How to Type Accented Characters on an English Alphabet Keyboard

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

External Links

•  ? (Unsure on the last one, but this does need a better category that the first one)