Typing special characters into text entry boxes

[scruffylad]

I am a high school Spanish teacher, and I'm trying to incorporate Cp into my classroom instruction.  The problem is that text entry boxes will only accept special characters (vowels with accent marks, the ñ, ¿, and ¡) through use of the old-school ALT+code feature.  The battle it would require to get high school students to memorize and use those codes is...  prohibitive.  The usual solution is to change the computer's default language to Spanish (which is problematic if students forget to switch is back, even if they have the correct access to change the language in the first place) and use a Spanish keyboard (which is simply not available).  I'm trying to find a way to create a button that will simply insert the required character into the text entry box when pressed, but apparently there is no 'simply' involved.  I'm a complete nube when it comes to JS or AS3, and can't for the life of me figure out how to script such a monster.  I can't even get the most simple of scripts to do anything using the 'execute JS' feature on a button.

But somewhere in the back of my mind, I'm thinking that I can't be the first person to come across this problem.  Adobe support is no help, and I've got nowhere else to turn...

Help me Obi-wan (if you're out there), you're my only hope.

[Karlea_M]

You can insert special characters through the format panel.  With your cursor active in a text box, click the "&" button to insert a symbol.  A few options pop up.  Click the "More" button to open additional symbols.  It looks like any necessary Spanish characters are there and will adapt to the selected font.

This is more tedious for your students than simply pressing a button.  But, hopefully it can get the job done for you!    

[Lilybiri]

Karlea M??? How can student see the 'Format' accordion in a published file? It is only available when creating/editing a cptx file.

Scuffylad, sorry but have no solution for you.

[scruffylad]

Lilybiri,

Is it that a JS can't be used to script a character into a text entry box from a button, or that the scripting would be complex enough that it would be like using a tank to swat a mosquito?

I was hoping that it would be >10 lines of script that could be easily copied and pasted with minor adjustments to any page needing it.  Am I dreaming?  Is my inexperience shining through yet?

[scruffylad]

maybe I'm thinking about this the wrong way...  Again, another nube thinking out loud...

Could it be that a different character set would help?  Does the character set affect how the keystrokes are interpreted, or just the display of the characters?  If it affects the interpretation of the keystrokes, then is there a character set that will recognize the CTRL+' followed by the vowel that will display the accented vowel?

Or am I just dreaming again?

[scruffylad]

Karlea M,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.  I think I've probably done a poor job of explaining what it is that I'm trying to do.  I'm not dealing with a text box in the creation of a project, but with a text entry box in the presentation of the final project.  In quizzing my students on vocabulary, oftentimes, the accent is the only difference between two very different meanings (think homophones in English).  If I'm creating a text box, then the format option is there, but in the presentation of the project the format option isn't available.  The only option for entering special characters is the ASCII codes that I memorized 20 years ago.  That's what I'm trying to work out, not how to get the characters into the project, but how to get those characters into a text entry box during the final presentation.

Sorry for not doing a better job of describing the problem.  Would still appreciate any help you can give...

[scruffylad]

Sorry, after I hit the 'post' button, everything updated...

Adding a legend would potentially solve the issue, with the caveat that a significant portion of the class would have to fail a quiz to learn that I'm serious about it...

I'd love to have something more elegant, but I recognize that elegance comes with time, practice, and experience...  none of which I can lay claim to yet.

[Karlea_M]

I assumed the students were creating Captivate projects.  Sorry.  After reading it again, I realize you're looking for students to be able to insert special characters into text entry boxes in a published file.  If Lilybiri doesn't have an answer, I certainly don't! 

Would it be acceptable to make a key or legend in the corner of your slides?  You could list out the ALT codes next to the symbols.   

[scruffylad]

Guess I'm just going to have to learn how to script on my own...  When I figure it out, I'll post the functioning script to this thread, so if this is something that interests you, go ahead and follow it.  If you're a proficient scripter and have some advice/hints/help, I'm all ears...  or eyes as the case may be.

I've got a Big Green Egg that I've gotten fairly good with over the last year or so...  if you want to trade scripting expertise for some good southern pulled pork expertise, I'm more than willing to work something out...  just HMU.