PureBasic Forums - English

Simplified new version    (old version here)

As its name suggests, alternative to the PB tool:

Text buttons mode


Drop-down list mode (Option available since version 3.10)


• Lists about 5,300 characters
• List of HTML codes of national and international flags
• Possibility to search by 'Description'
• Possibility to display the different codes from the entry of a character
• Possibility to copy in memory the different values of the character/color via the buttons located at the bottom of the window
• Possibility to create a list of favorite characters
• Possibility to drag and paste a character from the tool to another application
• Localized in French and English with the possibility of translating/modifying it using the XML files provided

Important Notes:
• These tables are far from exhaustive. Apart for the ASCII table, the others are not necessarily complete. Thus, the table of accented characters was created mainly for use in the French language and the others were created according to needs deemed useful and interesting.
• A large part of the data has been processed manually (especially with regard to the descriptions), typos may therefore have slipped in independently of my will . I correct them as soon as I find them but you have the option to do it yourself using the XML files provided.
• If you use it and would like to see fixes/additions/improvements, please let me know .

⚠: Not all symbols in the 'Mathematics' category are appropriate for performing operations in computer software. Even if they are graphically identical or very close to their keyboard equivalent, they will not be interpreted as such. To avoid unpleasant surprises, when you have to use operation signs to perform calculations, please give preference to those appearing on your keyboard, ie those whose ASCII value is less than 256 !

Notes versions :
• 1.0 to 2.56 : See old post
• 3.00 : Split Characters and Palettes parts into two separate tools (Palettes tool coming soon)
             Removal of 'Octal' data
             Added copy options to context menu
             Added drag and paste a character from the tool to another application
             Added ± 50 characters in 'Punctuation' category
• 3.01 : Added a Sticky mode (via the button )
• 3.02 : Fixed a bug when reading preferences
• 3.10 : Added a 'Drop-down list' interface mode accessible from Settings
             Fixed a malfunction when searching for character codes
             Fixed some minor bugs
             Reduced the weight of the images used for the logo and the buttons
• 3.20 : Application put in systray after minimization (DblClick = Restore / RightClick = Open a popupmenu)
             Optimization of startup process
             Added CTRL + C keyboard shortcut to paste character into clipboard

Todo list :
• Replace the default font by appropriate new one for the display of unicode characters with surrogate pairs (To date, I haven't found it and I'm not sure that there is one!)

100% non-malicious and virus-free tool!
Download version 3.20  -  (Alternative graphic version without 'Drop-down list' option : Executable only)

Version 3.00 : Note about the language file

• For technical reasons that I had not necessarily anticipate during the first version, I couldn't keep the enumerated structure of the gadgets and messages of the first version. So if you are using an older version of the tool, customized with the supplied XML localization file, you will need to replace the 'Buttons and messages' section (all <Label></Label> nodes) of the old file with the one provided in the new archive.
• Similarly, you will need to add the 'New characters V3.00' section to your old file.

Question asked on the French forum: How to use drag and paste :

version 3.01 : Added a Sticky mode (via the button )

(No change to the XML files)

I would like to test it, but I am not familiar with French. I see there is an English language file. How can I switch to English?

Hope this is helpful, this is what I did...

1- Renamed the EXE to 'Characters.exe'
2- Renamed 'TablesCaractères-lang-english-v300.xml' to 'Characters-lang.xml'
3- erased the French version XML (just in case)

and it appears to be working. It kind of says this in the Readme.txt, but I found it a little vague.

Maybe is better to let the English language by default, because is more universal

@Dige & Blueb

You're right Blueb.
As said in the 'Readme' file, give any name to the exe and, for use in english, give the same name + '-lang' before 'dot xml' to the language XML file.
e.g AnyName-lang.xml for AnyName.exe.

@Caronte3D
You don't know French people ! Not just complainers or Froggies, but also chauvinists like no other, proud as roosters and of our complex tongue. Not just any tongue... LA LANGUE de Molière, tout de même !!!
And fun fact, more than a third of current English vocabulary is of French origin. make up more than two-thirds of English vocabulary (see here). French is more universal than we think !

I already make enough effort to express myself in English on this forum!!!

PS: And 'Cerise sur le gâteau', it's Francophonie week in the world this week !

boddhi wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 6:08 pm You're right Blueb.
French is more universal than we think !

Yes, it is. Both my Canadian parents are French, so I'm a Frenchman living in Mexico... there you go.

@Blueb
Enchanté !!!

And then I forgot to add: It's a Frenchman who brings us all together here on this forum! "Cocorico"

⚠ Little precision : Not all symbols in the 'Mathematics' category are appropriate for performing operations in computer software. Even if they are graphically identical or very close to their keyboard equivalent, they will not be interpreted as such. To avoid unpleasant surprises, when you have to use operation signs to perform calculations, please give preference to those appearing on your keyboard, ie those whose ASCII value is less than 256 !

Version 3.02 : Fixed a bug when reading preferences

(No change to the XML files)

Version 3.10 :
• Added a 'Drop-down list' interface mode accessible from Settings

• Fixed a malfunction when searching for character codes
• Fixed some minor bugs
• Reduced the weight of the images used for the logo and the buttons

Changes to XML files: See the comment node 'New in V3.10'.

Note: I have done a lot of tests following the subsequent changes made to handle this new 'Dropdown list' interface mode. I hope I didn't indirectly create any bugs that would have gone unnoticed by me. Don't hesitate to report any anomaly you could notice.

I forgot to mention: In 'Dropdown list' mode, copy options are only accessible from the context menu or keyboard shortcuts available from the 'Text Buttons' mode.

Version 3.20 :
  Application put in systray after minimization (DblClick = Restore / RightClick = Open a popupmenu)
  Optimization of startup process
  Added CTRL + C keyboard shortcut to paste character into clipboard

Changes to XML files: See the comment node 'New in V3.20'.