Hello All,

Most of us know about the Alt num method of entering characters not directly accesible from the keyboard.

I now found a more general method for directly entering the unicode code point, independent of present code page or language setting.


Press and hold down the Alt key.
Press the + (plus) key on the numeric keypad.
Type the hexidecimal unicode value.
Release the Alt key.

To get the Dutch ij ligature on your screen type Alt +0133. ij

If it does not work, you need to change a setting in the registry:

Under HKEY_Current_User/Control Panel/Input Method, set EnableHexNumpad to "1". If you have to add it, set the type to be REG_SZ.

Source:

http://www.fileformat.info/tip/microsoft/enter_unicode.htm


Cheers, Michiel

--- GoldED+/W32-MINGW 1.1.5-b20110320
* Origin: http://www.vlist.eu (2:280/5555)

Hello All,

Saturday January 31 2015 12:34, I wrote to you:

Under HKEY_Current_User/Control Panel/Input Method, set
EnableHexNumpad to "1". If you have to add it, set the type to be
REG_SZ.

You have to reboot the machine for the change to take effect.


Cheers, Michiel

--- GoldED+/W32-MSVC 1.1.5-b20130111
* Origin: http://www.vlist.eu (2:280/5555)

Hello All,

Saturday January 31 2015 12:34, I wrote to you:

Press and hold down the Alt key.
Press the + (plus) key on the numeric keypad.
Type the hexidecimal unicode value.
Release the Alt key.

On a laptop or other device without a nummeric key pad, it is a bit more complicated but still possible:

Activate the numlock.

Press the blue Fn key and hold it while hunting for the "nummeric" + key. Sometimes it is marked on the key in blue, sometimes it is not. It usually is the key that in normal mode is the key for / and ?. If not try neighbour keys.

Locate the "nummeric" keys for 0-6. they usually correspond to the normal keys M J K L U I O and usually are labelled on those keys in blue. The keys for 7, 8 and 9 are the same as the keys on the normal nummeric keys in the top row.

Once you have located the "nummeric keys", you can enter the codes by pressing and holding the Fn and Alt key together and entering the code using the keys just located.


Cheers, Michiel

--- GoldED+/W32-MSVC 1.1.5-b20130111
* Origin: http://www.vlist.eu (2:280/5555)

Hello All,

Friday February 06 2015 21:39, I wrote to you:

Once you have located the "nummeric keys", you can enter the codes by pressing and holding the Fn and Alt key together and entering the code using the keys just located.

Ehhh, one more thing. When entering a hexadecimal number it gets even more complex. The digits A-F are entered using the normal A-F keys on the keyboard but you have to release the Fn key and keep holding the Alt key while doing so.

SO... to get a Euro sign on the screen of your laptop press the following sequence:

1) Hold down the Fn and Alt keys
2) Press "nummeric" +
3) Press K
4) Press M
5) Release the Fn key while keeping the Alt key pressed
6) Press A
7) Press C
8) Release Alt.

Wauw...

Cheers, Michiel

--- GoldED+/W32-MSVC 1.1.5-b20130111
* Origin: http://www.vlist.eu (2:280/5555)

Hello Michiel,

orig.message to echo UTF-8 on 31 Jan 15 12:34:40

To get the Dutch ij ligature on your screen type Alt +0133. ij
If it does not work, you need to change a setting in the registry:
Under HKEY_Current_User/Control Panel/Input Method, set EnableHexNumpad to "1". If you have to add it, set the type to be REG_SZ.
Source:
http://www.fileformat.info/tip/microsoft/enter_unicode.htm

It seems that best fitted for unicode are touch-screen devices - they can be setup to show in on-screen keyboard most-needed symbols to enter them seamlesly.

