[Writer] cant insert unicode with ctrl+shift+u

users
#1

ctrl+shift+u wont work in writer 4.2.6 in my debian system but it'll
work in other applications .

Is this a bug or there is a way to correct it?

Alexandros

#2

Alexandros Prekates wrote:

ctrl+shift+u wont work in writer 4.2.6 in my debian system but it'll
work in other applications .

What do you expect it to do? Most keyboard shortcuts are handled separately by each application, although there are common conventions for some (such as Ctrl+C for copy) which most applications use. Ctrl+Shift+U isn't one I'm familiar with, but I'm mainly a Windows user so maybe it's more common on Linux.

Is this a bug or there is a way to correct it?

Keyboard shortcuts in LibreOffice can be customised under Tools > Customise > Keyboard. Select whether you want this shortcut to apply to all LibreOffice or only the application you're currently using from the top-right radio buttons. Select the desired shortcut (i.e. Ctrl+Shift+U) in the upper list. Select the desired function from the lower lists. Click "Modify".

Alexandros

Hope that helps.

Mark.

#3

Alexander:

I've used this facility through many versions of LO and still do under 4.4
pre-releases, so I can confirm that the Ctrl+Shift+U command definitely
works in LibreOffice under Debian and several derivatives, so it is possible
that that key combination has been trapped in LO.

Go to the Tools | Customize | Keyboard menu tab of LibreOffice that Mark
mentioned, scroll down to about the second quarter of the list and locate
Ctrl+Shift+U. In order for the O/S (Debian in your case, but true for most
*ix systems) shortcut to work, Ctrl+Shift+U must be *unassigned* (blank)
within LO or it will be intercepted.

The way the command works makes perfect sense, but doesn't seem very
intuitive for those that haven't used it. Within LibreOffice, type (as an
example) Ctrl+Shift+U. At this point you will see a "u" displayed, and if
you then type 25ba, you will see "u25ba" displayed. This often leads people
to think it isn't working.

It's only when you then press the space key (or the Enter key) that the
"u25ba" string will change into a right-pointing triangle glyph.

Another thing you might look at is the font you are using. Even when you use
a font that doesn't contain the particular glyph you're attempting to enter,
LO is pretty good at locating a similar font from which to pull a
substitute. Again, though, this is something that can be thwarted in several
ways. If, for instance, you have trimmed your installed fonts to a bare
minimum, there might not be one LO can choose from. Using the Insert |
Special Character option will determine whether the availability of fonts is
a problem or not; if the character appears using the menu, it isn't a font
issue.

If the character still doesn't show up, another thing to look at is to see
whether you or some add-in has modified the settings under (Tools | Options

Language Settings | Languages) or (Tools | Options | LibreOffice Writer |

Basic Fonts*) (two choices). If those are messed up, things might get wacky
with Unicode entry; this happens more often with using foreign language
characters (Greek, Russian, Thai, and so forth) than with dingbat characters
(e.g. smiley faces, arrows, and such).

I hope this gives you some ideas ...

Frank

#4

LO's .deb 64-bit 4.3.4.1
works just fine with Ctrl+Shift+U

#5

I wonder if the original poster is aware of the availability and use of the
Compose key? Linux has available the ability to make some key on the keyboard
a Compose key. Then when you need a special character, like ö or ñ or µ or €
you can get it without looking up the code--most of the sequences are pretty
obvious.

It is true that there are many symbols in Unicode that the Compose sequence
can't generate, but they are not common to a speaker of English or most
European languages.

--doug

#6

Compose Key? I use Linux Mint and Ubuntu/MINT and I do not know where such a key would be located on my standard keyboard[s] for both my desktop and laptops.

#7

In Ubuntu 14.04 at least, if you go to System Settings, Hardware, then choose
Keyboard, then the Shortcuts tab and the Typing section, you'll be able to
define a Compose Key or Key Sequence (I believe it isn't active in a default
installation). The way it's buried might suggest that it isn't commonly
used.

This is then used to enter a lot of the common characters by using
combinations, such as '1/2' to get the half fraction, 'o"' to get an o with
an umlaut and so forth. There are a surprising (to me anyway) combinations
that are recognized, and most are relatively easy to remember as they are
sort of mnemonic.

I used to use the compose key in a past life, but find the sorts of
characters I need in my work are more easily handled in a different manner.
Since I also use foreign languages with different character sets, I also
tend to use utilities more specifically oriented towards doing that.

With a "smart" Unicode font, the font itself contains "code" that, if the
system knows you are typing in French for instance, will automatically
convert an e followed by an accent into an accented e, and as more and more
systems now support Unicode, the need for a large segment of the Compose Key
users no longer need that. But, for certain uses, it can still be quite
useful.

Frank