How do I create Spanish

characters on my computer?

OPTION #1

ALT KEY

You can write any character if you know the ASCII code number. You must have a keyboard with a number pad.  To write a character with alt keys you must have your "num lock" enabled. 

For example, if you want to write an ñ first you must know the ASCII code.  For the ñ, you use code ALT 164.

To write an ñ press and hold the ALT key. While holding down the ALT key, enter the 3-digit decimal code for the extended ASCII character you want to generate (in this case 164) then release the ALT key. This method is successful in most programs.

Try doing it in this text box: (click on the box and then write the ñ using alt 164)

Now practice writing the following words or expressions in the boxes below:

OPTION #2

CHANGE YOUR KEYBOARD CONFIGURATION

This option is ideal for those who do a lot of typing in Spanish.  Once you learn the location of the keys, it proves to be much easier than using the ALT method described above.

For WINDOWS 95, 98, and 2000

• Open Keyboard properties in Control Panel.

• Click the Language tab, and then click Add.

• In the Language list, click the keyboard language you want to add.

• When the Enable indicator on taskbar check box on the Language tab is selected, and you have two or more keyboard languages installed, an indicator representing the default keyboard language appears on the taskbar. To quickly switch between keyboard languages, click the indicator, and then click the language you want to use.

For WINDOWS XP

• Choose CLASSIC VIEW in the CONTROL PANEL. 

• Choose REGIONAL AND LANGUAGE OPTIONS.

• Choose LANGUAGE tab at the top and then click DETAILS.

• Click on ADD and select your 2nd language. (Spanish Traditional Sort)

• Click on LANGUAGE BAR and select to show the language bar on the desktop.

You will now have one of these two icons appearing in your TASKBAR.  When you click on the icon, you have the choice of switching between the two languages.

A typical SPANISH keyboard looks like this:

• To create accents with the SPANISH keyboard, simply press the apostrophe ' key (located to the left of the ENTER key), and then the letter (a, e, i, o, u).

• To create the upside down question mark (¿), simply press the shift key and the key immediately to the left of BACKSPACE (as shown in the above photo). 

• The upside down exclamation point is on the same key.  You do not need the shift to type it.

• The " ñ "  is the colon/semicolon key on a Spanish keyboard.

So, as you begin to learn the location of the keys,

you will have no trouble typing as fast in Spanish as you do in English!

OPTION #3

FOR USERS OF MICROSOFT WORD