I regularly need to type the character • on Linux Mint with Cinnamon. I'm familiar with Linux and know that my Compose key is Right Alt, but I haven't been able to find a Compose sequence that works. Suggestions such as Compose followed by period, double period, or other combinations haven't worked for me. For now I either run JavaScript to copy the character to the clipboard or use Unicode input with Ctrl+Shift+U, 2022, then Enter, but that takes seven keystrokes. Is there a simpler Compose shortcut, a way to define my own shortcut, or a tool that could provide convenient text expansion?
4 Answers
The standard Compose sequence is usually Compose, then period, then equals: Compose . =. Also, • is technically a bullet character, while a middle dot is ·, so make sure you’re using the character you actually need. The available Compose sequence depends on the input configuration.
Many desktop applications, including LibreOffice, have an Insert Special Character option. It’s useful when entering the symbol occasionally, although it’s not ideal for frequent use in a web browser.
That works in word processors, but I need this regularly in a browser, so a Compose mapping or text expansion would be more convenient.
You can define your own Compose sequence in a file named .XCompose in your home directory. For example:
include "%L"
: "•"
That makes Compose, *, * insert the character while preserving the standard Compose mappings. Log out and back in afterward. This generally works with X11 desktops and KDE on Wayland, though support on other Wayland desktops can vary.
This is exactly the kind of properly customizable Linux solution I was hoping for. I’ll make my own sequence.
For a shortcut that works across browsers and other applications, text-expansion tools such as AutoKey or Espanso are worth considering. You could assign a memorable trigger like ;bullet and have it replaced with • automatically.
Good catch about the distinction between a bullet and a middle dot. The different suggestions I found online were confusing because they seemed to mix those characters up.