How do I make exponents and Greek letters?

[Relmuis]

Occosionally I like to use a formula, but there are some symbols which I do not know how to make with the editor. And I know it is possible, because I see these symbols in other posts.

Some symbols I would like to use and don't know how to make are: exponents, indices, the square root sign, Greek letters, the integral sign, the inverted delta (or nabla) sign, the Poincaré square sign and the curved d's (partial differentials).

[Nowhere Man]

Superscripts and subscripts are easy. Use the following codes
superscript and subscript to produce superscript and subscript.

I can't help with the special cahracters, though.

Fred

[HenrikOlsen]

Find the post using the symbols, use the Quote feature to get a copy of the text, then it's copy and paste.

[umop ap!sdn]

For the Greek letters, you can use Unicode characters in the following format:

&# (number) ;

They are in sequence: in the upper case, alpha is 913 and omega 937 (the gap is between rho and sigma - 930 only shows up as an empty box in my browser); in the lower case, the numbers are 945-969 with 2 different symbols for the sigma.

Thus, π = π

[01101001]

Find the post using the symbols, use the Quote feature to get a copy of the text, then it's copy and paste.

Like this:

= ≠

< ≤ ≥ >

+ - ÷ ×

² ³

⅓ ⅔ ⅛ ⅜ ⅝ ⅞ ¼ ½ ¾

√ ∞ ≡ ≈ ∫ ∩

← ↑ → ↓ ↔ ↕ ∙

Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω

α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ ς σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω

[Nereid]

A general tip: open a blank Word document (assuming you have MS Word on your computer), insert the symbol of your choice (this is standard Word stuff), copy and paste it (ctrl-C, ctrl-V) into your post.

You might also want to write your post in Word, then copy&paste it into the BAUT window (avoids problems with losing your writing efforts, due to being logged off, browser problems, etc).

An example: € &#233; &#228; Ж ∫

Of course, it doesn't always work (e.g.  - the 'belongs to' symbol, as in sets)

[sirius0]

Try ascii codes ß Γ π Θ.
Seems to work ⌠⌠ 'cept for that one (integration) All the greek is working!
This is my first attempt i will now go on and obsessivly check them all!

How to do.
Just get a list of ascii codes of the net or an old DOS book. When you want a greek letter look it up hold the Alt key while tapping in the number (numerical key pad only!) let go of the Alt Ω! Example capital theta "Alt+233 = Θ"

Occaisionally i have used this trick to include non keyboard characters in my passwords. This must be done with care though as some platforms wil put the wrong character in!

Σîrìuε

[umop ap!sdn]

Also doesn't work in all browsers. Alt+233 gives me a theta but when I go to preview it turns into a question mark. I'm using Opera 7.23, FTR, and the only way it will let me post is using the &# codes either without previewing or by copying the post to the clipboard before previewing.

~ουμοπ :D

[HenrikOlsen]

This sounds like you've configured it to force a character encoding other than iso-8859-1

[HenrikOlsen]

bump to get a useful thread back to front page

[Nereid]

bump to get a useful thread back to front pageNo need; I just 'stickied' it!

[Kaptain K]

Would you have "stickied" it if it hacn't been bumped?

[umop ap!sdn]

This sounds like you've configured it to force a character encoding other than iso-8859-1
It was on auto select. I tried forcing it to iso-8859-1 and the theta still turned into a question mark. *shrug*

[Champion_Munch]

For a full list of weird characters and the like:

1. Click on Start
2. Select Run
3. Type in charmap
4. Hit Enter

From there you can select what you want, then click on copy and it will automatically be copied to the clipboard. To put it in a post, simply press Ctrl + V. :)

with regards

[Relmuis]

I tried, and it doesn't work on my computer.

The chart with symbols appears, and I can click them too, but they never get copied to my clipboard. (There's nothing on my clipboard; when I go to another program, paste is not highlighted.)

[Musashi]

Seems to work for me:
ڳ

[Relmuis]

I tried again, and now it does work after all.

ω

[Jorge]

how about on mac?

[TheBlackCat]

If you are using Firefox there is a handy extension called abcTajpu (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/459/) that gives handy right-click menu with a ton of special characters. Just click and it inserst them.

ÈԹЖقפ

I know there is an equivalent to "character map" on the mac, something-keyboard or something like that I think. At least there is keyboard in the name I think. It also tells you which key combinations will trigger a given character. It may take some work to find, check your applications folder.

