International or Extended Characters
Some of the Xenetech fonts have been updated to include the International Character set. To determine if you have a copy of an updated font, check the date of the actual '.FNT' file found in the '\XFILES\FNT' sub-directory, using Windows File Manager or by listing the directory in DOS (use 'DIR'). These fonts will have dates around 6/94 or newer.
Since the current keyboards do not accommodate characters such as Ç, Ð, ß, etc. you must place them on the screen using their associated ASCII number or code. For the above three characters, the numbers 0199, 0208, and 0223 were used respectively along with some other special keystrokes to display them in the line of text. (the zero (0) at the beginning of the number IS important)
To display an International Character:
-confirm that the Xenetech font you would like to use has been updated with the extended character set (see above)
-using the ASCII chart supplied here within the Xenetech Help files, locate the correct number associated with the character you wish to use (i.e. 0199 for Ç etc.).
-open a job or create a new job.
-install the desired font
-on your keyboard, make sure the 'NUM LOCK' light is on, indicating that the number pad on the right side of your keyboard is activated. If it is not, press the 'NUM LOCK' key found near the number pad.
-get into 'text' mode by 'clicking' on the "T" in the Icon Bar (or by pressing the Hot Key <Enter>)
-to display the actual character, press and hold down the 'Alt' key. While continuing to press the 'Alt' key, enter the number associated with the desired character (including the first zero (0)), using the number pad on the right side of your keyboard. Let go of the 'Alt' key.
-the character should now be displayed
NOTE: The numbers that you enter must be typed from the number pad on right side of the keyboard. Using the numbers along the top line of the keyboard will not work.
To use extended characters for TrueType fonts, you can view the characters and key assignments for the character you desire by viewing the font in the Character Map program. You can find this under the Start Menu | Accessories menu, or by typing CHARMAP <enter> at a RUN prompt. Not all fonts have all characters. This is true for both resident engraving fonts and TrueType fonts. Some of the characters listed in the character map are not ASCII, but Unicode. XGW will not allow you to enter Unicode characters. You can discern Unicode characters from ASCII by looking at the character that precedes the numerical assignment. ALT represents ASCII characters, and U represents Unicode.
ASCII Character Chart
