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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: Ceeoh on Monday 06 April 15 19:02 BST (UK)

Title: Alt symbols
Post by: Ceeoh on Monday 06 April 15 19:02 BST (UK)
Can anyone help please.
I have been using symbols for
baptism
birth *
death †
burial or cremation
marriage x
spouse +
divorce ÷

I recently acquired a lap top working on Windows 8 , Word 2013.  Word 2013 does not give me the correct symbols for baptism (alt 247 - equals (two wavy lines) and burial (alt 234 Greek Omega).

Is there another way around this.
Many thanks
Ceeoh
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: Craclyn on Monday 06 April 15 22:26 BST (UK)
Aren´t all of those you have on your list available on a normal keyboard except your choice of burial symbol?
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: Ceeoh on Monday 06 April 15 23:01 BST (UK)
* x  + are on the keyboard.
÷ is alt 0247 (not on keyboard)
The double (wavy) equals (basically two ~ one below the other) and the omega symbol are not on the keyboard and in Word 2013 do not come up according to the alt table 247 and 234.
I previously worked in Word 2007 and the symbols were correct in that format.
I have Googled for a character map for 2013 but hoped someone may have more idea than I do as to how to access it on the lap top.  I understand it should already be part of the set up.
Thanks for reply.

Ceeoh
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: Ceeoh on Monday 06 April 15 23:04 BST (UK)
Sorry should also have said † alt 0134 is not on the keyboard either.

Ceeoh
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: CathieM on Tuesday 07 April 15 07:31 BST (UK)
Omega is represented by Unicode 03A9 and the double wavy line is Unicode 2248.  They can be accessed in word 2013 by selecting the Insert tab and then selecting Symbol.  A Unicode map can be found at  http://unicode-table.com/en/#control-character. Hope that helps.
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: Ceeoh on Tuesday 07 April 15 12:56 BST (UK)
Many thanks CathieM will try the Unicode.

Many thanks for assistance
Ceeoh
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: Billyblue on Wednesday 08 April 15 14:45 BST (UK)
Alt + 0134  for  †
&
Alt + 0247 for ÷

you will only get on your laptop if it has an inbuilt RHS numerical section.
My laptop has both sets of numbers and I just confirmed this - the above worked from the side numbers but not from the top line numbers.

These Ascii characters do not, for some reason, work using the numbers along the top of the keyboard, on most or maybe all laptops.
But you can always use the Insert function ->Symbol ->More symbols (if the grid screen does not come up straight away) and find them there.

Incidentally, the usual symbol for marriages is the equal sign  = which of course is on your keyboard under the plus sign.

Dawn M
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: Erato on Wednesday 08 April 15 14:52 BST (UK)
All symbols and foreign alphabets are readily available in the 'Character Map' program located in Windows Accessories.  I keep a shortcut to it available on the desktop.   §¾±¢ü©®µ¬æ.
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: Ceeoh on Thursday 09 April 15 17:45 BST (UK)
Thank you all for replies.  A very good idea to have a desk top short cut.  As Windows 8, Word 2013 and the LT keyboard are totally new to me I will have to spend some time working out Windows Accessories / Insert function / Unicode etc.

The symbols I am using are those used by GSSA (Genealogical Society South Africa).

Many thanks for help.

Ceeoh
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: hallmark on Thursday 09 April 15 19:46 BST (UK)
If the symbol is already on the document you can always use Copy/Paste....
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: Ceeoh on Friday 10 April 15 16:12 BST (UK)
Copy and paste could be an option, however, time consuming when constructing a family tree with many names and dates.

Thanks for suggestion.
Ceeoh
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: Flattybasher9 on Friday 10 April 15 16:28 BST (UK)
Excuse me for not quite understanding the problem, but if you use the "Character map" function, and Unicode 2020, will that not get you what you wish?

Regards

Malky
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: confusion on Saturday 11 April 15 13:36 BST (UK)
Here's a list of most often used symbols:

Code: [Select]
GENEALOGY SYMBOLS

On a Laptop ensure Num Lock key is on.
(To turn on, press FN, then NUM LOCK key)
They will NOT work without NUM LOCK key turned on

Birth/Baptism
ALT+42
*

Marriage
ALT+88 (Uppercase)
X
ALT+120 (Lowercase)
x
ALT+61
=

Spouse
ALT+43
+

Divorce
ALT+246
÷

Death Burial & Cremation
ALT+0134
†

Double Cross
ALT+0135
‡

Male Symbol [Mars](Unicode ♂)
ALT+11
♂

Female Symbol [Venus](Unicode ♀)
ALT+12
♀

Plus/Minus
ALT+0177
ALT+241
±


You can save the list as a text file and copy and paste as needed.

Jim
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: Ceeoh on Wednesday 22 April 15 14:53 BST (UK)
Many thanks for help, sorry for late reply I have been away for a few days and only now catching up on e mail.

All suggestions most appreciated.
Regards
Ceeoh
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: km1971 on Wednesday 22 April 15 16:42 BST (UK)
If you can use Excel to enter the information, and cut and paste to Word later. In Excel you can have baptism, birth, death etc as options in a dropdown list. So only requiring two clicks.

Or enter B1, B2, D#, M# etc then use Ctrl H to Replace All when you are ready.

Ken
Title: Re: Alt symbols
Post by: Ceeoh on Wednesday 22 April 15 17:03 BST (UK)
Many thanks, I should be able to continue with these symbols with all the help and suggestions I have received.

Thank you all,

Regards
Ceeoh