Insert special characters faster: The trick with AutoCorrect
The best way to insert frequently used special characters is to use the “AutoCorrect” function. For example, you could specify that the string “sumz” entered is always replaced with the sum symbol. AutoCorrect can be used as follows:
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Use the Symbol dialog box to paste the special character you want into your presentation and copy it to the clipboard using the CTRL + C shortcut.
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In the next step, navigate to the “Document Review” options menu via “File > Options”.
Document check in PowerPoint
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Now click on the entry “Author’s proofing options” in the upper pane of the document checker.
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In the following selection window you define that the letter combination “sumz” is to be replaced by the sum sign.
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Close the input dialog with OK. If you design a new slide in PowerPoint after the change, you can use the abbreviation “sumz” in PowerPoint to automatically insert the sum symbol. After entering the abbreviation and pressing the space bar, the special character is automatically inserted.
How to use auto-correction in older PowerPoint versions
In PowerPoint 2003: Open the AUTOCORRECT dialog box via TOOLS – AUTOCORRECT OPTIONS.
From PowerPoint 2007: Click the FILE tab (PowerPoint 2007: Office Button) – OPTIONS (PowerPoint 2007: POWERPOINT OPTIONS), click DOCUMENT REVIEW on the left, and then click AUTOCORRECT OPTIONS.
AutoCorrect in Excel, Word and other Office programs
AutoCorrect in Microsoft Office is suitable for all important special characters, for frequent phrases or complete sentences that need to be inserted into presentations or other documents. You can use AutoCorrect in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft Word and other Microsoft programs. In Excel, you type the special character directly into a field. In Microsoft Word, you can paste it into a table or body of text.
Summary and conclusion: It is easy to integrate special characters in PowerPoint
In presentations, it often happens that special characters are required. While some special characters, such as the @ character, are located directly on the keyboard, other characters are hidden. In Microsoft PowerPoint and all other Office programs you will find special characters in the menu item “Insert” in the selection field “Symbols”. With the installed fonts and the subcategories (subset) a comprehensive selection of special characters is available. If symbols are still missing, they can be incorporated into Windows by installing new fonts.
