How to enter Unicode characters in the Windows Explorer (file manager) on Windows 7?

3

I try to use Unicode characters in file names. It is possible to use them, if I copy the character into the clip board and paste it into the file name. But I did not manage to enter them directly via the keyboard.

I enabled the hex numpad registry key:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Input Method]
"EnableHexNumpad"="1"

But when I try to use it I never get the character I want to. I tried it also with several browsers at the browser test page but nothing works. When I enter Alt+++2222 I get a black smiley instead of the spherical angle.

How can I use a Unicode character in a file name by renaming it with the Windows explorer?

ceving

Posted 2013-10-07T18:45:03.160

Reputation: 1 737

This sounds odd, because “☻” is what you get by simple Alt 2 without using the + key (with or without the registry setting), but only when you release the Alt key. So this is not just a matter of the registry setting not taking effect (regarding which: you closed the registry editor and rebooted, right?). – Jukka K. Korpela – 2013-10-07T19:56:01.557

A look at a related post might be helpful: http://superuser.com/questions/287451/some-unicode-alt-codes-not-working?rq=1 It explains some potential pitfalls.

– Axel Kemper – 2013-10-07T20:12:06.897

Answers

-2

You could use the Windows tool %windir%\system32\charmap.exe to enter special characters and to get to know their Unicode codes. Charmap displays the Alt+ combination of the selected character.

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There are also free tools like BabelMap available, if charmap is not flexible enough.

Your method (and others, including a special input tool) are described here:

Text copied for convenience (to help you find out what went wrong):

This method works regardless of any of your language settings, but is the most cumbersome to type.

  1. Press and hold down the Alt key.
  2. Press the + (plus) key on the numeric keypad.
  3. Type the hexidecimal Unicode value.
  4. Release the Alt key.

Alas, this appears to require a registry setting. It was already set on my computer, but some readers report that this method didn't work for them, and this is probably why. If you don't know what the registry is, please don't try this. 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.

Axel Kemper

Posted 2013-10-07T18:45:03.160

Reputation: 2 892

1The first part is irrelevant to the question. The second part might make the approach in the question more explicit, or explain it, but it does not address the question. – Jukka K. Korpela – 2013-10-07T19:46:35.303

My intention is to enter the character with the keyboard. – ceving – 2013-10-08T08:27:34.833

Asked: 2013-10-07T18:45:03.160

Viewed: 3 721 times

Active: 2013-10-07T20:07:05.227