how to add foreign language accents to characters with english layout?

[HighKey]

I am trying to add accents, like grave, cricumflex or diaeresis to characters.

For example I can't figure out how to create the letter ä with the english keyboard layout. In German layout it has a dedicated key on the primary layer. In Portuguese there is a function key on the 3rd layer and looks like this:



and can be created with 'alt' + '+' + 'a' to create a with diaeresis.

Can this be achieved with the english layout? I am using Oryx graphical configurator for QMK.

Possible solution:

I could insert the character using the Unicode directly, which is U+00E4. For this I need 2 new layer, one for upper case, one for lower case.
Then hold a layer switch and assign the 'A' keycap with the macro Ctrl+Shift+U+E+4.

It would be so much more convenient if I had a diaeresis key so I can press

diaeresis + a = ä
diaeresis + A = Ä
...
grave + e = è
...

and so on

[LightningXI]

If you are using Windows, you can set up the English, United States-International keyboard. You should be able to type the a with umlaut with ALT + Q = ä or SHIFT + ALT + Q = Ä, for example.

[LightningXI]

I use Windows 10, and in Language Settings, Add a Preferred Language >>> English (United States) >>> click on the setting for Eng (US) and set up

[HighKey]

I am using English US layout on Linux.

[HighKey]

thank you, this is exactly what I needed! The same option can be found on linux, it is called 'English (US, intl., with dead keys)

The dead keys are not listed in the Oryx GUI but you can easily make them out looking at the character map.

[HighKey]

this layout does not match up with Oryx configurator. I now have easy access to all accents, but is there a way to assign the shifted version of a key to a layer?

For the standard layout the GUI configurator lets me assign punctuations but also shifted punctuations.

[HighKey]

and how can I reach the degree next to the semicolon?

[ideus]

I do not know Linux. But in Windows you can always alter a base regional layout to fit your exact needs. There should be something like that in your Linux fork.

[Findecanor]

If you are using Linux, you could enable the Compose key. It works with any layout!
You press the Compose key and then two or more keys in sequence, and it produces a character from that sequence.

Compose " O ⇒ Ö
Compose " A ⇒ Ä
Compose " U ⇒ Ü
Compose s s ⇒ ß
Compose o o ⇒ °

In X (Mate) I have it mapped on the Menu key (where it is on Solaris). If your keyboard does not have a Menu key, you could map it on an Alt key or Super key. Another option would be to configure QMK to have a key produce Menu when tapped and a modifier such as Alt when held down and used with another key.

BTW. There is also software to enable the Compose key on Windows.
People not using it are missing out! ♥♥♥

[ideus]

If you are using Linux, you could enable the Compose key. It works with any layout!
You press the Compose key and then two or more keys in sequence, and it produces a character from that sequence.

Compose " O ⇒ Ö
Compose " A ⇒ Ä
Compose " U ⇒ Ü
Compose s s ⇒ ß
Compose o o ⇒ °

In X (Mate) I have it mapped on the Menu key (where it is on Solaris). If your keyboard does not have a Menu key, you could map it on an Alt key or Super key. Another option would be to configure QMK to have a key produce Menu when tapped and a modifier such as Alt when held down and used with another key.

BTW. There is also software to enable the Compose key on Windows.
People not using it are missing out! ♥♥♥

But, replacing Alt Gr is not an option when using most European languages.

[Findecanor]

But, replacing Alt Gr is not an option when using most European languages.

You would only lose it if you choose to map it to that key in the OS. There are more options that I didn't mention.

However, the OP is also making a layout on a keyboard using Oryx Configurator for QMK. Because the Alt Gr is never just tapped and the Compose/Menu key is only tapped, you could put both Alt Gr and Compose/Menu on the same key in QMK.
In Oryx configurator click the key and select "Dual function keys Right Alt" and set Command to "Application".
("Application" = the PC's "Menu" key. The key is named "Application" in the USB HID spec so as to not be Windows-specific because Sun used it for Compose).
When configured, you will see both the Menu symbol and the Alt symbol on the key.

[ideus]

But, replacing Alt Gr is not an option when using most European languages.

You would only lose it if you choose to map it to that key in the OS. There are more options that I didn't mention.

However, the OP is also making a layout on a keyboard using Oryx Configurator for QMK. Because the Alt Gr is never just tapped and the Compose/Menu key is only tapped, you could put both Alt Gr and Compose/Menu on the same key in QMK.
In Oryx configurator click the key and select "Dual function keys Right Alt" and set Command to "Application".
("Application" = the PC's "Menu" key. The key is named "Application" in the USB HID spec so as to not be Windows-specific because Sun used it for Compose).
When configured, you will see both the Menu symbol and the Alt symbol on the key.

That would be awesome. Having Alt Gr and Compose in the same key would rock.

[el_murdoque]

FWIW, I'm using Ubuntu (Mate) with a QMK keyboard. I have my OS set to the German layout, because that seemed to be the easiest way to get around the problem with upper and lowercase letters.
In my case, my SO occasionally uses my computer and she can't really get along with my 4x12 ortholinear board, so she uses a standard 104 key model, which happens to be ISO-DE, so to have both work pretty much plug and play, this seemed to be the way. After mapping everything in QMK, I can't really find a downside to this approach, but I've used ISO-DE boards before the JJ40. 

[HighKey]

I have my OS set to the German layout, because that seemed to be the easiest way

I would not recommend German layout, that basically sets you and everyone else up with one language, forever. Using the international features of the English layout allows you to use existing hardware (for those which are relying on keycaps to type) with lots of other european languages, such as German, Spain and Swedish. It is 100% compatible with the standard English layout so anyone used to one will almost note no difference when using the other.

I am writing in 3 different languages on a daily basis. In the beginning I set up multiple keyboard layouts. You can easily cycle through different layouts using `Win / Super` key + `Space`. There are 3 disadvantages, though:

- dedicated hardware is required for each language (keycaps)
- accidentally changing the layout per shortcuts happened a lot to me in the beginning
- using multiple languages in a single paragraph, for example, is a big, fat PITA
- in my case in particular, I had to remember 3 different layouts

Of course, if you are already using the German layout you'd have to relearn the English layout, the difference is very little so it's no big deal. And using a dedicated layout for a certain language is a big advantage with intensive use, as is the case with a book author or a blogger. Also, you most likely already have a German keyboard...

[HighKey]

I have a problem with the Oryx trainer using the international layout:

For the [ ' ] character you press [ Alt+gr ] + [ ' ]. I did not know that and where using [ ' ] + [ Space ] all this time, instead. Although it has the same result I don't know if I am doing it wrong.

However the Oryx trainer does not recognize the latter approach. This has never happened to me on any other Software for all these years. Using space is much more convenient.

[HighKey]

I did not know about the compose key. The default binding for it is [Shift] + [Alt Gr].

It's usage is very similar to the international English layout, so at this point I cannot tell which method is more powerful or convenient.