Re-assigning a single key to type the em dash

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Larry

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Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

Is it possible to re-program a specific key on the keyboard to create a
different character usable in all Windows applications? I want to
assign the em dash to a key, say the key to the left of the "1" key at
the upper left that normally types `. It's really frustrating that the
em dash, which is a standard, frequently used punctuation mark, does not
have its own assigned key in Windows, but you have to type Alt+0151 in
order to type it.

Thanks,
Larry
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

Generally, the ability to reprogram keys is a feature of a non-standard
keyboard and the drivers that shipped with the keyboard. Check Control
Panel, Keyboard to see if drivers are installed that allow you to change
keyboard settings. This generally allows programming of additional keys
beyond the standard keys - at least that's what I see on mine.

Assuming that you are using a Word Processing program when you want to do
this, check to see if yours has a shortcut for doing this. For instance,
with Microsoft Word, you can press CTRL-ALT and the - sign on the numeric
keypad all at once and get an em dash without having to remember the numbers
0151. Not as convenient as a single key press but better than having to
type ALT 0151.

PattyL


"Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message
news:%23A$98wMbFHA.2128@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> Is it possible to re-program a specific key on the keyboard to create a
> different character usable in all Windows applications? I want to
> assign the em dash to a key, say the key to the left of the "1" key at
> the upper left that normally types `. It's really frustrating that the
> em dash, which is a standard, frequently used punctuation mark, does not
> have its own assigned key in Windows, but you have to type Alt+0151 in
> order to type it.
>
> Thanks,
> Larry
>
>
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

I'm not asking about how to type an em dash in Microsoft Word. I can do
that. I'm asking how to reprogram the keyboard to type an em dash in
any application, whether Outlook Express, or WordPad, or a blog, or
whatever.

As for the Keyboards applet, there are a variety of keyboards there
other than United States 101 that I could switch to, but where is the
facility to program specific keys?

Larry



PattyL wrote:
> Generally, the ability to reprogram keys is a feature of a
> non-standard keyboard and the drivers that shipped with the keyboard.
> Check Control Panel, Keyboard to see if drivers are installed that
> allow you to change keyboard settings. This generally allows
> programming of additional keys beyond the standard keys - at least
> that's what I see on mine.
>
> Assuming that you are using a Word Processing program when you want
> to do this, check to see if yours has a shortcut for doing this. For
> instance, with Microsoft Word, you can press CTRL-ALT and the - sign
> on the numeric keypad all at once and get an em dash without having
> to remember the numbers 0151. Not as convenient as a single key
> press but better than having to type ALT 0151.
>
> PattyL
>
>
> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message
> news:%23A$98wMbFHA.2128@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> > Is it possible to re-program a specific key on the keyboard to
> > create a different character usable in all Windows applications? I
> > want to assign the em dash to a key, say the key to the left of the
> > "1" key at the upper left that normally types `. It's really
> > frustrating that the em dash, which is a standard, frequently used
> > punctuation mark, does not have its own assigned key in Windows,
> > but you have to type Alt+0151 in order to type it.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Larry
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

I know what you were asking, I was just trying to provide an alternative.

Keyboards that have this capability come with drivers that work with those
particular keyboards or some other method of remapping the keys. For
instance, the Anykey Keyboard from Gateway (don't know if it's still
available), had a remap key and you could press the remap key, then the key
that you wanted to change and then the key or key combination that you
wanted to replace it with.

PattyL



"Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message
news:OIyhQJhbFHA.3808@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> I'm not asking about how to type an em dash in Microsoft Word. I can do
> that. I'm asking how to reprogram the keyboard to type an em dash in
> any application, whether Outlook Express, or WordPad, or a blog, or
> whatever.
>
> As for the Keyboards applet, there are a variety of keyboards there
> other than United States 101 that I could switch to, but where is the
> facility to program specific keys?
>
> Larry
>
>
>
> PattyL wrote:
>> Generally, the ability to reprogram keys is a feature of a
>> non-standard keyboard and the drivers that shipped with the keyboard.
>> Check Control Panel, Keyboard to see if drivers are installed that
>> allow you to change keyboard settings. This generally allows
>> programming of additional keys beyond the standard keys - at least
>> that's what I see on mine.
>>
>> Assuming that you are using a Word Processing program when you want
>> to do this, check to see if yours has a shortcut for doing this. For
>> instance, with Microsoft Word, you can press CTRL-ALT and the - sign
>> on the numeric keypad all at once and get an em dash without having
>> to remember the numbers 0151. Not as convenient as a single key
>> press but better than having to type ALT 0151.
>>
>> PattyL
>>
>>
>> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message
>> news:%23A$98wMbFHA.2128@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
>> > Is it possible to re-program a specific key on the keyboard to
>> > create a different character usable in all Windows applications? I
>> > want to assign the em dash to a key, say the key to the left of the
>> > "1" key at the upper left that normally types `. It's really
>> > frustrating that the em dash, which is a standard, frequently used
>> > punctuation mark, does not have its own assigned key in Windows,
>> > but you have to type Alt+0151 in order to type it.
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Larry
>
>
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

Larry wrote:
> Is it possible to re-program a specific key on the keyboard to create
> a different character usable in all Windows applications? I want to
> assign the em dash to a key, say the key to the left of the "1" key at
> the upper left that normally types `. It's really frustrating that
> the em dash, which is a standard, frequently used punctuation mark,
> does not have its own assigned key in Windows, but you have to type
> Alt+0151 in order to type it.

You need an app...a keyboard remapper.
http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/home/tef/wintools/#keyremap

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

"dadiOH" <dadiOH@wherever.com> wrote in message news:OGht4TobFHA.2688@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Larry wrote:
>> Is it possible to re-program a specific key on the keyboard to create
>> a different character usable in all Windows applications? I want to
>> assign the em dash to a key, say the key to the left of the "1" key at
>> the upper left that normally types `. It's really frustrating that
>> the em dash, which is a standard, frequently used punctuation mark,
>> does not have its own assigned key in Windows, but you have to type
>> Alt+0151 in order to type it.
>
> You need an app...a keyboard remapper.
> http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/home/tef/wintools/#keyremap

Cool. :) The 2000 registry hack to remap Caps-lock to the Ctrl key works
for XP(sp2) too. (though,, I couldn't copy/paste the binary value and
had to enter it manually)
 
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TYPOGRAPHERS

01.99 CAD … TSI—01
— windows XP keyboard layout includes an em-dash (—) in place of the hyphen/subtract sign on the numbers above the keyboard (the regular - is still accessible through the number pad) ; setup file for easy installation

http://technical.strings.googlepages.com/
http://technical.strings.googlepages.com/
 



Did you ever get an answer to this? If not, here is what you need.

The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964665.aspx
 


This thread is over seven years old. And Larry has only three posts, so I'm guessing he has long forgotten about this site or that account.
 
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