CAN'T INSERT SYMBOL?

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Malcolm Austin - 17 Oct 2006 09:40 GMT

Hi,
In Excel 2000, under XP SP2.

I lose the insert symbol function at odd times. Some times if I shut the
file down and
re-open it comes back other times not.

I guess there is a real good reason for this but I can't see it.

Is it a formatting thing or something really simple?

Thanks,
Malcolm

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JLatham - 17 Oct 2006 13:46 GMT

There are times when Insert Symbol isn't available. One of those times is
when you're trying to edit a formula in a cell.

To show from example, choose any cell and start a formula simply by typing
the = sign into it, then try to use Insert and you'll see just about
everything is unavailable.

I'd never noticed before, but inserting a symbol into anyplace in a formula
seems a difficult process from the insert menu.

> Hi,
> In Excel 2000, under XP SP2.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Thanks,
> Malcolm

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JLatham - 18 Oct 2006 01:15 GMT

Should have mentioned that you can use [ALT]+0nnn where 0nnn is a 4-digit
number code entered from the number pad (not number keys at top of the
keyboard) to enter certain symbols or special characters. What shows up is
dependent on the font set selected for the cell.
For instance, choosing the Symbol font set and entering [ALT]+0230 will
display a greek Sigma symbol (the funny E used on the autosum icon) but
choosing the Arial font set will cause a small 'a' with a tiny square above
it to be displayed.

Type a lowercase a into a cell and then change that cell's font to Marlett
will result in a checkmark being displayed.

'Problem' is that you can't mix font sets in a single cell.

You can find a list of the characters returned with these codes an others in
'standard' font sets like Arial and Times New Roman here:
http://www.starr.net/is/type/altnum.htm

> Hi,
> In Excel 2000, under XP SP2.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Thanks,
> Malcolm

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Malcolm Austin - 20 Oct 2006 23:35 GMT

Hi,
thanks for the 2 replies and sorry for the delay in replying,
broadband died for a bit :-(
Well my "Insert symbol" command has come back now, without reason or malice
afore-thought.
Haven't a clue why it's there one time and not another, even at start up!

Put it down to gremlins in the works !!

Cheers,
Malcolm...

> Should have mentioned that you can use [ALT]+0nnn where 0nnn is a 4-digit
> number code entered from the number pad (not number keys at top of the
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>> Thanks,
>> Malcolm

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JLatham - 21 Oct 2006 00:23 GMT

Probably Insert Symbol ran off with Internet Connection, had a few beers.
Good to hear that they're both back now.
Sometimes, without a lot of digging around, Gremlins is as good as it gets
for an explanation.

> Hi,
> thanks for the 2 replies and sorry for the delay in replying,
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
> >> Thanks,
> >> Malcolm

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