How to input characters that are not present in a keyboard to a VB

5 Sep 2006 4:57 AM

TC

Hi,

I have developed a font, which has ~30 new characters in the Unicode Private
Area (starting from U+E000). Now, since these characters are not present in
the standard keyboard, can you suggest me a way of inputting them ?

In MS Word, I can enter the characters in my new font by
1) selecting my font, and
2) using a customised keyboard created using Microsoft Keyboard Layout
creator.
Within this keyboard, I can map such that pressing 'Ctrl + Alt + 'A'' gives
me one of my characters, and so on.

So, I was wondering if there exists some way in which I could do that within
my VB app as well.

Thanks in advance,
TC

5 Sep 2006 5:25 AM

Cor Ligthert [MVP]

TC,

In the OS there is a function which has a complete different name in my
language than in English, and I am now after a Dutch OS.

It is something as Special Characters, you can copy from that special
characters.

It is to find with Start -> Desktop parts -> and than it is direct in that
probably somewhere on the bottom. (If it is not there you have to add it
using the add programs and than the Microsoft part of that).

I hope you find it and than it helps,

Cor

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"TC" <T*@discussions.microsoft.com> schreef in bericht
news:79C806D7-8E04-4B32-BEDF-06E68C361E43@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have developed a font, which has ~30 new characters in the Unicode
> Private
> Area (starting from U+E000). Now, since these characters are not present
> in
> the standard keyboard, can you suggest me a way of inputting them ?
>
> In MS Word, I can enter the characters in my new font by
> 1) selecting my font, and
> 2) using a customised keyboard created using Microsoft Keyboard Layout
> creator.
> Within this keyboard, I can map such that pressing 'Ctrl + Alt + 'A''
> gives
> me one of my characters, and so on.
>
> So, I was wondering if there exists some way in which I could do that
> within
> my VB app as well.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> TC

5 Sep 2006 5:45 AM

Mike C#

Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Character Map

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"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <notmyfirstn***@planet.nl> wrote in message
news:ez$xUuK0GHA.4264@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> TC,
>
> In the OS there is a function which has a complete different name in my
> language than in English, and I am now after a Dutch OS.
>
> It is something as Special Characters, you can copy from that special
> characters.
>
> It is to find with Start -> Desktop parts -> and than it is direct in that
> probably somewhere on the bottom. (If it is not there you have to add it
> using the add programs and than the Microsoft part of that).
>
> I hope you find it and than it helps,
>
> Cor
>
> "TC" <T*@discussions.microsoft.com> schreef in bericht
> news:79C806D7-8E04-4B32-BEDF-06E68C361E43@microsoft.com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have developed a font, which has ~30 new characters in the Unicode
>> Private
>> Area (starting from U+E000). Now, since these characters are not present
>> in
>> the standard keyboard, can you suggest me a way of inputting them ?
>>
>> In MS Word, I can enter the characters in my new font by
>> 1) selecting my font, and
>> 2) using a customised keyboard created using Microsoft Keyboard Layout
>> creator.
>> Within this keyboard, I can map such that pressing 'Ctrl + Alt + 'A''
>> gives
>> me one of my characters, and so on.
>>
>> So, I was wondering if there exists some way in which I could do that
>> within
>> my VB app as well.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> TC
>
>

5 Sep 2006 8:36 AM

Andrew Morton

TC wrote:

> I have developed a font, which has ~30 new characters in the Unicode
> Private Area (starting from U+E000). Now, since these characters are
> not present in the standard keyboard, can you suggest me a way of
> inputting them ?
>
> In MS Word, I can enter the characters in my new font by
> 1) selecting my font, and
> 2) using a customised keyboard created using Microsoft Keyboard Layout
> creator.
> Within this keyboard, I can map such that pressing 'Ctrl + Alt + 'A''
> gives me one of my characters, and so on.

I can see that being a problem for users who have set shortcuts in Windows
for programs, e.g. I have ctrl-alt-c for calculator, ctrl-alt-w for Word...

As Cor wrote, Character Map looks to be the (tedious) way to get those
characters.

Andrew

5 Sep 2006 11:54 AM

C-Services Holland b.v.

TC wrote:
Show quoteHide quote

> Hi,
>
> I have developed a font, which has ~30 new characters in the Unicode Private
> Area (starting from U+E000). Now, since these characters are not present in
> the standard keyboard, can you suggest me a way of inputting them ?
>
> In MS Word, I can enter the characters in my new font by
> 1) selecting my font, and
> 2) using a customised keyboard created using Microsoft Keyboard Layout
> creator.
> Within this keyboard, I can map such that pressing 'Ctrl + Alt + 'A'' gives
> me one of my characters, and so on.
>
> So, I was wondering if there exists some way in which I could do that within
> my VB app as well.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> TC

What comes to mind:
Add a button for these special characters or a dropdownlist where you
can select them. Add an option to the context menu of the entry boxes
that would accept these special characters.

--
Rinze van Huizen
C-Services Holland b.v

5 Sep 2006 2:52 PM

TC

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"C-Services Holland b.v." wrote:

> TC wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have developed a font, which has ~30 new characters in the Unicode Private
> > Area (starting from U+E000). Now, since these characters are not present in
> > the standard keyboard, can you suggest me a way of inputting them ?
> >
> > In MS Word, I can enter the characters in my new font by
> > 1) selecting my font, and
> > 2) using a customised keyboard created using Microsoft Keyboard Layout
> > creator.
> > Within this keyboard, I can map such that pressing 'Ctrl + Alt + 'A'' gives
> > me one of my characters, and so on.
> >
> > So, I was wondering if there exists some way in which I could do that within
> > my VB app as well.
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> > TC
>
> What comes to mind:
> Add a button for these special characters or a dropdownlist where you
> can select them. Add an option to the context menu of the entry boxes
> that would accept these special characters.
>
>
> --
> Rinze van Huizen
> C-Services Holland b.v
>

Thanks. I like this. But, still I am not sure how to output these
characters to the screen/printer. All the TextOut routines take a 'String'
as input. How do I compose my string consisting of the new characters. Is
there a way to construct a string with UNICODE code points ? Can you clear
this missing link ?

Thanks,
TC

6 Sep 2006 11:28 AM

C-Services Holland b.v.

>
>
> Thanks. I like this. But, still I am not sure how to output these
> characters to the screen/printer. All the TextOut routines take a 'String'
> as input. How do I compose my string consisting of the new characters. Is
> there a way to construct a string with UNICODE code points ? Can you clear
> this missing link ?
>
> Thanks,
> TC

I haven't done much work with stuff like this, but if you set the font
of the textbox to your font then you can just add the characters you
need to it. If I remember correctly you can use the ChrW() function to
access those unicode characters of yours.

If it's a truetype font, printing it shouldn't be a problem.

--
Rinze van Huizen
C-Services Holland b.v