convert fractions

[Greg]

Terry,

Word has a command called ToolsCalculate. Right click a
blank space on your menu and select customize. Click the
Commands tab, in the categories window click All commands,
in the commands window scroll until you find the command
ToolsCalculate. Drag this command and drop in on a menu
or toolbar. Close the customize button.

Type something like 3/5 and then select it. Click the
toolscalculate but and the result in decimal form appears
in the status bar. You can also diplay the result in the
document with edit>paste.

Note: If you have
Tools>Autocorrect>AutoFormatAsYouType>Replace As You
Type>Fractions checked, you will get an invaled result
when on those special character fractions 1/2, 1/4, 3/4,
etc.

-----Original Message-----
Sorry was cut off before I could finish my question.

When I used WordPerfect (DOS) eons ago It would convert
fractions into whole numbers - i.e. if I typed an envelope
and put in dimensions of say, 6 3/4, it would be converted
to 6.75 in inches. Now that I have Word 2003 it keeps
saying that "this is not a valid entry". Is it possible
to convert fractions with 2003? Is there a table? my
conversion skills are not too great.

 

[Terry T]

Thanks again: I tried your suggestion and it worked find. To further make a pest of myself, on that note, is it also possible to convert points to inches - so that I will know for example, 27 points equal _______inches? this also baffles me. Thanks
Terry

 

[Greg]

Terry,

Points are a printer's measurement for specifying type
sizes. There are 72 points in an inch. So, using your
new found calculator: 27 points = 27/72 = .38 inches
which happens to be 3/8 inches.

-----Original Message-----
Thanks again: I tried your suggestion and it worked

find. To further make a pest of myself, on that note, is
it also possible to convert points to inches - so that I
will know for example, 27 points equal _______inches?
this also baffles me. Thanks

 

[Terry T]

Thank you again for your answer; how very obvious it is when you know how. I am so glad you guys are out there when I need you.

 

[Bob S]

Points are a printer's measurement for specifying type
sizes. There are 72 points in an inch. So, using your
new found calculator: 27 points = 27/72 = .38 inches
which happens to be 3/8 inches.

A note of caution: as with so many other pieces of the user interface,
Word rounds the answer to two decimal places. If you want more
accuracy, include a multiplier in the equation. For example 1000*27/72
gives 375, so we know that the real answer to 27/72 is closer to .375
(in this case it is exact).

Bob S

 

[Terry T]

A note of caution: as with so many other pieces of the user interface,
Word rounds the answer to two decimal places. If you want more
accuracy, include a multiplier in the equation. For example 1000*27/72
gives 375, so we know that the real answer to 27/72 is closer to .375
(in this case it is exact).

Bob S

Bob: I just read your note re points. This is great; I tried it and it
works perfectly. Your answer takes me a step further in that now I can be
more exact in my calculations. Thank you so much for your help and also to
Greg who got me started. Terry

 

[Greg]

Terry, Bob

Of course .375 is a heck of alot more accurate than .38
and is in fact the correct answer for 27/72. I was at
work when I posted that response and I have apparently
not set the decimal value on that machine.

Go to Start>Control Panel>Regional and Language
Settings>Regional Settings>Customize and change set No.
of places after decimal to something like 4. Word will
then return .375 as the answer to 27/72.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Bob S]

Go to Start>Control Panel>Regional and Language
Settings>Regional Settings>Customize and change set No.
of places after decimal to something like 4. Word will
then return .375 as the answer to 27/72.

Cute trick!

I wish it also worked for Word's measurements in dialog boxes, but no
luck.

Bob S

 

[Greg Maxey]

Yeah I know.

 

[Terry]

Hi everyone

Back in 7/29/2004 (when I had word 2003) you gave me a great solution to
converting fractions to whole numbers. I used this method for many years.
However, I now have the office 2007/Vista/word and, although I did find a
toolscalculate, I have not found a way of attaching it to my word menu or
documents. Can you update these last three years for me? Can you show me how
it is done in the new 2007 version? (see your message below)
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Jay Freedman]

In Word 2007, the main place for customization is the Quick Access
Toolbar. Right-click the toolbar and choose Customize. Set the
category dropdown to Commands Not In the Ribbon. In the list, scroll
down and click on Calculate, then click the Add button between the two
lists.

It's also possible to put it on the ribbon (see
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Customize_Ribbon.htm), but a bit more work
than adding it to the Quick Access Toolbar.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
newsgroup so all may benefit.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

And by default it has no icon, but if you have an older version, you can
design one there and import it; see
http://www.gmayor.com/Toolbars_in_word_2007.htm; I've got a button image for
it at http://sbarnhill.mvps.org/WordFAQs/CustomToolbar.htm

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Terry]

Thank you so much. It worked fine, just like in the 2003 version. You have
all been so helpful to me.

May I ask another question?

How to I convert centimeters to numbers/fractions? Do you mind?

 

[Jay Freedman]

Thank you so much. It worked fine, just like in the 2003 version. You have
all been so helpful to me.

May I ask another question?

How to I convert centimeters to numbers/fractions? Do you mind?

This question doesn't make sense to me as stated. Centimeters are
almost always stated as a number with a decimal part. What units do
you want the "numbers/fractions" answer to be in? Inches? Points?
Something else?

 

[Terry]

I am sorry; I guess I am confused. What I wanted was "inches"; I really
don't know how to express myself corectly so, if you cannot answer my
question as I stated it, just forget it; it doesn't matter. OK? Thank you
anyway

 

[Peter T. Daniels]

If you want Word to display distances in inches rather than
centimeters, then change the setting in Office Button > Word Options >
Advanced > Display (fourth batch down), the second dropdown ("Show
measurements in units of").

If you want to change centimeter values to inch values, multiply by
2.54.

 

[Jay Freedman]

It goes the other way -- to change centimeters to inches, divide by
2.54. For example, if you have 5.08 cm, that's equivalent to 2 inches.

Word will automatically convert measurements that you put into most
dialogs, such as the indents or line spacing in the paragraph dialog,
or the font size in the font dialog. However, if you type a
measurement in ordinary text in a document, the setting in the options
dialog won't do anything for you.

Possibly the easiest way to do conversions is to type them into
Google's search page. For example, type

5 cm to inches

and click the Search button (or hit Enter), and the result shows

5 centimeters = 1.96850394 inches

 

[Terry]

Thank you once again. You are all terrific and try your best to help. That
is so appreciated.

I am going to try your suggestions which, I am sure, will work out fine.

Again, thanks so very much.