AllChars for Windows

v3.6

for Windows 95, 98, NT 4, 2000

FREEWARE

Copyright ⌐ 1994-2000:

Jeroen Laarhoven
Ruurlosebeek 4
8033 DV Zwolle
Netherlands

http://allchars.zwolnet.com
allchars@zwolnet.com

Contents

Introduction

Version One, Two, Three (dot something)

How does AllChars work?

Installing AllChars on your system

AllChars and deadkeys

Macros

AllChars in the Taskbar

AllChars popup menu

The writer

Copyright, usage, copying and responsibility

Appendix A - Customizing the translation tables

Appendix B - Technical data

Appendix C - ANSI-table and AllChars key combinations

Introduction

AllChars for Windows is a utility which adds a missing functionality to Windows: an easy way to make accents like Θ ▄ τ ε µ and special characters like Ç â ▓ ë ⌐ ú ▒ ▀ ░ ╜ ┐ ╗ Ö ä available within every Windows program.

AllChars for Windows is very easy and intuitive to use, and it is possible to make it work the way you do.

AllChars for Windows is FREEWARE.

AllChars for Windows version 3 works with Windows95, Windows98, Windows NT 4.0 and Windows2000. The Euro currency symbol Ç is supported if you have the right Windows fonts (see the readme.txt file for more information).

AllChars for Windows version 2 also offers macros. With this you can make AllChars enter any string of characters in your application by just hitting two or more keys.

And finally, AllChars for Windows makes it possible to change the period in the numeric keyboard to the decimal symbol as defined in the International settings of Windows. In most European countries this is a comma instead of a period.

What AllChars can and cannot do

AllChars for Windows only sends a character value (between 1 and 255) to the application in use. The font and character set (often called æscriptÆ) used in the application determine what character is shown.

Older Windows fonts have one (fixed) character set, but the newer Unicode fonts can have many.

E.g. typing Ctrl 1 4 (character 188) gives a ╝ in the Arial font, but a ╝ in the WingDings font. And typing Ctrl ? ? (character 191) gives a ┐ in the Western character set, but an A in the Greek character set.

The æChar TableÆ option on the AllChars help screen shows the available characters. With the popup menu you can change the font and character set, showing the characters in different fonts and character sets.

In the application being used (e.g. Word) you have to select the font and, optionally, the character set (æscriptÆ) in this font. The Windows system itself normally uses the ANSI (Western) character set.

If you use localized Windows and/or application fonts for your language/region, you can configure AllChars with key combinations for the special characters in these localized fonts and/or character sets. Some of these configurations are available on the AllChars website.
But remember: you might need other (localized or Unicode) fonts for these!

So AllChars can not:

• Give you characters that are not available in the active character set of the active font.
• (Temporarily) change to another font like æSymbolÆ or æWingdingsÆ for special characters of these fonts.
• (Temporarily) change the character set in the font.

See Appendix C for the characters available in the normal æWesternÆ (æLatin 1Æ, ANSI) character set and Appendix A for customizing AllChars for other key combinations.

Version One, Two, Three (dot something)

AllChars for Windows version 3 is a 32-bit application for Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0 and 2000. Version three now also works (better) with different keyboard layouts and the AltGr key.

Version 3.5 introduces again the temporarily removed macros feature, in a somewhat different and improved way.

AllChars versions 1.xx are 16-bit applications for Windows 3.11 that work fine under Window 95 and Windows 98. AllChars version 2.xx (32-bit) should not be used for Windows 98!

Because AllChars for Windows version 3 uses (a lot) more memory than version 1, I suggest that Windows 95 and Windows 98 users who are short on memory use version 1.

How does AllChars work?

When AllChars for Windows is started, the program æhooksÆ itself into the Windows system and watches all keys pressed.

By pressing the Control-key and releasing it again without having pressed another key in the meantime, AllChars is activated. It will now try to translate the next two keys pressed into one special character.

For example:

Ctrl, ', e gives an Θ

Ctrl, 1, 2 gives a ╜

Ctrl, =, e gives a Ç

Because Control key is normally always used together with another key (pressed at the same time), but AllChars is activated by pressing and then releasing the Control key, you can use AllChars with all Window programs (including system dialogs, etc.) without conflicting with these programs.

Most special characters are built using keys representing 'parts' of this character, like the examples above.

There are also 'double keys' defined for fast usage: f and f gives a â, and L and L gives a ú.

Some characters can also be formed by their name: d and g gives a ░ (degree), c and r gives a ⌐ (copyright), m and u gives a ╡ (mu), etc.

It doesn't matter which of the two keys you type first. And you can use mixed upper- and lower-case. So: c and r , or r and c , or C and r , or R and C , etc., all give ⌐.

A help screen û showing all available and defined key combinations û is available by typing Ctrl h h .

In Appendix C you can also find all the available characters with their standard defined key combinations and their ANSI-values.

Installing AllChars on your system

If you have downloaded allcharsXXsetup.exe, the program installs like most Windows programs.

Otherwise you can install AllChars on your system by copying all AllChars files to a directory (any) on your harddisk. To activate AllChars, just start (run) it.

If you want to have AllChars start every time you start Windows, add the program to the Windows æStartupÆ group.

AllChars does not need to be in your Windows directory. AllChars also makes no changes to your system files or registration database.

Network configuration

AllChars need writing rights for its configuration file; default allchars.ini in the AllChars directory.

For network configurations this file can be placed in another directory, so the AllChars program can be shared, while individuals have there own (local) configuration file.

For this start AllChars with the commandline option æ-cÆ followed by the full filepath and name of the configuration file. Both should be separated by a space. E.g.:

allchars.exe -c m:\configurations\allchars.ini

allchars.exe -C "c:\Program Files\AllChars\allchars.ini"

One can check which configuration file is used in the AllChars Configuration screen.

Removing AllChars from your system

If you installed AllChars with Windows setup (using SetupAllChars3xx.exe) you can uninstall AllChars like most Windows programs. Use the æAdd/Remove ProgramsÆ option of the æControl PanelÆ.

If you installed AllChars by hand (copying the files), you can remove AllChars from your system by deleting all files in the AllChars directory. And if you added AllChars to your æStartupÆ group, you also have to remove it from there.

AllChars and deadkeys

Windows has so-called deadkeys for international users (like us in Europe). Accent keys are not shown after typing them. Windows waits for you to type the next key and then tries to see if the combination of these two makes sense. If so the accent is typed. This way we Europeans and others got our needed accents.

For example, if you type ' you see nothing. If the next key is an e , then you see an Θ ; if the next key is a t then you see 't .

This looks like the functionality of AllChars for Windows. So why use AllChars ?

• AllChars is language independent and can make all of the font-specified characters. All accents: the normal ones, and also some special German, Scandinavian, French and Spanish accents and all other characters not found on the keyboard, like ▓ ë ⌐ ▒ ░ ╜ _ ╗ etc.

• If you're a programmer or sometimes make spreadsheet macros, the use of these deadkeys is very annoying, because in programming languages accents like ' and " are part of the program/macro language.

You can use AllChars together with deadkeys. You can either use the deadkeys without AllChars (not typing Ctrl before the combination); or you may use AllChars, but then the deadkey must be typed first!

If you wish to turn off the deadkeys, the only way I know to do this is by changing the settings of the keyboard to the standard US layout.

Open the Control Panel again, choose Keyboard and change (or add if needed) the keyboard layout English (United States).

Macros

AllChars for Windows can, besides translating key combinations into special characters, also expand abbreviations into longer text strings. We call these æmacrosÆ. For example:

/wwa giveshttp://allchars.zwolnet.com

You can define these macros yourself and they can be used for:

• Inserting often-typed strings like your name, company name, address, etc.
• Inserting code bits for us programmers, like æif then begin end else begin endÆ etc.
• Inserting log-in and password information. (Not my responsibility.)
• Inserting date (and time) strings for any day, like today, yesterday and tomorrow.
• Anything you donÆt want to type again and again (like æAllChars for WindowsÆ when writing this manual).

A macro text can hold any printable character including special characters made with AllChars, but no ædeadkeyÆ characters like: ` ┤ ¿ ê ÿ ╕ ~ , ^ ' ", (ansi 096, 180, 168, 136, 152, 184, 126, 044, 094, 039 and 034). So, no commas, no single quotes and no double quotes!

In a macro name you should only use characters you can type. Macro names are case sensitive.

You run a macro by typing the macro start-character followed by the name of the macro. By default a slash æ/Æ character. On the configuration screen you can change this character to something else, e.g. a dot, æ<Æ, æ~Æ, etc.

Besides characters, a macro text can also hold special codes. These start with a backslash æ\Æ character, followed by a letter (and numbers).

These special codes are:

• æ\bÆ - inserts a BACKSPACE (ASCII 8) character.
• æ\cNNNÆ - inserts a character with the decimal ASCII value NNN. E.g. æ\c072elloÆ will give æHelloÆ because the ASCII value of the æHÆ character is 72. Do not use ASCII value 001 or 002, these are used internally by AllChars.
• æ\dÆ - DOWN (arrow) key.
• æ\eÆ - END key.
• æ\hÆ - HOME key.
• æ\lÆ - LEFT (arrow) key.
• æ\nÆ - insert a CR character (like pressing the Enter key).
• æ\pÆ - PAGE UP key.
• æ\qÆ - PAGE DOWN key.
• æ\rÆ - RIGHT (arrow) key.
• æ\tÆ - inserts a TAB character.
• æ\uÆ - UP (arrow) key.
• æ\xÆ - tells AllChars to use the delete character to remove the macro name instead of the back key. This can be useful for terminal/telnet sessions to Linux, Unix and mainframe systems.
• æ\yÆ - tells AllChars this macro is encrypted. Do not insert this code yourself. Use the Encrypt key on the Macros form instead. See also the æSecret macrosÆ paragraph below.
• æ\w(format|day)Æ - inserts a formatted date and/or time string. E.g. æ\w(d-mmm-yyyy|-1)Æ will give yesterdays date in a format like æ11-Mar-2000Æ. See the æDate macrosÆ paragraph below.
• æ\\Æ - insert the æ\Æ character.

Defining macros

You can edit, add and delete macros using the Macros screen. See the chapter æAllChars Popup menu - MacrosÆ below.

Secret macros

You can make so-called æsecretÆ macros in AllChars, usable for passwords, logins etc.

The string you have to type and the string AllChars sends instead are both encrypted in the macro list and ALLCHARS.INI file. So this way secret macros are reasonably safe to use. But like always there is a risk when æwriting downÆ password information!

Making secret macros is done in three steps:

1. Give the macro a logical name, e.g. æPasswordXÆ. This is typed in as the macro name.
2. Define the secret macro definition as being the macro text. The definition contains two parts separated by the æ=Æ sign. E.g. æMyName=MyPasswordÆ. So the string you have to type is æMyNameÆ, which AllChars replaces with æMyPasswordÆ.
3. Encrypt the macro with the Encrypt key, resulting in a æ\Y...Æ macro text.

Examples:

The first example is the password for the bank. You have to type æslikÆ for the æu5assq53na' password.

The second example is for login on a system as æjohnÆ followed by a tab and the password æfireworkÆ.

You can recognize a secret macro by a æ*Æ character behind the macro name.

Date macros

AllChars can replace a macro name with a date and/or time. This way you can make macros like:

A date macro (part) starts with æ\wÆ, optionally followed by a format description and day specification inside brackets.

The day specification indicates the number of days from today: 1 = tomorrow; -1 = yesterday; and so on.

In the format description you specify how to format the date and/or time using specifiers and other characters. The format is very flexible*. The most important specifiers are:

* As Delphi programmers may guess, all options of the FormatDateTime function can be used.

Avoiding and solving problems

The macros have two configuration parameters: the start-character and the time-out time. Both can be set in the configuration screen.

To avoid problems with macros:

• Use a character which is not often used as the start-character to avoid a false macro translation.
  E.g. do not use a dot if you are programming in a language using dots in identifiers, etc.
• Do not use very short macro names, like one character names, to avoid a false translation.
• Set the macro time-out time big enough for your typing speed. If youÆre not that fast in typing, increase the time.
  The time-out time is the maximum time between two typed characters in a macro name. After not receiving any character during this time, AllChars will stop the macro, with one last try to translate the macro.
  If your macros are (sometimes) not translated, you are probably typing too slow for the time-out time previously set, so increase the time.

If you use a program in which the macro name is not removed and the end of the macro text is removed instead, try activating the delay option: add in allchars.ini the line æMacroDelay=200Æ in the æ[Configuration]Æ section. You can experiment with the delay time (200 ms in the example).

AllChars in the Taskbar

Normally AllChars works in the background, without your having to pay any attention to it. After starting AllChars it will display an icon in the right part of the Windows taskbar near the time. This icon shows you the state of the program, and from there you can access the program.

The AllChars icon holds two keys numbered one and two. Normally they both are grey. But, if you activated AllChars by hitting and releasing the Ctrl key, key number one will turn red, telling you that AllChars is waiting for the first key of the key combination.

After pressing the first key key number two in the icon will turn red, informing you that AllChars is waiting for the second key. After pressing this second key the keys in the icon will turn grey again.

In this icon you can also see if the translation of the numeric keypad period key into the decimal symbol is switched on or off. If switched on you see a small period in the lower left corner of the icon.

You can access the AllChars program by this icon:

• Click on the icon with the right mouse button and you will see the AllChars popup menu.
• Double click on the icon and AllChars will show you a help screen with all special characters and the key combinations to make these characters with AllChars.

If you have too many icons in your taskbar, you can hide the AllChars icon. See the configuration chapter below. You now have to type Ctrl a a to pop up the AllChars menu.

