Unusual symbols, the ALT-x method and AutoCorrect

[James Silverton]

garfield-n-odie wrote on Fri, 10 Mar 2006 01:22:35 -0800:

gnM> In Word 2002 or 2003, type 211E and then press Alt+X to
gnM> insert the Unicode symbol.

gnM> David Oyen wrote:
??>> I am trying to create prescription pads for work with
??>> pre-written prescriptions for commonly prescribed drugs,
??>> but cannot locate the symbol for Rx. Is there a keystroke
??>> combination to create the abbreviation as a symbol or is
??>> it in a font set that I haven't checked?

There is a problem in the use of the ALT-x method for inserting
symbols in general. Certainly 211eALT-x will insert an Rx but
the font used will probably be MS Mincho and the font being used
for the text will *stay* as MS Mincho. With a different basic
font, MS Gothic might be chosen with similar results. This seems
to be a general problem with unusual symbols, Word finds the
necessary symbol but keeps the font where it found it. I don't
know how the programming for Word finds the symbol when it is
not in the font being used but it is a chore to switch the font
back. Not only that but I can't imagine myself wanting to type
in Gothic or Mincho or even Lucida Sans Unicode, a font that
never seems to be selected but whose symbols I prefer to the MS
ones.

In general, the best way to deal with symbols like Rx seems to
me to be AutoCorrect. If rx, say, is autocorrected to the
symbol, the basic font will *not* be changed. You can use the
ALT-x method to fill in the substitution field.

There still remains the problem of the lack of control over font
choice in substitution if you are concerned about that. I asked
about that yesterday in microsoft.public.office.misc but so far
without result. It turns out that there is a most peculiar
method for getting autocorrect to do what you want. If the
symbol or correction has been gotten in the font you want,
select it before going to Tools/Autocorrect options and it will
then be available for use as a substitution. There are two
buttons in the Autocorrect set up and the formatted one will
have to be checked. Note that they are *only* available if you
follow this peculiar route.

Let me also say that the strange method above is *not* my own
idea but has appeared in various magazines. I got my information
from www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/816

Please forgive the cross posting , which is something I usually
dislike.

James Silverton.
Potomac, Maryland

 

[Carol]

Hello James,

Why not just make an autotext by using whatever font you want and
typing Rx and then highlighting the "x" and making it subscript? It
worked just fine for me. I hope this has been helpful to you.

 

[James Silverton]

Carol wrote on 10 Mar 2006 05:56:31 -0800:

C> Hello James,

C> Why not just make an autotext by using whatever font you
C> want and typing Rx and then highlighting the "x" and making
C> it subscript? It worked just fine for me. I hope this has
C> been helpful to you.

That is certainly a possibility for Rx that I had not considered
and a good alternative route but I was really addressing the
general problem of Word automatic font substitution for unusual
symbols. Another one is the Service Mark that was asked about
the other day. That one could be obtained by putting SM into
superscript and using autotext as you suggested for Rx.
Recording a macro is another route that I have used. Autotext
can be fine as you say but you need to type at least four
characters, AFAIK.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland.