How to make braces with Apple keyboard in Windows?

windows-7 osx-lion boot-camp

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Solution 1

I believe you would need to create your own keyboard layout in Windows to add these characters as combinations of keyboard keys.

One could use the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator to update the existing Apple Keyboard layout.

See also this article : Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator Tutorial.

Solution 2

General rules for Mac keyboards under Windows Bootcamp

Find the hotkey

The basic answer for all keyboard layouts is this: If you can insert a special character in Windows with a hotkey (or keyboard shorcut), you can press the same keys on your Mac keyboard. It will enter the same character. Now the easiest method for this is to look a standard Windows keyboard to see where the special characters are located and what keyboard shortcut is required to enter the character.

Use Alt/Option+NumPad

The most generic solution for entering special characters is using the appropriate Alt-NumPad key combination. You could always use the Alt-NumPad combination for all ASCII characters:

For [ it would be Alt-91
For ] it would be Alt-93
For { it would be Alt-123
For } it would be Alt-125

You hold down the Alt key while pressing the given numbers on the NumPad. Then you release the Alt key and the character will be inserted.

This is a built-in Windows function, no hacks or additional Software necessary. Note that the Alt key corresponds to the Option key on Mac keyboards. It is usually the one to the left of the space bar.

But you will be out of luck if you have one of those Apple keyboards without the NumPad.

Swiss German and French keyboard layouts

Now, for the Swiss German Windows keyboard, the hotkeys required for brackets and braces are as follows:

[ - Ctrl-Alt-ü (Ctrl-Alt-è for Swiss French)
] - Ctrl-Alt-¨
{ - Ctrl-Alt-ä (Ctrl-Alt-à for Swiss French)
} - Ctrl-Alt-$

You can enter the braces and brackets with exactly the same hotkeys on your Mac keyboard in a Boot Camp partition. It may even apply to running Windows in virtual machines.

For a list of all ASCII characters that can be entered in the same fashion, please consult http://www.asciitable.com/

Solution 3

If you want to type an open bracket, tap the [ key on your keyboard. For a close bracket, try the ] key.

For curly braces, hold down Shift while tapping either the [ or ] key.

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RoflcoptrException

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

RoflcoptrException almost 2 years

I'm using Bootcamp to run Windows on my Mac. Now I can't find a way to make curly braces and brackets. What is the keyboard shortcut for that?

I am using a Swiss German Apple keyboard layout.
- slhck over 12 years
  
  And what's your keyboard layout?
- William Jackson over 12 years
  
  I have never seen a modern keyboard without a [ key.
- RoflcoptrException over 12 years
  
  I know that there is one, I just don't know the correct shortcut. And I couldn't find a useful resources in the Internet.
- user 99572 is fine over 12 years
  
  what is your keyboard layout? US, UK, German, Swiss, Russian? I know quite a lot about shortcuts. I sincerely doubt there is a universal shortcut for all keyboard layouts.
- RoflcoptrException over 12 years
  
  It is a swiss german apple keyboard.
- user 99572 is fine over 12 years
  
  You could have saved all of us a lot of trouble if you had just answered the first comment sooner. If you want help, stay on top of it.
- RoflcoptrException over 12 years
  
  If you want the bounty answer the question ;)
- user 99572 is fine over 12 years
  
  @roflcoptr I've edited my answer to include all info. Please give me feedback on whether it works as I have no means of testing it.
- RoflcoptrException over 12 years
  
  Yes I'll do it as soons as im back at my keyboard ;)