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Helix
Asked: 2010-07-30 04:39:11 +0800 CST

How can I type accented characters like ë?

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Currently I use the character palette applet in gnome panel to put special characters into text.

This is okay, but I have to stop typing, select the character I want from the applet and then copy and paste.

Is there a way to simply type special characters with different key combinations? If so, how do I do it?

keyboard-layout

9 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Often this is easier with the compose key. With that configured you use key combos to get the special characters. For instance:

    • For ë you press Compose+", e.
    • For ẽ you press Compose+~, e.
    • For ô you press Compose+^, o.
    • For á you press Compose+', a.
    • For à you press Compose+`, a.
    • For € you press Compose+=, e.
    • For £ you press Compose+-, l.

    Note that you do not have to hold down the compose key; just press each key in order.

    To set the compose key go to System -> Preferences -> Keyboard, then Layouts -> Options. Open up Compose Key Position and choose a key. I use Right-Alt.

    • 107

  2. If you know the unicode value of the character you'd like to type, hit CTRL+SHIFT+u and then type the unicode.

    Example:

    CTRL+SHIFT+u 0 3 b b ENTER

    results in λ.

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  3. Here is an answer close to 1st answer, with a little alternative: I do not need to use compose because I set my keyboard to English US international instead of English US or English UK.

    So I use the following combo:
    " then e for ë
    ' then e for é
    ` then e for è
    ` then a for à
    ~ then n for ñ

    and
    " then spaceBar for "
    ' then spaceBar for '
    ` then spaceBar for `
    ~ then spaceBar for ~
    Alt Gr plus 5 for €

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  4. The easiest way I've found to do this is to set your keyboard layout to USA International (AltGr dead keys), then use Right-Alt+whatever to get the character you want. Obviously this does not work for all international/special characters, so if you need one that's not available through this method, use one of the other methods listed here.

    Wikipedia gives us a handy diagram of the available characters and the keys they are mapped to.

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  5. Note for dummies like myself. It took me a while...

    1. Press Cont & Shift & u together
    2. Let go of all three keys
    3. input code (for example: 00e1 for á)
    4. Enter
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  6. If you are on Ubuntu 20.04 :

    Go to Setting > Region and language > on the Input Sources Click on "+" button and choose English (United States) then English(US,intl.,with dead keys).

    ' + e -> é
    " + e -> ë
    ` + e -> è
    etc.

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  7. You can use Ctrl + U and type Unicode number of the sign you want to type. So for ē you have to type Ctrl + U + 113.

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  8. The compose key it's defined to do key combinations. It's Used to produce special characters like tildes and accents. To see the list of key names open /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/xorg.lst and search for "compose".

    This technique was tested in Lubuntu. Two ways to enter special characters:

    1. Call setxkbmap to define compose key in the current session
    2. Define compose key permanently

    1). Command line $ setxkbmap -option "compose:rwin". Example to define compose key right 'Win'.

    2). Open file /etc/default/keyboard and add line XKBOPTIONS="compose:rwin" (requires restart).

    Example to write character ã after defining compose key. Press the compose key, then key 'a' and finally the tilde (AltGr + 4).

    https://www.eovao.com/en/a/special%20characters%20ubuntu%20linux/5/how-to-enter-special-characters,-accents-and-tildes-in-ubuntu

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  9. Change your keyboard layout to us. intl with dead keys

    Go to

    Control center > keyboard > layout > add > set country to us > Select us intl. with dead keys.

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