If you regularly type in a Wester language other than English - one that uses accented letters, you should probably be typing on a specialized international keyboard. If you do not have one, here is a summary of how to produce letters beyond the standard 26.

Windows

Windows assigns a numeric code to different accented letters, other foreign characters and special mathematical symbols. For instance the code for lower case á is 0225, and the code for capital Á is 0193. The ALT key input is used to manually insert these letters and symbols by calling the numeric code assigned to them.

To use the codes:

1. Place your cursor in the location where you wish to insert a special character.

2. Activate the numeric key pad on the right of the keyboard by pressing Num Lock (upper right of keyboard). The Num Lock light on the keyboard will indicate that the numeric key pad is on.
   
   NOTE: You must use the numeric key pad; if you use the number keys on the top of the keyboard, the characters will not appear. If you are on a laptop or computer without a separate numeric keypad one of the other methods is recommended.

3. While pressing down the ALT key, type the four-digit code on the numeric key pad at the right edge of the keyboard. The codes are "case sensitive." For instance, the code for lower-case á is ALT+0225, but capital Á is ALT+0193.
   
   NOTE: If you have the International keyboard activated, you will only be able to input codes with the ALT key on the left side of the keyboard.
   

4. Release the ALT key. The character will appear when the ALT key is released.
   
   NOTE: You must include the initial zero in the code. For example to insert á (0225) you must type ALT+0225, NOT ALT+225.

Above after a presentation by Penn State University.)

Some Windows applications have popup windows, in which you can click on a character to insert it at the current cursor location. Most web browsers do not support this technique. Microsoft no doubt describes this approach as "good for consumers."

Linux

You don't want to know.

Macintosh

Mac generally uses a combination of OPT- plus a regular keyboard character, sometimes preceded by a prefix character. Examples:

• á - hold down OPT key and press e. Release and press a. (Try the same with capital [shift] A.) Similar functions produce ü, å, etc.
• ? - hold down OPT key and press g.

Note that there is not complete correspondence between the special character and the keyboard character. However all ordinary accented letters perform the same way whether lower or upper case.

Yes, yes, your Windows machine cost you less. Now using your hourly rate of pay, value the time it took you to read and learn the top section of this page.