Using the International Keyboard in Windows 7

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Input, International, Keyboard, Language, Spanish, teclado, teclado internacional, Windows, Windows 7

Usar el teclado internacional en Windows 7

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See also: Spanish Keyboard Layout in Windows

Click Start > Control Panel. This opens the Control Panel.

In the Control Panel window, click Region and Language. This opens the Region and Language window.

In the Region and Language window, under the Keyboards and Languages tab, in the Keyboards and other input languages section, click Change Keyboards. This opens the Text Services and Input Languages window.

In the Text Services and Input Languages window, under the General tab, in the Installed Services section, click Add. This opens the Add Input Language window.

In the Add Input Language window, scroll until you see the various Spanish keyboards listed. Personally, I like Spain, International Sort (it works just fine for Mexican and United Statesian Spanish). Click + to expand the desired language. Click + to select the language for the keyboard then click OK. This closes the Text Services and Input Languages window.

In the Text Services and Input Languages window, under the Language Bar tab, in the Language Bar section, choose how and where – and if – you want the Language Bar to appear. I like having it Docked in the Taskbar so I can access it easily if I need it. Personally, I think having it Floating on Desktop is irritating.

In the Text Services and Input Languages window, under the Advanced Key Settings tab, in the Hot Keys for Input Languagessection, you can create shortcuts for toggling between languages. I find this extremely useful because I’m often working on something in English while chatting with someone en español.

You have two options:Between Input Languagesis a toggle – the same key combination switches between English and Spanish.To English and To Spanish– set a different key combination for each.

Actually, you have three options – you can choose neither and simply use the Language Bar located in your taskbar (if you chose to have it appear in the taskbar). If you chose Hidden under the Language Bar tab, you should most definitely configure one or more hot keys.

For a single “toggle”: In the Text Services and Input Languages window, under the Advanced Key Settings tab, in the Hot Keys for Input Language section, select Between Input Languages then click Change Key Sequence …  This opens the Change Key Sequence window below (top).

For separate key combinations: In the Text Services and Input Languages window, under the Advanced Key Settings tab, in the Hot Keys for Input Language section, select To English (you’ll repeat this step for To Spanish) then click Change Key Sequence … This opens the Change Key Sequence window below (bottom).

Neither gives you very many options. Make your selection and click OK. This closes the Change Key Sequence window.

You’re finished. In the Text Services and Input Languages window, click OK. This closes the Text Services and Input Languages window.

In the Region and Language window, click OK. This closes the Region and Language window.

In the lower right of your screen, in the taskbar, you should see the letters EN for English. Click EN to open the menu and switch to ES (Spanish). You can also use any hot key combinations you set up.

If you want ES (Spanish) as the default input language, you can use the Move Up or Move Down buttons under the General tab in the Text Services and Input Languages window to switch them.