Rocket German Community

In order to get your computer to write in German: ä ö etc. when writing combinations such as alt +0228, etc. you must use the number keypad,
(not the numbers above the letters!) which is usually found to the right of the regular qwerty keyboard.

Also if you use the Firefox browser, there is a addon called abcTajpu (http://traduku.net/abctajpu/). It is very easy to type Umlauts. For example to type ä = ae + Insert Key, ö = oe + Insert, ß = ss+Insert etc. I find it very helpful while studying German online.

On a Windows PC you can use the Language Bar and set the keyboard to US International layout. Then typing umlauts (umlaute) is simple: Type " + a = ä, " + u = ü and " + e = ë.

Note that on the US Int. Kybd Layout the keys required are <shift> + ' then press "e" for example to get ë. The international layout recognises some keys as combination keys:

The apostrophe, ' , quote, ", tilde, ~, carat, ^, and the reverse single quote, `, are combo keys.

To type any of these punctuation marks press the key followed by the spacebar. Other combinations are available useful for languages like Italian and French: ' + e = é and the reverse single quote, ` + e = è OR ' + c = ç. Hope you find this useful!

Alternatively, pressing the Right <ALT> key plus the letter will produce the following letters:
á <RALT> + a
é <RALT> + e
í <RALT> + i
ó <RALT> + o

The only useful one I know for German is <RALT> + "s" which is where you find the elusive esszett, ß.

For those curious to see what other letters you can generate try holding the shift key while pressing the right <ALT> key and then s .. --> § These letters are used for other languages, diacritical marks and more. The pound sign for example is <SHIFT><RALT>4 or <RALT> + $ = £.

Note, in Windows XP you can find the language bar in Control Panel - Regional and Language Options - Languages - Details. I set my input language to Australian but am compelled to use the US International keyboard layout. I also use the Dvorak layout because just like speaking another language, typing on another layout is fun too!!

Have A Rip Snorter! Schönen Tag!

Paul