A pages/blog/zmk-unicode.md

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+---
+template:
+slug: zmk-unicode
+title: Unicode text input in ZMK
+subtitle: A hacky interim solution using macros
+date: 2022-09-18
+---
+
+As a highly cultured em-dash (over-)user, being able to type '—' easily
+is very important to me. While waiting for
+[zmkfirmware/zmk#232](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/issues/232) to
+get merged, I've discovered a rather nifty workaround for inputting
+Unicode text. This method makes use of
+[IBus](https://github.com/ibus/ibus) and a ZMK macro.
+
+Unicode input in IBus is done by typing `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `U` followed
+by the Unicode codepoint and then a `Space` or `Return`. Writing this
+as a ZMK macro, we get something like:
+
+```dts
+macros {
+    uc_dash: uc_dash {
+        label = "UNICODE_DASH";
+        compatible = "zmk,behavior-macro";
+        #binding-cells = <0>;
+        tap-ms = <0>;
+        wait-ms = <0>;
+        bindings
+            = <&macro_press &kp LCTRL &kp LSHFT>
+            , <&macro_tap &kp U>
+            , <&macro_release &kp LCTRL &kp LSHFT>
+            , <&macro_tap &kp N2 &kp N0 &kp N1 &kp N4 &kp SPC>
+            ;
+    }; 
+};
+```
+
+Where the numbers `2014` denote the codepoint for an em-dash. Set the
+`wait-ms` and the `tap-ms` to `0` to make it instantaneous -- your
+keyboard will essentially type out the entire key combo really fast. The
+resulting keycode `uc_dash` can be used in any `bindings` field. I have
+it on a separate Unicode layer.
+
+The unfortunate caveat is it only works where IBus works, and it doesn't
+seem to work in Qt applications. Granted, I only really need it in my
+browser and Signal/Slack Desktop (Electron) so that isn't a dealbreaker.