Is there any utility/method to change Windows key bindings to type rare chars to currently empty bindings?

Question

I'm currently typing this post with my windows XP machine and (Spanish) keyboard, and I'd like to add some extra symbols to my text. I could open the "char map" windows utility, look for the desired symbols, and paste them. But I'd like something quickier.

For example, when I'm using my OSX Mac at work, I can easily add a ©, ™, ® or similar symbols, just pressing some weird ALT-GR + G / H / J, key combinations. In my (Spanish) keyboard mapping, these combinations are empty, as they don't produce any char at all, which, on the other hand, is perfectly normal and desirable.

So, I thought: Why couldn't I add some extra key mappings on top of my currently empty ALT-GR + G/J/H Keys in my Spanish keyboard, and thus, being able to quickly type these special symbols?

So that's my question: Is there any utility/method to achieve that effect under windows? (My version is XP).

I've even googled this for some time but no luck.

I've been a long term HotKeyBind user, but even I tried some messing with it, apparently only allows you to add "actions" instead of "symbols typed as normal text". Or at least, I haven't been able to find how to enable "symbol key mapping" with it.

Greetings.

Answer 1

You can use The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator, MSKLC, to define the keyboard settings you like, either by editing a standard layout (e.g., Spanish or US) or—usually better—by creating a new layout based on an existing one. You can then switch between layouts with some short key combinations.

It takes about ten minutes to learn to use MSKLC, and then you can easily tune a layout to contain the characters that you need frequently. And you can decide which combinations you use, so that they are easy to remember, like AltGr A for @, AltGr R for ®, etc.

Answer 2

Navigate to:

Insert > Symbols > Choose the symbol you want

For instance "ñ" and hit "Shortcut Key" button, and either you accept the current one, change it, or define it. Then you must remember to save the Normal.dot template. I use the English International KB, and for the "ñ" I use "Alt+n, for "¡" I use the AltGr+!, as well as for "¿" I use AltGr+?, and of course the accents are automatic (apostrophe + vowel).