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DWACON[_1_]

"isw" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> (Alex Rast) wrote:
>
>> at Thu, 11 May 2006 19:34:24 GMT in <UkM8g.10241$qd2.458
>> @bignews6.bellsouth.net>, (jmcquown) wrote :
>>
>> >aem wrote:
>> >> Kent wrote:
>> >>> "Kent" > wrote in message
>> >>> ...
>> >>>> How do you do it on the computer??
>> >>>> Thanks for any info.
>> >>>
>> >> Another way that works in most situations is to hold down the [Alt]
>> >> key and use the number pad to enter 130. Thus: é -aem
>> >
>> >Yeah, it's called the ASCII character set.
>>
>> Actually it's the "extended" ASCII character set - the original ASCII is
>> only 128 characters, the first 32 reserved for all sorts of control
>> characters. The 256-character set usually used is the IBM extended set.
>>
>> I wish more places published tables of the character set - along with the
>> details on how to enter them. A lot of people are confused. Although in
>> fairness part of the problem is that it's not a universal standard.
>>
>> What irks me most, however, is the need to use a keystroke combination.
>> Personally I've never really been able to get used to keystroke combos.
>> They seem to me counter-intuitive. Which is strange given that IME for
>> most
>> people keystroke combos seem to be the *most* intuitive way of doing
>> things. Computers really need to be able to get to the point where you
>> can
>> have 2 characters overlain on the same space - it would then be a simple
>> matter of typing an e (or whatever) and then typing the appropriate
>> accent
>> mark (which hopefully could be incorporated into a keyboard much like a
>> numeric keypad).
>
> Unlike the complicated way it's done on a PC (Pretend Computer) where
> you have to memorize the entire extended ASCII set, Macs have done
> essentially what you suggest for a long time, except that you type the
> accent first, and then the letter -- well, almost. Actually, you type
> the most likely character to have that accent while depressing the
> "option" key (a.k.a. "alt"),then the character you want to have that
> accent. So for é, I type option-e, then e, or for á, I type option-e,
> then a. Simple, and easy to remember.

Or you can run the Windows Character Map. Hold down the little window flag
button and type "R" (or click start menu and select "run") and then type in
"charmap" and you have more characters than you can shake a cursor at.

Hope that halps!

--
The generation that used acid to escape reality
is now using antacid to deal with reality
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