AllChars popup menu

Right click on the icon in the taskbar (or type Ctrl a m) and you will see the AllChars popup menu.

From there you can:

• Show information about AllChars.
• Show the help screen.
• Show (and edit) available macros.
• Enable or disable (temporarily) AllChars.
• Switch on/off the translation of the period key in the numeric keypad into the decimal symbol.
• Change the configuration.
• Exit (stopping) AllChars.

About AllChars

The about box gives you information about the AllChars version and the copyright.

Here you can also find AllCharsÆ home on the Internet: http://allchars.zwolnet.com.

Help

The help screen shows all defined special characters and the key combinations to make these characters with AllChars. Select a character group in the æGroupsÆ list and all definitions in this group are shown.

With the right mouse button you can popup a menu with four options:

• Help û shows some help text (same as æHelpÆ button).
• Char Table - shows the character table.
• Font û opens a dialog in which you can select the font and character set used to display the characters. You can e.g. use this to check if the wanted character is in the font.
• Test line û toggles the test line on/off, in which you can type characters.

The æChars TableÆ button shows all extended characters (values 128 - 255). The characters are shown in black or red. If a character is black it shows the key combination(s) defined for this character. If it is red, the character has no key combinations defined.

If you click on a character in the table, it shows the key combinations defined for this character.

When showing the character table, you can use the same button, now labeled æChars LowÆ or æChars HiÆ, to show the lower or higher half of the character table.

The characters in the lower half are mostly found on your (US) keyboard. These are shown in dark blue.

Showing the lower half can be useful for symbol fonts like Wingdings. By clicking on the wanted symbol you know what key is needed for it. E.g. typing J gives a J in the Wingdings font.

Macros

The macro screen shows the available macros and allows you to modify them.

By clicking on the macro text or name you can edit this text or name.

Use the æ+Æ key to add a macro and the æûÆ key to delete the selected macro.

Use the Encrypt key (shown as a yellow key) to encrypt the selected macro. This way you can make secret macros for passwords, logins, etc. See the paragraph æSecret macrosÆ.
First type the text for the macro in the text field, then hit the Encrypt key. In the figure the æloginÆ macro is a secred macro for login on e.g. a website. Typing æyepÆ will output the login name æJohnÆ followed by a tab and the password æFireworkÆ.

See the chapter about Macros for more information about macros.

Enable / disable AllChars

With this function you can (temporarily) disable or enable AllChars. The AllChars icon in the Windows taskbar will be crossed out, showing AllChars is disabled.

For programmers: If AllChars is disabled, the keyboard hook is "unhooked", so AllChars should not interfere with any other program.

Decimal Symbol translation

With the æDecimal SymbolÆ function you can switch on or off the translation of the period key in the numeric keypad. If switched on, AllChars will translate this period key into the decimal symbol.

The AllChars icon in the Windows taskbar will then show a period in the lower left corner. If you donÆt see it, it is switched off, or ... you might need glasses.

Configuration

With the Configuration screen you can change the AllChars settings.

You can change the following AllChars settings:

If a key combination is unknown:

• try Reverse - allows typing the key combination in reverse order. For example: c r gives ⌐, but also r  c gives ⌐ . AllChars first tests the typed order, and if this key combination is not defined it will try the reverse order.
• try Discarded case - makes the key combination case insensitive. So besides c r , C R and C r and c R give the ⌐-sign as well.
  Again, the typed key combination is tested first. If this is not defined, and only then, switching the case of the characters is tested. So ' E will always give ╔ and ' e will always give Θ .
• Output characters - will, if the key combination is unknown, send the characters to the application. This is a a great feature, if you accidentally type the Ctrl key by accident now and then. But it might be a pain when trying to find a key combination.
• Beep - will give you a warning beep if the typed key combination is not defined.

Integration:

• When use Speaker is selected, the computer speaker is used for the beep instead of the default beep.
• Hide taskbar icon - will hide the AllChars icon in the taskbar. Type Ctrl A M to popup the AllChars menu.

Hotkey to activate AllChars:

• You can choose the hotkey for AllChars. Besides the default Ctrl key, you can also choose the Shift key or the Esc key.
  The Ctrl key is the best choice, since it interferes the least with other programs. Only use another key if you have problems using Ctrl with another program.
  After changing this you have to restart AllChars and all other running programs, to make the change effective.

Macros:

• Start-char defines the character you have to type before all macro names.
• The Time-out defines the time allowed between two typed characters in a macro name. See the chapter æMacros - Avoiding problems with macrosÆ for more information.

