The Mac OS X Character Palette
Typing German Characters on a Mac
Using an English-Language Keyboard
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Character Codes > Mac Character Palette > Special-Character FAQ
Mac users may not have any difficulty typing German characters (ö, Ä, é, ß, etc.), but they can be left wondering which "option" key combination will produce certain special German letters or symbols. That's when the Mac OS X Character Palette comes in handy.
The photo below shows the Character Palette window. Take a look at the photo and then scroll down below it to learn more.
The Mac OS X Character Palette
How to Open the Character Palette
The Character Palette in Mac OS X replaces the "Key Caps" feature used in OS 9 and earlier Mac OS versions, but the Character Palette offers more features than Key Caps did. To view the Character Palette you click on the "Edit" menu (in an application or in the Finder) and select "Special Characters." The Character Palette will appear. You can also open the Character Palette in the International control panel under System Preferences, or even have an icon in the Finder bar that will open it.
As you can see in the photo above, the Palette not only shows the codes and letters, but also how they appear in various font styles. Using the "Add to Favorites" button lets you set up a list of character "Favorites" for future use.
Inserting Special Characters and Symbols
You can use the Character Palette to insert special characters, such as mathematical symbols, letters with accent marks, German letters, or arrows and other "dingbats," into a document.
For more details, enter "Character Palette" in the Mac Help window on your computer.
For more about typing German characters on a North American keyboard, see these articles by your Guide: Can Your PC Speak German? and Optimize Your PC for German.
BACK > Part One - German character code chart
MORE > Mac OS X and German
Character Code Chart - Part Two
The second part of our Special Character Chart for German. Includes special German quotation marks and more.
Special-Character FAQ
If you're still not sure which way to go on this issue, take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions for typing special characters on an English-language keyboard.
DeKey - Freeware
This little application makes your PC more like a Mac! Quickly type an ä (or other German characters) using Alt + a. It's a free download.
German Punctuation
An article about some important differences in German versus English punctuation.
Can Your PC Speak German?
A detailed look at all the options for typing special German characters on an English-language keyboard.
Optimize Your PC for German
Helpful tips for Mac and Windows XP users - including German spell-checking in MS Word.
Computer Keyboards Abroad
Where the heck is the @ sign? German and other European computer keyboards, Internet cafés and computer terms in German.
Computer Glossary
Our annotated English-German glossary of computer terms.
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