Sergey

... vim
--- PyFTN
* Origin: fluid.fidoman.ru (2:5020/12000)

Hello Sergey,

On Friday April 24 2015 12:14, you wrote to me:

To get the Dutch ij ligature on your screen type Alt +0133. ij
If it does not work, you need to change a setting in the
registry: Under HKEY_Current_User/Control Panel/Input Method, set
EnableHexNumpad to "1". If you have to add it, set the type to be
REG_SZ.
Source:
http://www.fileformat.info/tip/microsoft/enter_unicode.htm

It seems that best fitted for unicode are touch-screen devices

Touch screen are good for entering a limited amount of data. For typing a substantial amount of text, they are less suitable. I prefer a "real" keyboard for that.

- they can be setup to show in on-screen keyboard most-needed symbols
to enter them seamlesly.

It is the exotic seldom used characters that are a prpblem. For "most" used characters one can load a keyboard driver. i have a keyboard that is labelled for US ASCII and Cyrillic. I have installed Russian in the Windows set up and I can switch between ASCII and Cyrillic with hot key. Presumably you ahve a similar set up.

The character encoding and keyboard labelling are two entirely different things.


Cheers, Michiel

--- GoldED+/W32-MINGW 1.1.5-b20110320
* Origin: http://www.vlist.eu (2:280/5555)

Hello Michiel,

orig.message to echo UTF-8 on 24 Apr 15 13:46:37

- they can be setup to show in on-screen keyboard most-needed symbols
to enter them seamlesly.

It is the exotic seldom used characters that are a prpblem. For "most" used characters one can load a keyboard driver. i have a keyboard that is labelled for US ASCII and Cyrillic. I have installed Russian in the Windows set up and I can switch between ASCII and Cyrillic with hot key. Presumably you ahve a similar set up.
The character encoding and keyboard labelling are two entirely different things.

Sometimes number of keys in not enough.
I know in book editing job they input special symbols that are not included in any layout. So they use printed paper with Alt+ codes.
I do not think it is convenient. Of course all these symbols are encountered relatively rare compared to standard alphabet letters so hassle is not very big.

And sometimes I do not understand why all these shit are included in UNICODE table - digits of different kinds, digits in circles, digit in sqaure, all the fucking emojies... I thought that UNICODE is way to represent all alphabets, but currently it stands to be font abuser.

Sergey

... vim
--- PyFTN
* Origin: fluid.fidoman.ru (2:5020/12000)

Hello Sergey,

On Friday April 24 2015 23:18, you wrote to me:

Sometimes number of keys in not enough.

On some European keyboards the right Alt key is labelled "Alt Gr". With the proper keyboard driver it is used to give an alternate meaning to some keys. For example with my Dutchkeyboard driver, the combination of the right Alt key with the 5 on the top row is a Euro sign. Right Alt + m = µ Right Alt + s = ß

Of course, ome can still run into some symbol that is not covered that way. Then there is no other way than to just enterthe code manually...

I know in book editing job they input special symbols that are not included in any layout. So they use printed paper with Alt+ codes. I
do not think it is convenient.

Indeed, not convenient. Especially if seldom used. The note with the special codes always gets lost...

And sometimes I do not understand why all these shit are included in UNICODE table - digits of different kinds, digits in circles, digit in sqaure, all the fucking emojies... I thought that UNICODE is way to represent all alphabets, but currently it stands to be font abuser.

The idea was to cover all characters in use. Past and present. It does indeed seem an overkill. OTOH, it does not bother me. I just use what I need.


Cheers, Michiel

--- GoldED+/W32-MSVC 1.1.5-b20130111
* Origin: http://www.vlist.eu (2:280/5555)

Hello Michiel,

orig.message to echo UTF-8 on 25 Apr 15 11:46:21

Sometimes number of keys in not enough.

On some European keyboards the right Alt key is labelled "Alt Gr". With the proper keyboard driver it is used to give an alternate meaning to some keys. For example with my Dutchkeyboard driver, the combination of the right Alt key with the 5 on the top row is a Euro sign. Right Alt + m = æ Right Alt + s = á
Of course, ome can still run into some symbol that is not covered that way. Then there is no other way than to just enterthe code manually...

