Problem with Colemak Beta: Vista x64 + OpenOffice.org / Notepad++ - Technical

MacGyver
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21-Dec-2008 15:01:04#1 Problem with Colemak Beta: Vista x64 + OpenOffice.org / Notepad++

I'm having a serious show-stopper issue with the Colemak Beta on Windows Vista x64. Specifically, under certain programs, the alt-gr+<letter> -> <letter> combo's don't work to produce accented letters. For example, the combination of alt-gr + d -> e should become ë, but all I get is a plain e. However, alt-gr + e becomes é as it should.

The programs with these problems include OpenOffice.org 3.0 and Notepad++, but there may be more. XChat and firefox handle it fine. The showstopper here is that I'd love to use OOo, but if it can't handle the way I type special characters I have to look for another office alternative. Since it's not a problem isolated to OOo I figure this is the best place to get assistance.

Has anyone else come across this and been able to find out anything? Google, OOo and colemak.com draw blanks.

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DreymaR
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22-Dec-2008 00:00:25#2 Re: Problem with Colemak Beta: Vista x64 + OpenOffice.org / Notepad++

Do you experience a similar problem with any system layouts that have dead keys, such as the US International?

I don't think there's anything wrong with the layout install itself, but I can't be certain.

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MacGyver
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22-Dec-2008 03:11:04#3 Re: Problem with Colemak Beta: Vista x64 + OpenOffice.org / Notepad++

US International is working as it should, but I'm not sure if the alt-gr - combo's can actually be called dead keys as such. I just have no idea how it's handled.

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DreymaR
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22-Dec-2008 09:49:16#4 Re: Problem with Colemak Beta: Vista x64 + OpenOffice.org / Notepad++

No. AltGr combos are not dead keys. A dead key is something you press first and then release before typing the release key. Example: In the USInt layout you can press and release the apostrophe key to produce a dead key waiting for a release. Then you press for instance an 'e' to get 'é' or 'c' to get a 'ç'. (You can also get those directly with AltGr in that layout, but that's not what I'm referring to.) Is that working with OOo?

Last edited by DreymaR (22-Dec-2008 09:57:05)

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MacGyver
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22-Dec-2008 13:30:30#5 Re: Problem with Colemak Beta: Vista x64 + OpenOffice.org / Notepad++

Yes, that's what I meant. The USi dead keys are working fine.

Also, the alt-gr + e combo to produce é is not a dead key. I know that. That's working fine. But the ones that don't work, like the case of alt-gr + d, then an e to produce the ë, or alt-gr + d, then an a to produce an ä, isn't the alt-gr + d combo a dead key? That's what I meant.

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DreymaR
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22-Dec-2008 16:06:04#6 Re: Problem with Colemak Beta: Vista x64 + OpenOffice.org / Notepad++

Ah. I see. Yes. Sorry. Indeed. So OOo is having a problem with AltGr combos being used as dead keys then? Wouldn't entirely surprise me. Damn.

For the sake of completeness, could you try the Czech layout (it should be installed on all Windows machines)? With that layout, pressing AltGr+9 and then a vowel for instance, should produce that vowel with an acute accent - pretty much like the Colemak layout does it.

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MacGyver
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22-Dec-2008 23:39:54#7 Re: Problem with Colemak Beta: Vista x64 + OpenOffice.org / Notepad++

Yes, Czech dead keys work as they should.

I've noticed it happening in other applications as well now. Windows Live Messenger (don't know if that worked before), notepad++, as I mentioned earlier, normal notepad, and even here, in firefox.

The weirdest thing is that if I press the alt-gr dead key combo twice, alt-gr+d produces ¨¨, for instance. Alt-gr+r produces ``.

Any thoughts?

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DreymaR
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23-Dec-2008 00:32:36#8 Re: Problem with Colemak Beta: Vista x64 + OpenOffice.org / Notepad++

Nope, pretty stumped by now. OOo using d as a hotkey in a way that interferes with its' use by Cmk? Something using a Ctrl-Alt-d hotkey (which will be interpreted as AltGr by that silly Windows)?

Last test I can think of: Using the MSKLC, generate a layout exactly like one you know to be working except with an AltGr-d dead key; this may release just a few glyphs for the purpose of the test. Just to test whether there is some sort of compilation complication with the Cmk release. Not likely though.

Last edited by DreymaR (23-Dec-2008 00:34:30)

*** Learn Colemak in 2–5 steps with Tarmak! ***
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MacGyver
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23-Dec-2008 01:51:47#9 Re: Problem with Colemak Beta: Vista x64 + OpenOffice.org / Notepad++

I have found the problem. Colemak dead key combos work as they should under EN (US), NL (Dutch), but *not* under EN (UK) which is my preferred locale.

Now, how could I find out why, and a possible solution...

DreymaR, any thoughts based on this? Perhaps Shai has a clue when he drops by?

Last edited by MacGyver (23-Dec-2008 20:27:41)

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