Hex Unicode input not working in Microsoft apps

Question

I am using Windows 8 pro 64 bit. I have my language set to English (Singapore locale).

I have input unicode text before with the method: hold [alt], [numeric plus]+[Unicode hex value]. While reporting this I decided to try to input the text in Google Chrome, in the url bar. Inputting for example "00b2" in Google's Chrome omnibar (the url bar) does work, producing "²" appropriately   — but I have to copy-paste that to get it in the text box here, since I am reporting this in Metro IE. The input method also works, rather comically, at the command prompt.

Recently I noticed that this is not working in many Microsoft applications. There appear to be two different ways that the input method misbehaves: either it inserts nothing, or it inserts the wrong Unicode character.

Metro IE has both behaviors: at the url bar it inserts nothing, but in text fields it inserts some other character (instead of the SUPERSCRIPT-TWO Unicode character "²", I get a dark smiley face: "☻").

Desktop IE: I get the dark smiley face both in text input fields and in the url bar.

WordPad: it inserts nothing.

Core Windows 8 Search feature: it does not work, although at least I get no input rather than the wrong Unicode character. Maps Tile app works perfectly though.

Using language tools (just a custom keyboard layout) I can input common characters like "æ" or "ā" without any issue, this is strictly about the hold [alt], [numeric plus]+[Unicode hex value] input method for Unicode characters.

I was told that this might just be a left over problem with IE, that the input method did not work with that app and was really a very old method — but reading about it online this is one of the three methods for inputting Unicode, and the only method that allows you to use the handy Hex value.

How can I get this fixed? The hex value is clearly the best way, because if you search for some Unicode character that is the first, and often enough only code point that is provided.

Answer 1

​Hi Roberto,

The issue you are facing is better suited in MSDN forums. We have a dedicated team to help you with this type of development issues. I would suggest you to post the same question in MSDN forum for further assistance.

Windows Store apps Development forum:

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsapps/en-US/home?category=windowsapps

Please feel free to visit our website for any help related to Windows operating System.

Answer 2

​Hi Roberto,

 

The issue you are facing is better suited in MSDN forums.

Hi Basith,

I'm not sure that you have understood my question. I don't have a question about how to implement a feature not already present in Windows 8 — and I'm not asking as a developer. I am simply asking a support question for a widely used feature.

Answer 3

Hi Roberto,

The basic Windows Alt-keyboard method only works for characters number less than decimal 255 in your Windows code page (if you enter the number with a leading zero), and for any characters in your DOS code page (if you leave off the leading zero). If you try to type larger values the characters start wrapping, so that character 256 counts as character 0, 257 counts as character 1, 258 counts as character 2, and so forth. You won’t get anywhere near where you want that way.

If you are using Microsoft Office, then the Alt-keypad method is enhanced and you can enter larger numbers and get any Unicode character. Note that you must enter the corresponding decimal value for the Unicode hex value, that is, for U+0906 you would hold down the Alt key and enter on the pad: 2310. If you were using Word but wanted to enter the character elsewhere, say into a forum page, you could then copy and paste the resulting character into the other application.

There are 4 methods to enter Unicode characters in Microsoft Windows

Method 1:

This method works regardless of any of your language settings, but is the most cumbersome to type.

1.Press and hold down the Alt key.

2.Press the + (plus) key on the numeric keypad.

3.Type the hexidecimal unicode value.

4.Release the Alt key.

Method 2: Input-language Specific

This method depends on the specific input language you are using.

1.Press and hold down the Alt key.

2.Type 0 (zero) and the decimal Unicode value on the numeric keypad.

3.Release the Alt key.

You can check which input language you are using in the "Control Panel"

Method 3: Code-page Specific

This method depends on the specific code page you have installed.

a. Press and hold down the Alt key.

b. Type the decimal code page value on the numeric keypad. Do not type any leading zeros.

c. Release the Alt key.

You can see which code page you have by typing chcp at a command prompt. Check the grid for your code page from the list of known code pages to see what characters you can enter this way.

Method 4: Application-specific

Applications can support their own methods. These are not standardized.

Several Microsoft applications, including WordPad and Microsoft Word:

 Press Alt-X after typing some hex digits. You see the digits as you type them, and they're replaced by the Unicode equivalent. Pressing Alt-X again converts it back to numbers.

Also for Windows **** Alt 0178 is a hexadecimal equivalent for SUPERSCRIPT-TWO.

Answer 4

QUOTE FROM Wasim A (done manually because using the quote function doesn't let you enter text outside of the quote):

If you are using Microsoft Office, then the Alt-keypad method is enhanced and you can enter larger numbers and get any Unicode character. Note that you must enter the corresponding decimal value for the Unicode hex value, that is, for U+0906 you would hold down the Alt key and enter on the pad: 2310. If you were using Word but wanted to enter the character elsewhere, say into a forum page, you could then copy and paste the resulting character into the other application.

There are 5 methods to enter Unicode characters in Microsoft Windows

Method 1:

This method works regardless of any of your language settings, but is the most cumbersome to type.

1.Press and hold down the Alt key.

2.Press the + (plus) key on the numeric keypad.

3.Type the hexidecimal unicode value.

4.Release the Alt key.

END QUOTE

Luckily I am not using Microsoft Office .. Although sometimes I do use Note, and hopefully that isn't the same because having to use decimal values would suck since they aren't readily visible in search results for Unicode values.

The method I am using is Method #1 in your list. Following these steps exactly does not work.