SpeChar

Easily type special characters!

Requirements

#python interpreter
python3
#this is needed to type the chosen character
xdotool
#python libraries, installed from pip
PyQt6
 # OR #
PyQt5
#those should already be installed 
os
subprocess
sys

Tested succesfully on Linux, don't know on Windows and MacOs (surely won't work, but perhaps changing xdotool with something equivalent will)

Preparation

• download this project somewhere in your PC
• make sure it has execution permission: chmod +x /path/to/SpeChar.py
• assign /path/to/SpeChar.py to a hotkey (for example, Super+Ins)
• done!

Language and Qt version

• the default language is English and the default Qt version is PyQt5, if you wish to change those values run the script with those arguments:

  /path/to/speChar.py -l it -v 6 

• replacing it and 6 with desired language and version

• currently only English and Italian languages are supported, you can help adding your language! Just pull a request with the new speChar_<your language>.config and I'll add it quickly!

Customization (optional)

the file SpeChar_XX.config contains the list of special characters available, using this format:

<character> <minus sign> <description>

• no minus signs ("-") can be used, there must be just one for line, because the script splits in two searching for a minus sign. (There are better ways but I'm lazy and don't want to change the code lol)

• you can add, edit or remove any character from this configuration file

Usage

now just press the hotkey whenever you want to insert a special character, type the name in the searchbar and select it with the arrows or clicking on it, and it will type it in your text!

TODO

• change font using a "math font"
• get screen size automatically
• tidy up
• change scrollbar to native (Qt5 supports themes better than Qt6)

• add more languages support
• complete the emoji config and add flag --emoji to use it