Typing Spanish

Question

For those who ask how to type the ÿ, the accents and other Spanish symbols like ¿ or ¡, here is the most efficient method in Windows XP (although in Vista is similar):

Go to Control Panel

Click on Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.

Then click on Regional and Language Options

Select the Languages tab.

Click on Details.

Click on Add, choose Spanish, and then select any variant.

The International Sort is configured like this:

The one used in Mexico like this:

Answer 1

Necesito mi teclado de computadora a estar en espanol. Que debo hacer para cambiarlo?

Do you need it to just be able to make Spanish punctuation and characters or do you need a Spanish keyboard layout (where the symbols are on different keys than what is written on the key in English) or do you need an actual Spanish keyboard where the Spanish symbols match what is written on the keys? Confused?

Do you need the US International keyboard? (more for English people writing Spanish)

Do you need one of the many Spanish Keyboard layouts to be used on your English keyboard?

Do you need a keyboard made specifically for a Spanish user?

If you need the Spanish keyboard layout on an English keyboard
then try this. (unless it's changed recently this was for Windows XP)
http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/show/5273/

If you want to install the US International keyboard let me know and I'll provide you with a link to a PowerPoint slideshow that I made giving you the necessary steps in Vista or Windows XP.

Actually I can't believe that someone hasn't made a flash video on the procedure. You might try Googling for one.

Answer 2

Necesito mi teclado de computadora a estar en espanol. Que debo hacer para cambiarlo'

Answer 3

Go to http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/international/accents/codealt.html

¡Press the alt key and then the number!

Answer 4

Here is a link to a small excel chart 1" x 3.5".

http://jjonz.us/Spanish1010/Files/masterLists/ShortcutKeys.xls

It contains all the alt strokes for Spanish characters. I have cut this chart out and taped it to the lower left hand corner of my monitor. I find it very useful when typing Spanish. I have memorized most of the symbols, but it is very handy when I come across one that I rarely use.

JJ

Answer 5

Where do I go to post my score using the key board - Windows style'

Answer 6

The way I type Spanish is, I think, the easiest to speed type with and get used to. I found it on some site, and the inputs are very logical.

Go to Control Panel.
Go to Regional and Language Options.
Click on the Languages Tab.
Click on "Details."
Click "Add" On the right.
Select "English (United States)" from the top drop down bar.
Check the "Keyboard Layout/IME" box.
Select "United States - International" from the drop down bar that becomes available.
Click "OK" to everything and close the Control Panel.

The should be a picture of a keyboard on your language part of your taskbar, next to the "EN." (If there's not, right click the main taskbar and click "Language Bar" under "Toolbars." If you don't want the whole toolbar, drag it onto your taskbar and release. Also, you may have to drag out the "EN" a little bit to see the keyboard.)

Now, when you want to type Spanish, click (focus) on the text box you're typing on, click the keyboard icon, and click "United States - International." The letters are as follows:
á = ' then a
é = ' then e
í = ' then i
etc...
ä = " then a
ë = " then e
ï = " then i
etc...
ñ = alt+n
¡ = alt+1 (no shift)
¿ = alt+/ (no shift)
To get an apostrophe or quotation mark by itself, press its key and then space.

With this layout, I can type Spanish as easily as english. Hope it helps you!

Answer 7

Very useful and helpful, Kurt, thanks.

Answer 8

I don't know where the upside down question mark and exclamation mark is so I have to do those by holding down the alt key while typing in 168 ¿ and alt 173

On the US-international keyboard you type the ¡ and ¿ by holding the right side alt key and typing 1(!) and /('). holding the right alt and typing n will get you ñ. You can find all the microsoft keyboard layouts here.

On a related topic. For those using Firefox, there are international spelling dictionaries available. Very handy! You right-click in a text field to select your language. You can download dictionaries here.

Answer 9

The BEST way I've found to type in spanish is to add the US-International keyboard, in vista you go to Start>control Panel> Keyboards> Regional & Language Options>Keyboards & Languages>change Keyboards>English> click on ADD choose US-International> OK>Apply>OK

Then in your little bar at the bottom of your computer you will see a little EN and you can click on that and choose> Show Language Bar> it will float to the top of your screen>click on US-International

Then all you do when you want an accent is type and accent and then the letter and PRESTO CHANGEO you have a letter with an accent or tilde, just like this á, Á, é ÿ í Í ó ÿ ú ÿ ñ ÿ . I don't know where the upside down question mark and exclamation mark is so I have to do those by holding down the alt key while typing in 168 ¿ and alt 173 ¡ when you release the alt key after typing in the numbers the little question mark or exclamation mark magically appears.

