This wikiHow teaches you how to create your own symbols and use them in Microsoft Word. The process of creating and installing symbols is different from the process of adding a built-in symbol to a document. You can create and install your own symbols on Windows computers using a hidden program called "Private Character Editor," while Mac users can create and install their own fonts with custom symbols using the Calligraphr template. Keep in mind that the custom symbols you create may not be able to be displayed on other platforms where your custom symbols are not installed.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Installing Symbols on Windows Computer
Step 1. Open the “Start” menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Type in eudcedit
You need to use this code to find the Private Character Editor program because it doesn't have a built-in shortcut.
Step 3. Click eudcedit
It's at the top of the menu. The Private Character Editor program will open after that.
Step 4. Select the space for the symbol
Click one of the grid squares in the window.
The selected space will be associated with a square that will later appear on the Character Map (for example, if you have a square in the top left corner, your custom symbol will appear in the same box when you open the Character Map)
Step 5. Click OK
It's at the bottom of the window. The selected box will be confirmed and the symbol editor window will be opened.
Step 6. Draw your symbol
Click and drag the cursor on the window to create an image. At this stage, you are free to do anything. However, keep in mind that the bottom of the window represents the bottom of the line of text. If you draw a symbol from the top of the line/bottom of the window, the symbol will appear higher than the rest of the text on the line.
- You can select other drawing tools on the left side of the window to change the drawing style.
- If you make a mistake, you can undo it by pressing the shortcut Ctrl+Z or using the eraser tool in the lower-left corner of the window.
- You can use an existing symbol as an example/base template by clicking “ Edit ", choose " Copy Characters… ”, clicking the desired character, and selecting “ OK ”.
Step 7. Save the symbol
Click the menu " Edit ” in the upper left corner of the window, then click “ Save Character " The symbol is now installed in the system.
Step 8. Open the Character Map
Click the menu Start ”
type in character map, and click “ Character Map ” at the top of the “Start” menu.
The Character Map program tracks and stores all available symbols on the system
Step 9. Click the “Font” drop-down box
This box is at the top of the Character Map window. A drop-down menu with various font names will appear.
Step 10. Click All Fonts (Private Characters)
It's at the top of the drop-down menu. After that, a list of the symbols you created will be displayed.
You may need to scroll through the menu to see these options
Step 11. Insert the symbol into the Microsoft Word document
If you want to place a symbol in a Word document, click the symbol to select it, select “ Select ", click " Copy ”, open a Microsoft Word document, and paste the symbol by pressing the shortcut Ctrl+V.
Symbols may not be large or bold enough to display clearly in the document. However, you can change its appearance by selecting the symbol and increasing the font size to an appropriate level
Method 2 of 2: Installing Symbols on a Mac Computer
Step 1. Download the Calligraphr template
Calligraphr is a free service that allows you to create your own fonts. To download forms or font creation templates, you will need to create an account on the Calligraphr website.
Follow the instructions in the article on how to create fonts for more detailed steps on how to create an account, access it, and download font creation templates
Step 2. Select the template file
Open the folder where the template file is downloaded, then click on the template file to select it.
Step 3. Click File
This button is at the top of the screen. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Select Open With
This option is at the top of the “ File After that, a pop-out menu will be displayed.
Step 5. Click Preview
It's in the pop-out menu. After that, the Calligraphr template will open in the Mac's built-in Preview program.
Step 6. Click the “Markup” icon
It's at the top of the Preview window.
On some versions of MacOS, the " Markup " icon looks like a bag
Step 7. Click the "Draw" icon
This icon is in the “Markup” toolbar. With this option, you can draw on the template by clicking and dragging the cursor.
Step 8. Draw a symbol over the sample letter
Whatever you draw over the letter (eg A) will be displayed when you press the letter key.
- You can repeat this process for other symbols to apply them to the letter keys (eg A-Z).
- Keep in mind that uppercase and lowercase letters have their own squares.
Step 9. Save the template
Press Command+S to save it. Changes made to the template in Preview will be saved. After that, you can create your own fonts by re-uploading the template to the Calligraphr site and downloading it as a final font file.
Step 10. Upload the template
Return to https://www.calligraphr.com/en/ via your computer's web browser, then follow these steps:
- Click " START APP ”.
- Click " MY FONTS ”.
- Click " Upload Template ”.
- Click " Choose File ”.
- Select a template file, then click “ Open ”.
- Click " UPLOAD TEMPLATES ”.
Step 11. Scroll down and click ADD CHARACTERS TO YOUR FONT
This button is at the bottom of the page. A new window will be opened after that.
Step 12. Create a font file
Click the button Build Fonts ” at the top of the page, enter a font name, and click “ BUILD ”.
The name you choose for the font is the name that is displayed when the font is selected in Microsoft Word
Step 13. Download and install the font
Click the.ttf file to download it to your computer, then double-click the file and select “ Install ” at the bottom of the window.
Step 14. Insert the symbol you have created into Microsoft Word
If you want to type a symbol into a Word document, open the document, then select your custom font on the “ Home ” and type the letter that is connected/bound with the desired symbol. After that, the symbol will be displayed in the document.
