[SOLVED] Mapping a compose key in console

I am trying to successfully (re)map the keys for the console to turn the right control key into a compose key. Please note, this is for the CONSOLE. I already have it working in X using Xmodmap.
Although this is specifically about a compose key, it should apply to any arbitrary key (re)mapping.
I have followed the directions here (https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/KEYMAP), and it works. However, I don't like the idea of having to copy a file to /usr/share/kbd/keymaps/... and modify yet another etc file that comprises of a single line (I do miss rc.conf!). It would be nice to just run loadkeys - I could put it in my .shrc file - but that utility doesn't seem to want to allow a non-superuser to run it.
What I'd like to do is have the map file in my home directory and just point there, either through a simple command such a loadkeys that allows me as non-root to run it or if vconsole.conf can point to an arbitrary location.
Or, is there a compose key already mapped on the us keymap that I'm not aware of?
Last edited by archnet (2013-03-13 23:46:45)

I found a working solution for this. As root, I can just...
# chmod 4755 loadkeys
...and I can run that command as a normal user. Now, if only I could signal a command when I hit a key like I do in X to make my three audio keys turn the volume up, down, or mute...
Last edited by archnet (2013-03-13 23:55:55)

Similar Messages

[SOLVED] Setting up the Compose Key in Fluxbox

I have been going 'round and 'round with this, so I am deferring to those more knowledgeable than I. I have successfully set up the Compose key in Gnome, but I have been trying to migrate to Fluxbox. To my surprise, I can not seem to get the Compose key to work in Fluxbox, while the AltGR key seems to be working fine (the exact opposite of my Gnome setup: Compose works, AltGr doesn't). Compose is much more intuitive, therefore I would prefer to use it. The following is the relevant section of /etc/X11/XF86Config
Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
Option "XkbOptions" "compose:lwin,grp:switch"
Option "XkbOptions" "grp:menu_toggle"
Option "XkbLayout" "us,ru"
Option "XkbVariant" ",phonetic"
Option "caps:shiftlock,shift:breaks_caps"
EndSection
The keyboard that I am using is a Creative Prodikeys PC-MIDI, however my Saitek Eclipse II shows the same behavior.
On my netbook (AAOne), which I set up Fluxbox from the beginning, the compose key works perfectly. The Only difference that I can easily identify is that my netbook is using the file, '/etc/X11/xorg.conf' rather than '/etc/X11/XF86Config'. I have tried to retrace the steps that I used in setting up my netbook, but I am simply stumped.
Thank you.
Last edited by neilward (2009-03-03 22:20:06)

So, the way I fixed this was by generating a new xorg.conf file using hwd -x. I then replaced the /etc/X11/XF86Config with the new /etc/X11/xorg.conf file and restarted X (while saving a copy of the old XF86Config file). This didn't work completely because the display was bad, however the compose key worked, so I opened up two terminals and copied all of the relevant information from the new xorg.file to the XF86Config file (commenting out redundant or conflicting lines from the original XF86 in case there were any problems). I then put the XF86Connfig back in /etc/X11/ and it works perfectly.
Thanks me... I'm welcome.

"Economizing" in a list of maps with identical keys (like a database table)

Hi there!:
I've been checking this forum for information about something like what I state in the title of this message, but haven't found such a specific case. I'm commenting my doubt below.
I'm working with a list of maps whose keys are exactly the same in all them (they're of type String). Indeed it could be considered an extrapolation of a database table: The list contains maps which act as rows, and every map contains keys and values which represent column names and values.
However, this means to repeat the same key values on every map and this spends memory. Right, maybe it's not such a big spent, but since the list can contains thousands of maps, I think that it would be better to choose a more "economical" way to achieve the same result.
I had thought about building a class which stored everything as a list of lists and, internally, it mapped that String keys with the corresponding Integer indexes of every list. But then I realized that maybe I was re-inventing the wheel, because it's very probable that someone has already made that. Maybe is there a class on the Core API which allows that?
Thank you very much for your help.

