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On 02/11/11 10:57, Alan Lumb wrote: > > I am coming to the conclusion that accents in Windows were so much > easier than Linux. I would like that not to be true! They are MUCH easier in GNU/Linux as they are readily guessable sequences in most cases. I know Faye wasn't too sure having memorised a surprisingly large number of codes for characters under Microsoft Windows having worked for a translation agency. Suddenly discovering it doesn't need to be that hard can be a shock! > My OS is Ubuntu 11.10 with updates. I do not have Windows. The > Keyboard is Logitech K340. There is no Compose Key.(I do not understand > the concept) Using the AltGr or windows keys or any of the numbers > produce nothing useful. I am assuming something is not turned on but what? Did you read the Wikipedia article on the Compose key as it explains it pretty well. The compose key concept is simply that the key sequence for à should be the composition of an "a" and an accent. It isn't really assembling (composing hence compose) all the characters together, it is just a simple mnemonic for remembering what to type. You can dump the keymap and find out what compose codes are enabled if you need some that aren't obvious or readily documented. You can also hold "ctrl + shift" and type the hex code for the Unicode character prefixed by a "u" in GNOME. This is for die hards or some one wanting a very specific character for which "character map" app isn't good enough. e.g. You could hold down "ctrl + shift" and then press "u" "0" "0" "E" "1" and then release "ctrl + shift" but that is painful and hard to remember compared to "compose" "a" "'". "Ctrl+Shift+U" is sticky, so you can let go, type the numbers and press "Ctrl+Shift". So I can guess that à is "a" and "`", but I need to know that it is 00E0 - yuk; my brain has enough junk in it I don't want to learn Unicode. Using compose I typed this is a few seconds: AÃÃÃÃÃÃÄà -- go on type those in MS Windows now using codes, what you don't know them all? à- I don't type spanish, I didn't need to know any special numbers as the sequences are obvious (at least once you know "compose" "!" "!" is "Â"). Okay - now the other bit you will REALLY like is if you open GNOME preferences, select "Keyboard", and then "Layouts" tab, click "add", select "Country UK", and variant "Extended - Winkeys" (BTW You can extend the size of the "choose a layout" dialog by dragging the edges to make it more readable -- why oh why doesn't it maximise by default as you'll want to read what is on the keys), and you'll see this layout has things like "Ã" on "Alt-Gr+e". So it'll probably save you a lot of frustrating wondering why it isn't more like Microsoft Windows if you forget what machine you are on. You can also print a copy of the key map from the preferences dialog. Once you've done that remember to click on "Options" and pick a "compose" key (Menu or Right Control key work well, or kill two birds with one stone and use "Cap Locks" since it is an abomination anyway). Whilst GNU/Linux can pretend to be Microsoft Windows, life will be better if you try and use it's strengths ;) The trouble with special characters in GNU/Linux is that it is all too configurable at too many levels. I've learnt my lesson and try only to configure it in GNOME now, I use to remap keys all over the place but was never disciplined enough to keep it documented well, and you then get frustrated switching to another machine. Although I appreciate some folks using foreign languages like to use the compose sequence or other keymaps in their TTYs (i.e. Outside of the X-Windows) and these days you can configure all that if you are keen. Me I just use a terminal inside GNOME is I really need to type something that tricky. -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq