>Thank you for the explanation. No, I don't have IME loaded or active on my computer. I was hoping that by enabling French keyboard (in Control Panel) the typing would be easier. But I can do ok with using ALT ### method. Since I type in French super slow it does not matter that much.

Launch OSK (on screen keyboard) while in Word, and make sure you have the Azerty layout visible. Probably requires selecting the layout - either by keyboard shortcut or that elusive language bar (which I never managed to convince to stay visible, since W2k). Most of the characters should be in their proper places, but then some of what you got used to may have shifted. While I have no experience with french french keyboard layout, I have some with the belgian - and since dutch language has no diacriticals apart from occasional dieresis, I guess it's practically identical to french. Press shift, press right alt, and see what changes on the OSK layout. That should be your easiest learning device.