[HenrikOlsen]

Lets see how many of these pastes correctly:)
∀∁∂∃∄∅∆∇∈∉∊∋∌∍∎∏∐∑−∓∔∕∖∗∘∙
√∛∜∝∞∟∠∡∢∣∤∥∦∧∨∩∪∫∬∭∮∯∰∱∲∳
∴∵∶∷∸∹∺∻∼∽∾∿
≀≁≂≃≄≅≆≇≈≉≊≋≌
≍≎≏≐≑≒≓≔≕≖≗≘≙≚≛≜≝≞≟
≠≡≢≣≤≥≦≧≨≩≪≫≬≭≮≯≰≱≲≳≴≵≶≷≸≹≺≻≼≽≾≿⊀⊁
⊂⊃⊄⊅⊆⊇⊈⊉⊊⊋⊌⊍⊎⊏⊐⊑⊒⊓⊔⊕⊖⊗⊘⊙⊚⊛⊜⊝⊞⊟⊠⊡
⊢⊣⊤⊥⊦⊧⊨⊩⊪⊫⊬⊭⊮⊯⊰⊱⊲⊳⊴⊵⊶⊷⊸⊹⊺⊻⊼⊽⊾⊿
⋀⋁⋂⋃⋄⋅⋆⋇⋈⋉⋊⋋⋌⋍⋎⋏⋐⋑⋒⋓⋔⋕⋖⋗⋘⋙
⋚⋛⋜⋝⋞⋟⋠⋡⋢⋣⋤⋥⋦⋧⋨⋩⋪⋫⋬⋭⋮⋯⋰⋱⋲⋳⋴⋵

Good:)
Copy/paste away

[nokton]

Lets see how many of these pastes correctly:)
∀∁∂∃∄∅∆∇∈∉∊∋∌∍∎∏∐∑−∓∔∕∖∗∘∙
√∛∜∝∞∟∠∡∢∣∤∥∦∧∨∩∪∫∬∭∮∯∰∱∲∳
∴∵∶∷∸∹∺∻∼∽∾∿
≀≁≂≃≄≅≆≇≈≉≊≋≌
≍≎≏≐≑≒≓≔≕≖≗≘≙≚≛≜≝≞≟
≠≡≢≣≤≥≦≧≨≩≪≫≬≭≮≯≰≱≲≳≴≵≶≷≸≹≺≻≼≽≾≿⊀⊁
⊂⊃⊄⊅⊆⊇⊈⊉⊊⊋⊌⊍⊎⊏⊐⊑⊒⊓⊔⊕⊖⊗⊘⊙⊚⊛⊜⊝⊞⊟⊠⊡
⊢⊣⊤⊥⊦⊧⊨⊩⊪⊫⊬⊭⊮⊯⊰⊱⊲⊳⊴⊵⊶⊷⊸⊹⊺⊻⊼⊽⊾⊿
⋀⋁⋂⋃⋄⋅⋆⋇⋈⋉⋊⋋⋌⋍⋎⋏⋐⋑⋒⋓⋔⋕⋖⋗⋘⋙
⋚⋛⋜⋝⋞⋟⋠⋡⋢⋣⋤⋥⋦⋧⋨⋩⋪⋫⋬⋭⋮⋯⋰⋱⋲⋳⋴⋵

Good:)
Copy/paste away
I see symbols, Geometry, the basis of a language.
Nokton

[nokton]

Find the post using the symbols, use the Quote feature to get a copy of the text, then it's copy and paste..
You wish converse about the science behind crop circles?
Enjoy your ideas and opinions, never give up,
Nokton

[01101001]

Lets see how many of these pastes correctly:)
[...]
Good:)
Copy/paste away
Uh... good for you, maybe. Most of those characters are rendered for me as squares, circa 150 of them, IE 6.0, Windows XP. Nothing in the View/Encoding menu helped. They looked OK once I pasted them into Notepad, so there's probably some way to view them correctly in IE, but if anyone uses most of them here, until I find the magic, I'll be in the dark. I wouldn't assume they are viewable by all.

Edit: Getting closer. I can see they are the Unicode charaters 2200 - 22f5 (or so) "Mathematical Operators" in a Unicode code chart (http://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U2200.pdf) (PDF). Now, how to get them rendered by IE... Edit: Got them to display OK in a Unicode math-operators test page (http://www.alanwood.net/unicode/mathematical_operators.html), by changing my browser font options to Tahoma when unspecified, but here it still is unreadable.

