Differences between the Belgian and French layouts of the AZERTY keyboard AZERTY

azerty layout used in dutch speaking part of belgium, same of french speaking except labels on keys



azerty layout used in french speaking part of belgium, same of dutch speaking except labels on keys



same belgian keyboard under linux (ubuntu 9.10)

the belgian azerty keyboard allows placing of accents on vowels without recourse encoding via alt key + code. made possible provision of dead keys each type of accent: ^ ¨ ´ ` (the last 2 being generated combination of alt gr + ù , µ respectively).

to recap list of different keys left right , top bottom:

first row (symbols , numbers):

by combining shift , ² keys, ³ obtained;
the symbol |, generated combination of alt gr + & same key 1;
the @ symbol generated combination of alt gr + é same key 2;
unlike french layout, key (or 4 key) not contain third symbol;
unlike french layout, ( key (or 5 key) not contain third symbol;
the ^ symbol generated combination of alt gr + § same key 6 ; but, opposed ^ symbol found right of p key, not dead key, , therefore not generate placing of circumflex accent;
unlike french layout, è (or 7) key not contain third symbol;
unlike french layout, ! (or 8) key not contain third symbol;
the { symbol obtained combination of alt gr + ç same key 9;
the } symbol obtained combination of alt gr + à same key 0;
unlike french layout, ) (or °) key not contain third symbol;
the key right of ) key contains following symbols: - _ shift and, unlike french layout, not contain third symbol.


second row (the letters azertyuiop):

the alphabetical keys not have alt gr codes apart e, generates euro symbol, €;
the [ symbol obtained combination of alt gr + ^ same key ¨ (a partially dead key located right of p key);
the key right of ^ key contains following symbols: $ * shift , ] alt gr;


third row (the letters qsdfghjklm)

the key right of m contains following symbols: ù % shift , partially dead key ´ alt gr, allows acute accents generated on accented vowels;
the key right of ù contains following symbols: µ £ shift , partially dead key ` alt gr, allows grave accents generated on accented vowels;


fourth row (the letters wxcvbn , basic punctuation):

the \ symbol generated combination of alt gr + <;
the key right of : contains following symbols: = + shift , partially dead key ~ alt gr, latter either generating tilde symbol when combined space bar, or positioning tilde on letter: → ã, → Ã, n → ñ, n → Ñ, o → õ, o → Õ.

the description partially dead means pressing key in question generates desired symbol directly, @ least 1 of symbols represented on key appear after second key has been pressed. in order obtain symbol in isolation, space bar must pressed, otherwise vowel should pressed generate required accented form.

the other keys identical, though traditionally names of special keys printed on them in english. because belgium predominantly bilingual (french-dutch) , officially trilingual (a third language, german, spoken in east cantons).

it should noted key right of 0 on numeric keypad corresponds either full stop or comma (which why there 2 distinct keyboard drivers under windows).

the azerty keyboard used in dutch speaking part of belgium uses name shift instead of maj , caps lock instead of verr maj.