(I realize, that the stupidity of my question and my unability to sprinkle it with linux-style 3-letter acronyms must be annoying to this community so that no answer has been given. Sorry for that. Instead maybe you could point me to another source, where I can find an answer without causing people any trouble.) I am a beginner with Linux. So, in case somebody answers, keep the amount of "linux specific jargon" low, because I will probably not understand it. 1. Installed OpenSUSE 11.1 on HP nx9005 notebook. (hardware is working fine) So far so good. 2. Used YaST to install a secondary language (Japanese) in addition to the system language = English. 3. SCIM setting: tried to uncheck all languages I do not need and check ONLY Japanese, English and German * SCIM keyboard list does NOT contain a German keyboard layout. Cannot find a place where to add one. 4. Personal settings: added a second KB layout (German) to the primary (Japanese) 5. Task bar shows now TWO flags: Japan / Germany; can be switched by clicking. 6. Personal settings: German is marked as secondary language. 7. Key shortcut to switch between keyboard layouts (?): Alt+left Shift * Does NOT work. I am cycled through a horrendous number of "input methods" listed under SCIM, most of which I have never even heard of or could imagine what they are used for. 8. In OpenOffice Writer I can currently use (clicking on the keyboard icon in the task tray) an English keyboard layout (write English) and after activating Anthy (requires a number of clicks) can also write in Japanese. Fine. But I could not yet figure out how to make the German keyboard layout - which is supposed to be available there - work. Going through 4-5 user guides (documentation) has not helped me so far. All I want to do: a) have THREE (not the present intimidating long list) KB layouts: Japanese, English and German b) be able to switch between these using a SIMPLE shortcut (like Alt+Shift) (I do that every day on Windows machines) * This cannot be so difficult, can it? WHAT did I miss? Where did I miss it? I appreciate your help (... and have still more questions ...) Thomas -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org