Are you tired of desperately searching for how to insert special characters into your documents ? Search no further! Discover how to create custom keyboard shortcuts to easily insert special characters in Windows 10 and 11.
Introduction to keyboard shortcuts for special characters
Keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that allow you to quickly perform an action or function on your computer. They are particularly useful for inserting special characters that are not found on the standard keyboard, such as the "ñ" (N with a tilde), the euro symbol (€), or the copyright symbol (©).
Why customize keyboard shortcuts?
Predefined keyboard shortcuts can sometimes be difficult to remember or inconvenient. By creating your own shortcuts, you can choose key combinations that suit you, saving time and increasing efficiency in your daily work.
How to create custom keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10 and 11
To create custom keyboard shortcuts for special characters in Windows 10 and 11, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open the character table
Press the Windows key and type "Character Map" in the search bar. Click on the "Character Map" application in the search results.
Step 2: Select the desired special character
In the character table, search for and select the special character you want to insert using a custom keyboard shortcut. In our case, we chose the character "µ".
Step 3: Note the Unicode code of the character
When you select a character, its Unicode code is displayed at the bottom of the character map window. Note this code for future reference.
Step 4: Create the custom keyboard shortcut
1. Find the item you want to launch with a key combination. For example, if you want to launch Google Chrome, go to the folder “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application” and look for the file “msedge”.
2. Right-click on the file and choose “Send to” then “Desktop (create shortcut)”. This will create a shortcut to Google Chrome on your desktop.
3. Right-click on the shortcut you just created and choose “Properties”. This will open a window with information about the shortcut.
4. In the “Shortcut” tab, click in the “Shortcut key” box and press a key on your keyboard. For example, if you want to launch Google Chrome with CTRL + ALT + G, press the G key. You will see the box populate with the chosen key combination.
5. Click “OK” to save the keyboard shortcut. You can now close the properties window and delete the desktop shortcut if you wish.
Try pressing the key combination you created. Microsoft Edge should open automatically.
This article might interest you: Ctrl + Alt + Delete on Mac: 4 alternative methods!
Comparative table of common Unicode codes
Here is a comparative table of Unicode codes for some common special characters that you can use with the method described above:
| Character | Unicode code |
|---|---|
| © | 0169 |
| ® | 0174 |
| ™ | 0153 |
| € | 0128 |
| £ | 0163 |
| ¥ | 0165 |
| ñ | 0241 |
FAQs!
What are some other commonly used special characters and their corresponding Unicode codes?
There are many special characters used in different languages and contexts. Here are some common special characters and their Unicode codes:
- Æ (Latin capital letter AE): 0198
- æ (Latin lowercase ae): 0230
- ß (German eszett): 0223
- ç (c with cedilla): 0231
- Ç (C with cedilla): 0199
- ø (barred o): 0248
- Ø (O with a line through it): 0216
- ª (exponent a): 0170
- º (exponent o): 0186
- "(French opening quotation marks): 0171
- » (French closing quotation marks): 0187
You can find complete lists of Unicode codes for various special characters by consulting online resources dedicated to Unicode.
How do I create custom keyboard shortcuts for special characters on a Mac?
On a Mac, you can create custom keyboard shortcuts for special characters by following these steps:
1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on "Keyboard".
3. Go to the "Shortcuts" tab.
4. Click on "Input Shortcuts" in the left-hand list.
5. Click the "+" button to add a new shortcut.
6. Select the application in which you want to use the shortcut, or choose "All applications" for it to work globally.
7. Enter the special character in the "Menu" field.
8. Enter the desired key combination in the "Keyboard shortcut" field.
9. Click "Add" to save the shortcut.
How do I create custom keyboard shortcuts for special characters on a Mac?
On a Mac, you can create custom keyboard shortcuts for special characters by following these steps:
- Open System Preferences.
2. Click on "Keyboard".
3. Go to the "Shortcuts" tab.
4. Click on "Input Shortcuts" in the left-hand list.
5. Click the "+" button to add a new shortcut.
6. Select the application in which you want to use the shortcut, or choose "All applications" for it to work globally.
7. Enter the special character in the "Menu" field.
8. Enter the desired key combination in the "Keyboard shortcut" field.
9. Click "Add" to save the shortcut.
Is it possible to create custom keyboard shortcuts for special characters in Microsoft Word or other word processing software?
Yes, it is possible to create custom keyboard shortcuts for special characters in Microsoft Word and other word processing software. Here's how to do it in Microsoft Word:
1. Open Microsoft Word and click on the "File" tab.
2. Select "Options" from the drop-down menu.
3. In the "Word Options" window, click on "Customize the Ribbon".
4. Click on "Customize" next to "Keyboard shortcuts".
5. In the "All commands" category, search for and select the command corresponding to the desired special character.
6. Enter the desired key combination in the "Keyboard Shortcut" field.
7. Click "Assign" to save the shortcut, then click "OK" to close the window.
For other word processing software, consult the software's documentation or online help to learn how to create custom keyboard shortcuts for special characters.
Conclusion
Creating custom keyboard shortcuts for special characters can greatly improve your efficiency and comfort when typing. The questions addressed in this FAQ cover various aspects of creating keyboard shortcuts for special characters, including using Unicode codes, configuring shortcuts on a Mac, and customizing shortcuts in specific word processing software. Feel free to delve deeper into these topics and explore other resources to get the most out of custom keyboard shortcuts.
