IT/Software/System Config/Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcuts

These are any keystroke that does something other than what it "normally" does.

The Compose Key

This is a special KDE feature that allows you to define a key and then type something to get a special character or modifier.

Turning it on

Go to System Settings > Input Devices > Keyboard > Advanced > Position of Compose Key.

Be careful choosing this. It will override its normal features. If you pick left control then you lose copy and past.

I have chosen right control since I don't use that very often.

The default list that does work is base on your locale. /usr/share/X11/locale/en_US.UTF-8/Compose

Changes made to that file will not change unless you do something to reload the locales.

Setting it up

Create a file

# ~/.XCompose

 # ~/.XCompose
 # This file defines custom Compose sequences for Unicode characters

# Import default rules from the system Compose file:
 include "/usr/share/X11/locale/en_US.UTF-8/Compose" 

# To put some stuff onto compose key strokes:
<Multi_key> <d> <e> <g> 			: "°"	degree # DEGREE SIGN

You can also

include "%L" to just include the loaded locale

Now log out and back in again. Open Writer to test. Hit the compose key let go and then type the shortcut

Below are my favorites.

<Multi_key> <d> <e> <g> 	: "°"	degree # DEGREE SIGN
<Multi_key> <d>  <e> <l>	: "Δ"	delta or change in # . : DELTA
<Multi_key> <t> <h> <e> 	: "∴"	therefore # : . THEREFORE
<Multi_key> <b>  <e> <c>	: "∵"	because # . : BECAUSE
<Multi_key> <s>  <t> 		: "⋺"	such that # . : SUCH THAT