Word and the £ sign. Help! I used to be able to type the £ sign using Alt + 156. Now I can't and I don't know why. I know that it possible to type it using the "Insert" menu but that...

GARGLEBLASTER Loc: Spain

I used to be able to type the £ sign using Alt + 156. Now I can't and I don't know why. I know that it possible to type it using the "Insert" menu but that slows me down a lot if I am typing a long document with lots of £ signs in it. Anyone got a solution?

Curiously I have no problems typing this message, the £ signs appears using Alt + 156.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

GARGLEBLASTER wrote:

I used to be able to type the £ sign using Alt + 156. Now I can't and I don't know why. I know that it possible to type it using the "Insert" menu but that slows me down a lot if I am typing a long document with lots of £ signs in it. Anyone got a solution?

Curiously I have no problems typing this message, the £ signs appears using Alt + 156.

What program are you typing it into? I've noticed that some software does not accept those ASCII characters. As you've shown, you can enter it here. £

GARGLEBLASTER Loc: Spain

jerryc41 wrote:

What program are you typing it into? I've noticed that some software does not accept those ASCII characters. As you've shown, you can enter it here. £

Microsoft Word. It used to be possible and now it's not.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

On my PC (this one) the "£" is Shift + 3, you could could take the easy way out and use "GBP" which is very often used to signify British Pounds.
You wouldn't be using a Spanish keyboard by any chance !!

TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ

To add to what jerryc41 was saying, some editing programs will allow you to switch between ASCII and HTML.

johneccles wrote:

You wouldn't be using a Spanish keyboard by any chance !!

Good question ....I see the OP lives in Spain ! :XD:

DaveMM Loc: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

GARGLEBLASTER wrote:

Microsoft Word. It used to be possible and now it's not.

I cannot use Alt 156 in either Word 2010 or 2013. However, go to the Insert tab and click on Symbols at the far right. Then find the £ sign and insert it into the document. On Word 2010 it seems to insert as soon as you click on the symbol, but in 2013 you also have to click on Insert.

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

GARGLEBLASTER wrote:

Microsoft Word. It used to be possible and now it's not.

Which version of Microsoft Word are you running, and which version of Windows are you running? Both of these will display upon start up of the software, and your computer. It could make a difference when suggesting a solution.

As a work around, you could always use the find and replace function when you review and edit your paper. Choose a symbol that you are not using in your paper to be a place holder for the £ symbol, then replace it later. You may have to copy the £ symbol from another source.

MMC Loc: Brooklyn NY

You can use virtual GB keyboard from this site.
http://www.branah.com/ukqwerty

GARGLEBLASTER wrote:

I used to be able to type the £ sign using Alt + 156. Now I can't and I don't know why. I know that it possible to type it using the "Insert" menu but that slows me down a lot if I am typing a long document with lots of £ signs in it. Anyone got a solution?

Curiously I have no problems typing this message, the £ signs appears using Alt + 156.

GARGLEBLASTER Loc: Spain

johneccles wrote:

On my PC (this one) the "£" is Shift + 3, you could could take the easy way out and use "GBP" which is very often used to signify British Pounds.
You wouldn't be using a Spanish keyboard by any chance !!

Yes, I use a Spanish keyboard but I repeat once again, I used to be able to use Alt + 156 to creat the £ sign and now I am not able to.

GARGLEBLASTER Loc: Spain

Szalajj wrote:

Which version of Microsoft Word are you running, and which version of Windows are you running? Both of these will display upon start up of the software, and your computer. It could make a difference when suggesting a solution.

Windows 7 and Microsoft Word 2007. I have not changed this for some years and it worked previously with these two versions but now does not

bigalw Loc: Essex - UK

I also am using Win 7 Pro and Office 2007, works for me £££££££££££, English keyboard, shift and key 3, and I've just tried in Word, perfect

GARGLEBLASTER Loc: Spain

bigalw wrote:

I also am using Win 7 Pro and Office 2007, works for me £££££££££££, English keyboard, shift and key 3, and I've just tried in Word, perfect

Thanks for your reply but I use a Spanish keyboard. That makes a difference.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I am looking at Word 2010. If I click on "Insert" then "symbol" and click on the "More Symbols" I get the "Symbols" box. I see that this sign has a shortcut code which is complicated. HOWEVER - if you go down to the bottom you will see the "Shortcut Key" tab - if you click on that YOU can assign whatever shortcut you wish. I just assigned the shortcut Alt+3 and tested it - it works great.

Violameister Loc: michigan

When I have to enter a symbol that is complex to get to multiple times in a document, I wait until the end, then add the symbol once. Then copy it and paste it in every location needed. Much faster than doing the complicated thing multiple times.

OldEarl Loc: Northeast Kansas

GARGLEBLASTER wrote:

Microsoft Word. It used to be possible and now it's not.

I have used Libre Office writer for the last six years. I go to Insert + special character and have access to all symbols. I also am not trapped by the proprietary .doc extension.