Scientific WorkPlace
 Screenshot of the SWP editor | |
| Developer(s) | MacKichan Software |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 5.5.2960 / July 28, 2009 |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Type | Document processor |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | www.mackichan.com/products/swp.html |
Scientific WorkPlace (often abbreviated to SWP) 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 be 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.
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 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 a user has Internet access, a file can be opened at any URL address from inside the program, and content can be delivered 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
- LyX - An open source cross-platform alternative with similar functionality
- TeXmacs - An open source cross-platform scientific word processor
- wxMaxima - An open source cross-platform CAS that can be used with LyX
- Comparison of TeX editors
External links
- MacKichan Software
- A comparative review of Scientific WorkPlace and LyX in Journal of Statistical Software
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