KB119507 - Problems Accessing Extended Characters When Using KBDUSX.DLL

Article ID: 119507

Article Last Modified on 7/7/2005

Microsoft Windows 3.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows 3.0a
Microsoft Windows 3.1 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows 3.11 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11

This article was previously published under Q119507

SYMPTOMS

When you are using the US-International keyboard layout and you press a CTRL+ALT combination to produce an extended character, an unexpected action occurs in the application you are running. For example, if you are using Microsoft Word 6.0 for Windows and you press CTRL+ALT+p to produce an o- umlaut, Word switches to page layout view instead.

CAUSE

Many Windows-based applications use CTRL+ALT combinations as shortcuts to perform specific functions. Application-based CTRL+ALT sequences override CTRL+ALT combinations for producing extended characters.

WORKAROUND

Rather than using CTRL+ALT sequences to produce extended characters, you can use the ALT key and the numeric keypad.

For example, instead of using CTRL+ALT+p to produce an o-umlaut, use ALT+0246. Consult the ANSI character set to determine which numeric code corresponds to the extended character you need.

NOTE: You must use the numeric keypad.

MORE INFORMATION

Other examples of CTRL+ALT sequences used as shortcuts in applications are listed below.

Purpose                Key combination    Workaround
----------------------------------------------------

Sharp "S" in German    CTRL+ALT+s         ALT+0223
u-umlaut               CTRL+ALT+y         ALT+0252

NOTE: An umlaut is a character that has two dots above it.

Additional query words: winword powerpoint excel german ANSI character set sequence 3.0 3.00 3.0a 3.10 3.1 3.11

Keywords: KB119507