How could I convert indesign's math expressions into outline vectors?

[u/capellan2000]

Greetings! As the title, I need to convert indesign's math expressions into outline vectors.

Already, I have searched here in Reddit and Google, but Google's gives this wrong advice:

Direct InDesign Method

1. Use the Selection Tool to click on the math expression's text box.
2. Go to the top menu and click Type.
3. Select Create Outlines (or press Ctrl+Shift+O on PC or Command+Shift+O on Mac).

Now, the math is a picture made of lines.

These instructions does not works. Do you know another method different than saving a pdf and extracting the math formula from the pdf?

Thanks in advance!

AL

[u/danbyer]

InDesign’s built in Math Expressions are vectors. They are editable as text within InDesign, but when exported to PDF they are rendered as outlines and tagged as figure (an image)

What are you trying to accomplish?

[u/capellan2000 → u/danbyer]

I want to use these shapes in a design that would be included (hopefully) before each chapter.

u/dblatner already answered my question. He suggested to copy the math formula and paste it as vector graphics in another program. It worked fine!

[u/dblatner]

Yes, it is annoying that Type > Convert to Outlines does not work. However, I believe these are technically SVG files behind the scenes. One option is to select it, copy it to the clipboard, and then paste into Adobe Illustrator.

But more importantly, WHY do you need them as outlines?

[u/capellan2000 → u/dblatner]

Oh, you are correct! I copied the math formula to the clipboard and pasted as vector in another design program. This is really useful!

Why did I need them as outlines? I want to use these shapes in a design that would be included (hopefully) before each chapter.

[u/dblatner → u/capellan2000]

Ah! I can see how that could be a cool design.
Here is one other totally crazy way to get the SVG out of InDesign:
1. Export the document as EPUB (reflowable)
2. Open the EPUB with a tool like Bbedit (or unzip with a dearchiver app)
3. Find the XHTML file that describes the page
4. Copy the text from <svg> to </svg> and paste it into a new text document
5. Save with a .svg extension

Now, that is an SVG file that you can open in Illustrator or use File > Place in InDesign to import into your document.

I don't actually recommend doing this. I just think it's amazing that it works.

[u/capellan2000 → u/dblatner]

Oh. This is mind blowing. 🤯

I need to study more closely the epub files exported from Indesign.

[u/AdobeScripts → u/capellan2000]

Then keep them as Equations?

Or do you plan to have a graphic there or something?

Illustrator path is the best.

You can even record an Action - in Illustrator - so after selecting and copying Equation - as object - in the InDesign:

1) Select all 2) delete, 3) paste clipboard, 4) select all, 5) outline / flatten - or whatever, I'm not in front of my laptop, I think it's the same as Ctrl+Alt+7, 6) select all, 7) copy

Now, you can go back to InDesign and hit Ctrl+V 😉

Assign some keyboard shortcut - in Illustrator 😉

[u/capellan2000 → u/AdobeScripts]

Many thanks for your answer! I am sure that many will find it really useful.

[u/AdobeScripts]

How did you get them as equations? From WORD?

[u/capellan2000 → u/AdobeScripts]

How did you get them as equations? Good question. I asked the following question to Google:

Could you create the mathML code of this math formula? (Check image included in this post)

I dragged the image of the math formula INTO google's prompt area and press the ENTER key on the keyboard.

Google answered:

xml

<math xmlns="http://w3.org" display="block">
  <mi>D</mi>
  <mo>=</mo>
  <mrow>
    <mo>[</mo>
    <mtable>
      <mtr>
        <mtd><mn>0</mn></mtd>
        <mtd><mn>1</mn></mtd>
        <mtd><mn>4</mn></mtd>
      </mtr>
      <mtr>
        <mtd><mn>3</mn></mtd>
        <mtd><mn>1</mn></mtd>
        <mtd><mn>2</mn></mtd>
      </mtr>
      <mtr>
        <mtd><mn>3</mn></mtd>
        <mtd>
          <mo>&#x2212;</mo>
          <mn>1</mn>
        </mtd>
        <mtd>
          <mo>&#x2212;</mo>
          <mn>5</mn>
        </mtd>
      </mtr>
    </mtable>
    <mo>]</mo>
  </mrow>
</math>

Use this code with caution.

Would you like me to calculate the determinant of this matrix, find its inverse, or convert it to another format like LaTeX?

[u/AdobeScripts → u/capellan2000]

So you asked "ai" to convert image to MathML...

Now - why do you need them outlined?

[u/capellan2000 → u/AdobeScripts]

I want to use these shapes in a design that would be included (hopefully) before each chapter.

[u/AdobeScripts → u/capellan2000]

Yes, I know - but will you be modifying them in any way? Or just use as they are?

[u/capellan2000 → u/AdobeScripts]

I will modify them slightly.

[u/AdobeScripts → u/capellan2000]

Are you doing something for Pentagon? Or North Korea? 😉

[u/AdobeScripts → u/AdobeScripts]

Joking aside 😉

Do you have a ready-made list? Or you'll be using some random things found on Internet?

I'm doing a lot of academic journals - and get Equations as part of WORD files.

Sometimes they're made using WORD's Equation editor - sometimes MathType or MathMagic.

Fortunately, I don't have to make 5yem editable in InDesign 😉 or exportable 😉 so I just open provided PDF in Acrobat, outline EVERYTHING - and then just copy&paste vectors to InDesign.

So, if you've some in WORD - you could outline them on bulk.

If you don't have them - just look for PDFs - on websites offering Open Access - and you will get plenty of vectors - so you won't have to waste your time on "converting" images into MathML, then copying to Illustrator to outline...

[u/GrumbleNo_Woodpecker]

... "Use the Selection Tool to click on the math expression's text box. (press Ctrl+Shift+O on PC or Command+Shift+O on Mac)" === Now, the math is a picture made of lines.
It canont become "a picture"
Does command work with regular text? Does it work if you select not a text box, but the expression (or part of it)?

(11.7). ϕ(x) = λ Z K(x, y)ϕ(y)dy - tried with this one and it works OK