field to produce expandable curly braces

[rpcastle]

In previous versions of Word I learned how to enter a field that would
create an expandable curly brace (or parenthesis or bracket) which
preceded, followed, or enclosed a list of items. The field or formula
involved backslashes and various switches. In the current version I
can't produce the same results, but try as I might I can't figure out
how to do it. No matter what I do, clicking on OK returns only a
boldface Error! message. Is there anyone out there who can walk me
through the steps to produce what I used to be able to do in earlier
versions? Imagine in the following example that the curly brace
expands to include the three items in the vertical list:
nominal
Subjunctive clauses { adjectival
adverbial

I know where to go in the program to find the tools to create it, but I
just can't make it work, not even to duplicate the mathematical example
they offer! Any help will be GREATLY appreaciated.

 

[Elliott Roper]

In previous versions of Word I learned how to enter a field that would
create an expandable curly brace (or parenthesis or bracket) which
preceded, followed, or enclosed a list of items. The field or formula
involved backslashes and various switches. In the current version I
can't produce the same results, but try as I might I can't figure out
how to do it. No matter what I do, clicking on OK returns only a
boldface Error! message. Is there anyone out there who can walk me
through the steps to produce what I used to be able to do in earlier
versions? Imagine in the following example that the curly brace
expands to include the three items in the vertical list:
nominal
Subjunctive clauses { adjectival
adverbial

I know where to go in the program to find the tools to create it, but I
just can't make it work, not even to duplicate the mathematical example
they offer! Any help will be GREATLY appreaciated.

The EQ fields got harder to use in Word v.X but they still work there.
I don't yet have Word 2004, so this recipe may miss the point entirely.
(It might have been helpful had you mentioned which version was
'previous' and which was 'current')

Anyway.
Hit f9 to create a field. Inside the curly braces, type
EQ \b\bc\{ (\a\al\(nominal,adjectival,adverbial))
then hit alt-F9 to persuade Word to interpret the EQ for you.
If you want no closing bracket, as in your example above, add "\rc\ "
(without the quotes, but note the closing space). Put it after the
\bc\{

You might choose to improve on the array with a little extra spacing to
get the brackets lining up perfectly. (Help "EQ array")

I have given up on getting Word to set equations properly.
These days I use Equation Service, a lovely little freeware that
creates a PDF file of your array or whatever using TeX notation.
You will find it on versiontracker.com
Word's EQ syntax borrows heavily from TeX, but not enough.
It are good enough for people what are good at grammar, but it makes a
pig's ear of harder sums.

 

[rpcastle]

A very kind MVP informed me I should have mentioned my specific OS and
version. Sorry; I'm new to this kind of help. It's OS 10.3.9 and
Microsoft Office X, 10.1.4.

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

Hi Elliott:

EQ fields are deliciously easy to use in Word 2004

You simply use Insert>Field, then paste the code Elliott sent into the
bottom field (deleting the Equals sign that will appear there by default).

Elliott, there seems to be a typo in the code you posted: This works:

EQ \b \bc\{ (\a\al (nominal,adjectival,adverbial))

Cheers

The EQ fields got harder to use in Word v.X but they still work there.
I don't yet have Word 2004, so this recipe may miss the point entirely.
(It might have been helpful had you mentioned which version was
'previous' and which was 'current')

Anyway.
Hit f9 to create a field. Inside the curly braces, type
EQ \b\bc\{ (\a\al\(nominal,adjectival,adverbial))
then hit alt-F9 to persuade Word to interpret the EQ for you.
If you want no closing bracket, as in your example above, add "\rc\ "
(without the quotes, but note the closing space). Put it after the
\bc\{

You might choose to improve on the array with a little extra spacing to
get the brackets lining up perfectly. (Help "EQ array")

I have given up on getting Word to set equations properly.
These days I use Equation Service, a lovely little freeware that
creates a PDF file of your array or whatever using TeX notation.
You will find it on versiontracker.com
Word's EQ syntax borrows heavily from TeX, but not enough.
It are good enough for people what are good at grammar, but it makes a
pig's ear of harder sums.

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Consultant Technical Writer
Sydney, Australia +61 4 1209 1410

 

[Elliott Roper]

Hi Elliott:

EQ fields are deliciously easy to use in Word 2004

You simply use Insert>Field, then paste the code Elliott sent into the
bottom field (deleting the Equals sign that will appear there by default).

Elliott, there seems to be a typo in the code you posted: This works:

EQ \b \bc\{ (\a\al (nominal,adjectival,adverbial))

Damn! You are right.


again!

 

[rpcastle]

Thank you all for your speedy replies. Instead of giving me a fish you
taught me how to fish. I've now made myself a "cheat sheet" to remind
myself of the steps, and I'm investigating the potential of several of
the other switches.