Alt codes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The term Alt codes is used to refer to a number of Unicode input methods that allow characters to be entered by typing a character's code point in concert with the Alt key.

1 Usage
2 Other input methods
3 Utilities
4 See also
5 Reference Charts

[edit] Usage

In Microsoft Windows, symbols and accented characters not found on the keyboard are inserted by holding down the Alt key and typing number(s) on the numeric keypad, see Windows Alt keycodes. Numbers that are used with the Alt key to generate a character, representing the Decimal numeric entity code; the Wordpad editor can be used to generate characters from many Unicode blocks. Note, IE doesn't support typing in decimal entity values more than 256. Characters are stored on your computer as numbers, each letter or symbol is represented by a number. To make sure that text looks the same on all computers, there is a standard called Unicode that defines which numbers are mapped to which characters. Due to the number of alphabets in the world, Unicode defines tens of thousands of characters.
A variant of alt codes are Alt-X codes: they can be applied in WordPad and Microsoft Word 2002/2003 for Windows; the keystroke Alt + x will convert a Selected hexadecimal number to the corresponding character; see Unicode input methods, Windows Alt keycodes. Note, IE does not support this feature.
The Linux console supports Alt codes using the same method as with Windows. In VIM editor, first type Ctrl-V u, then type in the hexadecimal number of the symbol or character that you want, and it will be converted into the symbol.
In Mac OS X and in Mac OS 8.5 and later: choose the Unicode Hex Input keyboard layout. Hold down the Option key, and type the four-digit hex Unicode code point. Release the Option key; the equivalent character will appear.
Under GNOME, press ctrl-shift-U and then type the Unicode number with ctrl and shift held down. Later versions do not require ctrl and shift to be held down while typing the number.

[edit] Other input methods

A variety of codepoint-based input methods that do not use the term alt codes are provided by various programs and environments; see Unicode input methods for a full list. Cardbox Software has created a free utility that extends the alt codes system to non-microsoft applications.

Entering characters with a utility like Quick Key (download) is much preferable to memorizing alt codes, although Quick Key also excels as an alt code reference. Proprietary alternatives include PopChar and FrKeys.