WD: Ampersand in File Name Not Included When Added to Menu

ID: Q118844

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you add a file name that contains an ampersand (&) to a menu in Microsoft Word, the ampersand does not appear.

For example, a file named "Jack&Jill" appears as "JackJill" on the menu.

CAUSE

This behavior is by design. The ampersand is used in a menu to designate which character of the menu item name to underline. This underlined character is used as a shortcut to choose the menu item when you use the keyboard.

WORKAROUND

To display a file name that contains an ampersand, save the file with a second ampersand in front of the first before you add the file name to your menu, for example: 

   Jack&&Jill
When you add this file name to a menu, the name appears correctly, as: 

   Jack&Jill

MORE INFORMATION

To add a file name to a Word menu, use the method appropriate for your version of Word.

Word 98 Macintosh Edition

1. In Word, open the file you want to appear on your Word menu.

2. On the Tools menu, click Customize.

3. On the Toolbars tab, under Toolbars, click to select the Menu Bar check 

   box
4. Click to select the Commands tab.

5. Under Categories, click to select All Commands.

6. Under Commands, click to select FileOpenFile. In the FileOpenFile box, 

   ensure that your document name appears in the box. If you have multiple
   documents open, each file is listed in the drop-down list box.
7. Under Commands, drag the FileOpenFile command to the Word menu where you 
   want it to appear, and then click Close to close the Customize dialog
   box.

Word 6.0 (Macintosh only) and Word 95 (7.0)

1. In Word, open the file you want to appear on your Word menu.

2. On the Tools menu, click Customize.

3. Click to select the Menus tab.

4. Under Categories, click to select All Commands.

5. Under Commands, click to select FileOpenFile. In the FileOpenFile box, 

   ensure that your document name appears in the box. Your document name
   should also appear in the Name on Menu box.
6. In the Change What Menu box, click to select the menu you want to add 
   the file name.
7. In the Position on Menu box, click to select where you want your file 
   name to appear. For example, click to select At Top.
8. Click Add, and then click Close to close the Customize dialog box.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, Chapter 31, Customizing Menus

Additional query words: missing ampersand & filename file name menu fileopenfile 

Keywords          : kbui kbdta word8 macword98 winword macword word6 word7 word95 
Version           : MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a,98; WINDOWS:7.0,7.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 20, 1999