How to Insert Special Symbols in Windows 3.11

In Microsoft Windows 3.11, the default accessory used to insert special symbols and accented characters into documents is the Character Map. Introduced alongside native TrueType font support in Windows 3.1, this utility provides a visual directory of every glyph available in an installed font, allowing users to select and copy non-standard characters directly into text editors and word processors.

What Is Character Map?

Character Map (charmap.exe) is located inside the default "Accessories" program group in the Windows 3.11 Program Manager. Prior to its introduction, entering foreign accents, mathematical symbols, or typographic marks required memorizing specific numerical codes. Character Map solved this by displaying an interactive grid of every character supported by the selected font.

How It Works

To use Character Map in Windows 3.11:

  1. Launch the Program: Open the "Accessories" group window and double-click the "Character Map" icon.
  2. Select a Font: Use the drop-down menu at the top to choose a font family, such as Arial, Times New Roman, Symbol, or Wingdings.
  3. Select Characters: Click any cell in the grid to see an enlarged preview of the symbol. Double-click the symbol or click the Select button to place it into the "Characters to Copy" text field.
  4. Copy and Paste: Click the Copy button to send the selected sequence to the Windows Clipboard. Switch to your destination program—such as Windows Write, Notepad, or Microsoft Word—and paste the character using the Edit menu or Ctrl+V.

Alt Key Codes

In addition to visual copying, Character Map functions as a reference guide for keyboard shortcuts. When a user highlights a specific character, the bottom right corner of the window displays the corresponding keystroke combination (for example, Alt+0169 for the copyright symbol ©). Users can bypass the utility in the future by holding down the Alt key and typing the four-digit sequence on the numeric keypad.

Windows 3.11 included dedicated novelty and symbol fonts designed to work directly with Character Map:

  • Wingdings: Provided pictograms, arrows, checkmarks, and office icons.
  • Symbol: Contained the Greek alphabet and common mathematical operators.
  • Standard TrueType Fonts: Contained extended Latin characters, currency signs (such as the British pound sign or Japanese yen sign), and typographic punctuation marks like em dashes and curved quotation marks.