Well, after re-reading the Java tutorial which is located in the Sun website I've came to a conclusion which I should have before, when I thought about using StringBuffers as keys of the maps instead of Strings.
I'm so used to build Strings using literals instead of the "new String ()" constructor (just as everyone) that I had forgotten that, as it happens with any kind of object but not the primary data types, Strings are not passed to the methods by value, but by reference. The fact of them being immutable made me think that they were passed by value.
Apart of that, my problem also was that using literals I was creating different String objects every time, despite the fact that they were equal about their content (making 400 different keys called "name" for example)
In other words, I was doing something like this:
// It makes a list of maps which will contain maps of boy's personal data (as if they were "rows" in a table).
List <Map <String, Object>> listData = new ArrayList <Map <String, Object>> (listBoy.size ());
// It loops over a list of Boy objects, obtained using EJB.
for (Boy boy : listBoy) {
     // It makes a new map containing only the information which I'm interested on from the Boy object.
     Map <String, Object> map = new HashMap <String, Object> (2);
     map.put ("name", boy.getName ());
     map.put ("surname", boy.getSurname ());
     // It adds the map to the list of data.
     listData.add (map);
}Well, the "problem" here (being too demanding, but I'm :P ) is that I was adding all the time new Strings objects as keys in every map. The key "name" in the first map was different from "name" in the second one and so on.
I guess that my knowledge got messed at certain point and thought that it was impossible to use exactly the same String object in different maps (the reference, not the same value!). Thus, my idea of using StringBuffers instead.
But thinking about it carefully, Why not to do this?:
List <Map <String, Object>> listData = new ArrayList <Map <String, Object>> (listBoy.size ());
// It makes the necessary String keys previously, instead of using literals on every loop later.
String name = "name";
String surname = "surname";
for (Boy boy : listBoy) {
     // It uses references (pointers) to the same String keys, instead of new ones every time.
     Map <String, Object> map = new HashMap <String, Object> (2);
     map.put (name, boy.getName ());
     map.put (surname, boy.getSurname ());
     listData.add (map);
}Unfortunately, the "hasCode" method on String is overloaded and instead of returning the typical hash code based on the single ID of the object in memory, it returns one based on its content. That way I can't make sure that the "name" key in one map refers to the same object in memory than another one. I know, I know. The common sense and the Java documentation confirm that, but had loved having an empiric way to demonstrate it.
I guess that using "javap" and disassembling the generated bytecode is the only way to make sure that it's that way.
I believe that it's solved now :) (if no one tells me the contrary). I still am mad at myself for thinking that Strings were passed by value. Thinking about it now it had no sense!
dannyyates: It's curious because re-reading every answer I think that you maybe were pointing to this solution already. But the sentence "you put the +same+ string" was a little ambiguous for me and thought that you meant putting the same String as "putting the same text" (which I already was doing), not the same object reference (in other words, using a common variable). I wish we could have continued discussing that in depth. Thanks a lot for your help anyway :) .

BUG - client-side iPad keyboard in MRD 8.1.5 is mis-mapped for remote VMware Player console on Windows 8.1 Pro

Client system: iPad 4 running iOS 8.1.1
Client language/locale: US English
Client app: MRD 8.1.5
Server system: 64-bit Windows 8.1 Pro
Server language/locale: US English
Problem: client-side keyboard in MRD 8.1.5 does not work properly within VMware Player 6 console only
When interacting with VMs through the VMware Player 6 console app on the remote Windows 8.1 host, the client-side iPad keyboard for MRD 8.1.5 is not properly mapped. Letter keys and the top-row number keys send function keys or non-standard key scan codes
that aren't used by traditional PC keyboards. The spacebar sends the D key, and some keys send nothing at all. Many other keys work properly, including the client-side numeric keypad, and uppercase letters sent by using the Shift key (but not the iPad up-arrow
shift key). The only way to send the proper keystrokes to VMware Player from MRD 8.1.5 is to not use the client-side iPad keyboard and instead switch to the on-screen keyboard provided by the remote Windows server.
This problem only occurs within the VMware Player console app, and only with RDP connections that use the MRD 8.1.5 client on iOS. I do not encounter the problem with other iOS RD clients such as iFreeRDP by Thinstuff or Pocket Cloud Remote Desktop by Wyse.
Steps to reproduce:
Connect to Windows 8.1 Pro system from the MRD 8.1.5 client for iOS 8.1.1
Using the client-side iPad keyboard within MRD 8.1.5, bring up the Run dialog by typing Windows-R
Launch Notepad by typing notepad.exe in the Run dialog and pressing Enter on the client-side iPad keyboard
Type some sample text in Notepad until you're confident that the client-side iPad keyboard is functioning properly
Launch VMware Player 6 and start up a VM (mine was Windows Server 2008)
Open the sign-on prompt in the VM by sending Ctrl-Alt-Ins from the client-side keyboard or by pressing the Ctrl-Alt-Del icon in VMware Player
Touch or click in the password field in the VM to ensure it has keyboard focus
Using the client-side keyboard, try to type letters or numbers in the password field, and notice that dots generally do not appear for most keypresses
Switch to the server-side on-screen keyboard and delete the contents of the password field if it is not already empty
Use the server-side on-screen keyboard to sign on to the VM
Inside the VM, open Notepad or some other text editor
Enter text into the editor from both the client-side and server-side keyboards to verify that only the server-side keyboard is functioning properly within the VM
This issue is the only problem I'm having with MRD for iOS, and I hope it is resolved soon.
Thanks,
Fred

Client system: iPad 4 running iOS 8.1.1
Client language/locale: US English
Client app: MRD 8.1.5
Server system: 64-bit Windows 8.1 Pro
Server language/locale: US English
Problem: client-side keyboard in MRD 8.1.5 does not work properly within VMware Player 6 console only
When interacting with VMs through the VMware Player 6 console app on the remote Windows 8.1 host, the client-side iPad keyboard for MRD 8.1.5 is not properly mapped. Letter keys and the top-row number keys send function keys or non-standard key scan codes
that aren't used by traditional PC keyboards. The spacebar sends the D key, and some keys send nothing at all. Many other keys work properly, including the client-side numeric keypad, and uppercase letters sent by using the Shift key (but not the iPad up-arrow
shift key). The only way to send the proper keystrokes to VMware Player from MRD 8.1.5 is to not use the client-side iPad keyboard and instead switch to the on-screen keyboard provided by the remote Windows server.
This problem only occurs within the VMware Player console app, and only with RDP connections that use the MRD 8.1.5 client on iOS. I do not encounter the problem with other iOS RD clients such as iFreeRDP by Thinstuff or Pocket Cloud Remote Desktop by Wyse.
Steps to reproduce:
Connect to Windows 8.1 Pro system from the MRD 8.1.5 client for iOS 8.1.1
Using the client-side iPad keyboard within MRD 8.1.5, bring up the Run dialog by typing Windows-R
Launch Notepad by typing notepad.exe in the Run dialog and pressing Enter on the client-side iPad keyboard
Type some sample text in Notepad until you're confident that the client-side iPad keyboard is functioning properly
Launch VMware Player 6 and start up a VM (mine was Windows Server 2008)
Open the sign-on prompt in the VM by sending Ctrl-Alt-Ins from the client-side keyboard or by pressing the Ctrl-Alt-Del icon in VMware Player
Touch or click in the password field in the VM to ensure it has keyboard focus
Using the client-side keyboard, try to type letters or numbers in the password field, and notice that dots generally do not appear for most keypresses
Switch to the server-side on-screen keyboard and delete the contents of the password field if it is not already empty
Use the server-side on-screen keyboard to sign on to the VM
Inside the VM, open Notepad or some other text editor
Enter text into the editor from both the client-side and server-side keyboards to verify that only the server-side keyboard is functioning properly within the VM
This issue is the only problem I'm having with MRD for iOS, and I hope it is resolved soon.
Thanks,
Fred
I'm experiencing exactly the same problem. Is there a solution yet?

