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Create special characters easily in Keynote '08 Apps
I am a scientist, who often has to use Greek and astronomical symbols. Before, in Keynote, it was necessary to open Edit » Special Characters, find the character, and insert it. Blah. But while playing with the trial version of iWork '08, I found an additional small feature in the Preferences of Keynote 4: the Auto-Correction tab.

First check the box for Symbol and text substitution, then click the "+" sign below the existing list of substitutions. I can then add the special characters just once in this pref pane, and associate it with a special string. For instance, for the "alpha" greek symbol (α), I would associate the string alpha with that symbol (LaTeX users will appreciate).

Back in my slides, as soon as I type alpha, I get the α symbol!

[robg adds: This panel is available in both Pages and Numbers as well. In iWork '06, it was only in Pages. So I've been using TypeIt4Me to add my Keynote special characters. However, this is a more elegant solution for those characters I need only in Keynote.]
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Create special characters easily in Keynote '08
Authored by: a153957 on Aug 13, '07 12:42:36PM

An easier way to do this:
Simply have your standard (probably US) and the Greek keyboard configurations enabled in the Input Menu (in System Prefs -> International)

then use the Command+space shortcut (or, if cmd+space is taken by spotlight, another shortcut, which can easily be set in the Keyboard shortcuts section in the System Prefs) to switch between the two.

so, to type greek signs just press cmd+space.. then type a for alpha.. b for beta.. etc.. then cmd+space again to switch back to normal typing.

this is what i use.. and it works great.

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Create special characters easily in Keynote '08
Authored by: Stecchino1 on Aug 13, '07 07:24:37PM
Nice hint. Also of use, similar to TypeIt4Me is RapidoWrite, which is freeware. http://www.app4mac.com/rapidowrite.html

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