how to add a french (qwerty) keyboard ?

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Level 1

8 points

how to add a french (qwerty) keyboard ?

i would like to be able to switch between the dutch and french language, getting automatically the accents right.

i selected french in the country settings and checked typing in a word document, but all i get is different letters / signs from what i typed.

also, i would like to keep the qwerty keyboard (and not the azerty keyboard).

it would be really nice to be able to write emails and word docs on a french keyboard.

does anyone know ?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8), Processor 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Posted on Jan 8, 2014 6:58 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,856 points

Jan 8, 2014 8:06 AM in response to KWAKMAN

Regarding spelling correction in MS Word, you should check the Help for that app or the forums devoted to it, since it doesn't use any Apple facilities for that.

For Apple Mail, you should be able to set the dictionary to French via Edit > Spelling > Show Spelling.

Does your Macbook already have a qwerty keyboard? Then there is no problem creating the special characters for French via the standard option key shortcuts, e.g. option + e, then e gives you é. You should set the input source/keyboard layout to US and not French. The keyboard setting itself does not play any role in spelling correction in OS X.

Are you really still running 10.5? If you have 10.7 or later (10.9 is current), you can also just hold down the key for the base letter and choose the accented version from the popup menu that appears.

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Answer 2

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,856 points

Jan 10, 2014 9:14 AM in response to KWAKMAN

KWAKMAN wrote:

About Aplle Mail:

I am using the Dutch language (I am Dutch) and for French I indeed use the standard option key shortcuts, e.g option + e = é. There is no other way ?

I was hoping to be able to switch between languages to write emails, as I also can using my Iphone.

If you are talking about switching the spellcheck, then you change the dictionary in Edit > Spellling and Grammar > Show Spelling and Grammar. Keyboards are irrelevant for spellcheck in OS X.

If you want a qwerty keyboard with french characters on the keys, then I would recommend activating French Canadian in your system preferences/input sources. But I don't know whether 10.5 has that. Your OS is too old for me to check.

The popup menu is only for 10.7 and later.

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Answer 3

KWAKMAN Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 13, 2014 3:06 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Thank you ; I will try activating the French Canadian keyboard. X

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Answer 4

KWAKMAN Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 10, 2014 8:39 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Thank you, Tom. Ok, I understand for MS Word for Mac.

About Aplle Mail:

I am using the Dutch language (I am Dutch) and for French I indeed use the standard option key shortcuts, e.g option + e = é. There is no other way ?

I was hoping to be able to switch between languages to write emails, as I also can using my Iphone.

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[ ...] you can also just hold down the key for the base letter and choose the accented version from the popup menu that appears. >> I'm afraid I do not quite understand what you mean ? If am running 10.5.8.

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