Special Character, need of

[WGD]

I would like to generate a special character, the Square Foot symbol that,
using Word 2007, will both print and be dislayed.

This symbol consists of a SQUARE overlayed with a forward-leaning slash.

(In the deep recesses I recall a procedure for doing this.)

Pls, how is this done? And Thank You!

WayneG

BTW, pls do not hold it against me -I cross-posted this msg >> ..public.word

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

the only way i have
notated a square foot
is with ft2, superscripting
the 2.

what you might try is
to insert a slash in
a text box

then enable the
text box border

then shrink that box.

the above would be
a method using text

however, if such a symbol
exists on the web either
on a document or manual
or whatever, just copy it
and paste it into your
document.

--

<)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

..

 

[WGD]

Thank You for the ft (followed by a superscripted 2) suggestion. I work
with builders and architects who use the symbol, handwritten in documents
and dwgs, I am now looking for.

The text box with a slash: looking for a character that can be quickly
entered via Word as are other characters. One time, a long time ago I saw a
routine that talked about the use of Alt keys followed by codes/nbrs, etc...

Tks!
WayneG

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

yes,

there is a character map
in windows.

in word you can access
it via insert symbol menu
option.

you can also use the
run command window
and launch: charmap

however, you will find
that the characters available
to you are dependent on
the fonts you have installed.

if you cannot find that
special character then you may
have to search the net
for a font that includes
it.
--

<)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

..

 

[WGD]

Your response: Agreed and understood ~ I use those maps often. This all
still leaves me with the basic question: can a user, me, create a
"character" (will it be a bit map??) that can be inserted just as
characters/symbols can through the use of the Character Maps??
A fogged memory tells me that there is a method - just do not recall how to
do it!

Tks,
WayneG

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

well,

you could create
the symbol via a
font making program.

here is a link with
details on fonts:

http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx?mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&q=fonts


however, if you create a font,
then the special character
will have to be embedded
into the file/document if the
document is going to be shared
with others who will not have
your custom font installed.

it may not be
worth all the trouble
and time to make one
special font.


--

<)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

..

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

I'm not exactly sure what the resulting character should look like, but try
this:

Insert tab - Symbol - More Symbols - Wingdings font, insert the square
associated with character 168 (or some other square you prefer).

Insert tab - Symbol - More Symbols - (normal text), insert character 301.

Here, I get a square with the foot symbol in the upper right corner. The 301
character has an unusual footprint that automatically overlays it into the
preceding character.

If this doesn't give what you want, you might try using the Advance field
code or the EQ field code with the \o (overlay) switch.

However you finally achieve it... create an AutoCorrect entry so you can
re-insert it anytime you want without having to jump through hoops.

 

[WGD]

2007 is still a bit new to me. You suggested using the Advance Field code,
EQ field and overlay switch. I think we are almost there. Thus pls where
is the Adv Field code found? (Another trees vs forest problem at my end?)

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

Well hidden in 2007. The 2003 keystrokes work for Insert Field (Alt+I F).
Or, in the ribbon, Insert tab, Quick Parts, Field.

If you fail to see the connection between Field and Quick Parts... you're
not alone.

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[WGD]

Herb:

Clearly I am dumber than dumb. Under Word 2007, am able to OPEN the Advance
Field. Within there are places to check Offset text down, text right,
etc.... followed by a box (within which, I suppose "something" is inserted,
a character, characters, symbols, etc.

Entering data a number of way to Sunday, nothing happens here. BTW,
Insert>QuickPats>Field produces the same window as doe Alt IF Once I am in
the Window, my dumbness shows through.

In the days that preceeded PCs and MS Word (and its competitors), word
processors were hardwired. We used daisy wheel printers - were able to
OVERSTRIKE, i.e. print a character - no carrige movement, then print a
second character, thus overlaying the two characters. Very simple and
excellent means to "build" custom characters - like the SqFt symbol I am
looking for (Square-a box with an overprinted forward slash.).

