Writing in Italian with your Word Processor

These instructions assumes you are using Windows XP -- Or you can enable the Italian keyboard layout. If are using MAC OS, I suggest you install the Italian Pro keyboard layout

For the Italian keyboard layout details, click here

MS Word

MS Office 2000 and XP have proofing tools for Italian, but the languages modules must be purchased separately.

How do I assign vowel with accents to keyboard keys in MS Word? (I tested this in MS Word 97 and Word 2000).

1. Go to "Insert" on the Menu Bar.

2. Go to "Symbol"

3. Select the Font: "(normal text)"

4. Select the Subset: "Basic Latin"

5. Click on the character you want to assign (the character will be highlighted)

6. Click on "Shortcut Key"

7. On the keyboard, type the key combination you want to assign to the character. (ex. à = ALT+A)

8. Click "Assign" then "Close"

9. Repeat, starting at step 5, to assign other characters.

10. When finished, close the "Insert Symbol" dialog box"

11. Close the dialogue boxes - Your accented vowels are available on the keys you assigned.

MS Word does not include automatic spelling and thesaurus in Italian. You need to purchase the international language software availabe for a fee. Mac versions of MS Words include language tools but the feature must be installed separately. 

Or you can buy the the latest version of WordPerfect 2000; this includes most languages (Italian, French, German, Spanish, Russian, and many more).

WordPerfect

Note: WordPerfect includes language tools for Italian, but they must be installed by running SETUP, Custom. When you get to Proofing Tools, scroll down to find "Italian" and select it. You may also install other languages if you need them.

When you work with a document in Italian, you have to set the Italian language by clicking: <Tools> <Setting> <Language> In the dialogue box that appears, type <IT> and press <OK>.

How do I assign vowel with accents to keyboard keys in WordPerfect? (I tested this in WordPerfect 6.1, 7, 8 and WordPerfect 2000 and 2002)

1. Go to "Tools" on the Menu Bar

2. Go to "Settings" ("settings" is found under "Format" in WP 7, under "Edit" in WP6.1)

3. Double-click the keyboard symbol with the word "Customize"

4. Click the "keyboard" tab

5. Only in WP 6.1, and 7: Click "create" (in WordPerfect 8 and 2000, you may edit the standard keyboard -- skip steps 5 & 6)

6. Only in WP 6, and 7 -- Type any name in the space provided

7. In the left window scroll down to the key where you want to assign the character (e.g. <ALT+A>

8. Click the "keystroke" tab on the left side of the dialogue box

9. In the white space, insert the character you need for the international characters provided by WordPerfect. You can get the international characters by pressing <CTRL+W>

10. In the Characters dialogue box go to "Multinational"

11. Scroll down until you find the character you need (e.g.. <à>

12. Click "Insert and close" - the character appears in the white area

13. Click "Assign keystroke to key (e.g. <ALT A>)

14. Repeat steps 7 to 14 to assign other characters to keys

15. When you finish, for WordPerfect 6.1 and 7, highlight your new keyboard, end click "select"

16. Close the dialogue boxes - Your accented vowels are available on the keys you assigned.

OpenOffice

You may download the OpenOffice suite from http://www.openoffice.org/ . It is a full feature suite with a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation. It is free and it includes language tools, including Italian.

If you are using MS Works, or any other word processor, you may copy each character from the Windows Character Map, available under <Start> <Programs> <Accessories> <Character map> in Window 95/98 and Windows 2000