WD: Cannot Replace with Text Containing Superscript/Subscript

ID: Q167210

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 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 97 for Windows
Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you try to use the Replace command on the Edit menu to replace text that contains subscripted or superscripted characters (for example to replace H2O so that it contains a subscript 2), the superscript or subscript formatting is lost.

CAUSE

Text pasted into the Replace With box is pasted as plain text (with no formatting).

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, follow these steps:

1. In the document, create a sample of the text containing the

   necessary formatting. For example, create the word "H2O" with the 2
   formatted as a subscript character.

2. Select the sample text. Then, on the Edit menu, click Copy.

3. On the Edit menu, click Replace.

4. In the Find What box, type the text to be replaced.

   In this example, you want to replace all instances of H2O with the
   sample you created with the subscript 2. So, you would type "H2O"
   (without the quotation marks) in the Find What box.

5. In the Replace With box, type "^c" (without the quotation marks, and

   with a lowercase c). The ^ symbol is the caret symbol. To create this
   character, press SHIFT+6.

6. Click Replace or Replace All.

   The replacement text will be inserted from the Clipboard and will have
   the correct formatting.

NOTE: This technique can also be used to replace plain text with symbols, graphics, or anything contained on the Clipboard. "^c" is a control code that can be used only in the Replace With box to replace the selected text with the Clipboard contents.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q95474
   TITLE     : WD: Control Codes to Use with Search and Replace (Edit Menu)

Additional query words: subscripted superscripted

Keywords          : kbformat 
Version           : MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a,98; WINDOWS: 6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a,97
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: February 4, 1998