Ubuntu – Ways to enter special characters? Is Alt+Numpad possible

keyboardunicode

I know there's this question How can I type special characters like ë?, but I'd like to know if there is any possibility to configure the keyboard to use windowish style to insert special characters (Alt+Code in numpad).
I know it can be done with Ctr+Shift+U+Code but…

I have to enable ibus and don't know how to leave it enabled by default
~~Hex codes are longer than decimal ones~~ Ctrl+Shift+U+Hex codes combos are longer than the Alt+Decimal code ones
As an ex-Windows(TM) user, I'm so used to it….

Two examples of characters I use a lot, comparing win style and gnome-style

Tilde (~) character
Windows -> Alt+1-2-6
gnome -> Ctrl+Shift+U+7-e

Superscript 2 - square (²) character
Windows -> Alt+2-5-3
gnome -> Ctrl+Shift+u+b-e

If you try those 'key combos', the windows style is easier to type (not being subjective: less fingers used simultaneously, less keys pressed).

As I don't want to put it in some subjective way, my question would be it I can configure the keyboard to use Alt+Numpad style, or if I need to stick to the Ctrl+Shift+U combo (or the compose key alternative)

Best Answer

You can use compose sequences which are more usable than the Alt+num method in Windows. For more see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GtkComposeTable

For example, Compose + t + m = ™

Related Solutions

Ubuntu – How to create a unicode combination of keys by pressing one key (Simplify unicode adding)

A program like xmacro may be of help:

 xmacrorec can be used to record mouse and keyboard events on any X11 display.
 .
 xmacroplay can be used to playback recorded events or send any other
 mouse/keyboard events you choose. It is very handy for scripting an
 X display - for example controlling a presentation in mgp or ultrapoint
 from a script, network connection...
 .
 xmacroplay-keys is a script to help use the above.

If I'm understanding this correctly, you'd first define a macro for ctrl+shift+u (note it's shift rather than control, your original post has a small mistake in this respect), then use use Ubuntu's keyboard shortcuts to execute xmacroplay to "play back" your macro.

I have to admit I haven't really tried this myself, as I think a much better solution would be to ask yourself why your users need to enter cryptic Unicode characters by hand, instead of having a keyboard layout that allows them to do so natively. You mention the specific case of Ñ, which can be very easily entered in spanish or latin american keyboard layouts.

Moreover, if you have a US keyboard, you can use the "English (International AltGr dead keys)" layout to enter special characters for many languages, mainly by using AltGr (e.g. AltGr+n = ñ, AltGr+vowel = accents (áéíóú) and so on) .

I suggest you configure this keyboard layout and then click on the small keyboard icon in the Keyboard Layouts control panel to see all the key mappings; chances are, most special characters you are likely to need can be entered with this layout and it will be easier to remember than Unicode codes and three-key combinations, since the mappings are generally quite intuitive (AltGr + ? = ¿, for instance).

I also disagree with the idea that entering ASCII characters in Windows is easier for newcomers. The key is just as arbitrary (Alt + NumPad?), the codes are just as arbitrary to memorize (and it breaks my heart to see the little ASCII code charts pasted on people's desks), and this "crutch" also stems from the same underlying problem, which is a misconfigured keyboard layout.

I do apologize for ranting, and I hope my answer proves useful; if you are unable for some reason to set a keyboard layout as I suggest, maybe you could update your question with more details in this regard so either I or someone else can provide a more useful solution.

Ubuntu – How to write unicode charcaters in console mode

Ctrl+Shift+U+0060+Enter (with Ctrl+Shift hold during all the process) → `

@solarc: Alt is a Microsoft Windows solution.

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