5 ms·

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Somebody really just needs to clone Apple's input method on Linux and Windows. Then you don't need to copy and paste

by chc 15y ago

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Somebody really just needs to clone Apple's input method on Linux and Windows. Then you don't need to copy and paste — "é" is just one more keystroke than normal "e", option-e-e. This alone solves probably 95% of the international issues I encounter to the satisfaction of everyone involved.

ethereal 15y ago
I believe that is the purpose of the AltGr [0] key, is it not? [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AltGr_key#US_international http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AltGr_key#US_international
groovy2shoes 15y ago
On X11, the keymap can be set to "US International" which is the same as a stock US layout but with deadkeys and an AltGr key. I find it to be even easier than Apple's input method.
- chc 15y ago
  You're right, I should have mentioned that. I admit to only having learned about that recently, but it didn't sound quite right to me. You really like it better? As I understand it, the US International keymap makes any character that might be used as a deadkey always act as a deadkey, right? Because that sounds a little annoying for programming. In a Ruby program, even a French or Spanish one, probably most of the ` and ~ characters are going to be syntax, not diacritics. (But like I said, I haven't gotten to try it, so I might have gotten the wrong impression.)
  - omaranto 15y ago
    I found it annoying enough that I now use US International without deadkeys. And definitely "Alt gr-o" is a lot easier than the "Option-e o" that I'm forced to use on the school's Macs.
- reidrac 15y ago
  Actually that's my configuration of choice, being Spanish, I use a UK keyboard + AltGr and it's perfect. I find the UK layout more comfortable for programming, and still can type Spanish when needed.
  - calibwam 15y ago
    This is just the same for me in Norway. The Norwegian layout has open curly brace on AltGr + 7, which is very painful when programming. US with AltGr is so nice, but it just makes me more of a weirdo up here..
    - vidarh 15y ago
      I'm a Norwegian living in the UK using a US keyboard layout.. Definitively couldn't handle using a Norwegian layout for programming any more.
eridius 15y ago
On Lion and later, it's even easier. Just hold down the e key and you get a list of the various accented versions. Granted, it doesn't work in the Terminal, or certain other apps that don't use the standard text edit widgets (e.g. MacVim, TextMate), but in those apps you can continue to use the old ⌥e+e trick.
nakkiel 15y ago
Have you tried to use a Compose Key on X servers? You can use it as follows: Compose-Key e ' => é Compose-Key e ` => è Compose-Key e " => ë Compose-Key e ^ => ê I wonder how this is done on Mac?
- jonsen 15y ago
  Option-e e => é Option-` e => è Option-u e => ë Option-i e => ê

by chc 15y ago

ethereal 15y ago

I believe that is the purpose of the AltGr [0] key, is it not? [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AltGr_key#US_international http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AltGr_key#US_international

groovy2shoes 15y ago

On X11, the keymap can be set to "US International" which is the same as a stock US layout but with deadkeys and an AltGr key. I find it to be even easier than Apple's input method.

chc 15y ago
You're right, I should have mentioned that. I admit to only having learned about that recently, but it didn't sound quite right to me. You really like it better? As I understand it, the US International keymap makes any character that might be used as a deadkey always act as a deadkey, right? Because that sounds a little annoying for programming. In a Ruby program, even a French or Spanish one, probably most of the ` and ~ characters are going to be syntax, not diacritics. (But like I said, I haven't gotten to try it, so I might have gotten the wrong impression.)
- omaranto 15y ago
  I found it annoying enough that I now use US International without deadkeys. And definitely "Alt gr-o" is a lot easier than the "Option-e o" that I'm forced to use on the school's Macs.
reidrac 15y ago
Actually that's my configuration of choice, being Spanish, I use a UK keyboard + AltGr and it's perfect. I find the UK layout more comfortable for programming, and still can type Spanish when needed.
- calibwam 15y ago
  This is just the same for me in Norway. The Norwegian layout has open curly brace on AltGr + 7, which is very painful when programming. US with AltGr is so nice, but it just makes me more of a weirdo up here..
  - vidarh 15y ago
    I'm a Norwegian living in the UK using a US keyboard layout.. Definitively couldn't handle using a Norwegian layout for programming any more.

eridius 15y ago

On Lion and later, it's even easier. Just hold down the e key and you get a list of the various accented versions. Granted, it doesn't work in the Terminal, or certain other apps that don't use the standard text edit widgets (e.g. MacVim, TextMate), but in those apps you can continue to use the old ⌥e+e trick.

nakkiel 15y ago

Have you tried to use a Compose Key on X servers? You can use it as follows: Compose-Key e ' => é Compose-Key e ` => è Compose-Key e " => ë Compose-Key e ^ => ê I wonder how this is done on Mac?

jonsen 15y ago
Option-e e => é Option-` e => è Option-u e => ë Option-i e => ê