Create shortcuts for Word symbols

Q I regularly need to use the tick symbol in Word, but it is frustrating having to go into Insert in the Edit menu, then into the Wingdings font, clicking on the tick, then pasting it and going back to my work.

Can I use the Alt Gr key along with another keyboard letter as a shortcut? I am using Microsoft Office 2000.

Ron French

A It’s possible to set this up, and you don’t need to use the Alt Gr key – you can set Word up so that pressing any key (or key combination) of your choice produces a symbol of your choice.

It may be a good idea to use the Alt Gr key, though, as it’s rarely used by Word or other programs, so making a new key combination is unlikely to cause you any problems with any key combinations that have been set up already.

You are actually halfway there already: first, choose the key combination you would like to use in future. We went for Alt Gr and the 8 key. Then click the Insert menu and select Symbol from the list.

Choose Wingdings 2 from the list of fonts at the top of the dialogue box that appears, and click the tick symbol as you have been doing before. Before you click Insert as usual, click the Shortcut Key button at the bottom of the dialogue box.

A new dialogue box will appear. At this point press the combination of keys that you would like to use. In our case we held down Alt Gr and pressed 8. Then let go of both.

The words ‘Alt + Ctrl + 8’ will appear in the dialogue box (Word does not recognise Alt Gr as a separate key, only as a combination of Alt and Ctrl, but both combinations will work).

Click Close and Insert to close the Insert dialogue box. You will find the symbol inserted as normal, but the next time you can just press Alt Gr and 8 (or your choice of keys).

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