I'm using Debian and I'm familiar with using alt codes in Windows to format text in Minecraft, like coloring text on items or formatting signs in creative ways. However, I can't just paste text or symbols directly into Minecraft signs, which complicates things. I know that Linux doesn't support alt codes the way Windows does, so I'm looking for an alternative on Linux. Is there a way to get similar functionality, perhaps through an app like the Windows emoji picker, or are there good resources for keyboard shortcuts in Linux that could help?
2 Answers
You might want to check out the Compose Key feature on Linux. It can definitely help you create your own combos for formatting characters in games like Minecraft. I’m not a Minecraft player myself, but I've heard it's pretty handy. For example, if you set up your Compose Key correctly, you could potentially type something like Compose + s + o to get the formatting character. If you’re using a desktop environment like Plasma, you can set it up easily in the system settings under Input and Output options.
Linux doesn't have a universal system for alt codes since they're application-specific. In Minecraft, for instance, you can use the Compose Key or try the Ctrl+Shift+U method for Unicode. For example, pressing Ctrl+Shift+U followed by '00a7' will give you the section sign (§). This can be a bit different but might still work for text formatting in-game.
I got the Compose Key to work, but I still don’t know how to type the specific shapes I want, like filled squares or triangles. I use those for creating big signs in Minecraft, and it’s tough without copy-paste!
I think I'm using Gnome, so I’ll need to check how to set the Compose Key there.