insert unicode char in writer

users
#1

Hi
I would like to be able to insert some unicode characters into writer doc but cant find a way to do this directly. Insert special char doesnt seem to be able to find the chars i want, but maybe i'm not doing something right. I have a workaround using calc; i can enter the hex codes as text (row 1) and (row 2) use a formula =UNICHAR(HEX2DEC(A1)) filled acrosd adjacent column and finally copy row 2 and paste as unformatted text into writer. This works but is rather longwinded to say the least. It does show that its not a problem with the font or with writer's ability to display the required chars; its just that i'd like a way to enter them directly into the writer documext.
The chars in question were hex A723, A725, 1E25, 1E2B, 1E96, 0161 (this one i *could* use insert special char), 1E6F, 1E0F.
Build 1:5.2.2-0ubuntu2.1

Thanks
/Gary

#2

Hi Gary,

Hi
I would like to be able to insert some unicode characters into writer doc but cant find a way to do this directly.

Type U+0161 and then press Alt+X, for example. Alt+X is a toggle. You can use it also to look, which code a character has.

Insert special char doesnt seem to be able to find the chars i want, but maybe i'm not doing something right.

The special character dialog works, but you need to know which font has a glyph for the character. Otherwise the character will not be shown in the selection pane.

  I have a workaround using calc; i can enter the hex codes as text (row 1) and (row 2) use a formula =UNICHAR(HEX2DEC(A1)) filled acrosd adjacent column and finally copy row 2 and paste as unformatted text into writer. This works but is rather longwinded to say the least. It does show that its not a problem with the font or with writer's ability to display the required chars; its just that i'd like a way to enter them directly into the writer documext.

The chars in question were hex A723, A725, 1E25, 1E2B, 1E96, 0161 (this one i *could* use insert special char), 1E6F, 1E0F.
Build 1:5.2.2-0ubuntu2.1

Have you looked, whether Ubuntu has a direct input method? On Windows it is possible to use the numpad for direct input, although I prefer the U+hexnumber method of LibreOffice.

Kind regards
Regina

#3

Regina Henschel wrote:

Hi Gary,

Hi
I would like to be able to insert some unicode characters into writer doc but cant find a way to do this directly.

Type U+0161 and then press Alt+X, for example. Alt+X is a toggle. You can use it also to look, which code a character has.

(snip)

Have you looked, whether Ubuntu has a direct input method? On Windows it is possible to use the numpad for direct input, although I prefer the U+hexnumber method of LibreOffice.

On Linux Mint, you can:
- Press Ctrl+Shift+U; an underlined "u" is shown
- Enter the Unicode hex number (e.g. 0161)
- Press space; the underlined "u0161" is replaced with "š" (a space is not inserted; that just ends entry of the character)

The same probably works on Ubuntu. This has the advantage that it works the same for any application, not just LibreOffice. On the other hand, you can't reverse the operation to see the Unicode value for an existing character simply by pressing the same combination again. Which you use (if either) is a matter of personal preference (personally I can never remember either shortcut on the few occasions I need it, so usually end up using the special character dialog or copy & pasting!)

Of course, you still need a font which includes a glyph for the character for it to be displayed.

#4

This is a nice feature that I didn't know about. It doesn't seem to be included at https://help.libreoffice.org/Writer/Shortcut_Keys_for_Writer
Thanks.

- Robert

#5

It's not a Writer shortcut, but a general LibreOffice shortcut.
You can check it in Tools > Customize > Keyboard > Shortcut Keys.
You must check [x] LibreOffice instead of [x] Writer to see "Toggle Unicode Notacion" bound to "Alt+X".

Anyway it's not included either in
https://help.libreoffice.org/Common/General_Shortcut_Keys_in (last edited in 2016)