Symbols

[callen200]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) Processor: Intel I can't seem to find a symbol for the British Pound Sterling in the Symbols (under "Insert&quot. I want to make a shortcut for it -- or is it already a shortcut under some key I'm not aware of?

 

[CyberTaz]

The keystroke is already assigned: Option+3

You didn't see it in the Insert> Symbol dialog because it isn't included in
the default Symbol font. If you open the Font: list, scroll to the top &
select (normal text) you'll find the £ among those offered.

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

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

I can't seem to find a symbol for the British Pound Sterling in the
Symbols (under "Insert"). I want to make a shortcut for it -- or is it
already a shortcut under some key I'm not aware of?

Option-3 on a US QWERTY keyboard.
You can use the Keyboard viewer to visualize these shortcuts.

Corentin

 

[Maximzodal]

SNIP

 Option-3 on a US QWERTY keyboard.
You can use the Keyboard viewer to visualize these shortcuts.

Corentin

OK, I've written this down for the pound symbol, along with the
keyboard shortcuts I've slowly discovered, like for the degree symbol.
etc. But having a comprehensive list of these type keyboard solutions
would be great. I hate to appear dense, but I can't find the
"Keyboard viewer" referenced above. I've looked in Help and Word
Preferences, viewed each command, all to no avail. I'm sure it will
be obvious once someone points it out but for now I'm stymied. How do
I find the keyboard viewer?

Thanks,
Max

 

[CyberTaz]

The Keyboard Viewer is not an Office or Word feature, it's a utility
provided by OS X. As mentioned in my previous post in this thread pertaining
to Keyboard Layout go to System Preferences & check the box for it.

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

 

[Maximzodal]

The Keyboard Viewer is not an Office or Word feature, it's a utility
provided by OS X. As mentioned in my previous post in this thread pertaining
to Keyboard Layout go to System Preferences & check the box for it.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones

SNIP

Sorry to be so dense. I've looked at Sys-Pref, and "Keyboard &
Character Viewer" is checked on. But, darned if I see what that does
for me. I've gone through all the combinations and permutations there
but find nothing that would tell me that Option->3 is the British
pound symbol.

I've found, and used, a table of general keyboard-only OS X commands
and a table of keyboard commands for Word. But, other than banging
away with key combinations to see what comes up and recording them, I
was hoping there is a table somewhere showing key combinations for the
symbols below. I'm fairly certain there are more.

I've somehow discovered over the last couple of years that:

Option->3 = £ (British pound)
Option->Shift->2 = € (Euro)
Option->Shift->8= ° (degree symbol)

Regards,
Max

 

[CyberTaz]

Not a matter of "dense", it's mostly a matter of realizing that any key or
combination does what the programmers tell it to do regardless of what
marking the key cap bears. Each action key has ~50 different possibilities
on a Mac keyboard based on modifier combinations. There are some standards
that are commonly observed but very few are etched in stone & there is no
"keyboard police" to enforce those standards. Further, the majority of
combinations are open to be freely assigned to whatever the software
developer or font designer considers to be appropriate within rather general
guidelines.

Combine all that with the dozens of keyboard layouts/input sources based on
language variations plus the variety of available keyboard styles. Then take
into consideration the difference between "typing a character" (such as the
£, Ø, °) and a using a "keyboard shortcut". That's why Corentin interjected
the distinction about the U.S QWERTY keyboard. He could have gone even
further to stipulate that Option+3 on that type of keyboard works for £ only
*if* using an input method such as U.S. Or U.S. Extended — If you're using
the British Input Method the symbol is typed using Shift+3 instead &
Option+3 inserts #.

All that should make it easier to understand why you've had so much
difficulty finding any sort of universal chart that says "this stroke does
that". That's where the Keyboard Viewer helps out. When you select if from
the menu bar icon it displays what character each key will type based on the
selected Input Method. Pressing the various modifier keys causes the
Viewer's keys to reflect what character would be inserted if that
modifier/combination were used. In the case of the £: If using U.S. Or U.S.
Extended input method the 3 key in the Viewer displays the £ when you press
the Option key. Yes, there is certainly some degree of looking involved but
it's far better than random "trial & error" in a document.

Also, the Character Viewer includes a Search feature. If you have some idea
what the name of the character is (such as 'degree') you can generally find
& insert it rather simply. If it's a character you need to use repeatedly
you can assign a keyboard shortcut in Word or create either an AutoText or
AutoCorrect item.

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