Input Combining Diacritics and Symbols

We highly recommend you adopt Connexion Client if you intend to input diacritics and symbols frequently.

To input them in the Alma MDE in web browsers, you may choose one of two macro books.

1) The macro book Version A requires the installation of the Unicode Input extension in Firefox. It does not support MS Edge and, as of April 2021 does not operate as reliably in Chrome.

2) An alternative Version B of the diacritics macro is available, which supports Chrome and Edge but may or may not be supported by the keyboard of laptops.

Configuration

Step 1: Install Unicode Input

Step 2: Download the macro book

Right-click DiacriticsA1.0.mex (last modified 07/01/2021) and save it to your computer.

Run the macro

Now you should be able to input diacritics in the Metadata Editor.

1) Double-click DiacriticsA1.0.mex from the folder where you have saved the file to activate the Macro.

This means the Macro Express icon will appears in the Windows notification area, typically hiding in the lower-right corner of your screen.

2) Click on the icon to see the list of diacritics/symbols and HotKeys. Alternatively, Diacritics-macro-hotkeys.pdf provides a clearer view of what keyboard shortcuts to apply for what diacritics and symbols.

3) If you use the macro on a daily basis, make Macro Express run automatically at startup so that you can skip step 1) above

Contingent: Resolve shortcut conflicts

The diacritics macro book contains about 100 characters and symbols. Some of the HotKeys may coincide with keyboard shortcuts already in use on your computer, for two main reasons.

1. A HotKey coincides with a keyboard shortcut of Alma, web browsers, a particular piece of software installed on your computer, and the Windows environment

2. Alma releases monthly updates and enables new keyboard shortcuts for new functions, creating conflict with the out-of-box macro Hotkeys

Most users need no more than half of the characters and symbols in the macro book. If you encounter a conflict, you may customize the out-of-box HotKeys in the diacritics mex file -

• Righ-click any diacritic that you don't need and whose HotKey has no conflict, disable its macro

• Visit Properties and swap its HotKeys for the macro you need

Connexion Client

Connexion offers two methods of inputting diacritics and symbols, by Character map (Ctrl + E) and shortcut keys.

Sync shortcut keys

If you plan to input diacritics in both Alma and Connexion Client using shortcut keys, optionally you may sync those keys between the two platforms. This saves you the trouble of memorizing different sets of keys for the two cataloging environments.

Character sets

The macro book contains a slightly larger character set than Connexion Keymaps, as the former contains frequently used characters and combinations requested by staff members. The following letters and diacritics are in the macro book but not in Connexion's Keymaps.