Trying to understand wingdings, mt extra and other odd fonts

[pintree3]

For fun I wrote a text in English for my students. Then did a Ctrl-A to select all and changed font to 'Wingdings'.
After which I saved the file.
I opened it later, 'select all' again and then chose a normal font 'Calibri' but to my surprise nothing showed. I tried other fonts and the same results. In total I used, Webdings, mT Extra, Bookshelf symbol 7, Marlett, MS Outlook, Ms reference specialty, and Symbol but always had the same negative results. This got me thinking, then what is the use of having these fonts? Certainly nobody can read windings or anything like that.
And, if I may, can I write normal text using normal fonts and convert them to the above, save and close the file, and then somehow be able to convert them back to normal-something legible?
Thank you

 

[Ranger4]

Read through this MS website. I tried it & it worked using Outlook & then copying it back. Anyway read through the solutions & try it out.

Can't change Wingdings back to normal font - Microsoft Community

 

[pintree3]

Thank you so much Ranger4 that was both interesting and helpful.
If I may, to you or anybody else, the solution suggests to use Outlook or PowerPoint (and possibly only wingdings). I'd like to know if it is possible (maybe via plugin) to use Word and only Word--both my students and I don't use Outlook and they don't use PowerPoint

 

[Ranger4]

I can't suggest anything else, sorry. I know it sounds stupid but the only solution without Outlook or Power Point, is don't use it.