On Mon, 12 Jun 2006 14:46:51 -0400 Jallan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> dijo: > Peter Challenger wrote: > > I have installed Openoffice 2,0. When I use Microsoft Word and wish to > > compose a passage in (say) German, I can assign various special > > characters (A umlaut and the like) to F keys, which makes typing quick > > and easy; I don't have to insert each special character one at a time.
If German is all you need, it should be pretty simple. One way, as Jallan pointed out, is to add a German keyboard. This gives you "dead" keys. You type the dead key for an umlaut, nothing appears on the screen and the cursor doesn't move. Then you type a u or an a and the u or a appears with the umlaut above it. This mimics the way German typewriters work. Personally I find installing extra keyboards to be a pain in the neck. Plus, I seldom write in any language but English. However, I am a linguistics major and need a ton of special characters, like my work is peppered with them, even though I'm writing in English. I solved the problem with a combination of two techiques. First, for the characters that I use constantly I simply create a sequence and assign it to the Autocorrect feature. For example, you might assign "u (double-quote + u) to be automatically replaced by ü. Now, every time you need a ü you type "u and hit the space bar. As soon as you hit the space bar Writer will "autocorrect" the "u to ü. The only problem with this is that then you have to backspace to clear the space you just created. Still, it's fast and simple. For additional characters that I use less frequently I use Insert > Special Character. However, I also have a document that has all the IPA characters in a column together with the Unicode number, arranged in sort of alphabetical sequence instead of by the Unicode number. I made a small printout of this and taped it to the side of my monitor. So if I want to type (e.g.) a thorn (þ), I glance at my list, note that the hex number is FE, and just hold down Ctrl-Shift and type FE. (This is the Linux version; for Windows you hold down Alt and type the decimal number preceded with 0.) I don't use the thorn very often. If I needed it often I'd make an Autocorrect entry for it. I hope that gives you a couple additional ideas. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
