Inserting # character in OS X terminal when using "option as meta key"

views:

129

answers:

+2 Q:

Inserting # character in OS X terminal when using "option as meta key"

I'm using the option key as meta key in my terminals but since I am using a UK keyboard this means that I can't use alt-3 (AKA option-3) to insert a '#' (hash/pound) characte. I don't want to turn option-as-meta off since I use the functionality it provides.

Does anyone know how I can insert '#' characters in this situation?

+2 A:

Switch your keyboard to US layout: System Preferences => Language & Text => Input Sources - you can enable both US and UK layout with fast switching between the two on the menu bar (Character Viewer and Keyboard Viewer are also useful while you're at it). Use the US layout for programming (with Shift-3 = #) and the UK layout for times when you need £.

Paul R 2010-04-13 15:37:50

Thanks, I also noticed that I can use a different input source for each for each document. I can use this and when I start a terminal session I can change the input to US: this has the benefit of not affecting my other applications but subsequent new terminals inherit the input setting and use the US layout.

TheJuice 2010-04-13 15:53:40

+1 A:

I have written an iTerm patch, that solves this problem. With my patch, you can set left Option to be used as Meta, and right Option to be used as modifier. The patch, binary and the story are here

yacoob 2010-06-07 17:21:51

ansaurus

tags:

views:

answers:

Inserting # character in OS X terminal when using "option as meta key"

related questions