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X Window System: Expanded Compose Key Usage

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Marten B. Kante
2026-06-19 01:18:13 +02:00
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wiki/linux/x_window_system.md
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@@ -103,9 +103,23 @@ setxkbmap -query | grep -q '<layout 1>' && setxkbmap <layout 2> || setxkbmap <la
Using [SXHKD](/wiki/linux/sxhkd.md) a hotkey can be setup to seamlessly transition between the two
layouts.
##### Temporarily Set Up a Compose Key
##### Compose Key
To temporarily set up a compose key the following command can be used.
Many composable letters such as ligatures, diacritics or typographic quotation marks can be typed
quickly and effectively with the use of the compose key.
They can easily be found by searching for them in the following way where `<query-term>` is the
sign to search for (for example `single quotation mark`).
```sh
grep -i "<query-term>" /usr/share/X11/locale/en_US.UTF-8/Compose
```
For diacritics and ligatures check the [following section](#write-diacritics-and-ligatures) and for
typographic quotation marks [another section exists](#write-typographic-quotation-marks)
###### Temporarily Set Up a Compose Key
To temporarily set up a [compose key](#compose-key) the following command can be used.
It will set the given key `<compose>` (for example the right control key with `rctrl`) to act as
the compose key when tapped.
`<layout>` specifies the layout of the keymap (for example German with `de`).
@@ -118,10 +132,10 @@ setxkbmap -layout <layout> -option compose:<compose>
##### Write Diacritics and Ligatures
In many languages there are ligatures (for example `œ`) and diacritics (for example `ç`).
An easy way to write them is by using the compose button.
An easy way to write them is by using the [compose key](#compose-key).
Using the compose button these special symbols can be composed of their parts.
The `ç` can be written by chaining compose with `,` and `c`.
The `œ` can be written by chaining compose with `o` and `e`.
The c-cedilla (`ç`) can be written by chaining compose with `,` and `c`.
The oe-ligature (`œ`) can be written by chaining compose with `o` and `e`.
There are many other diacritics and ligatures that can be written this way.
There are many other typographic symbols that can be written this way - among them
@@ -132,13 +146,16 @@ There are many other typographic symbols that can be written this way - among th
Many languages use typographic quotation marks instead of plain ASCII quotes (`"`).
Examples are the German quotation marks (`„` and `“`) and the guillemets (`»` and `«`) which are
used in the German language as well as French and others.
An easy way to write them is by using the compose button.
An easy way to write them is by using the [compose key](#compose-key).
Using the compose button these quotation marks can be composed of simpler characters.
The opening German quote `„` can be written by chaining compose with `"` and `,`.
The closing German quote `“` can be written by chaining compose with `<` and `"`.
Likewise the guillemets `»` and `«` can be written using compose sequences as well with `<` and `<`
or `>` and `>`.
The left-hand single quotation mark (`‘`) can be written by chaining compose with `<` and `'`.
The right-hand single quotation (`’`) mark can be written by chaining compose with `>` and `'`.
There are many other typographic symbols that can be written this way - among them
[diacritics and ligatures](#write-diacritics-and-ligatures).