µ (Micro) & Linux - Technical

dmy
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Registered: 27-Sep-2008
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27-Sep-2008 14:23:24#1 µ (Micro) & Linux

I cannot find this key on the Linux layout.

The "Multilingual" page lists it under: Special characters (only MS Windows/Mac).
Isn't there a way to have it on Linux ?

Thanks for this great layout, I have now switched completely.

Regards,
dmy

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DreymaR
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From: Viken, Norway
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27-Sep-2008 18:05:49#2 Re: µ (Micro) & Linux

Unfortunately, the *nix files are a bit primitive. They're full of asciitilde characters where good stuff should've been. So are the Windows files but at least those have dead keys to remedy the problem.

Before someone finds the time to fix that, you can fix your problem yourself. You didn't say which version you're using (xorg?) but either way you need to replace one of the 'asciitilde's in the file with 'mu' (which I believe is the correct name for the glyph U+00b5 that you're after).

I made a file once for a Norwegian Colemak layout setup. You could steal some ideas from that maybe:
https://forum.colemak.com/viewtopic.php?id=108

Last edited by DreymaR (27-Sep-2008 18:18:56)

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dmy
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29-Sep-2008 22:05:14#3 Re: µ (Micro) & Linux

Hi,

Thanks DreymaR for your help.

First, I use the xorg keymapping, with Ubuntu Hardy.
I prefered to keep the colemak keymap intact, to be able to install it easily
on another platform, therefore I found another solution: I used the Compose
key (I didn't find yet if defining a '\' dead key was at all possible under
xorg, to be compatible with the official keybindings).

1. Set your Compose key in your "/etc/X11/xorg.conf" file:

I choosed the "Right Windows key" as my Compose key:

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    [...]
    Option         "XkbOptions"    "compose:rwin"

EndSection

2. If you're under Gnome, you have to select the Compose key with:
System -> Preferences -> Keyboard -> Layouts -> Layout Options
-> Compose key Position -> Right Win-key is Compose

(note that if you use only Gnome, 2. "might" be enough, not tested...
Also an equivalent exists with KDE, but I don't remember the details)

3. Select "default-xim" as your default keyboard input:

$ im-switch -c

and enter '2' ("default-xim"), then ENTER

This will be saved in "~/.xinput.d/en_US".

4. Restart Xorg: CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE

You then have access to Compose keys, listed in:
"/usr/share/X11/locale/en_US.UTF-8/Compose".

You shoud also be able to add new ones in "~/.XCompose" file.

Note that those are not combinations, but more sequences, you have to type, then release each key:

'ComposeKey'  then  'm' then 'u' = µ (Micro)
'ComposeKey'  then  'o' then 'c' = © (Copyright)
                          or 'r' = ® (Registered)
'ComposeKey'  then  'o' then 'o' = ° (Degree)
'ComposeKey'  then  'P' then 'P' = ¶ (Paragraph sign, Pilcrow)
'ComposeKey'  then  's' then 'o' = § (Section sign)
'ComposeKey'  then  '+' then '-' = ± (plus-minus)
'ComposeKey'  then  '!' then '^' = ¦ (broken bar)

Apparently not defined by default, I didn't try to add them in home conf:

™ (Trademark): ?
… (ellipsis, three dots): ?
≠ (not equal to): ?
≤ (less-than or equal to): ?
≥ (greater-than or equal to): ?
≈ (almost equal to, double tilde): ?
‰ (per-mille, tenth of a %): ?
№ (Numero): ?

Have fun,
dmy

Last edited by dmy (29-Sep-2008 22:30:30)

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