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Umlaute

Conventional Method

Umlaute may cause funny characters with some e-mail programs. A way to avoid them is using these alternatives:

a(umlaut) = Kra(uml)he = Kra"he = Kraehe =        for crow
u(umlaut) = Hu(uml)gel = Hu"gel = Huegel =        for hill
o(umlaut) = Mo(uml)bel = Mo"bel = Moebel =        for furniture
double s  = Has(uml)   = Has"   = Hass   = Hasz = for hate

The e or sz version is easy to recognize for the native or experienced user.
The " works very well for the beginner and others.

Hold down the ALT or MAC key while typing the number.

   Mac  IBM  8859  HTML    Name
   ---  ---  ----  ----    ----
Ä  128  142  196  Ä   A umlaut   
ä  138  132  228  ä   a umlaut
Ö  133  153  214  Ö   O umlaut   
ö  154  148  246  ö   o umlaut
Ü  134  154  220  Ü   U umlaut   
ü  159  129  252  ü   u umlaut
ß  167  225  223  ß  eszet

Find a program that comes with Windows called "Character Map." From there you can copy and paste many foreign characters, including the umlauts, into your documents.

With the Mac go into the system folder then control panel. In the CONTROL PANEL open the KEYBOARD ICON and set it to German. To do the Umlaut push OPTION U and the next letter you type will have an Umlaut over it.

Adding Language Solution

This lets you choose between the keyboard layouts by simply selecting English or German. Click on START, select SETTINGS, and then CONTROL PANEL. Next double-click on the keyboard symbol. Select LANGUAGE, and click on ADD LANGUAGE. Select the GERMAN (Standard), and click on OK. Follow the rest of the instructions. Once done you will see a square marked EN for English and DE for German (Deutsch). You can now switch between laguages by either pressing ALT+SHIFT or clicking on the DE or EN box to select the other language. Here are the new assignments for the keyboard:
Ää = '"
Öö = ;:
Üü = [{
ß = -
z and y are switched
Other keys have different assignments too. The Windows manual should have a layout example.

Using the US-International Keyboard

Click on START, select SETTINGS, and then CONTROL PANEL. Next double-click on the keyboard symbol. Select LANGUAGE, select ENGLISH (United States), and click on PROPERTIES. Change your keyboard layout to US INTERNATIONAL. Click on OK, and follow the rest of the intructions.

Once your keyboard is international, it's pretty much the same as it is now, but there are some added features. There are actually 2 ways to make umlauted vowels.

First One, press the SHIFT key and type a quotation mark ("). Now just simply type a small a, and it will be umlauted.

SHIFT plus " (release) a = ä    SHIFT plus " (release) A = Ä
SHIFT plus " (release) o = ö    SHIFT plus " (release) O = Ö
SHIFT plus " (release) u = ü    SHIFT plus " (release) U = Ü
SHIFT plus " (release) SPACEBAR = "
RightALT + s = ß

Second One way is to type umlauts with the US INTERNATIONAL keyboard is:

RightALT + q = ä
RightALT + y = ü
RightALT + p = ö
RightALT + s = ß

Link to INTERNATIONAL keyboard layout for other items made by using the RightALT key.

Gateway has a programmable keyboard called the Anykey or 124-key Programmable PS2 Keyboard. It does work with any IBM PS2 compatible computer. This one has functions keys on top and on the site, a total of 24 keys. Just program the ones on the left site with German characters and attache labels. This in particular is a good choice, because you do not have to deal with other keyboard layouts. Gateway supplies the programming instructions with the keyboard. It is very simple. The current price is $49.00. Go to add-ons when you visit the Gateway site. (http://www.gateway.com)

You may obtain a used one on the EBAY website. They usually go for around $20 on this auction website. (http://www.ebay.com)

Go to preferences. Then Keyboard. You can alter the current keyboard or copy it, giving it a new name (such as German), then modify the key strokes. You do that by clicking Edit. Then click Play a Keyboard Script. Highlight the key (ex. A+Alt), put your cursor in the box which says "type the script this key plays. Hit CtrlW to get a list of the various keyboards. Select International. Highlight a-umlaut. Click and close. Click assign script. When you finish all the keys you want to modify, click okay, then select. When you type Alt-a, you will get an umlauted a. I have used A+Alt+Shift for the capital.