I have a program to learn to type the Spanish Keyboard but haven't mastered it yet. I purchased it off eBay and it was reasonable $10.00 or less, he is still selling them, it's called Type and Learn Spanish.

sorry this is so long, and hope it helps.
Sharon

Answer 10

Thanks for you responses, your are right about it hogging all the keys. I never evisioned a Norwegian typing spanish on an English Keyboard or whatever. I will, in the next few days release a new file that traps only "aeiou <>'!" keys. About the program causing "tool" to become "tól" or "need" to become "néd". I would recommend either changing the delay time in the options menu to match your typing speed or disabling the program when you wish to use alot of words with double vowels in them. Does Spanish have double Vowels', I really don't know, I have only been learning for about 6 months. Either way thanks for your responses. I will work on the key traps and numlock problems soon, and it will be corrected in the next version.

Answer 11

Maria Russell said:

I share a computer. After I am finished using the Spanish version, I would have to switch right back. How would I do that?

On my Vista and XP machines I switch back and forth by holding down the left ALT key and pressing left SHIFT. There is an indicator on the tool bar that shows which keyboard I'm using. There is the annoying little problem that on my Vista machine I have two Spanish configurations, so I'm never sure if the ES is referring to Colombian or International Spanish keyboards.

I wrote a workaround for that if you want to search and find it. I only use one keyboard now so I've forgotton the details of how to do it, but how it works is that you can control the colors of the box that contains the E or S. If you make the two S ones different colors you will only have to remember which one is which color to distinguish them.

Answer 12

It works _much_ better if you hold down the ALT key (while typing the digits).

And if you type them from the number pad with the Num Lock on.

Answer 13

This program was designed to make it much easier to use the Spanish alphabet.

To use the special letters click twice very quickly.

I've tried it out. My main problem is that it's apparently hogging all of your keys, using the scancode or something on that level, and thereby hindering the proper use of other keyboard layouts than what you've apparently deemed the proper one. That's an enormous no-no!!! Imagine me, typing on a Norwegian keyboard. I didn't even use QWERTY, but your program took care of that real quick.

On a less serious level, though, you might want to think through your design decision regarding using double tapping if people are to decide that this is a "tól they néd".

In the meantime, and now I'm addressing the public at large , I've made some additions to my program mentioned above. You can now choose to use the windows logo keys and the letter in question for Spanish characters, circumventing the menu alltogether. I won't tell you what WIN+q and WIN+x do . It's all explained when the program starts. If you haven't used the windows keys yet, you'll find them both without looking if you hold your hands on the home row, then try to curl your pinkies into your fists, but stopping after about an inch. Yeah, that's them there!

Saludos

Answer 14

Finally, the code is complete.

I call the new program QSC, short for 'Quick Spanish Characters'.
This program was designed to make it much easier to use the Spanish alphabet.
To use the special letters click twice very quickly. The time between the clicks can be changed by left clicking on the icon on the system tray and choosing 'options'.

For ? ¡ ? use '>>? , for 'º? use '<<? , for "¿" use "''" ,and for 'ª? use 'mm? all others are the same key like ñ is nn , á is aa .. so forth and so on...

'''...remember to double click.

To quit the program left click the icon on the system tray and choose 'Quit?
To Pause or enable the program choose , 'disable? or "enable"
There are still some bugs, if you want to tell me about them, my email address is on the options menu.

System Requirement.
Windows XP
.Net 2.0 (freely available from microsoft) The installer will let you know where to get it.

I tested it with Vista and it doesn't work correctly.. I will have to find a Vista development machine to edit and recompile it on, it may take a few weeks.
Of course here is a small disclaimer.

I do not guarantee that my software is free from defects. My software is provided as is, and you use the software at your own risk.
I make no warranties as to performance, fitness for a particular purpose, or any other warranties whether expressed or implied.
Under no circumstances shall I be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from the use, misuse, or inability to use this software, even if I have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

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Answer 15

I have had the same problem using the special characters and was looking for a quick fix.. I didn't know how big of a problem this was. I am going to try to write a small program over the next few days to hopefully solve this problem once and for all. I can't imagine why one hasn't been created. Hopefully I can post a beta by Monday.

Edit:
Delays, now I know why I can't find another solution... It's harder to program than I thought..