[ARCHIVED] How do you add spanihs accents when typing on canvas.

[mybarocio]

I am on Virtual Virginia trying to type a discussion question but I see no way of adding Spanish accents. The international keyboard doesn't work and trying any other way except physically copying and pasting the accented letter it doesn't work. How do I type letters with Spanish accents with ease?

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hello there,  @mybarocio  Thank You for posting your question.  I am sorry to see that your question has been sitting here in the Canvas Community unanswered since August 23, 2018.  Let's see if we can find an answer for you.  If you are on a Windows machine, one of the simplest programs I like to use is the built-in "Character Map" program that comes with the operating system.

Type map in the search box on taskbar, and choose Character Map from the result. Way 2: Turn it on in Start Menu. Open Start Menu, choose All apps, expand Windows Accessories and hit Character Map. Open Command Prompt, type charmap and press Enter.

Once you have the Character Map open, you find and select the Spanish character you want to use, and then copy/paste it in to Canvas.  Or, if you know the keystroke combination for a certain character, you can use that, too.  For example, if you wanted to type the name José, you can type "Jos" and then use this keyboard combination:

Hold down the ALT key and then press 0233 on your keyboard numberpad.

If you select é on the Character Map program, you'll see in the bottom right corner of that screen the keystroke command for that character:

I hope this will help, Melany.  Please let the Community know if you have any questions about this.

[MrsLCJ]

This did not work.

[Chris_Hofer]

Hi @MrsLCJ ...

What part did not work for you?  If you wanted to create the character é, you can hold down the Alt key on your keyboard, then use your keyboard number pad to type in 0233, and then release the Alt key on your keyboard.  That is how I got the é in this response to you.

[Stef_retired]

Hello,  @mybarocio , Chris has given you excellent and comprehensive advice for adding accents on a Windows desktop device. I wanted to add that if you 're using the Canvas Student app you can change the keyboard to Spanish or whatever language you'd like as long as you've enabled that keyboard in your device's settings. I tested this on iOS and it worked like a charm. For instructions on how to add and switch keyboards in your iOS device, please refer to  About the keyboards settings on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support 

[TrishaMeyer1]

Most laptops do not have keyboard number pads. This technique does not work with the regular number keys.

[TiffanyStull]

I think it's a real problem for foreign language courses not to have an "insert special character" or "insert symbol" button in the editor.  This type of button is common in most WYSIWYG editors, and as far as I can tell, Canvas is the only LMS with an editor that lacks it.  I believe Canvas is using a modified TinyMCE editor, which is used in other LMSes, and has an "insert special character" plugin that Canvas/Instructure hasn't enabled: https://www.tiny.cloud/docs/plugins/opensource/charmap/

Similar to this request, when I raised the issue to Canvas support, they said, "Just install a universal keyboard on your computer."  I don't think that's an adequate solution, because not everyone has permission to install software on their computer (managed work computers, for example) and introductory language learners need an easy way to insert letters with accent marks.

I'll also note that there has been an unaddressed feature request around for this since 2015: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Idea-Conversations/Special-language-character-panel-chart-integra...

[silvamayflower]

My question is an extension of this.  I have Lexicool lexibars installed on my compter.  Until recently I seem to have been able to add a character from this app/  However, today I find I can add a character to the question box in the quizzes (old-style - I just don't get the new style), but trying to add them to the answers now brings up a no-entry sign.  I tried typing the correct answers into the question box but the same no-entry sign prevents me from moving the answer into an answer box.

My computer is a windows laptop without an extension keyboard.  Faffing about with a foreign keyboard would be alright, except I don't know where the keys are.  What has suddenly happened to the ability to add lexibar characters?