How to add "character map" to context menu when writing/editing text


  1. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #1

    How to add "character map" to context menu when writing/editing text


    I did this years ago with XP, worked for word/wordpad/notepad/and online, like here. Now that I bumped up to 7, forgot how to do it... I think a quick regedit

    Surprised no tut on this. For me, it's much easier to leave the cursor where I want to insert the character than going to start>Accessories>System Tools>Character Map or start>search>charmap>charmap.exe, and then 4 more clicks to copy desired character. Remembering the keys, not going to happen.

    Also, related question, once you finally get to character map, why 4 more clicks? Scroll to desired character>select>copy>paste. Seems select and copy are redundant. How about macros? I generally only use a few of these odd characters anyway, and rarely at that.

    Or even better, how about speech macros for these characters? If there were speech commands for unusual characters (e.g., ü, °, ®, £) and numbers/math (e.g., ¼, ², ±), that could save a LOT of time. Ever try to find/insert the € or √¯symbol?

    So, 1) character map in context menu? or even better, 2) speech macros for a greater selection of characters/symbols, including math?

    Two questions, sorry. But related. Any help with either would be appreciated.
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  2. Posts : 3,300
    Win7 Home Premium 64x
       #2
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  3. Posts : 3,300
    Win7 Home Premium 64x
       #3

    Also, autohotkey is great for macro's like this that could call the program when you press a combination of keys.

    Or, for the very simple included features of windows, you could setup a key by doing this:

    go to the character map icon in the start menu and right click and go to the Properties

    Then enter a combination of keys in the "shortcut key" field. This is usually Ctrl + Shift (or Alt)+ <letter>
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails How to add &quot;character map&quot; to context menu when writing/editing text-step1.jpg   How to add &quot;character map&quot; to context menu when writing/editing text-step2.jpg  
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  4. Posts : 3,300
    Win7 Home Premium 64x
       #4

    For instance, I have my Snipping tool set to Ctrl + Alt + C

    So as I would press Ctrl+C to copy something, I press Ctrl+Alt+C to launch snipping tool:
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails How to add &quot;character map&quot; to context menu when writing/editing text-snipping.jpg  
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  5. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    All three of your suggestions get me to character map, and that's what I asked for. Thanks you.

    However, I just found what I suspect is an obscure list of speech macros at WSR Application Macros - Browse /Speech Macros at SourceForge.net. There are ~15 different macros, among them, "numbers", "fractions", punctuation", "abbreviation", "sketch-up", and "word". Haven't installed all yet, but after adding "punctuation", I can now say "british pound" and get "£" on the page, or "umlaut" and get "ü".
    Having one-click-to-character map is good; but saying umlaut and having it typed for me is better. (I did have to say umlaut 3 times and then record it as a new word in the speech dictionary, but now it works every time... )

    Just installed "fractions", said three quarters, it typed "¾".

    If these speech macro things work, grading papers will go faster.

    Thanks again. I will use your suggestion. But right now, I'm going to check out these speech macros. There are even speech-macros for "unicode' and "ultra-edit".
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