WD: Ampersand Displays Incorrectly in Drop-Down Form Field

Last reviewed: February 3, 1998
Article ID: Q125892

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

If you are creating a drop-down form field, and one of your list items includes an ampersand (&), the resulting item in the drop-down list is missing the ampersand, and the character adjacent to the ampersand may be underlined. For example, "AT&T" (without the quotation marks) may appear in the drop-down list as:

   ATT
     -

If you try to work around the problem by adding a second ampersand, the drop-down list will correctly display "AT&T" (without the quotation marks), but when you select "AT&T," it displays in the form field box as

   "AT&&T"
   (without the quotation marks).

In Word 97 for Windows or Word 98 Macintosh Edition, use of the ampersand has the following effects:

Word 97 for Windows

Using a single ampersand, as in AT&T, does not display the ampersand but the character next to the ampersand is underlined, as in
ATT
```
     -
```
In this case, pressing T selects ATT from the drop-down list.
Using a double ampersand, as in AT&&T, displays a single ampersand, as in
AT&T
but the character next to the ampersand is not underlined. In this case, pressing T does not select AT&T from the drop down list.

Word 98 Macintosh Edition

Using a single ampersand, as in AT&T, does not display the ampersand nor is the character next to the ampersand underlined, as in
ATT
Using a double ampersand, as in AT&&T, displays a single ampersand, as in
AT&T
but the character next to the ampersand is not underlined. In both cases, pressing T does not select AT&T from the drop down list.

CAUSE

By design, the ampersand is used to designate the shortcut key in drop-down lists for quick keyboard access. The shortcut key is underlined.

Additional query words: form field incorrect underlined underline drop down
drop-down dropdown
Keywords : kbfield kbform macword ntword word6 word7 word8 word95 word97 wordnt macword98 kbui
Version : WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a,97; MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a,98
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb

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Last reviewed: February 3, 1998
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