Creating fractions in Word 2003

[Joe McGuire]

There's probablyk a simple answer to this but I can't find it. For some
reason my computer no longer creates fractions in Word 2003 as it has always
done. I have the Replace Fractions lines checked in AutoFormat and
AutoFormat as You Type checked. I used to get fraction characters ¼, ½. ¾,
? and ? when I typed those keys (i.e., x/y) followed by a space or hard
return. But now I get ¼ ½ ¾ but 1/3 and 2/3 when I type x/y followed by a
space or hard return. How can I get those fraction characters back? And
how can I add other fraction characters? I am not talking about serious
math equations but simple stuff like 2/3 cup or this or 1/3 of that. And
maybe 1/8, 3/8 etc? I can't recall if I had to do something extra (e.g.
adding fractions to AutoFormat etc) years ago. Due to erroneous advice
(thanks Dell!) I had to restore my computer to its factory settings and mayi
have lost whatever had been stored in those settings.

A second question based on the first: I tried to search this forum before
posting this question. I was totally convinced that this sort of question
has previously been addressed in this forum. Because I try to keep notes
on Word issues for my own reference and the limited information I have on
fractions came from this forum! But when I try Find (I use Outlook Express
as my newsreader) I can find no instance of the word "fraction" ever
appearing. In fact, I get the same result searching for most (but not all)
things this way in this and other similar forums. Obviously I am doing
something wrong. Any hints?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

For the first question, see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/CreateFraction.htm

As to the second, I used Find in Outlook Express (which I use to read
newsgroups) and turned up 39 messages (not counting my replies) that contain
the word "fraction." The most recent that asked a question similar to yours
was posted on June 15 (and was similarly answered by me). If the
questions/answers were over 60 days old, I'd say they'd scrolled off the
server, but since that's clearly not the case, I'm not sure why you're not
finding them except that the search capabilities of these forums has never
been outstanding.

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

 

[Peter T. Daniels]

Are you using a different font? Some fonts have the precomposed
fractions for the eighths and thirds and maybe sixths, and some don't.

Not included in the link Suzanne sent you to is the existence in some
fonts of the Unicode range "Superscripts and Subscripts," which in
some fonts (but not, curiously, Times New Roman) gives you the
numerator and denominator numbers for typing your own fractions. (The
extra-slanted slash used with them is at Unicode 2044; type 2044 Alt-X
and it is inserted in your text.)

 

[Bob Mathews]

Joe, we have an article on our website about how to use AutoCorrect to
add special things, like equations, fractions, and even drawings.
http://www.dessci.com/en/support/mathtype/tips/autocorrect/default.htm

Note that the article talks about using MathType, but you can use
Equation Editor for much of what it talks about. If you want to try
out MathType, there's a 30-day trial available.

--
Bob Mathews
Director of Training
Design Science, Inc.
bobm at dessci.com
http://www.dessci.com/free.asp?free=news
FREE fully-functional 30-day evaluation of MathType
MathType, MathFlow, MathPlayer, MathDaisy, Equation Editor

 

[Joe McGuire]

Thanks! I now recall this MVP article. Apparently I had entered some other
fractions using AutoCorrect.

The unreliability of Find is annoying. Makes for a lot of repitition. You
can't very well chide people for not looking at prior answers if there is no
assurance they'll turn up in a search! Of course, since no Word user would
ever want any other fractions beyond ¼ ½ and ¾ there's no reason to include
anything about it in Word Help.

 

[Joe McGuire]

Thanks!

Joe, we have an article on our website about how to use AutoCorrect to
add special things, like equations, fractions, and even drawings.
http://www.dessci.com/en/support/mathtype/tips/autocorrect/default.htm

Note that the article talks about using MathType, but you can use
Equation Editor for much of what it talks about. If you want to try
out MathType, there's a 30-day trial available.

--
Bob Mathews
Director of Training
Design Science, Inc.
bobm at dessci.com
http://www.dessci.com/free.asp?free=news
FREE fully-functional 30-day evaluation of MathType
MathType, MathFlow, MathPlayer, MathDaisy, Equation Editor