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PJ_Turtle
Inspiring
October 8, 2009
Question

Using alt characters / text in Captivate4 √ Σ µ π ≥ ≤ ∞

  • October 8, 2009
  • 1 reply
  • 558 views

I am trying to build questions in C4 that use statistical symbols in the answers. In Word, or *this* application,  one can activate the numb pad, press the alt key + (numbers) and get many of the symbols I wish to use. (See above.)

In Captivate4 there is a different story.

The alt+xxx creates a "non-text" character, but it does not map to any standard code set I am able to find.  There are workarounds for the slides themselves, but for Advanced Question Answers feedback (where I need to work) there is no way to input a graphic. Only pure text.

Perhaps there is available somewhere a key that can help me see how to get my symbols into that space?  I am unable to figure out the scheme that is used -- believe me I've tried.

I can create the symbols in other applications and then paste them in, but this is very time consuming, sometimes innacurate and not at all elegant.

Any help is appreciated.

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    PJ_TurtleAuthor
    Inspiring
    October 21, 2009

    Pretty much solved my own puzzle. Notes here for others.

    Fonts, sets of letters and characters,  include symbols. The symbols included in the set are different for each font, so the available symbols are a function of the font that you use.

    There are two types of alt characters. (1) those that are implemented by pressing the alt key + a series of numbers using the "10-key" keypad on the right of the keyboard with the num lock on. And example of this is the plus-minus sign. Hold down the alt key and enter 0177 and you will get ±  .

    The other type (2) uses the same concept but is implemented differently. First, enter a series of numbers and letters, such as 221A, then press the alt+x keys simultaneously. This version of alt character implementation does not (seem to) work with the fonts provided in this forum. :- (  

    There is a third idea which is implementing alt characters within an HTML document. This uses a different set of symbols, and does not generally apply to Captivate.

    Google will get you a great number of code sets if you search on alt characters. But the easiest way I have found to find the key combinations for alt characters is to use MS Word.  (For Word 2007) click on insert symbol | more symbols. Pick a font you like that includes the symbol you wish to use. In the lower left corner of the symbol pop-up you will see "Shortcut key" notations. This is what you use to get the symbol you want in that font.

    Using this information, I was able to insert most of the charaters I needed in the Advanced Answer | Feedback message.

    For those which I could not, I took a screen shot of the formula, saved it as a BMP file, then saved the image to Program Files \Adobe\ Captivate 4 \ Gallery \ Captions. Then I selected that file in the Caption Type dialog box of the Answer Feedback Caption tool and it becomes the feedback message.

    Good luck.

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