Euro Symbol on Keyboard

[Rudi]

I was just asked by a user how does one type the Euro symbol on the keyboard?

I have a few suggestions, but I still cannot get my standard US (US english) keyboard to type it? The Euro sign is on the #5 key.

I know about ALT + 0128
And some Googling refer to Right hand ALT key and #4 (or #5) button...but this does not work in my case??
Any ideas? Is it a language thing?

[StuartR]

It's Control-Alt-4 on my UK Keyboard €

[Rudi]

Left or right side ALT?
Some keyboards also show the right ALT as AltGr

[StuartR]

€€ It works with either Alt key (as displayed at the start of this post)

[Rudi]

Maybe it is the US language setting that is causing mine not to work.
Can't test at work...due to policy restrictions. Will try tonight at home!

[John Gray]

If your keyboard has AltGr on the key to the right of the space bar, that gives the same result as Ctrl+Alt, in Stuart's tip. Thus AltGr+4.

Another way to get the euro symbol is to ensure that NumLock is lit, hold down the Alt key and press 0 1 2 8 in sequence on the numeric pad, then release the Alt key. As in € !

[typed when the previous 2 or 3 messages were being entered!]

[HansV]

I think that Alt+0128 is the only generic way to enter the € symbol.
European keyboard layouts usually have an alternative keystroke, such as Ctrl+Alt+E, Ctrl+Alt+4 or Ctrl+Alt+5 (you can use AltGr instead of Ctrl+Alt).
The US International keyboard layout also has Ctrl+Alt+5.

[Rudi]

Ah-ha, it is a keyboard language change (in my region of the world).
I was on US standard keyboard which does nothing when CTRL+ALT (4 or 5) is pressed.
I changed it to US International and CTRL+ALT+5 works now.

TX for the assistance.

[HansV]

Please be aware that using the US International keyboard setting means that ', ", `, ~ and ^ will act as "modifier keys" - they won't do anything by themselves. If you follow them by a vowel they will create an accent above that letter: 'e becomes é, "u becomes ü, etc. Otherwise you get the modifier symbol followed by the letter.
This can be annoying when you're programming...

[Rudi]

TX for that heads up. I didn't know that and would have wondered what the issue was.
I have actually switched back already to the standard KB (using the keyboard switch button on the taskbar), but I'll inform the user who asked the question about it about this caveat too.

Cheers

As a side note:
If you are in the standard keyboard settings, one of my favourite key combos (to type accent characters - and prevents having to memorize ASCII codes with ALT) is to type accent like this:
Press CTRL+SHIFT+: then type the letter (like a vowel) and it creates ë
Press CTRL+SHIFT+^ then type the letter (like a vowel) and it creates ê

Of course you can type a capital letter too after the combo for capital accent letters
You can experiment with various accent characters to create most accent letters without ASCII

[BobH]

I use the Character Map for all symbols and representations that are not obvious or known to me. I use the standard US keyboard, of course, but only because I cannot find one adapted to Texas.

[BobH]

Please be aware that using the US International keyboard setting means that ', ", `, ~ and ^ will act as "modifier keys" - they won't do anything by themselves. If you follow them by a vowel they will create an accent above that letter: 'e becomes é, "u becomes ü, etc. Otherwise you get the modifier symbol followed by the letter.
This can be annoying when you're programming...

That is very interesting and useful information, Hans (as always)!

I tried it on my keyboard but did not get the effects following the modifier keys with a vowel. I'm guessing that I have a standard US keyboard setting and not the US International setting; so I'm off to try and discover if that option can be changed in Win 7 HPE.

Thank you!

[Rudi]

I use the Character Map for all symbols and representations that are not obvious or known to me. I use the standard US keyboard, of course, but only because I cannot find one adapted to Texas.

Two ways to recognize a Texas keyboard:
- Either it will be humongous (like those wide Texan steaks)
- Or instead of the Windows symbol on the key next to ALT, you'd have a Cowboy Hat.

[viking33]

I use the Character Map for all symbols and representations that are not obvious or known to me. I use the standard US keyboard, of course, but only because I cannot find one adapted to Texas.

Two ways to recognize a Texas keyboard:
- Either it will be humongous (like those wide Texan steaks)
- Or instead of the Windows symbol on the key next to ALT, you'd have a Cowboy Hat.

Great!

[BobH]

Ah, yes, Rudi!

But you forgot about the boots!

[Claude]

I use a program called Hot Keyboard Pro which allows me to program the keyboard for repetitive tasks as well as just single characters. I've got the euro assigned to Alt-Ctrl-Shift-E €