UNSOLVED
Accented Letter Problem in XP
Windows 3.1 and subsequent versions supported a system of inserting accented letters into documents which involved pressing and holding down the ALT key and entering a three or four digit code number into the Numeric keyboard, When the ALT key was released, the desired accented letter appeared in your document. I've been using this system for about ten years and the Help system in XP says it is still there.
My problem is that I can't make it work in my new computer with the XP operating system. All it will give me is question marks.
Does anyone know what the problem is and how I might be able to fix it?
Thanks,
Bill
My problem is that I can't make it work in my new computer with the XP operating system. All it will give me is question marks.
Does anyone know what the problem is and how I might be able to fix it?
Thanks,
Bill
JRosenfeld
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Posted January 1st, 2004 20:00
Yes it is and it works fine for me. Have you got numlock on?
Use character map, select the font to find out which alt 0xxx to use. If you can't find a shortcut to character map, it is the file charmap.exe in the system32 folder (you need to set show hideden files and folders in Tools options view tab of Windows Explorer). If it is not there, Control panel Add/remove software, in the left column click Add/remove Windows components, Accessories and Utilities, Accessories, check the character map box, OK out.
Message Edited by JRosenfeld on 01-01-2004 10:40 PM
- Thanks for the speedy responses. I'm using Times New Roman, the NumLock light is on, and the numeric keypad is working nicely.
I'm using the Extended Character applet and the three or four digit code numbers given in the lower right-hand corner thereof. For example, "a" with an umlaut should be ALT + 0228 and the one-quarter symbol should be ALT + 0188.
In both (and all other cases) after depressing and holding down the ALT key, entering the indicated code number, and releasing the ALT key, I am rewarded with a question mark.
Do not understand it,
Thanks again,
Bill JRosenfeld
2 Intern
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Posted January 2nd, 2004 14:00
Odd. In either Word, Wordpad or Notepad, I have no problems. Character map for TNR or Arial font in XP gives the code for é as alt +0233, although alt+130, é also works. The code for ä is given as alt+0228 and that works. However alt +228 gives õ, although the code in character map is alt+0245 õ also works.
I still suggest that you use charactermap. You don't need to copy/paste; if you select in charactermap, you can left drag the highlighted (enlarged) character to your document in Word, Wordpad or to this board (but it does not seem to work in Notepad).
An alternative somewhat more cumbersome workaround for some accented letters is to use the XP virtual (on screen)keyboard, set to French; for characters such as é; è; ç; à; ù, but that does mess up the position on your keyboard of other letters and characters if you are used to touch typing and only use the virtual keyboard for the accented letters. (e.g. , becomes ; and a becomes q on the French keyboard). With the language bar in the trask bar, you can however switch quickly from one keyboard to another. The ä is on the Swedish language keyboard, together with ö and å.
A third possibilty, in Word at least, is to use Insert, Symbol. This also gives some keyboard shortcuts. For example, Ctrl+: release, type a, gives ä and there is an option to change the shortcut to suit yourself.
Although they do not solve your problem, you could try to see if these methods work, which might at least narrow down the root problem. I assume that you have the XP fonts (Times.ttf, Unicode version 2.97).
karn3ra
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Posted January 1st, 2004 20:00