How do I enter the Euro symbol?

Solution 1:

If you use English (US) keyboard layout and you don't want to change it, the the fastest way would be to use Ctrl+Shift+U key combination and then type 20ac followed by Space(or Enter) which will turn into €.

Now if you want, for example, to change the $ sign (which you can type it using Shift+4 shortcut when you have an US English keyboard) with € sign, you can use the following command in terminal in terminal:

xmodmap -e "keycode  13 = 4 EuroSign 4 EuroSign"

From now you can type € using Shift+4 shortcut.

To switch back to $ sign, use:

xmodmap -e "keycode  13 = 4 dollar 4 dollar"

To get this change for every session, create a file called .xmodmap, with the following command:

xmodmap -pke > .xmodmap

Then, create a file called .xinitrc in your home directory, containing the following line/command:

xmodmap .xmodmap

In the same mode you can set any other key combination to type € symbol. Use xmodmap -pke command to see all keycodes and their map assignment.

Solution 2:

Method 1) Use the compose key.

Compose key sequences for €

compose key+c+=
or
compose key+e+=

In fact, you can type the characters following the compose key in either order.

So compose key+=+c or compose key+=+e also work.

To set the compose key in 13.10,

1. Go to System Settings >> Keyboard >> Shortcuts or System Settings >> Text Entry >> Keyboard Settings.
2. Choose Typing in the left column.
3. Click Compose Key and choose an option from the pop-up list. Right-Alt is a common choice.

To set the compose key in earlier versions,

1. Go to System Settings >> Keyboard Layout >> Options.
2. Click Compose Key Position to expand the list of options.

Compose key options are hard-coded in Gnome-based systems. See the Gtk compose key table.

Method 2) Use the Alternative Characters Key (also called the 3rd level chooser in earlier versions

This way is a little more complicated to set up, but will give you a 2-character sequence.

This requires dconf-editor. sudo apt-get install dconf-editor

1. From the Shortcuts >> Typing as above, click Alternative Characters Key, and choose an option from the pop-up. (You do not have to set the compose key to use this option, but if you set it, make sure the compose key and alternative characters are set to different keys.)

2. In dconf-editor, navigate to org >> gnome >> desktop >> input-sources

3. To the setting xkb-options add one of the following:

   'eurosign:e' 'eurosign:2' 'eurosign:4' 'eurosign:5'

The single-quotes are required. If you already have options listed, separate strings with commas.

For example, I have the compose key set to right-alt, the alternative character set to menu, and euro set to 4. The setting looks like this:

['eurosign:4','lv3:menu_switch','compose:ralt']

The order of the strings doesn't matter. You can see that I chose the menu key and put the euro symbol on 4.

Now, alternative char key+4 produces €.