Wayne Dengel

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

Press Ctrl+F9 to insert the field braces { }

Inside the field braces, type:

eq \o (x,y)

where x and y are the two characters you want overstruck. Hence, replace x
with the square, and y with the foot mark.

Then, press F9 to update the field.

For example:

{ eq \o (0,/) }

Produces a 0 with a diagonal line through it.

If this doesn't give you precisely what you want, you might need to use the
Advance field. It can be used to move the character that follows the advance
field to the left/up/down, etc.

For example:

0 { advance \l6 }/

Types a 0, then types a / 6 points to the left of where it would normally be
typed. You would need to experiment with the number of points to achieve the
precise placement you want.

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[WGD]

Herb ~ Worked exactly as you indicated. Then. . . . tried combinations as
well as nested dbl braces.

All actions stopped; I then cleared the page - then went back to basics,
Ctl+F9 sets the {}, but now F9 will not update the field!

Closed Word, then reopened - still no update. Pwrd Dwn, Opened a fresh
Word - still F9 will not update! What do you think happened?

BTW, should I be able to nest fields or nest arguments in a field so that a
/ for example is moved to the left 'n' points and up 'n' points?

Thanks,
Wayne

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

If F9 doesn't appear to be working, I wonder if you've toggled field code
display on (Alt+F9), and things really are updating, but you just aren't
seeing it. Press Alt+F9 and see if that helps.

Nesting isn't needed. Just include both switches. For example:

1 { advance \l6\u9 }8

places the 8 directly above the 1 here.


--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[WGD]

That was it. Of course this procedure is written down someplace (?)
Appreciate your help.

Wayne Dengel

 

[WGD]

"Wrote" the 'formula' for Square Foot ~ adjustments, \lx and \uy work
perfectly - able to center the forward / on the Square symbol; also changed
font size of Square that then displays a vert neat and
professionally-looking symbol.

Wayne

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

I'm glad you finally got there!

Of course this procedure is written down someplace (?)

Of course... chapter 21 of a certain book might tell you this. However, the
real key in this and most Word Mysteries is recognizing that a particular
remedy is needed for a particular problem. In the words of the old TV
repair-person joke... it's called "knowing where to kick". A corollary, I
suppose, would be that it's also knowing which boot to don before kicking.

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[WGD]

Well you helped considerably, a kick in the right place with the right boot.

The additional good news about the procedure is that one can create
virtually
ANY character desired. Infinitum.

Speaking of TV repairman - 'years' ago, back in high school, I worked
part-time for a TV repairman - the days when repairs were done in the home
and/or the machine was hoisted back to the shop. My boss never kicked a TV
set. Rather, he washed all or many of the old tubes making them look shiney
new and charged the customer accordingly. Now when TVs blink, we throw them
away.

Wayne

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

We had a family electronics repair business when I was a teen, as well. My
brother & I did most of the TV and broadcast radio repairs, and my father
took care of working on communications radios. Things were a lot more
straightforward in the 1960s than they are today... you could actually
see/test the components. Miniaturization and integration has made things a
lot harder and less economical to diagnose & repair. You replace whole
boards rather than replacing a single resistor, diode, or capacitor. Back
then, if whacking a TV fixed it, we then had the fun of tracing to find out
why whacking worked (often a cold soldering joint or a tube that was on its
last legs). Alas, cars and TVs both are beyond most do-it-yourselfers these
days. Oddly, computers aren't (not yet, at least).

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[WGD]

An author no less! I finally took notice of the line below your name . . .
bookmarked your web site.

Notice that you also have Outlook experience among many other apps. I have
an OE problem - will post at that newsgroup. Simply, OE's dictionary
recently decided to offer foreign spellings only! It finds ALL words in an
OE msg and suggests a foreign language alternative. Maybe another Alt+F9
switch I inadvertantly hit?

A good weekend to you and a serious Thank You for your expertise.

Wayne

 

[WGD]

Additionally, going to Tools/Options/Spelling opens a window that tells me
the ONLY language available is French!