Extra:

• translate numeric keypad Period into decimal symbol will, if selected, change the period key in the numeric keypad into the decimal symbol, which in Europe is often a comma.
  Use the Windows Control Panel to define the decimal symbol.
  By typing Ctrl d d you can toggle this translation on and off.

Exit AllChars

Choose æExitÆ if you want to close AllChars. The program 'unhooks' itself from the system and removes itself from memory.

Special key combinations

AllChars knows key combinations that do not result in a special character or macro, but are used to perform an action. These key combinations are:

• Ctrl A M : to show the AllChars popup menu (when the taskbar icon is hidden).
• Ctrl D D : to toggle the translation of the numeric keypad to decimal symbol (on/off)
• Ctrl H H : to show the help screen with all standard defined key combinations.
• Ctrl M M : to show (and edit) the macros.

The writer

The first version of AllChars for Windows was written in 1994 and was first distributed in the Netherlands as shareware. Two years later the English version was released on the net û being freeware.

The 32-bit version 2 was written in the winter of 1997 using Borland Delphi. Version 3 solved the Windows 98 problems, offered support for different keyboard layouts, and was released in 1999.

Version 3.5 was released in the new millenium, bringing back the û often asked for û macros feature.

The writer Jeroen Laarhoven is reachable by email at:

The latest version(s) of AllChars will be available at:

Copyright, usage, copying and responsibility

AllChars for Windows is copyrighted by its writer Jeroen Laarhoven.

AllChars for Windows is freeware. You are free to use the program for personal use and professionally without having to pay a single penny, cent or whatever. You may copy the program and its documentation freely.

Distributing the program and its documentation by electronic networks, diskette, CD-ROM etc. is allowed as long as you are not selling it and the program and documentation is distributed unchanged and complete (see Appendix B). Please refer to http://allchars.zwolnet.com for updates.

And ... the developer of AllChars for Windows makes no representations about the suitability of this software or about any content or information made accessible by the software, for any purpose. The software is provided 'as is' without express or implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. This software is provided free of charge and, accordingly, the developer of AllChars for Windows will not be liable on any grounds for any damages suffered by you or by any user of the software.

The developer of AllChars for Windows will offer limited support for this software and is under no obligation to issue updates to this software.

Appendix A - Customizing the translation tables

The file allchars.ini in the AllChars directory contains the tables used by AllChars for translating the key combinations into special characters.

The file can be changed with any text editor, e.g. Notepad.

The tables are built as long strings of characters built up out of definitions of three characters separated by a space character.

You can change or add to these tables, but do not change the format.

All definitions in the æ[Tables]Æ section are loaded. You can organize the definitions by grouping them and giving a group a name like æAccentsÆ, æCurrency symbolsÆ, etc. You will then find these groups in the help

screen.

The groups are shown in the order you define them and are interpreted first to last, left to right.

If a group name starts with a period (like æ.DeadkeysÆ), it will be hidden in the help screen.

After changing the tables you always have to close AllChars and open it again to activate the changes.

Upgrading from version 3.0x and 3.5

You can reuse the old allchars.ini file.

Upgrading from version 2.1x

You can reuse the old allchars.ini file, although the new INI file is improved.

And you might want to rename the macros.

Upgrading from version 2.0x

You can reuse the old allchars.ini file, but the grouping of the definitions in the new one might make more sense. And you might want to rename the macros.

Upgrading from version 1.2x

The format of allchars.ini is changed in version 2. Do not overwrite the new allchars.ini with allchars.ini from version 1.2x! AllChars will not work with the old allchars.ini.

There are now more sections in allchars.ini.

The æ[Tables]Æ section contains the translation tables. If you want to update and reuse your UserTable, copy your æUserTable=...Æ line from the old file in the æ[Tables]Æ section of the new file and change it to something like æMy Codes=...Æ.

The configuration settings are now in the section æ[Configuration]Æ.

Appendix B - Technical data

Operatingsystem - Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0 orWindows 2000.

Harddisk usage - ca. 800 KB (600 KB without Manual), but who cares nowadays.

Principle of operation - AllChars uses the Windows keyboard-hook and always calls other keyboard-hooks (if any) before doing its job. Characters are sent to the target window using WM_CHAR, WM_KEYDOWN and WM_KEYUP Windows messages.
Macros are sent using the WH_JOURNALPLAYBACK hook.

Configuration - In ALLCHARS.INI (good old Windows profile format).

Minimal configuration - AllChars needs the following files to function:

Complete file list - AllChars v3.6 should be distributed with each of these files:

Appendix C - ANSI-table and AllChars key combinations

Alternative combinations:

The characters displayed are part of the Western character set (script).