Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 18, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
A number of symbols can be accessed by pressing Alt and the symbol's corresponding number on the numeric keypad (such as Alt+171 for the one-half symbol). You may be wondering if there is a handy directory of all the "symbol numbers" that can be used to produce different characters in this manner.
The important thing to remember is that this technique doesn't actually insert symbols. What it does is provide a quick way to add a character in a specific font. For instance, typing Alt+171 doesn't really insert the one-half symbol; it inserts the character corresponding to the ANSI code 171. What character is represented by that code depends on the font in use at the current time. In many fonts that character may, indeed, be a one-half symbol, but in other fonts it may be something entirely different.
There are many different resources you can use to discover what ANSI codes can be used to produce different characters. If you are looking for a printed reference, any good programming book should include an appendix that contains either ASCII or ANSI codes. There are also a number of resources available online. The following are some suggested by WordTips readers, in no particular order:
http://www.ajmoreau.com/altcodes.html http://symbolcodes.tlt.psu.edu/accents/codealt.html http://www.topurlz.com/alt_key_table.htm http://tools.oratory.com/altcodes.html
You can also download various character charts from Microsoft, at this address:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/ascii-character-chart-HA001133136.aspx
Another handy tool, created by Jon Peltier, is the workbook at this address:
http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Zips/ascii.zip
The workbook contains a sheet of all ASCII character codes from Alt+0033 to Alt+0255 in four fonts of your choosing. If you don't see a character you like, you can click on the floating menu and select up to four new fonts.
If you have a symbol that you use quite often, you might find it useful to just create an AutoCorrect entry for the symbol. Word makes this easy; all you need to do is use Insert | Symbol, locate and select the symbol you want, and then click on the AutoCorrect button. Word displays the AutoCorrect dialog box where you can specify what you want to type that will result in the symbol being inserted.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (206) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2013. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word 2013 Step by Step today!
Dialog boxes are prevalent in a program like Word, and they can contain dozens (if not hundreds) of options. This tip ...
Discover MoreOne way to insert the current date into your document is to use the Date and Time dialog box. The Default button in the ...
Discover MoreWhat do you do if you open a document, only to find that the arrow keys don't work the way that they should? The first ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2022-06-18 04:50:22
Jim Foote
Only the 1st and 4th links work. The others do not.
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2024 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments