give a vector containing the integer numbers from 1 to 20.
* <code>symbol [ number ] or symbol [ number, number ]</code>
Accesses an element of a matrix.
* <code>@label@</code>
A equation label, used to reference a previously defined equation. The label MUST be enclosed in hash signs.
* <code>list = { element; element; ... }</code>
A list of other elements, enclosed in parentheses and separated by semicolons
* <code>*</code>
If the asterisk is given, then the output of this line is supressed, which is useful for hiding intermediate calculations.
* <code>{ option; option; ... }</code>
The options can be any of those described for the OPTIONS keyword. It is not necessary to specify options (you need to leave away the brackets, too, if you don't).
== Commands ==
After the initial <code>%%ii</code>, several groups of commands are possible.
=== Definitions ===
iMath allows you to define equations, units and functions, and to evaluate expressions.
==== <code>{ options } EXDEF expression</code> ====
Create an expression. This keyword is most frequently used with <code>VAL</code> to find the values of a symbol or an expression, e.g. <code>EXDEF VAL(y)</code>.
==== <code>@label@ { options } EQDEF * expression</code> ====
Define an equation. The expression most be of the form <code>expression1 = expression2</code>. For the special case of the equation label starting with <code>lib:</code>, the equation will not be erased by <code>CLEAREQUATIONS</code>. This is useful for building a library of generic equations, as for example in the file substitutions.imath.
==== <code>@label@ { options } CONSTDEF * expression</code> ====
Define a constant. The expression most be of the form <code>variable = expression</code>, and the expression must evaluate to a quantity (a numeric with or without units). Constants are not erased by <code>CLEAREQUATIONS</code>. This makes it possible to specify general constants only once in the file and reuse them for several different calculations.
==== <code>@label@ { options } FUNCDEF * funcname(args) = expression</code> ====
Define an equation that can be used to find the value of a user-defined function. The function must first have been declared with <code>FUNCTION</code>.
==== <code>FUNCTION { hints, symbol, expression }</code> ====
Declare a user-defined function. <code>symbol</code> is the name of the function. The expression declares the arguments of the function and can be either a single symbol or a list of symbols. The way that iMath treats this function can be influenced by function hints:
* none: No function hints (must be used because iMath requires three arguments to the <code>FUNCTION</code> declaration
* lib: A library function: It will not be affected by <code>CLEAREQUATIONS</code>
* trig: For trigonometric functions. Tells iMath that this function will get special treatment when printing (e.g. <math>sin^2 x</math> instead of <math>(sin x)^2</math>)
* expand: The function is to be expanded immediately. Useful for functions that are really abbreviations, e.g. <code>square(x)</code> will be expanded to <math>x^2</math>
* nobracket: The function does not require brackets around the argument (e.g. <code>sqrt(x)</code> is printed as <math>root x</math>)
* defdiff: Differentiate the definition of the function, not the function itself
==== <code>UNITDEF { "unitname", symbol = expression }</code> ====
Defines a new unit. The symbol is the name of the unit, this must begin with a percent sign % to distinguish it from a variable name. The expression defines the unit in terms of units already known to iMath. If this expression contains data types apart from units, powers of units, numerics, or constants already known to iMath, a warning is issued, but the unit definition is created anyway. The unitname is optional and gives a string to be printed instead of the symbol. This is useful when defining units whose name is not a valid symbol, e.g. inches: <nowiki>UNITDEF{"''", %inch = 0.0254 %m}</nowiki>.
==== <code>VECTORDEF symbol</code> ====
Defines the symbol to be a vector. This is important because vectors are non-associative when evaluating an expression.
==== <code>@label@ { options } VECTORDEF * symbol = expression</code> ====
Defines the symbol to be a vector and assigns the expression to it. It is important to use this keyword because vectors are non-associative when evaluating an expression.
==== <code>MATRIXDEF symbol</code> ====
Defines the symbol to be a (two-dimensional) matrix. This is important because matrices are non-associative when evaluating an expression.
==== <code>@label@ { options } MATRIXDEF * symbol = expression</code> ====
Defines the symbol to be a (two-dimensional) matrix and assigns the expression to it. It is important to use this keyword because matrices are non-associative when evaluating an expression.
==== <code>TEXT string</code> ====
Arbitrary text that should be displayed between two iMath formulas. The text must be enclosed in quotes.
==== <code>DELETE { @label1@; @label2@; ... }</code> ====
Removes an equation such that it has no influence on future searches for variable values. Note that the equation is not deleted from the file, but only becomes ineffective (and unaccessible) after the point in the text where the delete statement is.
==== <code>CLEAREQUATIONS</code> ====
iMath stores all equations and functions that it encounters. If you want to make a fresh start in your document, use this command.
=== Symbolic manipulations of expressions ===
==== <code>DIFFERENTIATE ( expression, variable, nth )</code> ====
Differentiate the expression with respect to the variable to the nth grade. Note that if you want to use a differential as part of an expression, you should use the <code>diff()</code> built-in function instead.
==== <code>INT FROM variable = expression TO { expresssion} { expression } d variable</code> ====
Create an integral from the lower bound to the upper bound. The function can then be symbolically evaluated with the <code>SIMPLIFY</code> keyword. If the upper bound is a number or a variable then the curly braces around it can be omitted. Example: <code>INT FROM x = -%pi to %pi { sin(x) } dx</code>
==== <code>LHS ( equation )</code> ====
Gets the left hand side of the equation.
==== <code>NUMVAL ( expression )</code> ====
Try to find a numeric value (without units) for the expression from any equations defined previously in the document. Gives an error if the expression does not evaluate to a number.
==== <code>NUMVALWITH ( expression, expression; expression; ... )</code> ====
Try to find a numeric value for the expression from any equations defined previously in the document, plus the equations given as the second argument. Gives an error if the expression does not evaluate to a number.
==== <code>QUANTITY ( expression )</code> ====
Try to find a quantity (number with optional units) for the expression from any equations defined previously in the document. Gives an error if the expression does not evaluate to a quantity.
==== <code>QUANTITYWITH ( expression, expression; expression; ... )</code> ====
Try to find a quantity (number with optional units) for the expression from any equations defined previously in the document, plus the equations given as the second argument. Gives an error if the expression does not evaluate to a quantity.
==== <code>REV ( equation )</code> ====
Reverse the left hand side and the right hand side of the equation
==== <code>RHS ( equation )</code> ====
Gets the right hand side of the equation
==== <code>SIMPLIFY ( equation, { "simplification"; "simplification"; ... } )</code> ====
Simplifies both sides of the equation according to the simplifications given in a list. Possible values are:
* <code>expand</code> Fully expands all expressions, including function arguments.
* <code>expandf</code> Only expand function definition, not arguments.
* <code>eval</code> Numerically evaluate the equation as far as possible.
* <code>normal</code> Normalize the equation (see description of GiNaC normal() method for details).
* <code>collect-common</code> Collect common factors (see description of GiNaC collect_common_factors() method for details).
* <code>unsafe</code> Does unsafe simplifications, for example <code>sqrt{x^2} => x</code> or <code>\arctan\tan{x} => x</code>. Note that the opposite <code>\tan\arctan{x} => x</code> is not an unsafe evaluation and is thus done automatically (by GiNaC).
* <code>diff</code> Evaluates differential function diff, thus symbolically calculating differentials as far as possible.
* <code>sum</code> Evaluates sum functions sum, thus symbolically calculating sums as far as possible.
* <code>gather-sqrt</code> Gathers single square roots under one root symbol.
* <code>integrate</code> Symbolically integrates any integrals in the expression as far as possible.
==== <code>SOLVE ( equation, variable, solution )</code> ====
Solve the equation for the variable. If there are several possible solutions (e.g. for a quadratic equation), you can specify which one you want in the third argument. Note that this argument is not optional, so you must specify 1 for a linear equation.
==== <code>SUBST ( expression, equation OR {equation; equation; ...} )</code> ====
Substitute the equation or the list of equations in the expression. All substitutions will be done in parallel, which means that a list of equations like <code>{ x = y; y = z}</code> might not have the desired effect (consider using <code>SUBSTC</code> instead).
==== <code>SUBSTC ( expression, equation OR {equation; equation; ...} )</code> ====
Substitute the equation or the list of equations in the expression. The substitutions will be done in the order you specifiy them, so a list of equations like <code>{ x = y; y = z}</code> will have the effect of substituting x=z.
