Typing strange letters¿ w/o numpad?

For some programs that use a "Rich Edit Control" (I just tested with Word 2007 and it works), this method should work, as described here:

There is a fifth related method, but it does not actually use the numeric keypad:

HexadecimalUnicode, ALT+X

Enter a Unicode value in hexadecimal (EG: Enter 00A5 for U+00A5), then press ALT+X or ALT+SHIFT+CTRL+F12 to yield ¥. Note that this shortcut does not actually use the numeric keypad. Later versions of Word or Wordpad, or anything that uses a "Rich Edit Control". (FYI: Typing ALT+SHIFT+x converts the Unicode character preceding the insertion point to the corresponding Unicode hexadecimal value.)

• EG: 100, ALT+X yields Ā in Wordpad but does nothing in Notepad.
• Dr. International:
  • 'This method should work in both Wordpad on Windows XP SP1 and Word 2002 and Word 2003, but it does not work in Notepad.'

See this post: Three ways to enter Unicode characters in Windows

The three methods are

1. Using Alt-X in Microsoft Word.
2. Changing a registry setting to enable Alt-+ to work with more applications.
3. Using the UnicodeInput application.

Many laptops without separate numeric keypads nevertheless have a numeric "overlay" keypad, usually on the u-i-o-j-k-l-m-,-. keys. To use those keys as numbers, you usually have to hold down a special function key, labeled something like Fn, usually in a different color than the rest of the keyboard labels. Once you've figured out how to activate the overlay, you should be able to use it for Alt+Num shortcuts. (Emphasis on "should", not "will": on some laptops, the Alt+Num stuff will simply never work, because the implementation of the numeric keypad is buggy.)

You can also open Character Map (Start -> Run -> CharMap) and double-click on any symbol you want. Then copy and paste.