Em-dash character won't enter

[awriter]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Hello,

I am using Word 2008 on an Mac running 10.5.4. After the last Word update, command+option+numpad- no longer produces the em-dash character. command+numpad- still produces the en-dash character. Can anyone tell me how to fix this? I tried setting up autocorrect to turn two en-dashes into an em-dash, but when I try to click on the "with:" field, the cursor does not appear.

Thanks in advance for the help with this.

Best,

Awriter

 

[CyberTaz]

If you've not done all of the following, see if it makes a difference;

Quit all programs
Repair Disk Permissions (following any updates)
Restart your Mac

If that doesn't resolve it give as much more detail as you can - all files,
one particular file, new files? Any 3rd party apps which address the
keyboard - such as QuicKeys, iKey, etc.?

FWIW, I'm running Office (12.1.1) in Leopard (10.5.4) here & have no problem
of that sort, nor have I seen any previous reports of same.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Clive Huggan]

Dear [whoever],

Once you have sorted out your problem following CyberTaz's good advice
(because it may be symptomatic of a wider problem), consider creating an
AutoCorrect item for em dashes. I use em dashes a lot in my work, and I key
them in as "-" followed by "=" (reason: they are next to each other on the
keyboard). AutoCorrect immediately replaces them with an em dash.

For more info, see pages 58 and 84 of some notes on the way I use Word for
the Mac, titled "Bend Word to Your Will", which are available as a free
download from the Word MVPs' website
(http://word.mvps.org/Mac/Bend/BendWordToYourWill.html).

[Note: "Bend Word to your will" is designed to be used electronically and
most subjects are self-contained dictionary-style entries. If you decide to
read more widely than the item I've referred to, it's important to read the
front end of the document -- especially pages 3 and 5 -- so you can select
some Word settings that will allow you to use the document effectively.]

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from the Americas and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
====================================================

 

[awriter]

Hello,

I did everything that you listed, but the problem persists.

This problem persists in all files: old and new. It began after I ran the latest update to word.

I have only one app which might address the keyboard: Witch (http://www.manytricks.com/witch/). Its an application switcher, but none of the triggers it uses involve anything like command option minus. Also, I am using a microsoft wireless keyboard with Microsoft's intelletype pro preference pane installed (6.2.2 ver 203). I didn't change any setting in Witch or the keyboard software before the problem started. As far as I can tell, it began with the last Word update.

I tried to make an autocorrect entry for this by going to autocorrect directly and entering the characters, but I am unalbe to get the cursor to enter the "with:" field. However, if I select the characters in the document, they appear in the "with:" field when I open the dialog. I was able to create the autocorrect entry the Clive Huggan suggested, but I would still like to resolve this problem, as I am used to the regular key combination and I don't won't to have to relearn the combination for each machine that I use.

Thank so much for helping me with this. Loosing the em-dash keyboard command is really annoying.

best,

Awriter

 

[Tim Murray]

but none of the triggers it uses involve anything like command option minus.

Em dash is Shift+Option+minus

 

[CyberTaz]

The stroke Tim suggested is an alternative - does that one work?

Does either work in a different user account?

Go into Insert> Symbol> Special Characters, select the Em Dash listing, then
click the Keyboard Shortcut button. Does Command+Option+Numpad- appear in
the Current Keys list? If not, click in the "Press new keyboard shortcut"
field, press those keys, then click the Assign button & OK out. See if that
will restore it. If not there may be something faulty about your Normal
template, so post back if it doesn't work.

I think the fact that you've recently applied the 12.1.1 update is strictly
coincidental, though. I don't believe there's anything about an update that
would cause a problem of that nature.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[awriter]

I tried command option minus, and it worked. Then I tried Insert> Symbol> Special Characters, and Command+Option+Numpad- did appear next to the em-dash listing. As before, I could select it from the menu, but the key combination wouldn't work. I went back to the special characters dialog, highlighted em-dash, and chose "Keyboard shortcuts." Command+Option+Numpad- was listed there, but I re-entered that combination, and now it works. Thanks to everyone for the help!

Best,

Awriter

 

[CyberTaz]

Glad you were able to get it working - hopefully it will continue to

In the event that the fix doesn't hold you may want to follow the
suggestions here for testing the Normal template:

http://word.mvps.org/mac/MacWordNormal.html

Good Luck |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac