Home | Tips | Library | Other Authors | Other WP Sites | Writer's Links | Contact | Site Map | Donate

Macros, tips, and templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows®
© Copyright 1996-2012 by Barry MacDonnell. All Rights Reserved.

Two simple macros that create a small box with rounded corners around a letter or other character, including symbols. Examples:

The macros can be used for headings, illustrations, instructions, telephone directories, in the headers/footers of catalogs, and even within a text line -- anywhere special characters or unique numbering are desired.

HOW TO USE IT

Place your cursor after the character you want to "box," and play LETRBOX or LETRBOXR. See the comments at the top of the macro code for more information. LETRBOXR.WCM draws a reverse-color box (white-on-black).] Also see TEXTBOX.

HOW IT WORKS

The macro first selects the character just to the left of the current insertion point, then cuts the selected character to the clipboard. It then creates a text box, pastes the character into it (center justified, small font), adjusts the text box's parameters (including its position as a character on the page), and then uses cut-and-paste to place the text box itself back at the original insertion point in the document.

A small rectangular box, with minimum inside and outside box spacing, was used instead of a circle around the selected character to minimize the influence the box may have on adjacent lines of text.

You can edit the box to add more characters.

TIP: Once you create a text box with this macro, you can change the background and text color. The simple steps below are designed for WordPerfect 9, but the procedure should work with WP8. (Thanks to Margret Dunfee for this idea.)

1. Create a boxed number or letter with Letrbox.wcm.

2. To change the background color of the text box: Right click the text box, and choose Select Box from the drop down context menu. Eight small, solid black drag handles appear around the text box. On the Graphics Property Bar that is now displayed, click the Box Fill button, then the More button on the pop up dialog window. Under the Fill tab on the next window, click the solid black (i.e., 100% fill) style pattern and set the foreground to a desired color (e.g., bright red). Click OK to exit the dialog box. You should now be back at the main document screen.

3. To change the color of the text character itself: Right click the text box, and choose Content, then Edit, from the drop down menu. Once the cursor is inside the text box, select the character. Click Format, then Font, from the main menu. Select a desirable Color and (optionally) its Appearance. Click OK.

4. To remove the border from the box: Right click the text box, choose Border/Fill, and turn Line Style off.