Compose key is not working in Xubuntu 14.04

[Tal Liron]

Setting the compose key in xfce4-keyboard-settings seems to have no effect.

This worked fine in Xubuntu 13.10.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: xfce4-settings 4.11.2-1ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.46-generic 3.13.9
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: XFCE
Date: Sat Apr 26 15:31:30 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-20 (5 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140416.2)
SourcePackage: xfce4-settings
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Scott Wood (scott-buserror)]

I don't think this is just an issue with the settings app. I had this working in 13.10 by using "setxkbmap -option compose:rwin", and it stopped working after upgrading to 14.04. Changing the compose key in the settings GUI just causes the setxkbmap options to change.

Oddly, the compose key does work in xterm and xedit -- but not xfce4-terminal, Firefox, or leafpad. In Chromium, the compose key works initially, but stops working after the first time I change focus away from the address bar (even after focus is returned).

[Scott Wood (scott-buserror)]

After a reboot, I noticed that the compose key works in xfce4-terminal, Firefox, etc. -- until I run "ibus exit". If I don't run "ibus exit", then I have a different bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnucash/+bug/1306500

[Tal Liron (emblem-parade)]

I solved this problem for myself by installing IBus.

IBus is not installed by default in Xubuntu 14.04.

(I then had to configure Xfce to use IBus via Settings -> Input Method, and then logout/login.)

[Simon Steinbeiß (ochosi)]

IBus created big problems with default keyboard layouts for many people when we worked towards 14.04, so we decided not to ship it anymore by default in Xubuntu.

[Tal Liron (emblem-parade)]

I agree with that decision, however it did break the compose key. This is thus still a bug.

[megaus (megaus)]

The issue still exists on the following system:

Linux Mint 17.2 (32bit)
libGTK package version 3.10.8-8
xfdesktop 4.12.2 (built with GTK+ 2.24.23)

[Michał Sawicz (saviq)]

I had my compose key not working on Unity for quite a while now and couldn't find a solution... Until yesterday I stumbled upon the "input method" setting in the Languages panel in System Settings. Somehow I had it set to "none", or even "maliit" when I had ubuntu-keyboard installed.

Changing that to "IBus" made my Compose key working again.

[Theo Linkspfeifer (lastonestanding)]

I have tested this in 18.04, and Compose AE gave me the expected result Æ.

Is IBus still needed for some use cases?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for xfce4-settings (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]