Insert Unicode characters via the keyboard?

Question

I am familiar with inserting an ASCII character into a text document by using 'Alt+ASCII code' on the NumPad keys (e.g. Alt+130 inserts an é character).

Is there a similar way to insert a Unicode character via the keyboard using the unicode value given in Windows Character Map?

Answer 1

According John D. Cook there are 3 ways:

1. In Microsoft Word you can insert Unicode characters by typing the hex value of the character then typing Alt-x. You can also see the Unicode value of a character by placing the cursor immediately after the character and pressing Alt-x. This also works in applications that use the Windows rich edit control such as WordPad and Outlook.
2. Another approach which works with more applications is as follows. First create a registry key under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Input Method\EnableHexNumpad of type REG_SZ called EnableHexNumpad, set its value to 1, and reboot. Then you can enter Unicode symbols by holding down the Alt key and typing the plus sign on the numeric keypad followed by the character value. When you release the Alt key, the symbol will appear. This approach worked with most applications I tried, including Firefox and Safari, but did not with Internet Explorer.
3. Another option is to install the UnicodeInput utility. This worked with every application I tried, including Internet Explorer. Once installed, the window below pops up whenever you hold down the Alt key and type the plus sign on the numeric keypad. Type the numeric value of the character in the box, click the Send button, and the character will be inserted into the window that had focus when you clicked Alt-plus.

I would go for the second option because it integrates nicely with your current usage.

Answer 2

If you're using Chrome or Safari, you can open up the console with Ctrl+Shift+I (or Cmd+Alt+I on Mac) and type copy('\uNNNN') – where the NNNN is the Unicode code after the +:

Right-to-Left Override U+202E copy('\u202e')

You can do that with Firefox, too, but you'll need Firebug.

Update (April 11, 2015): It works fine in Firefox's built-in console, too.

Answer 3

On Windows hit WIN + R (run), type charmap and do search in UNICODE field. it actually do solve my problem, whereas ALT + code didn't help (link).

Answer 4

John D. Cook's solutions didn't work for me, as my employer has locked down the registry. I discovered that in Windows 7 and above, the Segoe UI Symbol font contains representations of most if not all of the Unicode characters in numeric order. If you can find a Unicode symbol meeting your needs (perhaps by browsing through the Unicode article in Wikipedia), note its Unicode number (hex value). Then, back in Word, choose Insert Symbol | More Symbols from the ribbon, select the Segoe UI Symbol font, and scroll through the screens looking for that hex value in the character code box.

Answer 5

I will shamelessly plug a little tool I wrote for entering symbols in Windows as I find any solution usually presented too cumbersome for daily frequent use. My personal use case is typing the Swedish å for example on an international US keyboard without having to switch layouts.

It allows the entering of unicode characters through a popup window not dissimilar to how this works in Apple OS X.

See https://github.com/mjvh80/SymWin for details, it's free and open source, but must (currently) be built, if there is sufficient interest I could add a pre-built version.

The tool can be configured per key, e.g. by copy/pasting symbols once from a site such as http://copypastecharacter.com. It comes preconfigured with various symbols.

Answer 6

The easiest way: The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator. This is an official Microsoft solution. Functionality is similar like Ukelele for OS X.

Download and instructions: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-GB/goglobal/bb964665.aspx

Answer 7

If you're using Firefox, you can also install the Unicode Input Tool/Converter add-on.

Answer 8

Press and hold down the Alt key. Press the + (plus) key on the numeric keypad. Type the hexidecimal unicode value. Release the Alt key. Alas, this appears to require a registry setting. It is usually set but if needed, under HKEY_Current_User/Control Panel/Input Method, set EnableHexNumpad to "1". If you have to add it, set the type to be REG_SZ.

source: http://www.fileformat.info/tip/microsoft/enter_unicode.htm

Answer 9

Firefox: While holding control+shift, enter u followed by the ordinal of the unicode character. That will insert it, without needing to install an addon.

Answer 10

I was typing in Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan) in its default input method (Microsoft Bopomofo) and discovered this (tested on XP and Win10):

1. Press ` key (grave accent, placed in the top left corner to the left of the 1 key).
2. Press U key.
3. Enter hex value.
4. Press Enter.

You can also install Microsoft Bopomofo as a "Unicode IME".