Windows XP in a Nutshell

Name

Private Character Editor — \windows\system32\eudcedit.exe

Synopsis

Create special characters, such as logos or symbols, that can be inserted into ordinary documents.

To Open

Command Prompt → eudcedit

Description

The Private Character Editor is like a small-image editor (see Paint, earlier in this chapter), except that the images created with it are used like symbol fonts, making it easy to insert any custom logo or symbol into your documents.

When you first start the Private Character Editor, you’ll be presented with a rather confusing Select Code window. This is used to associate the new (or existing) character you’ll be editing with a particular slot, and is somewhat akin to the main Character Map window. Select any slot and click OK to proceed.

The main window contains the character editor and a simple set of drawing tools (like those found in Paint, discussed earlier in this chapter). Each character is a 50 x 50 black and white bitmap. Draw in black with any of the available tools and the left mouse button; draw in white with the right mouse button. You can copy and paste bitmap selections between the Private Character Editor and other image editing programs, such as Paint.

When you’re done, save your work into the slot you chose in the first screen by going to Edit → Save Character (Ctrl-S). Or, save it into a different slot by going to Edit → Save Character As. At any time, you can choose a different slot to edit with Edit → Select Code, or with View → Next Code (Ctrl-N) ...