[ostso]

Some methods:

1. Change your layout from "USA" to "USA International (AltGr dead keys)". Then use right-alt+key to make various special characters (you can look at what each character does at "Show Current Layout").

2. Enable the "compose key" -- I use the Menu key for this -- which is described at http://sivers.org/compose-key (it's simple to enable: Keyboard Preferences→Layouts→Options→Compose Key Position). Both of these are customizable, so you can add your own combinations if you want.

There are some other ways:

3. Ctrl-Shift-U in a GTK+ text input to enter a code point, as you said.

4. Alternative input methods that let you type special characters in in various other ways, such as LaTeX names, if you prefer that.

[JadeNB]

> 4. Alternative input methods that let you type special characters in in various other ways, such as LaTeX names, if you prefer that.

Yes, please! This would be extraordinary! How do I do it?