Cross-platform formatting doesn't work for fractions

[lewisjohnl]

Version: v.X
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

When a PC user types a fraction in Word, their auto formatting changes the fraction to look better by applying a superscript and subscript to the characters. When the Mac user opens the same document, the fraction turns into an underscore.

The problem is solved if the PC user turns off auto formatting for fractions but the PC user shouldn't have to change their setting.

Is there a setting I can change on the Mac Word v.X to read the PC Word fraction formatting?

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Lewis -

In Tools> AutoCorrect - AutoFormat as you type make sure there is a check on
Fractions... but that may not help at all or may not resolve the entire
issue. If the font used on the Mac doesn't contain the same character set as
what was used on the PC the problem will persist. It also depends on whether
the fraction characters were actually a part of the font or whether they
were inserted using something like MathType. Without knowing more about the
specifics it's hard to say for sure.

As far as the PC users (or anyone else for that matter ): I was always
taught that you produce for your intended audience/readership. You don't
throw them something you don't know they can - or do know they can't -
handle... it's the old "lowest common denominator" principle

 

[John McGhie]

PC Word employs Unicode characters for common fractions.

How many it has depends on which font they are using.

In Mac Word X, the standard fonts do not have much Unicode, so it cannot
display these characters. The only thing you can do is to ask a PC user not
to put them in.

You could ask the PC user to send you their copy of the font they are using.
It will probably work on the Mac in Word X, and it will contain the fraction
characters they are using.

If you upgraded to Word 2004, it would have no trouble with this, because it
is fully Unicode-enabled (provided that you install the Microsoft fonts that
come with it).

Sorry: There is no good answer to this.

Version: v.X
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

When a PC user types a fraction in Word, their auto formatting changes the
fraction to look better by applying a superscript and subscript to the
characters. When the Mac user opens the same document, the fraction turns into
an underscore.

The problem is solved if the PC user turns off auto formatting for fractions
but the PC user shouldn't have to change their setting.

Is there a setting I can change on the Mac Word v.X to read the PC Word
fraction formatting?

--

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John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia. mailto:[email protected]