Scientific WorkPlace
Encyclopedia
Scientific WorkPlace is a software package
for scientific word processing
on Microsoft Windows
. It is shipped as a WYSIWYG
LaTeX
-based word processor
, together with the LaTeX
document preparation system and an optional computer algebra system
.
Scientific WorkPlace allows one to edit and typeset mathematical and scientific text using the WYSIWYM
paradigm. All formula layout and entering of special characters can done by either mouse or via keyboard shortcuts. As the user edits, they see the document presented in a formatted and typeset form.
Documents are stored in LaTeX
format and can be typeset using any LaTeX processor to obtain typeset pages. Scientific Workplace comes with the TrueTex implementation of LaTeX and pdfTeX
.
In this way SWP provides the high quality of LaTeX
typesetting without requiring users to learn the LaTeX language.
Scientific WorkPlace includes a built-in computer algebra system (Maple
in earlier versions and/or MuPAD
in later versions) with which one can perform computations and generate plots from inside the editor.
Many document shells (i.e., templates) are included to meet the typesetting styles of specific professional journals and institutions. These shells use the corresponding LaTeX style files.
Subsets of these capabilities are available as Scientific Word (no computer algebra) and Scientific Notebook (limited LaTeX import/export, no LaTeX typesetter included).
Scientific WorkPlace combines the ease of entering and editing mathematics in mathematical notation with the ability to compute and plot with the built-in computer algebra engine. In this integrated working environment, the user can enter mathematics and perform computations without having to think or work in a programming language.
SWP also provides tools for creating 2-D and 3-D plots in many styles and coordinate systems with colored backgrounds, grid lines, and plot labels in specified locations and orientations.
SWP can open many existing LaTeX files, in particular those without custom macros, and also many with macro definitions not created in Scientific WorkPlace. The program also includes support for pdfTeX
and the Hyperref package, to produce PDF documents that are fully hyperlinked, with links in the table of contents and with hierarchical bookmarks corresponding to the structure of your document.
SWP includes a "Style Editor" which allows users not familiar with LaTeX
to create and modify LaTeX
.sty files that customize the appearance of typeset text.
The software comes with an extensive online help system and a series of reference manuals.
Scientific WorkPlace can import text (.txt) and Rich Text Format (.rtf) files, and the user can copy content to the clipboard for export as text or graphics to other applications. It can create .dvi, .htm, .pdf, or .rtf files from the documents, or generate portable LaTeX output for transfer to different LaTeX installations.
Scientific WorkPlace has a built-in link to the World Wide Web. If the user has Internet access, he can open a file at any URL address from inside the program, and he can deliver content via the Web. The software supports hypertext links, allowing the reader to navigate easily through a series of related documents.
There is a "read only" version of the program, called Scientific Viewer, available at no cost from the vendors, which only allows to view and print documents.
Software package
Software package may refer to:* A piece of application software or utility software** A software suite, or collection of related application or utility software* A software library...
for scientific word processing
Word processing
Word processing is the creation of documents using a word processor. It can also refer to advanced shorthand techniques, sometimes used in specialized contexts with a specially modified typewriter.-External links:...
on Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. It is shipped as a WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG is an acronym for What You See Is What You Get. The term is used in computing to describe a system in which content displayed onscreen during editing appears in a form closely corresponding to its appearance when printed or displayed as a finished product...
LaTeX
LaTeX
LaTeX is a document markup language and document preparation system for the TeX typesetting program. Within the typesetting system, its name is styled as . The term LaTeX refers only to the language in which documents are written, not to the editor used to write those documents. In order to...
-based word processor
Word processor
A word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
, together with the LaTeX
LaTeX
LaTeX is a document markup language and document preparation system for the TeX typesetting program. Within the typesetting system, its name is styled as . The term LaTeX refers only to the language in which documents are written, not to the editor used to write those documents. In order to...
document preparation system and an optional computer algebra system
Computer algebra system
A computer algebra system is a software program that facilitates symbolic mathematics. The core functionality of a CAS is manipulation of mathematical expressions in symbolic form.-Symbolic manipulations:...
.
Scientific WorkPlace allows one to edit and typeset mathematical and scientific text using the WYSIWYM
WYSIWYM
WYSIWYM is an acronym for What You See Is What You Mean, and refers to a paradigm for document editing...
paradigm. All formula layout and entering of special characters can done by either mouse or via keyboard shortcuts. As the user edits, they see the document presented in a formatted and typeset form.
Documents are stored in LaTeX
LaTeX
LaTeX is a document markup language and document preparation system for the TeX typesetting program. Within the typesetting system, its name is styled as . The term LaTeX refers only to the language in which documents are written, not to the editor used to write those documents. In order to...
format and can be typeset using any LaTeX processor to obtain typeset pages. Scientific Workplace comes with the TrueTex implementation of LaTeX and pdfTeX
PdfTeX
The computer program pdfTeX is an extension of Knuth's typesetting program TeX, and was originally written and developed into a publicly usable product by Hàn Thế Thành as a part of the work for his PhD thesis at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno...
.
In this way SWP provides the high quality of LaTeX
LaTeX
LaTeX is a document markup language and document preparation system for the TeX typesetting program. Within the typesetting system, its name is styled as . The term LaTeX refers only to the language in which documents are written, not to the editor used to write those documents. In order to...
typesetting without requiring users to learn the LaTeX language.
Scientific WorkPlace includes a built-in computer algebra system (Maple
Maple (software)
Maple is a general-purpose commercial computer algebra system. It was first developed in 1980 by the Symbolic Computation Group at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada....
in earlier versions and/or MuPAD
MuPAD
MuPAD is a computer algebra system . Originally developed by the MuPAD research group at the University of Paderborn, Germany, development was taken over by the company SciFace Software GmbH & Co...
in later versions) with which one can perform computations and generate plots from inside the editor.
Many document shells (i.e., templates) are included to meet the typesetting styles of specific professional journals and institutions. These shells use the corresponding LaTeX style files.
Subsets of these capabilities are available as Scientific Word (no computer algebra) and Scientific Notebook (limited LaTeX import/export, no LaTeX typesetter included).
Scientific WorkPlace combines the ease of entering and editing mathematics in mathematical notation with the ability to compute and plot with the built-in computer algebra engine. In this integrated working environment, the user can enter mathematics and perform computations without having to think or work in a programming language.
Additional Features
SWP contains an "Exam Builder" to construct exams algorithmically and to generate, grade, and record quizzes on a web server.SWP also provides tools for creating 2-D and 3-D plots in many styles and coordinate systems with colored backgrounds, grid lines, and plot labels in specified locations and orientations.
SWP can open many existing LaTeX files, in particular those without custom macros, and also many with macro definitions not created in Scientific WorkPlace. The program also includes support for pdfTeX
PdfTeX
The computer program pdfTeX is an extension of Knuth's typesetting program TeX, and was originally written and developed into a publicly usable product by Hàn Thế Thành as a part of the work for his PhD thesis at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno...
and the Hyperref package, to produce PDF documents that are fully hyperlinked, with links in the table of contents and with hierarchical bookmarks corresponding to the structure of your document.
SWP includes a "Style Editor" which allows users not familiar with LaTeX
LaTeX
LaTeX is a document markup language and document preparation system for the TeX typesetting program. Within the typesetting system, its name is styled as . The term LaTeX refers only to the language in which documents are written, not to the editor used to write those documents. In order to...
to create and modify LaTeX
LaTeX
LaTeX is a document markup language and document preparation system for the TeX typesetting program. Within the typesetting system, its name is styled as . The term LaTeX refers only to the language in which documents are written, not to the editor used to write those documents. In order to...
.sty files that customize the appearance of typeset text.
The software comes with an extensive online help system and a series of reference manuals.
Scientific WorkPlace can import text (.txt) and Rich Text Format (.rtf) files, and the user can copy content to the clipboard for export as text or graphics to other applications. It can create .dvi, .htm, .pdf, or .rtf files from the documents, or generate portable LaTeX output for transfer to different LaTeX installations.
Scientific WorkPlace has a built-in link to the World Wide Web. If the user has Internet access, he can open a file at any URL address from inside the program, and he can deliver content via the Web. The software supports hypertext links, allowing the reader to navigate easily through a series of related documents.
There is a "read only" version of the program, called Scientific Viewer, available at no cost from the vendors, which only allows to view and print documents.
See also
- LyXLyXLyX is a document processor following the self-coined "what you see is what you mean" paradigm , as opposed to the WYSIWYG ideas used by word processors...
- An open sourceOpen sourceThe term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
cross-platform alternative with similar functionality - TeXmacs - An open sourceOpen sourceThe term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
cross-platform scientific word processor - wxMaxima - A open sourceOpen sourceThe term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
cross-platform CASComputer algebra systemA computer algebra system is a software program that facilitates symbolic mathematics. The core functionality of a CAS is manipulation of mathematical expressions in symbolic form.-Symbolic manipulations:...
that can be used with LyX - Comparison of TeX editorsComparison of TeX editorsThis page shows a table contrasting the features of the text editors that interface to TeX .-Table of editor properties:- See also :* Comparison of word processors* Comparison of text editors...
External links
- MacKichan Software
- A comparative review of Scientific WorkPlace and LyX in Journal of Statistical SoftwareJournal of Statistical SoftwareThe Journal of Statistical Software is a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal that publishes papers related to statistical software...