bug#20499: bug#16082: bug#20499: [PROPOSED PATCH] C-x 8 shorthands for curved quotes, Euro, etc.

[Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>]

> 	First of all, isn’t this essentially the same suggestion as the
> 	one of bug#16082?  (FWIW, I’ve requested the reports to be
> 	merged; feel free to unmerge if I’ve missed something.)

Indeed.  I'm not opposed to adding such things.  I do wish C-x 8 was
changed to make use of the quail code somehow.

Also, I think it would be good to construct this table
semi-automatically, along the lines of what I've done for latin-ltx.el.

> 	I tend to agree with that, but is there currently an easy way to
> 	switch between /two/ input methods?  For one thing, I currently
> 	use “no” input method for typing English /and/
> 	russian-typewriter to type Russian.

Indeed.  IIUC it would be trivial to let C-\ cycle between
a user-selected set of default input methods.  Patch welcome.

I also wish it were possible to activate several input methods
at the same time.  I don't (know how to) use state-based methods, but
for input methods like French or TeX, it isn't that hard to come up with
ways to create new input methods by combining or shifting (e.g. add
a prefix key, or drop a prefix) existing ones.

> 	The other side of the issue is that the dashes, arrows,
> 	mathematical symbols, and the likes of them are cross-lingual,
> 	and making them available via input methods will involve
> 	duplication of many of the individual quail-define-rules entries
> 	all around leim/quail/*.el.  (If done the straightforward way;
> 	AIUI, anyway.)

Indeed.  Which is why I think it makes sense to try and develop ways to
create "partial input methods" and then combine them.


        Stefan