Edit, much later: I was thinking, after reading below about the Wingdings font check mark (ü, if specifying the font works, otherwise ü).

If in my post, I explicitly specify Tahoma font (possibly others, too) for these Unicode characters, then they look OK (except for the last four) for me. But, I wonder how they get rendered for someone who doesn't have Tahoma. Anyone not see these as math symbols this time?

∀∁∂∃∄∅∆∇∈∉∊∋∌∍∎∏∐∑−∓∔∕∖∗∘∙
√∛∜∝∞∟∠∡∢∣∤∥∦∧∨∩∪∫∬∭∮∯∰∱∲∳
∴∵∶∷∸∹∺∻∼∽∾∿
≀≁≂≃≄≅≆≇≈≉≊≋≌
≍≎≏≐≑≒≓≔≕≖≗≘≙≚≛≜≝≞≟
≠≡≢≣≤≥≦≧≨≩≪≫≬≭≮≯≰≱≲≳≴≵≶≷≸≹≺≻≼≽≾≿⊀⊁
⊂⊃⊄⊅⊆⊇⊈⊉⊊⊋⊌⊍⊎⊏⊐⊑⊒⊓⊔⊕⊖⊗⊘⊙⊚⊛⊜⊝⊞⊟⊠⊡
⊢⊣⊤⊥⊦⊧⊨⊩⊪⊫⊬⊭⊮⊯⊰⊱⊲⊳⊴⊵⊶⊷⊸⊹⊺⊻⊼⊽⊾⊿
⋀⋁⋂⋃⋄⋅⋆⋇⋈⋉⋊⋋⋌⋍⋎⋏⋐⋑⋒⋓⋔⋕⋖⋗⋘⋙
⋚⋛⋜⋝⋞⋟⋠⋡⋢⋣⋤⋥⋦⋧⋨⋩⋪⋫⋬⋭⋮⋯⋰⋱⋲⋳⋴⋵

The problem, if you are trying to use funny characters to communicate, is not how to get to see them yourself, but how to make sure everyone else sees them.

[umop ap!sdn]

Lets see how many of these pastes correctly:)
??????????????????????????
??????????????????????????
????????????
?????????????
???????????????????
??????????????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????
????????????????????????????

Good:)
Copy/paste away
And here's what happens when I quote you. Looks fine until I hit either Submit or Preview...

[HenrikOlsen]

Oh well, unicode definitely isn't all there yet. :)

[01101001]

Oh well, unicode definitely isn't all there yet. :)
Maybe someday...

Until then, it's WYSMNBWOPG -- What you see may not be what other people get.

[HenrikOlsen]

And here's what happens when I quote you. Looks fine until I hit either Submit or Preview...
Still using Opera?

[umop ap!sdn]

Still using Opera?
Until they pry it from my cold... well, you know. :D

[Kesh]

If you're on a Macintosh running OS X, go into your System Preferences under "International."

Click on "Input Menu" and check the box marked "Show input menu in menu bar." Also, make sure you have the "Character Palatte" checked.

Now, you'll have a menu in your menubar that looks like the American* flag. Click on that, and it'll give you a Character palatte option. Find the symbol you want, copy & paste it into Safari or Firefox and it should work just fine as a Unicode symbol.

* You Brits should have a Union Jack. I dunno about the rest of you. ;)

[Roy Batty]

* You Brits should have a Union Jack. I dunno about the rest of you. ;)
Or even a Union flag, unless we're all at sea ;)

Btw anyone know how to get a 'tick' symbol? Couldn't see it on Charmap in XP.

[Champion_Munch]

Btw anyone know how to get a 'tick' symbol? Couldn't see it on Charmap in XP.

Click on the drop-down menu at the top of charmap and select "Windings." Scroll down, towards the bottom you'll find it. :)

with regards

[cjl]

They all work fine for me...

Firefox 1.5.0.4, and they all show up...

[grav]

How about the symbol for pi?

[01101001]

How about the symbol for pi?

Which pi? Π or π?

See this post (http://www.bautforum.com/showthread.php?p=641269#post641269).

They might be made prettier if you force the font, assuming it makes any difference for the reader: Π π

[Jeff Root]

Testing character B7 (183) &#183; centered &#183; dot &#183;&#183;&#183;&#183; Okay?

