TIP: Output special characters using Quick Input and ALT key codes

[Dee]

On a PC keyboard you can type special characters by holding down the ALT key and typing a four-number code on the numeric keypad. For example, to type a bullet you press and hold the ALT key while typing 0149 on the numeric keypad.

This allows you to use VoiceAttack's Quick Input to type special characters.

For example, to output a bullet, use the following:

Quick Input, '[ALTDOWN][NUM0][NUM1][NUM4][NUM9][ALTUP]'

ALT codes can be found using the Windows Character Map, or online, e.g. https://www.alt-codes.net

[Dee]

I should add that the following doesn't work:

Quick Input, '•'

In other words, I tried simply pasting the special character into Quick Input, but when I run the command, it only outputs a space instead of the special character itself.

[Gary]

The 'Quick Input' should mimic a a standard keyboard, in that whatever is available on your keyboard can be typed out.  It doesn't type just anything, just the characters that you can type yourself without alt codes.  If it's not something that is available on your keyboard (such as the German 'ß' on a US keyboard), it will render as a space.  However, if I add German as a language to Windows and switch to that keyboard, 'ß' will type out.

[Dee]

Thanks, Gary, for that explanation.

[Pfeil]

If the application allows pasting, you could also save the special character(s) to the clipboard and use Ctrl-V:

Code: [Select]

Set Text [~clipboardContentBackup] to '{CLIP}'
Set Windows clipboard to '•••'
Press Left Ctrl+V keys and hold for 0,06 seconds and release
Set Windows clipboard to '{TXT:~clipboardContentBackup}'
This attempts to preserve the contents of the clipboard, which should work as long as it's a text value(not VoiceAttack actions, for example).

[Dee]

Pfeil, thanks for contributing another solution.