Inbox highlights

Compiled by MICHAEL FOREMAN

Welcome to InBox, where we attempt to answer your internet questions.

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Last week we suggested Mabel Keiser should use the character map to insert foreign characters, including umlauts, into her e-mails. We did know this was a long-winded solution, but had chosen it because it was easy to follow. Many thanks to all who sent e-mails suggesting this method:

First, make sure the Num Lock light is on (press Num Lock if it is not). Now hold down the Alt key and, using the numeric keypad, type in the number 0220. When you release the Alt key you'll find a u with an umlaut (ü) appears. Wünderbar! Now you'll be able to insert all the umlauts you like, or spell café correctly with an Alt 0233, or mañana with an Alt 0241.

A full list of codes for upper and lower case characters and symbols can be found at Start/Programs/Accessories/SystemTools/Character Map, but here are a few more of the most commonly used ones.

è (e grave) Alt 0232

ê (e circumflex) Alt 0234

à (a grave) Alt 0224

ö (o umlaut) Alt 0246

ç (c cedilla) Alt 0231

£ (UK pound symbol) Alt 156

Several readers also suggested that people who regularly type letters in, say, French or German, may change their keyboard language settings at: Start/Settings/Control Panel/Keyboard/Language. No doubt the polyglots among you will be aware of other more ingenious solutions but, please, before our e-mail server buckles under the strain, let's consider this case as closed, fermé, geschlossen.

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Ian Young complains that whenever his sister-in-law, Ann, receives an e-mail from her friend Natalie, it gets dumped straight into the Deleted Items folder in Outlook Express. But messages from other senders arrive in Ann's Inbox as they should, as do messages sent by Natalie to anyone else. "The problem has baffled many gurus, so I hope it doesn't leave you completely stumped," says Ian.

Perhaps your guru friends should go back to geek school, Ian, as we can knock this problem on the head right now. We reckon Ann has inadvertently put Natalie on her Blocked Senders list, a blacklist that is designed to counter spammers and other troublesome senders. In Outlook Express go to: Tools/Message Rules/Block Senders List. If we are right, Natalie's e-mail details should appear here - simply select her name and click Remove.

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