insert the x-bar character?

T

Terry

Does anyone know how to insert or create an x-bar
character (i.e., x with a line over the top of it--often
used to stand for the mean of x)? Thanks.
 
S

Suzanne S. Barnhill

There are two ways to create a character with a line over it, both using an
EQ field:

1. Use the EQ \o (overstrike) field to superimpose an overbar (character
0175) over your other character.

2. Use the EQ \x (box) field with the \to switch to put a top border on the
selected text.

The use of the EQ field and its switches is well documented in Word's Help
file.

Whichever method you use, you can save the result as an AutoText entry for
ease of future insertion.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.
 
S

Suzanne S. Barnhill sbarnhill

Hi Suzanne,
Thanks much for the reply. I'm not familiar with EQ
fields. Are these used for creating equations? I don't
have the equation builder in my current version of Word.
But I remember seeing relies to other people about adding
it from the Office CD. I'll look into that.
Thanks...Terry.
 
T

Terry

Hi Suzanne,
I found Field Codes: EQ and the Overstrike switch
described in the HELP function, but it didn't explain how
to actually use it in a document. Could you give me a few
brief instructions or point me to where HELP describes how
to insert or use FIELD CODES in a Word document.
Thanks...Terry.
 
S

Suzanne S. Barnhill

Start with Insert | Field and follow your nose, or press Ctrl+F9 to insert
the field delimiters in your document and type the field syntax between
them.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.
 
K

Klaus Linke

Terry said:
Does anyone know how to insert or create an x-bar
character (i.e., x with a line over the top of it--often
used to stand for the mean of x)? Thanks.


Hi Terry,

Another option if you use a Unicode-enabled OS (Win 2000, Win XP) and have a
large Unicode font installed ("Arial Unicode MS", "Lucida Sans Unicode"
....):
Use the "combining macron" or "combining overline" after the letter x.
You can type x, and then Alt+772, or x, then Alt+773.

If you don't have any large Unicode font installed, the character will
display as a box.
If you haven't chosen the large Unicode font (for example in the style
definition), Word will insert the "x" from your style's font, and the
overline from some large Unicode font, and the overline probably will not
appear centered over the "x".

You can create a keyboard shortcut or AutoCorrect entry for the character.
The hexadecimal code for the characters is U+0304 (hex 304 = decimal 772)
and U+0305. That is what the "Insert > Symbol" dialog shows (choose any
large Unicode font, subset: "Combining Diacritical Marks").
In Word2002/2003, you also can type in x0304 in the text, select "0304", and
use Alt+X to toggle the code into the character (... but both this and going
through the "Insert > Symbol" dialog are rather clumsy IMO).

Greetings,
Klaus
 

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