Freeware utility to Type French Characters using a UK Computer and Keyboard
Screen shot of utility:
This utility is aimed at those who need to type French using a UK computer with UK keyboard. The accented French characters are not directly available on a UK keyboard. Some programs such as Microsoft Word provide a symbol insertion feature but this can be tiresome to use. However, there are no such features for entering accented French characters when using Notepad or writing emails using Outlook Express or many other programs.
To that end I wrote this small program for my own use, but thought others may find it useful too. So it is available for download from the Avisoft.co.uk web site as freeware. There is no licence fee or program expiry, there are also no nasty hidden 'features' such as spyware or ad-ware. To ensure you have a clean and up to date version always download the software directly from the Avisoft.co.uk website - never from any other web site. Never accept copies from any other source as they may have been tampered with or contaminated.
The software is supplied free of charge without warranty or guarantees. If you like the program let others know - All I ask is that if you need any software writing, consider contacting Avisoft Ltd for a quotation. I have many years experience developing both small utilities and MS Office applications for private individuals and large multi-user database applications for corporations using VB, .NET, Access, SQL Server plus numerous other languages and development tools. I am also available for short term contracts worldwide.
Download Instructions
Note: If you have an earlier version installed, first un-install it from Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs
If prompted "Do you want to Run or Save this file", click "Save". Save the application TypeFrenchCharacters to your "My Documents" folder or somewhere you can find it after download. When download is complete just double click the file. After installation is complete you can safely delete it.
(VISTA users: Microsoft has removed the functionality in their new operating system 'Vista' that enabled keystrokes to be sent to other applications. Sorry, but beyond my control. This utility works fine on Windows XP, 2000, 98, ME. I will release a new tool shortly that works around this limitation. Watch this space!)
The Current version of Type French Characters is 1.00-0020 released on 1st July 2008 Click Here to Download
Version 1.00-0020 Added a small time delay between clicking the French character and sending it to whatever is the current document, this is to cope with slow computers and those people using animated Windows effects which otherwise don't get out of the way fast enough before the character is sent, causing the character to be lost. Note that the toolbar may noticeably flicker more after each character is clicked due to this change.
Version 1.00-0018 Another accented character has been discovered û / Û and added. The problem has also been fixed with regard to the focus (cursor) not returning to the current document after an accented character has been clicked. The irritating minimize / restore flicker after each click has also been removed.
The utility is very simple and intuitive to use. Clicking the 'Help' button within the utility provides full details on its use. The help information can also be viewed online: Click here for more details.
Links
Relocating from Nottingham to Normandy - David and Lillian's French Adventures