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Linux keyboard text symbols: Compose key shortcuts

You use Linux and you often need to type accented letters, like ü? Or, maybe, ½, ±, €, ©, «»?

Yes, or no, there's also about a hundred other characters available for easy texting. And if you're a Linux user you at least have to know that you can input them from your keyboard with Compose key technique. Because, the spectre of symbols you can type with Compose key is huge and easiness of it's use is incredible. I mean practically all the lingual, technical, economical text characters and signs and the easiness of pressing three buttons.

The only bad thing about Compose key is that you can't type the cool stuff, like ♥ hearts, ★ stars, ♪ music notes and other cute symbols you can find in myCool Symbols ♡😎. You'll have to useLinux keyboard: Unicode hex codes composition to make that ones with your keyboard.

How it works

You press the key you chose as the Compose key then release the key, enter sequence of characters (2-3 keys) for a symbol you want to enter.For example, lets say you chose Alt as your Compose key. You press Alt, release it, you enter "mu", and you get µ symbol added into your text field. Simple, nah?

Choose your Compose key

To make this method available, first you have to choose your Compose key position. You can type special sequences to get symbols while this key is pressed, or turned on.

On GNOME

I hope it goes like this:

1. Get intoSystem ➣ Preferences ➣ Keyboard ➣ Layouts.
2. OpenLayout Options.
   
3. ExpandCompose key position menu. Here you can choose the preferred button that will turn on the composition mode.

Reference

• Ubuntu: Compose Key on help.Ubuntu.com.

On KDE

KDE 4.x

1. In KMenu start theSystem Settings.
2. ChooseRegional & Language.
3. Keyboard Layout configuration.
4. Under the Layout tab, selectEnable keyboard layouts.
5. InAdvanced choose preferredCompose key position.

KDE 3.x

1. Start theSystem Settings or theKDE Control Center.
2. • If in System Settings ➣Regional & Language.
   • If in KDE Control Center ➣Keyboard Layout.
3. Choose your keyboard layout.
4. InXkb Options choose preferredCompose key position.

GTK programs, Console

GTK (such asFirefox, Gimp) and Gnome applications usually use SCIM as the input method, not XIM (X Input Method) that relies on the configurations from (X)Compose. If you have problems with that, or you want to make Composition key available for console - read userbase.KDE.org reference that I listed below.

References

• KDE Compose Keyon userbase.KDE.org. Visit it for more detailed information and if you experience some issues.
• Compose key "magic" - really good article.

Best button for Compose key

Probably, the best position for Compose key is Left Windows key. Of course, this depends on how often you use text symbols, how good you are with your fingers and keyboard, your keyboard layout, on what you are used to, bla-bla-bla. But I think it's the fastest and easiest choice.

Shortcuts

Note, that different systems come with different tables. The one given below is just one of a kind. It may not completely match yours. Read more detailed information aboutCompose key sequences to find out how to find, or change your system's compose key sequences.