text "1/16" results in odd printout

[Guest]

In Excel 2003, with number format = text, typing "1/16" (w/o quotes) appears
somewhat like a reverse N6. This occurs with most fonts, sizes. All other
16th's are correct. Excel is converting this combination to something other
than the slash keystroke. Try this to see it for yourself:
Using the Arial font, type "1/16" in one cell and "3/16" in another (w/o
quotes). Look carefully at the slash in each. Now try changing the font in
both cells to Symbol . The slash in 1/16 becomes something like an upside
down T superscript, while the slash in 3/16 is still a slash.
Autocorrect is turned off.
Is there a simple fix for this anomaly?

 

[Guest]

I cannot reproduce this behavior in Excel 2003. Likely something in your
settings.

Jerry

 

[Guest]

Two other people with extensive experience, on different platforms (I'm on
Vista Pro; they use XP), have the same experience. It could be settings;
however, what are they? Apparently something common.

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Frank,

Two other people with extensive experience, on different platforms (I'm on
Vista Pro; they use XP), have the same experience. It could be settings;
however, what are they? Apparently something common.

I am unable to repro this either. What are your transition settings in Tools,
options?

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
http://www.jkp-ads.com
Member of:
Professional Office Developer Association
www.proofficedev.com

 

[Guest]

There was a solidus in the menu key box. But deleting it doesn't resolve the
issue.
Thank you for replying to this question. This problem is costing me hours
having to manually correct.

 

[Guest]

Is there a way to send you screen snips? Using Arial font the difference is
slight between the slash for 1/16 and 3/16, but it's enough that the slash
connects the two 1's in 1/16. However the difference is obvious using Symbol
font.

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Frank,

Is there a way to send you screen snips? Using Arial font the difference is
slight between the slash for 1/16 and 3/16, but it's enough that the slash
connects the two 1's in 1/16. However the difference is obvious using Symbol
font.

What happens if you increase the zoom percentage of the sheet? It may be
related to the video driver?

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
http://www.jkp-ads.com
Member of:
Professional Office Developer Association
www.proofficedev.com

 

[Guest]

Nice guess, but that's not it. It prints exactly as on the screen. If I can't
send you a screen snip, can I send you an xls file example?

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Frank,

can I send you an xls file example?

Sure!

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
http://www.jkp-ads.com
Member of:
Professional Office Developer Association
www.proofficedev.com

 

[Guest]

I sent the file and screen shots (Vista snips) to your netscape email address
earlier today. Did you receive it?
Anxiously,
Frank
Thanks a million.

 

[Guest]

I just found out that the same thing is happening in Word!

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Frank,

I sent the file and screen shots (Vista snips) to your netscape email address
earlier today. Did you receive it?

Yes and it IS odd, The / in 1/16 in your file is character 63, whereas a
"normal" one is character 47.

The only thing I can think of is autocorrect, but you already told me this is
turned off.

No further idea's now, unless you have some addin running that is causing
havoc???

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
http://www.jkp-ads.com
Member of:
Professional Office Developer Association
www.proofficedev.com

 

[Guest]

My new best friend Jan Karel--
These are very good clues! I had turned off AutoCorrect (unchecked boxes),
but because of your comment I looked at it again. All boxes were checked!
Perhaps an automatic update caused that. (I've had to do a System Restore
this week for other update woes.) Unchecking the box for "Replace text as you
type" allows for the correct output. However that doesn't explain why Office
wants to "correct" character 47 with 63. And it doesn't explain why two other
people have the same experience--unless my emailed file contaminated their
system. Apparently it didn't affect yours. (I sincerely hope not.)
The only addin I have is MS Office Document Design (MODD). There could be a
possibility the problem stems from that. On the other hand, the other people
mentioned don't have that program.
For now, if the strange output pops up again, I'll know to look at
AutoCorrect to reset it. And I'll also see if I can utilize Exceptions as a
work around.
Then if it seems that MODD actually is affecting this issue, I'll contact
those folks about it. For what it's worth, my overall opinion of MODD is that
it's a great tool, a real timesaver.
Once again, thank you very much for your insight and your time.
Would you like to know when/if I can get to the bottom of this conundrum?
Frank-ly grateful.

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Frank,

However that doesn't explain why Office
wants to "correct" character 47 with 63. And it doesn't explain why two other
people have the same experience--unless my emailed file contaminated their
system. Apparently it didn't affect yours. (I sincerely hope not.)

It must mean there is an entry in the Autocorrect list like "1/1" or "1/16",
with a replacement text.

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
http://www.jkp-ads.com
Member of:
Professional Office Developer Association
www.proofficedev.com

 

[Guest]

Hi Jan Karel,
There is no entry in AutoCorrect like that.
HOWEVER, at this point I've tried so many things that, who knows, I might
have inadvertently caused this myself, a la "garbage in, garbage out".
Thanks to you I have learned a lot!
Wikipedia's page on "solidus" is very revealing and gives this link:
http://unicode.org/charts/PDF/U0000.pdf.
On page 4 of that chart is a list of codes for different slashes. Using
them, I even found another slash code in Word, Insert, Symbol... --unicode
0337, for a total of four different slashes!
It turns out that the character/symbol I've been having the problem with
actually is the "fraction slash", which one would think is what's needed for
1/16. The "division slash" is the one that enters directly from the keyboard
and is the one that works.
Before now, I've done nothing esoteric with input options, at least not
deliberately. Thanks to your assistance, I now have that ability should I
need or want to use it. And I'll keep in mind that if I run into difficulty,
one of my own "senior moments" might just be the cause; then I'll double
check all my optional settings, which I'm more confident in using now.
Thank you again, "Professor" Jan Karel,

Frank

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Frank,

Thank you again, "Professor" Jan Karel,

<vbg>

No thanks!

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
http://www.jkp-ads.com
Member of:
Professional Office Developer Association
www.proofficedev.com