[Jeff Root]

Testing character B7 (183) · centered · dot ···· Okay?
And now I quote the centered dot.

[Roy Batty]

And I for one, welcome our new centered 'quoted' dot overlords! :D

[Maksutov]

BTW, if you hate typing as much as I do, then here's a shortcut for bringing up the Character Map.

Open Notepad.

type


run
charmap
Be sure to hit "Return/Enter" after typing "run".

Click on "Save As"

Choose "All files"

Save as "Character Map.bat" or whatever you want to call it (the ".bat" is required).

Save to Desktop, My Documents, or wherever is convenient for you.

I moved it to my "Start" menu, subfolder "Utilities".

Then when you need a special character/symbol, just click on the icon and there's the character map.

Note: you'll probably first get a DOS window, but when you close the character map window, the DOS window will close also.

[The Supreme Canuck]

Or you could, y'know, copy the shortcut to the charmap that's in Start\Programs\Accessories\System Tools.

Or not. ;)

[Maksutov]

Or you could, y'know, copy the shortcut to the charmap that's in Start\Programs\Accessories\System Tools.

Or not. ;)Yeah, I forgot about that. As an old DOSer since ~1981, I guess I just like making batch files! http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/4879/iconbiggrin1kg.gif

[Jeff Root]

What did Maksutov think he would save by doing that??

I've got Character Map in my Start menu in the same cluster
of programs as my text editor, Wordpad, Word, etc.

-- Jeff, in Minneapolis

[Maksutov]

What did Maksutov think he would save by doing that??

I've got Character Map in my Start menu in the same cluster
of programs as my text editor, Wordpad, Word, etc.

-- Jeff, in MinneapolisI'm sorry. Guilty as charged your honor. I was trying to avoid all the typing that was listed in this post (http://www.bautforum.com/showpost.php?p=743437&postcount=14) and instead create an icon that could be clicked on. As admitted by the defendant to the prosecuting attorney, I forgot about the charmap icon in Accessories. Also admitted was a liking of writing batch files, which is against the CGR (Code of GUI Regulations). Please pronounce sentence so I may get on with my life.

Judge: "Mmm. Uh. (Mumbles something)." (Gavel comes down hard.)

Ah, thank you, your honor. Twenty lashes with a wet noodle administered by Elle MacPherson. Which way to the secret CIA prison?

[Roy Batty]

LOL! I like batch files too, but then I would wouldn't I?

Roy .Bat ty :)

[HenrikOlsen]

Just testing:)

〉⟩〉

[Pinemarten]

The subject of spelling has come up again.

This is the free spell checker I use:
http://www.iespell.com/

Quote:
"ieSpell is not spyware or adware. It's free for personal use only. All other use requires a commercial license."
end quote

It seems to be for IE based browsers only.
It has instant look-ups in Wiki encyclopedia and a choice of 5 dictionaries.
The 'database' of words can be edited.
You can choose Can, US, or UK database

I have mentioned some of this in previous posts, and decided to put it in a 'sticky'.

Is there a 'grammar check' out there?

One of the previous (first few posts?) members in this thread may feel free to cut/paste/edit to page one for easier access to new members.

Quoting isn't needed, and adding/editing will be fine as well.

If anyone finds one for other browsers or similar (grammar, calculator?) handy programs, it may be helpful to post links as well.

[Gillianren]

In my experience, grammar check programs are very bad at, you know, grammar. Computers just aren't smart enough yet.

When I am uncertain of spelling, I enter the word into my Google toolbox in the upper right corner of my browser window. Google tells me that I've spelled it right by offering to link me to a definition (and often a Wikipedia link's the first one on the list) and, if I've spelled it wrong--which does happen!--it suggests that perhaps what I meant was whatever the proper spelling is. Quite useful.

[Pinemarten]

With IEspell I highlight the whole text, right click and hit the 'check spelling' option. The other options are Wiki and Websters look-up.
It checks the whole text and offers a list of replacement words for any it has highlighted. They can be replaced or ignored with one click. There is also an 'add to database' option so it will skip that word next time.

The Wiki and Websters always open a new window, and work with any text on any site. I find those quite handy.

I think they have a demo on their site.

[Roy Batty]

I find IESpell good enough for IE on the few occasions I have to use IE. Otherwise the Firefox inbuilt one (with the British dictionary add on of course!) is just dandy :)