International characters

International characters (accented characters) can be added to documents in KDE by using the alternate keyboard "U.S. English w/deadkeys". (This works similarly in Ubuntu)

1. Open Control Center>Regional & Accessibility>Keyboard Layout
2. Select "U.S. English w/deadkeys" in "Available Layouts"
3. Click "Add" under "Active Layouts"
4. Click "Apply" at the bottom of the window and then close the window

A little icon will appear in the taskbar shaped like a US flag with US in the middle. Clicking this icon will switch back and forth between the regular layout and the "deadkeys" layout. To type an accented character, click the icon so that it turns dark. Type the accent you need, followed by the letter. The accent will not appear until you type the letter.

Example: To get ê, type ^ and then e.

To get back to the regular layout, just click the flag icon again so that it turns light.

See http://www.tuxmagazine.com/node/1000044 for more information.