CNET Editors' review
This application greatly simplifies insertion of symbols and other special characters into documents and Web forms, although reading the Help file is a must for some users. AllChars' simply-designed interface categorizes characters into comprehensible groups. We found the insertion scheme very efficient and reliable in various text editors and Web log-ins. Unlike the common Alt numeric key combinations, the program uses easy-to-memorize combinations for the special characters. It also makes it easy to define any special character, words, or sentences into a short character macro. Use the / key plus your macro phrase to quickly expand the text.
We found this utility very effective with Web log-ins and other often-used words and phrases. However, to fully understand and utilize this application, novice users may need to study the short and comprehensible Help guide. With AllChars' efficient features and reliable results, any level user may find this freeware helpful.
Publisher's Description
From Jeroen Laarhoven:
AllChars provides a quick, easy-to-remember way of creating accents and special characters in most Windows programs. AllChars emulates the *nix Compose key on Windows and supports macros: type a (short) name and AllChars will replace it with a (long) text.
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 8 votes
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Current version:
4.0 starsout of 8 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-8 of 8
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"Had to in-install to restore IE and Acrobat Reader"
Version: AllChars 3.6.2
Pros
I didn't actually get to use it.
Cons
I found/installed for a Spanish essay in OpenOffice.
The next day I tried to figure out why the latest Internet Explorer and Adobe Acrobat Reader had both stopped working on my Win-7 32-bit machine.
I re-installed Acrobat - nothing. I did repair on IE - nothing.
When I uninstalled AllChars it started working again immediately.Summary
Since my need was in OpenOffice only, instead I use the auto-replace feature.
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"No problems - ever"
Version: AllChars 3.6.2
Pros
Performs flawlessly on both my pc and laptop, which run on Windows XP and Windows 7 Home Premium, respectively
Cons
No "cons" whatsoever
Summary
No problems whatsoever, in over 10 years of use, through various editions. Since I communicate with friends all over the world, in various languages, this program is an absolute must - this is the *first* one I install on any new computer. Thank you, Jeroen Laarhoven!
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"Great product, but not for Vista"
Version: AllChars 3.6.2
Pros
Great product, been using it for six months.
Cons
As mentioned by some else, its not Vista compatible.
Summary
Word was crashing constantly, every time I would copy anything in Word it would crash. In safe mode, Word ran fine. By process of elimination I found that AllChars was the culprit. On another machine running XP Pro, there is no problem. So don't use AllCars and Word together on Vista.
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"Still not ready for Vista (3/4/09)"
Version: AllChars 3.6.2
Pros
With XP, this program really made it easy to write in Spanish or otherwise to create diacriticals or accented vowels. It worked flawlessly until ...
Cons
Vista. Some of the bugs have been worked out in the version 5.x (as of 3/4/09), but others remain, making it necessary to exit the program. Erratic behavior occurs in Word 2000, Word 2007, WordPad, and Eudora.
Summary
Not ready for Vista. Solution to the erratic behavior problems is to exit AllCharars, then open and close Task Manager without doing more.
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"Used it daily for >3 years , not yet met anything that can compete!"
Version: AllChars 3.6.2
Pros
Easy to learn, very intuitive for the often-used combinations; nice helptable when other combinations are needed.
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"easy logical tool"
Version: AllChars 3.6.2
Pros
logic combination of letters and accents
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"Quick and intuitive to use, for KB macros & accented chars"
Version: AllChars 3.6.2
Pros
Useful for simple things like the degree sign ºC or many special or accented characters like cidilla, acute accent grave or any others including ligatures. All these special character need just 3 intuitive keystrokes, e.g Ctrl d g for º or Ctrl a' for a acute or Ctrl u" for u umlaut.( Unfortunately this "Download editor" refuses to display the characters properly even using the HTML code for them such as °)
I also use it for simple KB macros like the 4 or 5 email signatures I use which is musch quicker than the mouse or KB sequence needed in Outlook.
Cons
Needs to be unloaded if you want to use Media Centre 2005 otherwise it crashes the system, but that is quick as well, just 4 keystrokes.
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"GREAT!!!!"
Version: AllChars 3.6.2
Pros
Actually, I didn't need to read the help file at all. I just looked at the characters table and figured out what to do right away. Well, the product is great...very easy to use. No programs to open, nothing to do. Just push three keys and you got your special character. That's it! It's no rocket science.
Cons
None so far!
