Typing the Euro Character on Ubuntu: Two Simple Methods

The euro (€) symbol is essential for representing currency in many European countries and is increasingly used worldwide. If you are using Ubuntu, typing this character might not be immediately obvious. Fortunately, Ubuntu offers straightforward methods to input the Euro Character using your keyboard. This guide will walk you through two effective techniques to easily type the euro symbol on your Ubuntu system, ensuring you can communicate effectively in any context requiring this currency symbol.

Method 1: Utilizing the Compose Key for Euro Input

The Compose Key method is a versatile way to type various special characters, including the euro character. It involves pressing a designated “Compose Key” followed by a sequence of other keys to produce the desired symbol.

To type the euro character (€) using the Compose Key, you can use these simple sequences:

Compose Key + c + =
Compose Key + e + =

Interestingly, the order of ‘c’ or ‘e’ and ‘=’ doesn’t matter. You can also type:

Compose Key + = + c
Compose Key + = + e

This flexibility makes the Compose Key quite user-friendly once configured.

Setting Up the Compose Key in Ubuntu (13.10 and Later)

If you are running Ubuntu 13.10 or a later version, setting up the Compose Key is done through the system settings:

Navigate to System Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts or System Settings > Text Entry > Keyboard Settings.
In the Keyboard Settings window, select Typing from the left-hand column.
Click on Compose Key. A pop-up list will appear, allowing you to choose your desired Compose Key. Right-Alt is a frequently chosen and convenient option as it is often unused and easily accessible. Select your preferred key from the list.

Configuring the Compose Key in Older Ubuntu Versions

For earlier versions of Ubuntu, the process is slightly different:

Go to System Settings > Keyboard Layout > Options.
Click on Compose Key Position to expand the list of available options.
Choose your preferred key to act as the Compose Key from the expanded list.

It’s worth noting that the Compose Key options are pre-defined within Gnome-based systems, the desktop environment Ubuntu uses. For a comprehensive list of available Compose Key sequences, you can refer to the Gtk compose key table. This table provides a detailed overview of all the characters you can type using the Compose Key method.

Method 2: Employing the Alternative Characters Key

The Alternative Characters Key method, sometimes referred to as the 3rd level chooser in older Ubuntu versions, offers another approach to typing special characters like the euro symbol. This method might seem a bit more involved initially to set up, but it allows you to create a two-character shortcut for the euro symbol.

To configure this method, you will need to use dconf-editor. If you don’t have it installed, you can install it using the terminal command: sudo apt-get install dconf-editor

Once dconf-editor is installed, follow these steps:

First, in Shortcuts > Typing (as described in Method 1), click on Alternative Characters Key. Choose a key from the pop-up list to serve as your Alternative Characters Key. Ensure that you select a different key than the one you chose for the Compose Key if you are using both methods.
Open dconf-editor.
Navigate through the directory structure to: org > gnome > desktop > input-sources.
Locate the setting named xkb-options. Double-click on it to edit.
In the Custom value field, add one of the following options to enable the euro symbol:
- 'eurosign:e'
- 'eurosign:2'
- 'eurosign:4'
- 'eurosign:5'
Remember to enclose the option in single quotes. If you already have other options listed in xkb-options, separate each option string with a comma.

For example, if you have set the Compose Key to Right-Alt and the Alternative Character Key to Menu key, and you want to assign the euro symbol to the number 4 key when used with the Alternative Character Key, your xkb-options setting might look like this:
```
['eurosign:4','lv3:menu_switch','compose:ralt']
```
The order of these strings does not matter. In this example, pressing Alternative Character Key (Menu) + 4 will now produce the euro symbol (€).

Conclusion

Both the Compose Key and the Alternative Characters Key methods provide effective ways to type the euro character on Ubuntu. The Compose Key is generally easier to set up and offers a wide range of special character inputs, while the Alternative Characters Key allows for a more direct two-key shortcut once configured.

Experiment with both methods to determine which best suits your workflow and personal preferences. By utilizing these techniques, typing the euro character on your Ubuntu system will become a seamless part of your daily computing tasks.