Fractions

I have Windows XP on my new computer. On the character screen, the only fractions I have are ¼ (one-fourth), ½ (one-half), and ¾ (three-fourths). How can I get fractions like three-eighths and seven-eighths? Thank you.

 

Most fonts have a very limited set of fractions, typically the ones you mentioned. Depending on your need you might be able to use a similar Fraction font. such as the ones found here:

http://homepage.mac.com/TomDar2/software.html

 

Nice link mqube. Thanks.

Abx - be aware that while the fractions will probably display fine on your screen and print from your PC, they won't work for anyone not having the same font installed unless you make some special efforts.

And they won't display on here except as a blank rectangle or possibly as another character altogether. For instance, the characters below started out as fractions 1/3, 1/8, 2/3, 3/8, 5/8, 7/8 but were rendered by the bbs software as you see them.

¨Ã· ¨Ã» ¨Ã¸ ¨Ã¼ ¨Ã½ ¨Ã¾

 

This won't help you with your fraction problem but, if you have the need for foreign language characters, such as ñ, ¿, ¡, ü, and à, or oddball characters such as "¡, ¢, §, Þ, €, ©, and ®, you might want to give AllChars a try. It's small, free, doesn't require installation, and provides access to every character in a given font table quickly and easily, with no copying and pasting.

One caveat, though. I open the program from a shortcut in my Startup folder, and found that there was a conflict with some other startup program that also monitors keyboard input. Changing the name of the shortcut to ZeeChars, so that it loaded last, instead of first, cured the problem.

Jim

 

Now that is a great little app and one I'd never heard of before. Thanx for the link.

 

Re the caveat referred to in my AllChars post: I failed to define the problem I was experiencing.

AllChars monitors keyboard input for a specific sequence, a qualifier key (usually Ctrl) followed by a two-key combination recognized by the program. In other words, the Ctrl key followed by r and m, should produce ®. Because of a conflict with some other program that also loads at startup, I was getting rm®, instead. Not a biggie, but a distinct annoyance.

The 3.6.3 patch, available on the AllChars website, took care of the problem.

Jim

 

If you need to use fractions in M$ Word I found a way to make 1/8 1/4 3/8 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/8 all print with the same type font that 1/2 and 3/4 uses in word.

Let me know if you want this info.

 

Hey, Jim, why not just post your tip, instead of making us ask for it?

Jim

 

Formatted fractions in M$ Word

JSS3rd, I sure don't mind but wasn't sure if this was the appropriate place.... here goes FWIW

M$ Word has the fractions 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 and they print out quite nicely but if you want to print any other fraction they are not formatted the same.

Many fonts have character that are not accessible to the base keyboard. By opening the Character Map function in XP you can view and copy special characters from the map to your clipboard and, of course, your document. The Arial font, for instance, has the eighths fractions in the same format as what M$ Word has the quarter fractions.

To permanently add the eighths fractions to my M$ Word processor I did the following:

1. Open a M$ Word Document
2. Open the Character Map function (Start > All Programs > Assessories > System Tools > Character Map).
3. Select the font you wish to view. Use the slide bar to navigate through the font/map.
4. When you find a character or fraction you want to add to M$ Word highlight it and click on select. This will add that character to the selected area.
5. After you have selected all the characters you want from the map, click on copy.
6. Go to your M$ Word document and paste the characters to the document.
7. Highlight the first character and then click on Auto Correct (from the main menu bar click on Tools > Auto Correct).
8. You will see that the character you highlighted will already be inserted in the "Replace With" field. You must now enter the "source" input in the case of the fraction you could enter 1/8 or oneeighth, use something you'll remember.
9. Click on ADD and that character will be available all the time.
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   I found it interesting that so far the fractions I added all work regardless of the font I use even though I got them from the Arial font.
   
   I'm using M$ Office 2000 and Windows XP Home edition.
   
   If you have problems doing this let me know and I'll try to help or if I can't I'll stop passing out bad info.....