How do I create ALT symbols?

Question

I DON'T mean how to get them, I know how to get ☺☻♥♦♣♠•◘○◙♂, etc. but I want to know how to make shortcuts for them.

For example, if I want the long dash and I don't like the shortcut for it, how do I REASSIGN the shortcut for it?

Answer 1

The Alt symbols were originally created when the IBM PC was produced. It contained a character set of 256 characters numbered from 0 to 255, and one could type each character by assuring that Num Lock was on, holding down the left Alt key, and typing the number of the character one wanted from the numeric keypad, and then lifting the left Alt key.



Various alternate DOS character sets were later provided for languages other than English and for compatibility of characters with the ISO Latin-1 alphabet. The Alt key method still worked, but what character appeared depended on which of these various character sets were installed.



This has NOTHING to do with Unicode.



Windows introduced a second character set on the system, the Windows character set. The Alt-key method was extended to that if the user, when using the Alt-key method of obtaining characters, type a 0 before the number, the corresponding symbol in the Windows character set appeared.



Again, there are a number of Windows character sets and the exact character that appears depends on which one is the current 8-bit WIndows character set.



Again, this has NOTHING to do with Unicode.



The Alt-key method cannot be changed, except by modifying the operating system. As one other answerer indicates, Windows does allow you to remap your keyboard, which is perhaps what you would like to do. But re-assigning key strokes on the keyboard will not change your character sets or the Alt-key method that accesses them by number.



Under some Windows applications like Notepad and Office, you can use the Alt key to enter numbers higher than 255 and so get access to all base plane Unicode numbers by their decimal code. You can download and install the Quick Unicode Input Tool from http://www.cardbox.com/quick.htm which extends this Alt Unicode method to every application, and also allows you to enter the hexadecimal Unicode identifier. But when this is running, it replaces the normal Alt key method so that characters like ♥ are no longer available by their DOS character set value, but only by their Unicode value.



You will find the free Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964665.aspx which will allow you to create customized keyboards for yourself. There are other keyboard layout creators which cost but are more powerful. See http://www.alanwood.net/unicode/utilities.html#win .



So you may quite easily remap your keyboard to allow use of particular key combinations for particular characters, for example you might set ♥ to right-Alt 3, set the em-dash to shift-right-Alt hyphen and set the en-dash to right-Alt hyphen. You can set almost any key to any character.



This causes NO problems with other programs, as long as you do not remap things like function keys, unless you know what you are doing.



The other answerers here mostly seem to exist in a world of “If I don’t know how to do it, it can’t be done”.

Answer 2

Like others have said, the ALT+# codes cannot be changed. Those are built into windows. There might be a way to change them, like in the source code for Windows, but I wouldn't know it. Changing these wouldn't affect regular functions of Windows, unless you changed it to something besides alt. Remapping your keyboard is a bad idea, because whether you think you use the F keys, you will need to use them once you have them remapped. The keypad (for numbers) on the other hand isn't essentially important as the numbers are there again in a straight line above the qwerty keypad. Although it is faster to use the numerical keypad, the horizontal line would be sufficient, if you were to use the symbols a lot. Unless you like to put a smily after every word you type, then really just memorize them. There's what maybe 10 you will use? that's not that many 3 digit codes to remember.

Answer 3

Source Epplblogs





In Word 2007, click on the Insert tab, then click on the symbol icon (at the far right). A little box pops up which shows a few symbols and the words "More Symbols." If you click on "more symbols," a bigger box pops up with all kinds of symbols, depending on what font you're working in.



(2) How to Use the "Character Map" in Windows:



Another method is to use the "Character Map" to copy and paste the required symbols. In Windows (XP), you'll find the Character Map by clicking on the Windows Start Menu, then All Programs, then Accessories, System Tools and Character Map. The Character Map box pops up.



Choose the font you wish to use from the drop-down menu at the top. Place your curser where you'd like to insert the symbol, click on the symbol you wish to insert, click on the Select Button, then the Copy Button and then paste the symbol onto your page (using Edit, Paste or the "Control v" shortcut). You'll also see the Alt Key shortcut at the bottom of the Character Map, for future reference.



(3) How to Make Keyboard Symbols with the "Alt" Key and Numeric Keypad:



Another way is to use the "Alt" key and numbers - making sure to use your numeric keypad, not the numbers on the top of the keyboard. NumLock needs to be ON.



Using the numeric keypad, hold down the Alt key, and hit the numbers (in succession) shown below for the symbol you want to use. For example for © Copyright, hold down Alt, press the number 0, then press the numbers 1, 6, 9. Then you can let up the Alt key.

Answer 4

Well probably the most elementary one you'll do for a middle is a not up to signal < and a three however im no longer certain easy methods to do different symbols sorry however

Answer 5

Follow here is a very shorter way in doing it start>all programs>accessories>System tools>Charactermap in that u shud see all of them u can also click them and they come up in a little box and u can just copy and paste anywhere when your done typing all of em