Hex Char is a free FKEY that allows you to enter any character in the extended ASCII character set by entering the its hexadecimal ASCII code.
System Requirements
Hex Char has been tested on a Macintosh SE and a Macintosh II, but it should be able to run on any Macintosh system. It was compiled using THINK C version 4.0. The only system facilities that it uses are the Event Manager routines OSEventAvail, GetOSEvent, and PostEvent.
Installing Hex Char
To install Hex Char, you will need a resource mover or editor such as ResEdit. These instructions apply to ResEdit, but the procedure should be similar if you are using another resource mover or FKEY installer. I will assume that you have some familiarity with the installer program you are using. FKEY installation can be a tricky business, and if you have never installed one before, try to find somebody who has.
1) As with any other installation procedure that affects your system file, make a backup copy of the system file before attempting the installation. To be safe, do the installation on a new disk containing a copy of your system, and do not transfer the system to your usual startup disk until you are sure that the installation is successful and that the FKEY works properly. I will call the system file on which you have decided to install the FKEY the ╥Safe System.╙
2) Start ResEdit.
3) Open the Hex Char file and click on FKEY number 5. If you wish to give the Hex Char FKEY a number other than 5, change it now using Get Info.
4) Select Copy from the Edit menu to copy the Hex Char FKEY to the clipboard.
5) Open the Safe System file.
6) Look at the FKEYs in the Safe System to make sure that there is no FKEY number 5 already installed. If there is, go back to step 3 and change the number of the FKEY.
7) Select Paste from the Edit menu to paste the Hex Char FKEY into the Safe System.
8) Exit and save the changes.
Now test the Safe System. When you are sure that the Safe System works properly, install it onto your startup disk.
Using Hex Char
To use Hex Char, hold down the Shift and Command keys and press the 5 key. (If you installed Hex Char as a different number, press that digit instead.) Hex Char will wait for you to press two keys corresponding to the two hexadecimal digits of the code of the key you want. Valid hexadecimal digits are 0 to 9, ╥A╙ to ╥F,╙ and ╥a╙ to ╥f.╙ For example, to enter the letter ╥Q,╙ which has an ASCII code of 51 hex, press Shift-Command-5, 5, and 1. If you press a key that is not a hexadecimal digit or do anything else that generates an event (such as click the mouse) Hex Char will abort and simply pass along the event.
After you press the second key, Hex Char will send a keyDown and a keyUp event containing the completed character. Whatever modifier keys (Shift, Option, Command) you are holding down just after you press the second digit will be passed along with the event.
Uses for Hex Char
Hex Char allows you to enter characters you cannot easily type. It allows you to enter characters that some keyboards cannot normally produce, such as the apple character in the Chicago font. If you have an older keyboard, Hex Char can allow you to enter characters available on the newer keyboards. For example, to do hierarchical menus, you may need to enter the escape character into ResEdit. If you have Hex Char and you know that the ASCII code for escape is 1B, you have no problem. Hex Char can also provide a more sensible way of getting to characters in non-alphabetic fonts such as Zapf Dingbats.
Compatibility
Hex Char should work with any well behaved Macintosh application or desk accessory. It probably works with a lot of ill behaved ones as well. I have tried it under ResEdit, Versaterm Pro, MacWrite, THINK C, Acta, Note Pad, and Super Paint.
The only problem you might have is when you need to enter characters that have ASCII values less than hex 20, such as the useful characters 10 hex through 14 hex of the Chicago character set. Hex Char has no difficulty with any of these characters, but all Hex Char can do is generate an event, and it is up to the application to use the event in a meaningful way. Some applications, such as MacWrite, ignore them. You can usually solve this problem by entering the characters into a desk accessory that will accept them, such as the Note Pad, and then copying the text and pasting it where you want it.
Caveats
Because Hex Char is an FKEY and takes over the system while it is running, nothing in the background will run until you complete the keycode. Most background processes are fairly tolerant, but if you take a very long time to enter the hexadecimal code, a print job or a background file transfer might time out. Because Hex Char aborts on any event it does not expect, there is a chance that it may abort unexpectedly, as when a disk is inserted. However, this has never happened to me, and I don╒t think it is very common.
ASCII Tables
Three ASCII tables for the character fonts Times, Symbol, and Zapf Dingbats follow this page. The numbers on the left margin represent the first digit of the hexadecimal code; the numbers on the top represent the second. Some of the fonts do not have all of the characters defined. In these cases, the undefined character rectangle appears on the screen, and a blank space appears when the file is printed on a LaserWriter. The character 7F hexadecimal, which appears in the Times font as a close bracket, is blank when printed on the LaserWriter as well.
Distributing Hex Char
Hex Char is free. You may give Hex Char to anyone you want to and upload it to any bulletin boards you want to, as long as you include this documentation and do not alter the FKEY in any way. You may not charge for it in any way.
If you have any trouble using Hex Char, you can reach me at the addresses listed at the beginning of this document.
