How can I type special characters like ë?

Question

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?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

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.

Answer 4

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.

Answer 5

Here is an answer close to 1st answer, with a little alternative.
I'm French using an US keyboard. So I often need to type é, è or à.

So like in 1st answer of this page, I use combo:
" then e for ë
' then e for é
` then e for è
` then a for à
~ then n for ñ (more for Spanish people)
....

These combo are always available in my configuration because I set my keyboard to English US international instead of English US or English UK.
With such keyboard setting, no need to type any compose key before the combo.

and these combo
" then spaceBar for "
' then spaceBar for '
` then spaceBar for `
~ then spaceBar for ~
Alt Gr plus 5 for €