Re: Totally Off-Topic (it's that Linux newbie again)

Well, it all turns out to be gos-smackingly easy.

There's a file you need, called .xmodmap which tells Linux what key press equalls each character/function. You set one of the keys to a value of 'Multi-key', and that's the 'compose' key Peter talked about.

You then log out, log back in (or otherwise invoke the new xmodmap file), and start typing.

"compose" + o + " = ö
"compose + s + s = ß
"compose" + c + , = ç
"compose" + e + ' = é

...and so on. It's all perfectly logical, and rather easy when someone like Peter shows you how. I won't go into rants and raves about how on Earth someone is supposed to *know* about all this stuff, but suffice it to say it can be done.

In case anyone's interested, here's Peter's instructions uninterpreted:

Quote on...

First, look if you already have a file .Xmodmap (or maybe .xmodmap) in your home directory. If not, create one with

    xmodmap -pke > ~/.Xmodmap

The file should now contain the current keyboard map. Towards the end, it looks like this:

keycode 110 = Pause Break
keycode 111 = Print Execute
keycode 112 = KP_Divide
keycode 113 = Mode_switch Multi_key
keycode 114 =
keycode 115 = Meta_L
keycode 116 = Multi_key
keycode 117 = Menu

Key 113 is the right Alt key, 116 is the right Windows key. So
"Multi_key" is the name xmodmap uses for the key which was labelled
"Compose" on DEC workstations :-). See if you can find it anywhere in
your keymap. If not, you can just add it to a key which you don't use otherwise. The windows keys (115 ... 116) are a good choice since they can be reached without moving your hands much.

After editing the file, you can install the new keymap with

    xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap

This should also happen automatically when you log in.

Quote off.

And as I say, it works beautifully.

Regards
HJR   Received on Mon Feb 10 2003 - 05:25:11 CST