Keyboard layout can be modified in driver at last. But there is another problem - location for mu, pi or ss can be easily guessed, but if there is no such clear consonance we need to make some memo to remember where it is - separate paper or sticker for keyboard key.

I know in book editing job they input special symbols that are not
included in any layout. So they use printed paper with Alt+ codes. I
do not think it is convenient.

Indeed, not convenient. Especially if seldom used. The note with the special codes always gets lost...

I offer to consider on-screen keyboard as software replacement for such note. And "Character map" as ultimate replacement of keyboard in aspect of its unusability :)

And sometimes I do not understand why all these shit are included in
UNICODE table - digits of different kinds, digits in circles, digit in
sqaure, all the fucking emojies... I thought that UNICODE is way to
represent all alphabets, but currently it stands to be font abuser.

The idea was to cover all characters in use. Past and present. It does indeed seem an overkill. OTOH, it does not bother me. I just use what I need.

I'd prefered that all these strange symbols was drawed as embedded SVG for example. Becouse if I do not have sufficiently fresh and complete font I see only square with four hexadecimal digits.
Moreover all the text can be represented as SVG but it will be horror for full-text search indexers :)

Sergey

... vim
--- PyFTN
* Origin: fluid.fidoman.ru (2:5020/12000)

Hello Sergey,

On Monday April 27 2015 22:49, you wrote to me:

Then there is no other way than to just enterthe code manually...

Keyboard layout can be modified in driver at last. But there is
another problem - location for mu, pi or ss can be easily guessed, but
if there is no such clear consonance we need to make some memo to
remember where it is - separate paper or sticker for keyboard key.

They all have drawbacks. Notes get lost and there is a limit to how many lables can be put on one key. At three it already gets crowded.

I offer to consider on-screen keyboard as software replacement for
such note. And "Character map" as ultimate replacement of keyboard in aspect of its unusability :)

Not always practical either. Especially on small screens, like a tablet or smart phone screen.

The idea was to cover all characters in use. Past and present. It
does indeed seem an overkill. OTOH, it does not bother me. I just
use what I need.

I'd prefered that all these strange symbols was drawed as embedded SVG
for example. Becouse if I do not have sufficiently fresh and complete
font I see only square with four hexadecimal digits. Moreover all the
text can be represented as SVG but it will be horror for full-text
search indexers :)

Indeed. Text should be text and not graphics....


Cheers, Michiel

--- GoldED+/W32-MSVC 1.1.5-b20130111
* Origin: http://www.vlist.eu (2:280/5555)

Hello Michiel,

orig.message to echo UTF-8 on 30 Apr 15 00:48:07

Keyboard layout can be modified in driver at last. But there is
another problem - location for mu, pi or ss can be easily guessed, but
if there is no such clear consonance we need to make some memo to
remember where it is - separate paper or sticker for keyboard key.

They all have drawbacks. Notes get lost and there is a limit to how many lables can be put on one key. At three it already gets crowded.

It's matter of design. I saw on ebay stickers for russian-english-hebrew, looking nice due to different colors.
If recall old times, ZX Spectrum had even BASIC keywords printed on keys.

I offer to consider on-screen keyboard as software replacement for
such note. And "Character map" as ultimate replacement of keyboard in
aspect of its unusability :)

Not always practical either. Especially on small screens, like a tablet or smart phone screen.

On small screen we have on-screen keyboard, which have essentially same functionality (click on symbol to insert it).

The idea was to cover all characters in use. Past and present. It
does indeed seem an overkill. OTOH, it does not bother me. I just
use what I need.

I'd prefered that all these strange symbols was drawed as embedded SVG
for example. Becouse if I do not have sufficiently fresh and complete
font I see only square with four hexadecimal digits. Moreover all the
text can be represented as SVG but it will be horror for full-text
search indexers :)

Indeed. Text should be text and not graphics....

It looks for me as some sort of compression - we preload "font" with all the symbols then use it by reference.
But this method is good only for big corporation such as Apple - I do not know if individual can add his symbols to unicode.

Sergey

... vim
--- PyFTN
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