117

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?

wjandrea
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Helix
  • 2,403

9 Answers9

123

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.

Andreas Haferburg
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Dave Jennings
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41

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.

ParanoiaPuppy
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16

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 €

Community
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Boris
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12

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.

DLH
  • 2,465
7

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
Jjack
  • 71
5

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.

Oussama Idali
  • 59
2

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.

qbi
  • 19,515
1

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

oat
  • 11
1

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.

shylynx
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Edric Tuinhout
  • 77