I'm formatting my PhD dissertation and one of the problems I'm facing is that when I use an equation in the text to format ions (e.g. BH4 -), I get the format correct: the 4 and the negative sign directly above each other, but I cannot change the default font (which is Cambria Math) to match with the rest of my text.

Since the final font and/or layout may still change I prefer a solution where I can just select all text and change the font of the entire thesis at once (if necessary). A solution with images inserted into the text is too impractical, since I have a lot of these notations in my thesis. In addition, it renders this (piece of) text unsearchable in the final PDF.



Any help is greatly appreciated!

Niels

Attached Images

BH4.png (14.2 KB, 20 views)

For the BH4, you could use a field coded as:
{EQ \s(\f(,4))}
with the 4 subscripted.

Note: The field brace pairs (i.e. '{ }') for the above example are all created in the document itself, via Ctrl-F9 (Cmd-F9 on a Mac); you can't simply type them or copy & paste them from this message. Nor is it practical to create the field via the standard Insert|Quick Parts|Field dialogue because of the need to subscript the 4.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thanks for you reply, but I'm afraid I need a bit more help since I have no idea what coded fields are and if I follow your instructions, all I get is BH, followed by what I typed between "{" and "}"

Please read the Note - quoted in your reply!

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

I did ctrl-F9 (on my windows 7 pc) and got a dark-gray background between the { and }. When I press enter, nothing happens. I manually typed it in exactly as you posted and when I right click (just gave that a try), I have the option "toggle field codes", which replaces the text I typed for "Error!"

If you input the content between the braces exactly as posted, you will get a 4 with a bar over it - not an error, unless you're using a non-english regional setting; in which case you'll need to use:
{EQ \s(\f(;4))}

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thanks

It does work, however there's two problems:

1) The line of the bar is too long (longer than a negative sign, see attached png) and also thinner (the line width), which will make it harder to read. How can I get it shorter (but not shorter than a negative sign in superscript) and thinner?

2) In this example, it is just a single minus. Sometimes I need a number in subscript and a charge other than 1- (abbreviated as -) in superscript (e.g. 2+). How can I do that?

Attached Images

bar.png (7.4 KB, 18 views)

You could try:
{EQ \o (-,4)} or {EQ \o (-;4)}
as appropriate, where the - is superscripted and the 4 is subscripted, substituting + for - when required. Adjusting the point size can also be used to increase/decrease the size of the characters together or independently.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thanks for you suggestion, I tried it and it gives a very strange result, see attached png.

Niels

Attached Images

strikethrough.png (6.9 KB, 14 views)

Did you superscript the '-' and subscript the '4' as indicated in my reply? Your attachment suggests not.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

I see, if I manually sub- and superscript the 4 and the negative sign in the field code, it will effect the result. It seems to work, just have to play a bit with the size How can I "return" to the field code after I right-clicked and selected "Toggle Field Codes"?

To toggle the field code view 'on' for a given field, select or click anywhere within it and press Shift-F9. Pressing F9 anywhere in the field both toggles the code view 'off' and updates the display.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

It works thanks

There's one minor issue in the layout: the distance (there's no space character) between the "- 5" and the ) is a bit large. Is there a way to change it?

Nevermind: there's a space in the field code... Problem solved!

Attached Images

space.png (9.7 KB, 13 views)

Just disocvered that the text in subscript is aligned centered below the text in superscript (see attachment). Is there a way to align it left so that the 1 and the 2 (in this example) are directly above each other?

Attached Images

align.png (5.4 KB, 11 views)