80
Chapter 4
Figure 4-5: Don't let Word's smart quotes get in the way when converting
Word docs to the ASCII or HTML formats or pasting copied Word text into
an email.
But don't stop there! You still have to use the Replace command, replac-
ing all instances of a single quote (curled) with a single quote (straight):
3.
Choose Edit
Replace and type a single quote for the Find box and the
same single quote for the Replace box (yes, that's right--the same char-
acter). Click Replace All to perform the replace operation for the entire
file (or selected text). Word automatically changes each curly quote to a
straight quote that can pass the ASCII test.
You can replace the characters in only a portion of the document by
first selecting the portion and then clicking Replace All. The replacements
occur only in the selected text.
4.
Repeat step 3 with double quotes. Word automatically changes the curly
quotes to straight quotes that can pass the ASCII test on all computer
systems.
5.
Repeat step 2, unchecking the option to the replace symbol characters (--)
with symbols (--). Then repeat step 3 with em dashes (replace with a
double dash, as in "--"), en dashes (replace with a single dash), and ellipses
(replace with three periods in a row).
Use Alternatives to Word
When you're a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. (And when you're
a nail, you wish there were no hammers around.) And when you're a Word
user, every problem looks like it needs something from Word's menus or
toolbars to solve.
jsntm_02.book Page 80 Wednesday, September 28, 2005 1:10 PM
No Starch Press
© 2005 by Tony Bove