How to Type Accented Characters on an English Alphabet Keyboard
Contents
Baiscs
- This page goes over how to type accented letters on a standard english keyboard (Typical WASD type latin alphabet keyboard optimized for english)
- Useful for typing efficiently in spanish and other non-english languages, while not needing to use some sort of software tool (such as copy and past froms an instance etc)
Windows
Method 1: ASCII
- This method can be done "stock" ie no software/setting changes are needed
- HOWEVER it is complex (needs many unique codes), and more time intensive
- To do so one must hold down the "ALT" key while typing the "Code" on the keypad
- Consult This Chart or similar ones for the codes
- If more are needed, and they aren't memorised by the user, it is useful to have this in a tab/other screen/printed out or written down, for typing
- ALL IN ALL this method is best suited to occasional use
Method 2: AutoHotkey
- This is the most effective method, but also is harder to setup
- The user first downloads AutoHotkey
- Then input the following script if intending to use the accents common in spanish (As of now copy and paste from this page's source code)
- Source is This Blogpost's Code
- SPANISH ACCENTS
- -Press Ctrl + Alt + Letter to replace with the accented version (including shift for capital letters)
^!a:: Send {Asc 160} ; á ^!+a:: Send {Asc 0193} ; Á ^!e:: Send {Asc 130} ; é ^!+e:: Send {Asc 144} ; É ^!i:: Send {Asc 161} ; í ^!+i:: Send {Asc 0205} ; Í ^!o:: Send {Asc 162} ; ó ^!+o:: Send {Asc 0211} ; Ó ^!u:: Send {Asc 163} ; ú ^!+u:: Send {Asc 0218} ; Ú ^!n:: Send {Asc 164} ; ñ ^!+n:: Send {Asc 165} ; Ñ ^!':: Send {Asc 129} ; ü ^!+':: Send {Asc 154} ; Ü ^!/:: Send {Asc 168} ; ¿ ^!1:: Send {Asc 173}
- This works by the user pressing "CTRL" "ALT" and the desired base letter then releasing all three to create the symbol. For Example:
- "CTRL" + "ALT" + "A" = "Á"
- A similar code may work for other accents
Dedicated Keys
- If extra keys are on the keyboard, or another keyboard is used, dedicated keys/keyboards can be made
Linux
MacOS
Internal Links
External Links
- ? (Unsure on the last one, but this does need a better category that the first one)