Finding Accents on a Windows Anglo Keyboard
If you use Windows, there are several ways to type accented characters. Let's start with two methods available at the system level, and therefore usable under any program.
Both involve using the CHARACTER MAP which in windows 95 is found from the Start Menu, Programs, Accessories, Character Map. In Windows 98 the path is Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Character Map.
1. Place the curser on the desired accented character and look for the keystroke code in the lower right hand corner of the Character Map Box. The keystroke code consists of ALT (for ALT key) plus a succession of three or four digits. You must hold down the ALT key while typing the succession of digits, and the character will not appear until you finish the code and release the ALT key Thus, each upper and lower case letter has a different combination of keystrokes. You may want to write down the codes on a Post-It Note to stick on the side of your monitor until you memorize them. Excuse us if we do not give you the keystrokes here, but there are several different possibilities, and we cannot predict what will work in your computer.
2. if you don't want to deal with all those numbers, you may prefer the copy and paste method To use his method, go to the Character Map as above. Use the curser to click on the desired character (this highlights it), then click on the SELECT button on the right side of the character map. This action will move the desired character into the COPY BOX which is in the upper right corner of the Character Map. Move all the characters you think you need into the box and then click on the COPY button which is found just under the SELECT button. All the characters you have chosen, will then be on your clipboard. You then go to your Email or word processing program and hit PASTE or Ctrl V. You are then ready to cut and paste where needed.
There is probably another easier set of key combinations available in your favorite word processor. You can either copy and paste your message from your word processor to your Email program or send it as an attachment to your Email message.
In Word 97, you can find a chart of all available characters by choosing "Symbol" in the Insert menu. The dialogue box will probably display symbols when you open it, but the pop-up menu will enable you to see international characters. Select any character, and in the bottom right hand corner of the box you will see the key combinations necessary to type it, or you can click the Insert button and insert the character in your text. If you don't like the key combinations chosen by Microsoft, you can change them after clicking on the "Keyboard shortcut" button.
In Word Perfect, open the Insert menu, choose "Symbols, and you will see a clickable chart which will insert characters in your text. To find the key combinations for accented characters or to create your own combinations--at least in the Macintosh version -- choose "Preferences" in the Edit menu, and click on "Keyboard". Then choose "Characters" in the pop-up menu.
If all else fails, you can install a keyboard utility program, which will either allow you to assign characters to keys of your choice or install a menu of special characters which you can choose by mouse click when needed.
If you use Microsoft Office 2000 Premium with MultiLanguage Pack,
you have a keyboard utility which should let you reconfigure the
keyboard as needed for use with Office applications. See
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/officedev/off2krk/30t5_5.htm
A popular Windows utility is Swapkeys 1.0, downloadable for 12
Dollars at
http://www.swapkeys.com/