Symbols in Microsoft Word OLE Objects Not Displayed Correctly

I am using DOORS 8.3 with Microsoft Word 2003. When I insert a Word document containing symbols as an OLE object, some of the symbols are not displayed correctly when viewing the object. However, when I open the OLE object the correct symbols are shown. This is also the the case when I export the OLE object into Word. I only see the correct symbols when I edit the OLE object. For example the greater than or equal symbol shows up as a question mark when viewed. Editing the OLE Object you see the correct greater than or equal symbol. Does anyone know what is happening and if there is a fix? Thanks
Lee_Bost - Mon Aug 03 15:07:13 EDT 2009

Re: Symbols in Microsoft Word OLE Objects Not Displayed Correctly
Peter_Albert - Tue Aug 04 03:44:58 EDT 2009

I had a similar problem with symbols in Word files, although not related to OLE objects, but to the im- and export of Word files into and from DOORS. A Word file with symbols imported nicely, but when exported to Word, the symbols appeared wrongly. The three symbols in question were actually ≥,≤, and ˚, as well as some ligatures à la 'ff' (two 'f' combined into one character).

I knew already that DOORS is able to display more rich text than it is actually able to manage. In this particular case I was able to create the following macro, which replaces symbols with which DOORS has its problems with something it can handle.

Probably you want to give it a try on your Word file and see if it helps. Please note that I am not a Word macro expert, so this macro is not tested or anything. Please use it on a copy of the original file.

Regards,

Peter


Sub replace_special_characters() 
' 
' Selection.Find.ClearFormatting Selection.Find.Replacement.ClearFormatting With Selection.Find .Forward = True .Wrap = wdFindContinue .Format = True .MatchCase = False .MatchWholeWord = False .MatchWildcards = False .MatchSoundsLike = False .MatchAllWordForms = False End With With Selection.Find .Text = ChrW(64256) .Replacement.Text = 
"ff" End With Selection.Find.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll With Selection.Find .Text = ChrW(64257) .Replacement.Text = 
"fi" End With Selection.Find.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll With Selection.Find .Text = ChrW(64258) .Replacement.Text = 
"fl" End With Selection.Find.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll With Selection.Find .Text = ChrW(64259) .Replacement.Text = 
"ffi" End With Selection.Find.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll With Selection.Find .Text = ChrW(64260) .Replacement.Text = 
"ffl" End With Selection.Find.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll With Selection.Find .Text = ChrW(64261) .Replacement.Text = 
"ft" End With Selection.Find.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll With Selection.Find .Text = ChrW(730) .Replacement.Text = 
"°" End With Selection.Find.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll With Selection.Find .Text = ChrW(8804) .Replacement.Text = ChrW(61603) .Replacement.Font.Name = 
"Symbol" End With Selection.Find.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll With Selection.Find .Text = ChrW(8805) .Replacement.Text = ChrW(61619) End With Selection.Find.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll   End Sub

Re: Symbols in Microsoft Word OLE Objects Not Displayed Correctly
mcnairk - Tue Aug 04 08:44:33 EDT 2009

I had this problem with the up and down arrow symbols being displayed as question marks. You can fix it for these and some other symbols (including the GE and LE symbols - I checked) as follows:
  • Double click to open the embedded word object
  • Select the symbol
  • Insert > Symbol
  • Select Font "Symbol" (The default font "(normal text)" causes the problem)
  • Select the desired symbol
  • Insert
  • Close
  • File > Close and return to DOORS module

Re: Symbols in Microsoft Word OLE Objects Not Displayed Correctly
Lee_Bost - Tue Aug 04 10:40:00 EDT 2009

mcnairk - Tue Aug 04 08:44:33 EDT 2009
I had this problem with the up and down arrow symbols being displayed as question marks. You can fix it for these and some other symbols (including the GE and LE symbols - I checked) as follows:

  • Double click to open the embedded word object
  • Select the symbol
  • Insert > Symbol
  • Select Font "Symbol" (The default font "(normal text)" causes the problem)
  • Select the desired symbol
  • Insert
  • Close
  • File > Close and return to DOORS module

I changed the symbols in the document to the Symbol font and that did trick. Thanks for you help. Does anyone know if this same problem exist in DOORS 9.1? We are suppose to be upgrading soon.

Re: Symbols in Microsoft Word OLE Objects Not Displayed Correctly
mcnairk - Tue Aug 04 12:26:02 EDT 2009

Lee_Bost - Tue Aug 04 10:40:00 EDT 2009
I changed the symbols in the document to the Symbol font and that did trick. Thanks for you help. Does anyone know if this same problem exist in DOORS 9.1? We are suppose to be upgrading soon.

Sorry, I have no idea since we're still on DOORS 8.2...

Ken.

Re: Symbols in Microsoft Word OLE Objects Not Displayed Correctly
ThomasD. - Fri Jan 24 07:44:33 EST 2014

Lee_Bost - Tue Aug 04 10:40:00 EDT 2009
I changed the symbols in the document to the Symbol font and that did trick. Thanks for you help. Does anyone know if this same problem exist in DOORS 9.1? We are suppose to be upgrading soon.

Hi, I'm quite late on that one but I thought it could help someone:

We're on DOORS 9.3.0.5 and the problem still exists... (but Ken's workaround still works too, thanks Ken!)

- Thomas

Re: Symbols in Microsoft Word OLE Objects Not Displayed Correctly
milevph - Thu Aug 21 03:35:34 EDT 2014

mcnairk - Tue Aug 04 08:44:33 EDT 2009
I had this problem with the up and down arrow symbols being displayed as question marks. You can fix it for these and some other symbols (including the GE and LE symbols - I checked) as follows:

  • Double click to open the embedded word object
  • Select the symbol
  • Insert > Symbol
  • Select Font "Symbol" (The default font "(normal text)" causes the problem)
  • Select the desired symbol
  • Insert
  • Close
  • File > Close and return to DOORS module

I can confirm this problem exist in 9.4.0.1. Also the workaround still works.

Thank you guys!