"Charset" is cyber-shorthand for "character set." Why do we need to use Charset codes? When we build webpages and want various keyboard symbols, especially the < and the > brackets to show up with the regular text, using Charset codes is much more reliable than using the HTML <xmp> and </xmp> or other tags. Charset codes do not change the font style, like the xmp tags do. When we use the latter, these tags also provide a double line break, which may or may not be desirable. Charset codes fit right in with the rest of the text on the same line.

Another reason for using Charset codes is because when we use the "alt" key plus "g" key, which for MSNTV produces the copyright symbol ©, not all browsers translate it the same way. This holds true for use of the "alt" key with any other key, too. So, bottom line: if you want your viewers to see what you see, use Charset codes! Or ascii codes, another of the Charset family.

NOTE: you may notice that each time you edit a page, certain HTML tags, such as the xmp tags above may disappear! If so, you will have to delete the brackets and retype the Charset codes! This phenomenon may be due to the vagaries of MSNTV and/or my host server.

The first chart below shows the Charset codes for both lower case and upper case ENGLISH LETTERS. (For Charset codes for Spanish, French, etc languages using special symbols, see the link below.) Unfortunately, MSNTV does not translate some of the newer Charset codes for certain other languages, such as Greek or Russian.

The second chart shows the codes for NUMERALS.

The third chart shows codes for the KEYBOARD SYMBOLS that appear as we type the numerical keys with the shift key, and the special symbols keys.

The fourth chart contains codes for the ALTERNATE SYMBOLS (alt key plus any other key).

The fifth chart contains codes from the CHARSET SERIES 127-159. Use these ONLY for MSNTV pages! This series has not been standardized for cross-browser platforms. Different browsers will translate these codes differently.

To make the codes translate, you must use &# followed by the numbers listed. When you type the code on your webpage,

Now we come to the alternate characters and symbols (alt key plus any other key). MSNTV does not translate the Charset codes for some of these. The chart below shows which ones we can use that will show up on our own browser plus computer browsers.

This last chart contains the special symbols as translated by MSNTV's browser. I omitted the numerals that MSNTV does not translate. Remember, use these codes ONLY on MSNTV pages!