USING ALT+nnn .. HOW?

R

Richard White

I want to be able to key some special characters into various documents (some Word, and some in
other programs).

I'm aware of how IN THEORY they can be entered using the ALT key.

For example the degree symbol (°) is given as ALT+176.

But HOW physically do I key this in???

I've got a laptop with two sets of numbers: the 'normal' set along the top, and a second set using
the MJKLUIO789 keys which are enabled via the NumLock toggle.

I've got a Fn key which is used both to enable the NumLock key and to toggle the settings of the
individual MJKLUIO789 keys.

I've got an ALT key and an ALT-GR key.

Now -- how do I use these to enter something such as ALT+176?

Holding the ALT key down, and typing 176 does NOT work.

TIA
 
M

Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Where are you tring to input these special characters? Do you have the
Character Map installed? When you say you have tried using the ALT 176 key,
did you add the + to the equation?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to
the (insert latest virus name here) virus, all mail sent to my personal
account will be deleted without reading.

After furious head scratching, Richard White asked:

| I want to be able to key some special characters into various
| documents (some Word, and some in other programs).
|
| I'm aware of how IN THEORY they can be entered using the ALT key.
|
| For example the degree symbol (°) is given as ALT+176.
|
| But HOW physically do I key this in???
|
| I've got a laptop with two sets of numbers: the 'normal' set along
| the top, and a second set using the MJKLUIO789 keys which are enabled
| via the NumLock toggle.
|
| I've got a Fn key which is used both to enable the NumLock key and to
| toggle the settings of the individual MJKLUIO789 keys.
|
| I've got an ALT key and an ALT-GR key.
|
| Now -- how do I use these to enter something such as ALT+176?
|
| Holding the ALT key down, and typing 176 does NOT work.
|
| TIA
 
D

Don MI

Richard White said:
I want to be able to key some special characters into various documents
(some Word, and some in
other programs).

I'm aware of how IN THEORY they can be entered using the ALT key.

For example the degree symbol (°) is given as ALT+176.

But HOW physically do I key this in???

I've got a laptop with two sets of numbers: the 'normal' set along the
top, and a second set using
the MJKLUIO789 keys which are enabled via the NumLock toggle.

I've got a Fn key which is used both to enable the NumLock key and to
toggle the settings of the
individual MJKLUIO789 keys.

I've got an ALT key and an ALT-GR key.

Now -- how do I use these to enter something such as ALT+176?

Holding the ALT key down, and typing 176 does NOT work.

TIA

The sequence for a full size keyboard for a character shortcut is ALT+the
number on the numeric keyboard.

Not familiar with your hardware, but whatever activates the numeric keyboard
should work.

The character shortcut is ALT+0176. When the keystroke shortcut includes a
leading zero, the zero must be used.

Don
 
R

Richard White

Milly Staples said:
Where are you tring to input these special characters? Do you have the
Character Map installed? When you say you have tried using the ALT 176 key,
did you add the + to the equation?

I'm comparing the method of input to that for things like CTRL+C where one holds down the CTRL key
and presses C.

Holding down the ALT key and typing 176 doesn't work.

I can input the ° (ALT+176 character) in MS Word using Insert->Symbol.

It's there that it confirms that ALT+176 is the shortcut to enter the symbol. But I can't get any
combination of ALT (or ALT-GR) to work with either of the numeric key sets (top line or the number
pad available via the Fn/NumLock keys).

I've also tried combining both ALT and ALT-GR with NumLock on/off, with SHIFT, with CTRL and with
Fn. Nothing seems to work.

So - back to original question

HOW should I physically (ie keystroke by keystroke) interpret the notation ALT+176 to enter the
degree symbol?
 
R

Richard White

Don MI said:
news:[email protected]... [...snipped...]
The sequence for a full size keyboard for a character shortcut is ALT+the
number on the numeric keyboard.

Not familiar with your hardware, but whatever activates the numeric keyboard
should work.

The character shortcut is ALT+0176. When the keystroke shortcut includes a
leading zero, the zero must be used.

Tried a leading zero too - still no luck.

As per other reply I've also tried just about every combination I can think of with ALT, ALT-GR,
SHIFT, CTRL, Fn and NumLock.

Numeric keypad overlay on keys MJKLUIO789 does work. Using Fn without NumLock, or setting NumLock
on, these keys when pressed produce numbers 0123456789. So it's just the mechanism of combining
them with the ALT key that I can't figure out.

Any other ideas?

TIA
 
A

Alan Edwards

I have an old laptop that is similar, though my NumLock key is not
enabled by the Fn key but by Shift+ the NumLock/ScrLK key

With NumLock on, I can press and hold ALT and type 0176 (mj7o) then
release the ALT key to get the degree symbol (°)
You should be using ALT+0176, not ALT+176

....Alan
 

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