Typing with the Keyboard
Typing Extended Characters Using the International Keyboard Layout
Once you have installed the International Keyboard Layout you can type extended characters in almost all Windows applications as follows:
To type accented characters you can use the intuitive dead-key function. First you select the accent you want by typing one of the five punctuation keys (´ ' " ~ ^) then type the character you wish to modify e.g. to type a-grave (à) first type the grave ´ (note: nothing will happen when you type the accent) then type 'a'. In this way the following key combinations will achieve the results shown:
- ´ then e = é
- " then o = ö
- ' then c = ç
- ´ then u = ù
- ~ then n = ñ
Note: If you wish to type the accent character itself you need to type the accent then press the space bar e.g. " then [space] = "
Using the International Keyboard Layout also allows you to type many accented characters and other symbols not normally available from the standard qwerty keyboard by utilising the right hand Alt (Alternative) key as an Alternative Character (AltChar) key. For example if you hold down the AltChar (Right Alt) key and press n at the same time it produces n-tilde (ñ). In this way the following key combinations will achieve the results shown:
- AltChar (Right Alt) + e = é
- AltChar + q = ä
- AltChar + / = ¿
- AltChar + d = ð
And the same goes for shifted characters:
- AltChar + Shift + e = É
- AltChar + Shift + n = Ñ
- AltChar + Shift + [+] = ÷
- AltChar + Shift + < = Ç
There many more combinations possible. Refer to the diagram of the International Keyboard Layout at the end of this document as a reference.