Just blogging this so that the next time I forget it, I don't have to rediscover it again:

• Set up a Compose Key -- I use Right Alt -- in Keyboard Layout/Options.
• Type accented characters by holding down that key while you type the combining symbol (e.g. backtick) followed by the character (e.g. e), then release to get the char. NOTE: sometimes you have to type them in the other order (character first, then diacritic key).