On my computer, compose is Shift+RightControl (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compose_key">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compose_key</a>). This approach is best for staying within one script. For example, typing accented Latin characters (for various western European languages for example) on a US English keyboard and the compose key approach is not suitable for typing Greek or Cyrillic using a Latin based keyboard (whether US English, AZERTY, QWERTZ or whatever). Well designed keyboard combinations will allow us to type the various Unicode punctuation marks regardless of keyboard layout. I agree it is best to switch keyboard layouts when typing a multiscript document and I understand the difficulties in learning the different locations where punctuation marks are placed in each layout, and because of this I've also created a Cyrillic layout just for me, so I can type Cyrillic efficiently.<br>
<br>Andrew<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 4 May 2010 17:18, Juan Francisco Fraile Vicente <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:juanfranciscofv@gmail.com">juanfranciscofv@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Which is that compose key on Linux?<div><br></div><div>I think all of you have a part of reason, but we have to remember that one of the best things of the world of TeX is the multiple options that offers. Erasing that conventions would be a loss. </div>
<div>Although I agree (it's difficult to see --- sometimes and the source code may result in low readability), XeTeX is everyday more known for linguists that work with several languages. And the great characteristic of XeTeX is a more comfortable environment for working with several languages (that it is possible in LaTeX, but some time ago it was not so easy for some of us if working with Unicode).</div>
<div>Many people working with documents in several languages have the same problem: it's necessary to change again and again between language-keyboard. And every keyboard usually puts diacritical marks, dashes, points and other chars where the designer wanted/preferred. In this way those methods of LaTeX are very productive: LaTeX accents, for instance, make much easier to put vocalic quantities in Latin, or marks for textual criticism in Greek like a point under a greek letter. These are two examples only, and I agree with some of you that suggest to learn the keyboard distribution, but sometimes it's more difficult than it seems (for instance, in Spain we have our own distribution, specially different because it includes our 'ñ', and if I change to Greek layout on Linux is really different and few intuitive for Spanish users). I am designing a layout for Ancient Greek for Spanish keyboard and people who will use it will have to learn where I put the em-dash for instance, but if they work with XeTeX and those codes of LaTeX, this question is independent of the keyboard, the system or the editor, I think.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Sorry if I have made any mistake talking about XeTeX, I will be always a **TeX learner...</div><div><br></div><div>Best regards,</div><div><br></div><div>Juan Francisco </div></blockquote></div><br>