Something annoying me abouts Fractions in either Office 2004/2008

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

I have some Recipes that use Fractional measurements.
example 1/2 cup, 1/3 teaspoon, 1/8 teaspoon and so on.
If you type either 1/2 or 1/4 the fraction is written like you would
write it by hand.

1/
/2

or
1/
/4

But no other items are converted. why?

I want

1/
/8

or
3-1/
/3

or 2-1/
/4

or whatever to work why is it just limited 1/4 and 1/2

If you want to see samples of what I am talking about go to my website
and click on Recipes link <http://www.phillipmjones.net> click on the
link to the Family and Friends Recipes.

They are in PDF format for use on web But, they were written Office
2004/2008.

 

[CyberTaz]

In 2008 insert them from the Objects Palette of the Toolbox, Symbols group.
It should provide most everything you need. It's unrealistic to expect every
possible fraction to be included in AutoFormat. However, you can establish
the ones you use most frequently as AutoText entries.

Alternatively, use the OS X Character Palette.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

I'm not expecting every fraction to be in system

Most recipes have some variation on 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1/8, 3/8, 1/3, 2/3

I'll investigate your suggestions

 

[Peter Jamieson]

On the "Why?" question, without the source code it's impossible to say,
but here I get single characters for 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4, which correspond
to the fractional characters available in the Windows character set and
Unicode Latin-1 sets, i.e. perhaps MS decided only to provide
substitutions for those.

Peter Jamieson

http://tips.pjmsn.me.uk

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

I did use object palette suggestion and went through all one hundred
cards and manual change.

Then I did try to add to the auto correct and regardless of which tab it
refused to add the abjects.

Its a curiosity though every one of the fractions I ran into in the
recipes were there in the symbols palette Its odd they are not part of
the auto correct system.

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

I tried suggestion given about Tools Palette > object Palette > Symbols
and it worked.

Did take a while to do the changes in 104 cards Pages between 3 files.
The remake the pdf's

To see what I was doing:

<http://www.phillipmjones.net>

then click on recipes link.

If I try to add addition recipe files I'll have have to go through the
insert symbol method at every fraction unless it happens to be 1/4 or
1/2. was unable to add to auto correct list.

 

[CyberTaz]

Not sure what you tried but this way works here:

*Select & Copy one of the single character fractions in a document,

*Go into Tools> AutoCorrect - AutoCorrect,

*In the Replace field type the multi-character fraction,

*In the With field type Command+V to paste,

*Click the Add button then OK.

Repeat for each fraction you want to add. From then on when you type the
multi-character version & press return, space, end punctuation, etc. it will
be replaced by the fraction character.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[CyberTaz]

One thing I should advise you about - which is one of the major actual
reasons why AutoFormat doesn't convert more fractions...

If, for example, you add 3/8 to AutoCorrect it will convert it to a fraction
even if you enter the date 3/8/2009. IOW, most of the fractions you want to
use conflict with short date format. You'll have to enter the dates that
correspond to fractions by using Insert> Date & Time or use Undo to reverse
the conversion. Can you see where that might become a hassle for someone who
may have to create 50 dated documents on the 8th of March [3rd of August for
our friends across the Pond ]?

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

I tried That and it would not allow me to type anything in the Replace
with window.

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

I use insert date any way when I use dates. I have one document I use
once every two years and I open it so the date updates.

One thing I should advise you about - which is one of the major actual
reasons why AutoFormat doesn't convert more fractions...

If, for example, you add 3/8 to AutoCorrect it will convert it to a fraction
even if you enter the date 3/8/2009. IOW, most of the fractions you want to
use conflict with short date format. You'll have to enter the dates that
correspond to fractions by using Insert> Date & Time or use Undo to reverse
the conversion. Can you see where that might become a hassle for someone who
may have to create 50 dated documents on the 8th of March [3rd of August for
our friends across the Pond ]?

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

Not sure what you tried but this way works here:

*Select & Copy one of the single character fractions in a document,

*Go into Tools> AutoCorrect - AutoCorrect,

*In the Replace field type the multi-character fraction,

*In the With field type Command+V to paste,

*Click the Add button then OK.

Repeat for each fraction you want to add. From then on when you type the
multi-character version & press return, space, end punctuation, etc. it will
be replaced by the fraction character.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

I went back and Tried again

I type in say 3/8 and I try to type in replace with. All I get is a
system beep and the radio buttons for choosing text or formatted are
greyed out

 

[CyberTaz]

Dumb question, but did you click in the box before typing?

If you did, give an exact description of what "would not allow" means. Did
it snarl at you, fire warning shots, throw grenades, hog tie you... ?

Is this 2004 or 2008? Is it fully updated? Have you repaired disk
permissions recently? How about if you try from Excel or PPt?

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[CyberTaz]

You have to follow the steps exactly as I wrote them... There's nothing in
my message about *typing* anything into the Replace box. Also, the radio
buttons are never active unless you have content selected before accessing
the dialog.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

I open auto correct from tool menu. I went to tab that allows for adding
items. in the left hand window type item I typed 3/8 and tried to type
something in replace with window. I tried using the symbol from the
tools menu or the apple Character palette. there is supposed to be two
radio buttons to choose text or formatted. all I receive is system beep.
In fact I could not type nothing even any character not just numbers.

No you didn't insult or beat me over the head.

Yes I just updated the other day to the very latest version of
word/excel/powerpoint/entourage. all are 12.1.7.

OSX.4.11 with latest updates and security patches and application updates.
PowerBook 17" 2GB RAM 1.67GB speed.

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

Just gave all the pertinent info answer previous question Yes I did try
to type something in replace with box.

 

[CyberTaz]

OK, I believe this is where your problem stems from - and it may be a small
bug in the program. You're probably inserting the character as the sole
content into a blank document & because of the default setting in Word Prefs
the ¶ is getting selected as well. Let's amend the procedure a little

*Insert the fraction character, then press the spacebar at least once,

*Select just the character itself - don't even bother to copy it,

*Go into AutoCorrect. You should find the fraction is already in the With:
box - just click in the Replace: box & type the multi-character fraction,

*Click Add, OK

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

That was the problem.

I did what you said except:

I typed the items I needed 1/8, 3/8, 1/3, 2/3

I turned on ¶

used symbols palette to change the fraction.

then selected just symbol and copied the I went to auto correct and
typed in same fraction manual in change box and replace with had the
symbol.

Then I tried and they worked. by the way the Text only radio button has
to be ticked or else it doesn't work. You need to turn this into MS so
they can fix in next version

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

PS: by using my method if I type 3/8/2009 nothing happens and it does no
insert as return.

 

[CyberTaz]

Good to know - thanks for posting the finding!

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

I've designed a work around for the problem you said might come up.

go back to auto correct and each item you put in to be subbed with the
symbol Try the following

say you fixed 3/8 to use symbol and when you go to type a date 3/8/2009
and the auto correct kicks in do the following:

go to auto correct and type in both boxes 3/8/ and save. Repeat for
each item you added a change to symbol auto correct.

when you type a date as long as you add the second slash will not
change. but if you type the fraction 3/8 the symbol substitute will kick in.