Custom compose key sequences without xim (e.g. in Sublime Text 2)

I know you asked this a year ago, but in case it ever helps someone, here’s what worked for me to enable custom .XCompose additions:

sudo apt-get install uim
export "GTK_IM_MODULE=uim"
(log out and in again)

uim is an input method which respects the compose file additions, but also enables the functionality not available in xim, eg Ctrl+Shift+U to enter a hex Unicode character ID.

This may work for the OP’s situation, if he still needs a solution, I don’t know.

What @coteyr says is, in fact, not correct. Sublime Text uses standard GTK input method API, however, it does so incorrectly.

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I made a package that fixes Sublime Text. You can find all the details on the bug and my workaround on my blog post but here's a quick overview of the installation:

1. Add the sublime-imethod-fix-PPA to your APT sources by executing the following command:

   sudo add-apt-repository ppa:whitequark/sublime-imethod-fix
   

2. Install the bugfix package that corresponds with your Sublime Text version:

   • for XCompose support in ST2:

     sudo apt-get install libsublime-text-2-xim-xcompose
     

   • for XCompose support in ST3:

     sudo apt-get install libsublime-text-3-xim-xcompose
     

3. Restart Sublime Text (if it's running). Compose sequences should now work fine.

This is a hugely random guess, but I think it's because Sublime Text is using a different widget library and that one isn't setup for xim input.

You can try (if you haven't already) setting up persistent configuration at this link

If that doesn't work you can always hack IM support back in.

This post should assist with that.

Both are pretty technical and both mean going out of your way a bit to make it work.