LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] use of alt key not producing icon ver 13.37 & xfce

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use of alt key not producing icon ver 13.37 & xfce

I have seen 2 different versions of how to produce icons via alt key and use of keypad (with num lock on). For me neither works just get a number entered on screen.
Any ideas?
Have to use my right window key then compose character keys but do not believe that should be the compose key which I think is the one to the right of it (has black page above white one with arrow pointing down).
Can someone validate that for me?
Is there a way to set up the particular key for compose key or alt key to be used with keypad?
Ideas on proper way to produce skull & X-bones?

The Unicode character SKULL AND CROSSBONES has the hexadecimal number 2620. To type it in press Ctrl+Shift+u to activate the input mode for Unicode characters. An underlined u should appear, now type in the number and press the Enter key.
☠

use of alt key not producing icon ver 13.37 & xfce

Thanks but when I tried it in "Terminal" mode I got a ? as an output. In konsole mode and in xterm I do not get even an underlined u.
This must be due to the Uni codes. Can U brief me on the result?

The ability to enter Unicode values using CTRL+Shift+u is a GTK thing. I don't know what analog exists, if any, for Qt apps.

The reason you're getting a question mark in the Xfce Terminal after entering the sequence is likely because you aren't using a UTF-8 locale. Type "locale" to see what your current settings are. Try this to see if it works correctly for you:

Open up a new Terminal window. Within that window type

Code:

LANG=en_US.UTF-8 Terminal

to start yet another new Terminal window, this time using a UTF-8 locale. Then try the CTRL+Shift+u 2620 sequence to get your skull and crossbones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_M (Post 4870370)

The ability to enter Unicode values using CTRL+Shift+u is a GTK thing.

Thanks, I didn't know that, I rarely use Qt apps.

use of alt key not producing icon ver 13.37 & xfce

OK but it didn't work as advertised.
Be aware there are 3 display mechanisms available to xfce:
Terminal (what it says at the top), xterm and konsole. I am using former.
Here is locale from terminal:

Code:

LANG=en_US

LC_CTYPE="en_US"

LC_NUMERIC="en_US"

LC_TIME="en_US"

LC_COLLATE=C

LC_MONETARY="en_US"

LC_MESSAGES="en_US"

LC_PAPER="en_US"

LC_NAME="en_US"

LC_ADDRESS="en_US"

LC_TELEPHONE="en_US"

LC_MEASUREMENT="en_US"

LC_IDENTIFICATION="en_US"

LC_ALL=

I cut/pasted LANG=en_US.UTF-8 Terminal inside my regular Terminal and got another Terminal in which I tried the skull&X-bones 2x. None worked.
Am aware of Qt & GTK tho not in detail but have gtk+ ver 4.8.1, gtl+2 ver 2.24.4 and Qt 4.7.0 installed.

Quote:

Be aware there are 3 display mechanisms available to xfce

I'm well aware there are multiple terminal emulators, which is why I have been specific in stating which one to use. The one called "Terminal" is Xfce's terminal emulator program, and it is a GTK program unlike the others. It is the only of the three you listed that will work with CTRL+Shift+U.

I had to set up my environment to be non UTF-8 in order to replicate what you're seeing. With UTF-8 disabled executing "LANG=en_US.UTF-8 Terminal" from within Terminal did not allow me to display the Unicode characters in the newly launched Terimal. However, executing "LANG=en_US.UTF-8 Terminal" from within Konsole (KDE's QT based terminal emulator) worked fine and the newly launched Terminal displayed the Unicode characters properly. Also, setting LANG with "export LANG=en_US.UTF-8" prior to starting X worked.

What you can do is add the line following line to your ~/.bash_profile file (assuming you use the Bash shell; adjust accordingly for other shells):

Code:

export LANG=en_US.UTF-8

then exit X, logout from the terminal, login again, restart X and try again.

You can also enable UTF-8 globally by adding the following to /etc/lilo (or uncomment it if it is already there):

Code:

append=" vt.default_utf8=1"

run "lilo" as root, and reboot. The default in Slackware is to have that disabled. There may be reasons for that, but I have had it enabled for at least the last two Slackware versions without any problems. Someone more knowledgeable can chime in on any potential pitfalls.

Thanks to everyone!!
I found the following very instructive and clarifying:
http://docs.slackware.com/slackware:localization
and would not have found it without the assistance given here.
Apparently a temporary UTF-8 setup is available via "unicode-start/unicode-stop". At least I hope so as I have yet to try it. If not perhaps someone will have a script for accomplishing the goal.
Again THANKS.