• Dan
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  • From: 127.0.0.1
  • Registered: 2009-01-18
  • Posts: 39

Topic: [SOLVED] Special characters do not appear correctly

when using #! from a liveCD on my laptop, I noticed an issue with certain characters, which I could not type.  For example, if I attempted to type |, it displayed as ~, and if I attempted to type @, it showed as ".  I do not know if this happens with other characters (I'm not running it at the moment), but it made it very difficult to use some functions, such as piping output into another command. 

I have never had this issue with standard Ubuntu, and the keyboard is a standard US keyboard, the most well-supported thing I can think of.  The laptop is about 4 years old, and is a Gateway. 

The only thing I can think of is either it got the key layout wrong, or there are some special hotkeys and mods in the window manager and desktop environment which change the characters.  This occured in multiple programs (xterm, terminator, firefox), and I'm relatively certain that this issue is global. 

If anyone can suggest a fix, or can confirm the bug on another system, please respond.

Last edited by Dan (2009-01-19 05:25:53)

The box said 'Requires Windows 2000 or better, so I installed Linux'
(No, I didn't make that, but it holds true, so I use it in my sig)
  • From: Ashdown, AR
  • Registered: 2009-01-10
  • Posts: 190

Re: [SOLVED] Special characters do not appear correctly

It's a UK(i think) keyboard layout.  I'm not sure how to change the keyboard layout for a live session, not even sure if ya can.

.files
dnyy in IRC & Urban Terror
  • Dan
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  • Registered: 2009-01-18
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Re: [SOLVED] Special characters do not appear correctly

Since this originated in the UK, it would make sense that it would use a UK keyboard setting, but then how do I change the setting?  (I've never had to do this before). 

How good is localization in this distribution?  (It didn't get my time correct either).

The box said 'Requires Windows 2000 or better, so I installed Linux'
(No, I didn't make that, but it holds true, so I use it in my sig)
  • From: Ashdown, AR
  • Registered: 2009-01-10
  • Posts: 190

Re: [SOLVED] Special characters do not appear correctly

I suppose localization is just as good as in Ubuntu.  As far as changing the keyboard layout, I might be wrong, but I don't think you can until you've installed it.  I vaguely remember that being said in another thread.  It'd be best to do a search though, or wait for someone else to give a better answer. tongue

.files
dnyy in IRC & Urban Terror
  • Dan
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  • Registered: 2009-01-18
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Re: [SOLVED] Special characters do not appear correctly

SOLVED: remove /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/gb and make it a symbolic link to the keymap you want (in my case, /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/us), then re-boot

this will work on any installation, and it is very simple, not requiring messing with the actual keymaps.  It's much easier than the huge mods I saw when trying to look it up.  However, it requires re-booting, or at least re-initialization of that system, so it may not be the best for liveCDs.

The box said 'Requires Windows 2000 or better, so I installed Linux'
(No, I didn't make that, but it holds true, so I use it in my sig)
  • From: Ashdown, AR
  • Registered: 2009-01-10
  • Posts: 190

Re: [SOLVED] Special characters do not appear correctly

You should edit the title of this post to "[Solved] Special characters do not appear correctly" smile

And congrats!

.files
dnyy in IRC & Urban Terror
  • Dan
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  • Registered: 2009-01-18
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Re: [SOLVED] Special characters do not appear correctly

An additional note on localization (which I will post in tips and tricks right after this): you can set the clock to update with local time by making /etc/localtime a symlink to your timezone config file (in my case, /usr/share/zoneinfo/America/Chicago)

You have to do this on bootup every time, though, or it reverts (I edited /etc/rc.local to get the desired result). 

I just figured this out after I was done with the keymap problem.  I'm starting to think that all localization issues can be solved with clever symlinks.

The box said 'Requires Windows 2000 or better, so I installed Linux'
(No, I didn't make that, but it holds true, so I use it in my sig)
  • Registered: 2008-12-13
  • Posts: 361

Re: [SOLVED] Special characters do not appear correctly

Please, Please, PLEASE, do not do this.

Use the following command to change your keyboard map:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure console-setup

And the following to change your timezone:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure tzdata

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