Prentke Romich Company
http://www.prentrom.com/support/article/066

Typing "Special Characters" in PASS

Perhaps you are using Write With Icons in the  Spanish bi-lingual SpringBoard. You type in the word "piñata" only you don't know how to type in the " ñ " from your keyboard.

The " ñ " is a special character.  For our purposes, Special Characters are generally used in languages other than English.  You can type these characters from your computer keyboard or a laptop keyboard, but you have to add a couple of steps to get them typed.

Below are the directions for typing Special Characters. There is also a  list of the special characters and the numbers or letters to use to type them from both a desktop computer keyboard and a laptop keyboard.

To Type Special Characters in PASS from a Numeric Keypad on a Desktop Computer Keyboard

1. Turn NUM LOCK On on your keyboard. This usually means pressing the key under the words NUM LOCK (or Num Lock) until you see a green light above it.  This tells you that your numeric keypad will generate numbers.

2. Hold down the ALT key - keep holding it down until ALL FOUR digits are entered (next step).

3. On the numeric keypad type the 0 (zero) and then the three digit code for the character you want.  For example: ñ = ALT 0241.

NOTE: On some desktop keyboards, you may have to hold down a second key along with ALT before the numeric keypad will generate numbers.  This is usually the Fn key or the CTRL key.  If you try typing a number holding down only the ALT key and you don't get what you want, try ALT Fn or ALT CTRL. You will have to hold down both keys while you type in the four digit number.

To Type Special Characters in PASS from a Laptop Keyboard

Laptops do not have a set-apart numeric keypad area like most desktop keyboards.  The numeric keypad is incorporated into the regular keyboard keys.  On most laptops the numeric keypad keys can be found as follows:

0 is on the M key
1, 2, 3 are on the J, K, L keys
4, 5, 6 are on the U, I, O keys
7, 8, 9 are on the 7, 8, 9 keys

To turn the numeric keypad On

Find a small key, probably in the top row of keys, that says "num lk" (or some similar abbreviation for Num Lock). The key may also have a second function on it. The letters will be tiny and may be in blue or surrounded by a white outline. This tells you that you need to press another key to acces the function on the Num Lock key.

Once you find the Num Lock key, look for the special function key that matches the Num Lock key.  On an N800 (PRC consultant) laptop, Num Lock is outlined in white. The Fn key on the lower left side of the keyboard is also outlined in white. On the N800, you will hold down the Fn key and press the Num lk key to turn Num Lock On. Num Lock is on when you see a light under the little padlock with a "1" in it.

On some computers the writing on the Num Lock key is blue and the writing on the Fn key is blue. On some, the writing is just smaller than any other text on the same key. This probably means that you use the SHIFT key in conjunction with the Num Lock key.

Once you see the Num Lock On indicator light, open a document. Hold down the ALT key (or ALT Fn or ALT CTRL, depending on your computer) and type  MKUJ (0241). You will see the "ñ" character.

Special Character Computer Numeric Keypad Laptop Keyboard
Š 138 MJL8
š 154 MJIU
Œ 140 MJUM
œ 156 MJIO
¡ 161 MJOJ
¢ 162 MJOK
£ 163 MJOL
§ 167 MJO7
ª 170 MJ7M
° 176 MJ7O
´ 180 MJ8M
µ 181 MJ8J
· 183 MJ8L
¼ 188 MJ88
½ 189 MJ89
¿ 191 MJ9J
À 192 MJ9K
Á 193 MJ9L
 194 MJ9U
à 195 MJ9I
Ä 196 MJ9O
Å 197 MJ97
Æ 198 MJ98
Ç 199 MJ99
È 200 MKMM
É 201 MKMJ
Ê 202 MKMK
Ë 203 MKML
Ì 204 MKMU
Í 205 MKMI
Î 206 MKMO
Ï 207 MKM7
Ð 208 MKM8
Ñ 209 MKM9
Ò 210 MKJM
Ó 211 MKJJ
Ô 212 MKJK
Õ 213 MKJL
Ö 214 MKJU
Ø 216 MKJO
Ù 217 MKJ7
Ú 218 MKJ8
Û 219 MKJ9
ß 223 MKKL
à 224 MKKU
á 225 MKKI
â 226 MKKO
ã 227 MKK7
ä 228 MKK8
å 229 MKK9
æ 230 MKLM
ç 231 MKLJ
è 232 MKLK
é 233 MKLL
ê 234 MKLU
ë 235 MKLI
ì 236 MKLO
í 237 MKL7
î 238 MKL8
ï 239 MKL9
ð 240 MKUM
ñ 241 MKUJ
ò 242 MKUK
ó 243 MKUL
ô 244 MKUU
õ 245 MKUI
ö 246 MKUO
ø 248 MKU8
ù 249 MKU9
ú 250 MKIM
û 251 MKIJ
ü 252 MKIK