Special Characters

[Mr M]

Hi guys,

This may be a dumb question, but how do I insert special characters like those one inserts in Windows using alt+number (like for example alt+64 for @, and so on...)?

Thanx.

[fernape]

AFAIK it depends on the program that you're using. If you're using OpenOffice, just change the font, select the symbol and restore the original font.

In addition, GNOME Desktop has a Charmap similar to the Windows one.

Best Regards

[Cabhan]

This question has been asked before. AFAIK, it is not a feature in X, currently. I'm considering trying something like this in the future, as it is a commonly-requested feature.

Besides the special character inserts that fernape mentions, if you're doing full-on typing in another language, you can actually change your keyboard to use a different language's layout. Gnome and KDE both have this feature built in. This essentially makes your keyboard behave as though it was in another language. For instance, in a Spanish layout, Shift-2 produces a ", not @.

[PedroSV]

Hi there! I'm new in the forum, as well as in linux.

I have the same problem.

My linux and my keyboard are Spanish, and sometimes I need to write in Portuguese.

In windows, to obtain "ã", I make AltGr + 4 + a. Doing the same in linux I obtain "~a".

All the solutions you suggested work, but are not practical.

Do you think its possible to write a macro to obtain "ã" with a combination of keys?

Thanks. Pedro

[Freston]

You need to assign a compose key. It's not that difficult, but it requires some editing.

For example rwin+"+a=ä
Where rwin is your right Windows key

Use your favorite editor to add to /etc/X11/xorg.conf (section InputDevice; keyboard)

Option "XkbOptions" "compose:rwin"

Restart X and you're done

[PedroSV]

You need to assign a compose key. It's not that difficult, but it requires some editing...

Thank you very much, Freston!!!

My next step is to find out by myself how to do it... but that is part of learnig linux