WD: How to Use EQ Field to Place Box Around Characters

ID: Q75456

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.0a, 5.1, 5.1a, 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Word, it is possible to use an EQ field or a formula (Word 4.x, 5.x) to put boxes around individual letters, words, or combinations of words.

The "More Information" section of this article includes various examples using the Equation or formula field to place boxes around characters and words.

NOTE: In many later versions of Word, you can use drawing tools and WordArt to create letters, words, and combinations of words in boxes. For more information about these features, see Word Help.

MORE INFORMATION

Using an EQ Field

To put a box around an individual letter, word, or combination of words, use the {eq} field with the \x switch, as in the following example:

   {eq \x(b) \x(o) \x(x)}

This field will create a result that resembles the following:

   ----- ----- -----
   | b | | o | | x |
   ----- ----- -----

This field {eq \x(box)} will create a result similar to this:

   -------
   | box |
   -------

To insert an empty field in Word, press CTRL+F9 or press COMMAND+F9 in Word for the Macintosh.

For more information about the EQ field, click the Office Assistant, type "What is an EQ field," click Search, and then click to view " Field codes: Eq (Equation) field."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Word Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component

Use a Formula (Word 4.x, 5.x)

To put a box around an individual letter, word, or combination of words, use the Formula character (.\) followed by an x.

NOTE: Insert the Formula character by typing COMMAND+OPTION+\.

For example,

   .\x(b) .\x(o) .\x(x)

will give the following result:

   ----- ----- -----
   | b | | o | | x |
   ----- ----- -----

   .\x(box) will create the following result:

   -------
   | box |
   -------

You can combine more than one \x switch in a single line of text, but the combined text and borders is limited to only one line of print. If the entered text and borders exceeds the width of the paragraph or the document margins, an error message will be displayed.

Using Fields with Borders to Get a Nested Border Effect

This field can be combined with paragraph borders and page borders to get a nested border box effect. To do this, insert one or more of the fields from the earlier examples in this article and use the procedure appropriate for your version of Word.

Word 6.x, 7.0, 98: With the insertion point still in the paragraph with the field, click Borders And Shading on the Format menu, select the Borders tab, and select the Box preset.

Word 2.0, 5.x: With the insertion point still in the paragraph with the field, choose Border from the Format menu and click on Box to put a box around the entire field.

Word 4.x: With the insertion point still in the paragraph with the field, click Paragraph on the Format menu and click the Border button. Click Plain Box to put a box around the entire field.

Word 1.x: With the insertion point still in the paragraph with the field, choose Paragraph from the Format menu and choose Border Box to put a box around the entire field.

The result will be a paragraph border around the border applied with a field.

Additional Ways to Nest Box Borders

All versions of Word except Word 4.x or 5.x for the Macintosh:

   {eq \x(\x(\x(example)))}

Word for the Macintosh versions 4.x or 5.x:

   .\x(.\x(.\x(example)))

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Reference," pages 139-140.

"Take Word for Windows to the Edge," (ISBN 1-56276-079-3) by Guy Gallo, Ziff-Davis Press, page 338.

Additional query words: sentence classicword mword word5

Keywords          : wordnt word8 macword98 winword ntword word6 winword2 word7 word95 
Version           : MACINTOSH:3.0,3.01,3.02,4.0,5.0,5.1a,6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: November 11, 1998