Can't access symbols via keyboard shortcut

rbb · #1 08-27-2023, 01:13 PM

I'm using Word 2019. I tend to use keystroke combinations to access certain features the way I would have on pre-ribbon versions of Word. For example, I'd use Alt+O, then E to access the Change Case window; Alt+O then P to access the Paragraph window; Alt+A, then R to open the Table Properties window, etc. When I press Alt+O, I get a little pop-up window that says "Office access key: Alt,O. Continue typing the menu key sequence from an earlier version of Office or press Esc to cancel". I used to access the Symbols window in the same way via Alt+I (Insert) then S for symbol, but this no longer works. Alt+I doesn't do anything anymore - ie, I don't get the little popup about using the menu key sequence from earlier version of Office. I haven't changed anything in my set-up. Any ideas? Thanks.

Charles Kenyon · #2 08-27-2023, 06:35 PM

First, and simplest, if you press the Alt key, release, and then press the I key you can get the same result that you expect.

Office Alt+I key shortcuts don't work - see my response

Charles Kenyon · #3 08-27-2023, 06:53 PM

See this long thread. Page 3. Copilot implementation seems to be the villain.
The following was also marked as an answer:

Quote:

SOLUTION FOUND!

I found this thread as I too was frustrated by alt+i having stopped working. If you disable Alt+i as a shortcut for "Draft With Copilot", then all the old alt+i functionality comes back (so you don't even have to release the alt key).

Go to File->Options->Customise Ribbon
Find and click on the Keyboard shortcuts "Customize..." button.
You'll need to find "Draft with Copilot" in the right-hand Commands list. I did this by selecting the "All Commands" Category (near the bottom of the Categories list) as I wasn't sure where Copilot lives. This does mean a lot of painful scrolling (I pressed page down 43 times), so if someone can reply who knows which category it lives in that'd be helpful.

So, having scrolled through the Commands to find it, click on DraftWithCopilot to select it, then click on "Alt+i" in the Current keys box.
Now click remove*. (*At this point, you could optionally assign a new, different key combination for DraftWithCopilot if you want to use that.)

Now close the dialogs and all your favourite Alt+i shortcuts work once more, as they always used to.

rbb · #4 08-28-2023, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Kenyon

First, and simplest, if you press the Alt key, release, and then press the I key you can get the same result that you expect.

Lol - that does work. Why did I not just try that in the first place? Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Kenyon

Office Alt+I key shortcuts don't work - see my response

Thanks for this as well - done!

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