==== <code>SUBSTV ( expression, variable = vector )</code> ====
Substitute a vector of expressions in the expression. The result will be a vector. This is mostly useful for specifying values to the <code>CHART</code> keyword.
==== <code>SUM FROM variable = expression TO { expresssion} { expression }</code> ====
Create a sum function summing up the expression from the lower bound to the upper bound. The function can then be symbolically evaluated with the <code>SIMPLIFY</code> keyword. If the upper bound is a number or a variable then the curly braces around it can be omitted.
==== <code>TSERIES ( expression, variable = expression, nth )</code> ====
Create a Taylor series of nth grade for the expression around the given point.
==== <code>UNIT ( expression )</code> ====
Try to find a quantity (number with optional units) for the expression from any equations defined previously in the document, and then get the units of this result. Gives an error if the expression does not evaluate to a quantity.
==== <code>UNITWITH ( expression, expression; expression; ... )</code> ====
Try to find a quantity (number with optional units) for the expression from any equations defined previously in the document, plus the equations given as the second argument, and then get the units of this result. Gives an error if the expression does not evaluate to a quantity.
==== <code>VAL ( expression )</code> ====
Try to find a numeric value for the expression from any equations defined previously in the document.
==== <code>VALWITH ( expression, expression; expression; ... )</code> ====
Try to find a numeric value for the expression from any equations defined previously in the document, plus the equations given as the second argument. These will be removed again after the value search, so they have no effect on the rest of the document.
=== Charts ===
==== <code>CHART { "objectname", xval, xunit, yval, yunit, idx }</code> ====
Update or create data in a chart with the Office object name given in the string (in other words, the chart must already exist in the document). The x-values can be either a vector of values or an equation assigning a vector of values to a variable. The x-values will be expressed in the given units. In other words, after dividing the x-values by the units, a vector of purely numeric values must result. The y-values can be either a vector of values or an equation or an equation label. If you specifiy an equation or a label, the vector of x-values will be substituted into the equation to produce a vector of y-values. This will only work if you specified the x-values as an equation! If the y-values have units, they must be specified. The last argument is the index of the chart series. This enables you to add or manipulate different series of the chart.
=== Reading and writing files ===
====<code>READFILE { "path/to/file" }</code>====
Open the given file and parse the iMath commands in this file. This command can be used to put common formulas in a file to re-use them. At the moment, the path is operation-system dependent! In other words, you cannot use an Office URL.
=== Options ===
Options can be defined with the keyword <code>OPTIONS { key1 = value1; key2 = value2; ... }</code>. The following key-value pairs are possible.
==== Default units ====
<code>units={unit1; unit2; ...}</code> Specifies a list of units separated by ';' which should be used for printing physical quantities. If no such list is specified, the SI base units are used. A useful list of units for mechanical engineering might be <code>{%mm; %N; %Nm; %Nosqmm}</code>. The order in which the units are specified is important! Simple units should be specified first, more complex ones later on. The reason is that the complex units usually imply the simpler ones, for example, <code>N</code> implies <code>mm</code> because <code>1 N</code> equals <code>1 kg m/s^2</code>.
==== Precision of numbers ====
<code>precision=integer</code> Specifies what precision is to be used for printing floating point numbers. The precision is the number of digits printed, more digits are rounded away. The precisions is 4 by default. The next option fixedpoint influences the interpretation of the precision.
==== Fixed or floating point notation of numbers ====
<code>fixedpoint=true/false</code> Specifies whether floating point numbers should be printed with a fixed number of digits after the decimal marker (true) or with a fixed number of significant digits, not counting leading zeros (false). The default is fixedpoint=false.
==== Display of differentials ====
<code>difftype="line"/"dot"/"dfdt"</code>  Specifies how differentials should be printed: With an apostrophe after the variable name (f'), with a dot on top of the variable name (dot f) or as df/dt.
==== Automatic formatting of iFormulas ====
<code>autoformat=true/false</code> Specifies whether iMath should do automatic formatting of your input equations. By default this option is turned off (false, meaning that the equations are printed exactly as you typed them in). This of course is only possible for original equations, not for equations obtained by symbolic operations.
=== Miscellaneous ===
==== <code>SIZE sizestring</code> ====
Change the default display size of the formula (the usage is identical with normal math formula usage).

Latest revision as of 18:01, 9 July 2017

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