No key event when compose keys are pressed

I am supporting a legacy application for Sabre which maps some of the keys differently. For example, on a French keyboard the Compose key which is used to put a ^ on top of the vowel characters is to be remapped to produce a special character called a "Change Character" that has a special use for reservation agents that use Sabre
The problem is, the first time you press the ^ compose key there is no key event apparently because the VM figures it doesn't yet know what key to report, it is expecting you to press a character such as 'o' and then you get an 'o' with a '^' on top of it.
If you press the ^ compose key a second time, you get the following key events:
keyPressed
keyTyped
keyTyped
keyReleased
On the screen you will see two ^ characters appear. Currently I remap the ^ character to the "Change Character", and I suppress the second keyTyped event so that I only get one character. The problem is that the user ends up having to press the key twice to get one "Change Character."
I have no fix for this problem because there is no key event produced when they press the ^ compose key the first time.
By the way, this behavior appears to have been introduced with jdk 1.3. The older jdk did produce a key event the first time you pressed the compose key. I would expect that this behavior was considered to be a bug and was fixed in jdk 1.3.
Is there some other way to detect when the user presses a compose key? If not, is it possible for future jdk releases to report a keyPressed event when a compose key is pressed? This event would not cause a character to appear on the screen, but would allow programs to detect when the compose key is pressed.
There is already a key on the French keyboard that behaves this way. It is the key to the left of the '1' key and it has the pipe symbol on it. If you press Shift plus this pipe key, no character is produces but a keyPressed event with a keycode of 222 is produced. I merely point this out to show that there is a way to report key events whithout producing output on the screen.
Thanks, Brian Bruderer

I don't know if this actually helps, but it seems that you can bind an Action to a dead key like the circumflex of the French keyboard
Keymap keymap = textPane.addKeymap("MyEmacsBindings", textPane.getKeymap());
Action action = getActionByName(DefaultEditorKit.beginAction );
KeyStroke key = KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_DEAD_CIRCUMFLEX);
keymap.addActionForKeyStroke(key, action);I saw this on a Swing tutorial and modified it slightly. Have a look at it :
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/components/generaltext.html
Chris

How to create composit key ??

Hello Friends!
i need your help. I have to create composit key.
I have 2 tables. Table 1 contains 9 colums and table 2 contains 3 colums. I am writing down just related colums of table1
Table1: SID (pk) , Bytes_convert_test , Operator , Value , offset_test , Bytes_convert_jump , offset_jump
Table2: SID (fk) , value , type , ID (pk)
in table2 type represents the 2 colums in table 1 (Bytes_convert_test and Bytes_convert_jump). Type colum could be anyone of them may be for one record it is Bytes_convert_test or for another record bytes_convert_jump. values
Value colum in table2 having different values or may be same values for both records. but my task is that i have to store record like if the type in table2 is bytes_to_convert then the values colum stores values for bytes to convert record. In short i have to separate values according to type. I am not sure that i need SID as fk in table2.
Remember value colum in table1 containing different entries.
Waiting for quick reply.
BR,
Zeeshan
Edited by: user10899712 on 2009-apr-20 03:42

Hello Zeeshan,
You are saying you want to use Type and Value fields in Table2 as foreign keys to Table1 and based on logical operations,Type maps to Bytes_convert_test and/or Bytes_convert_jump in Table1. This means that there is no way to do a straight join between Table1 and Table2 that I can see. Unless you have some simple logic you can add to a query to get the joins to work consistently, I would strongly recommend you use a simple foreign key in Table2.
Using a simple foreign key that goes to Table1's primary key not only makes the table joins easier, it also will reduce database hits - since now the primary key can be used when traversing relationships to search the cache instead of having to always go to the database.
Best Regards,
Chris

Compose Key

I have tried for around two hours to setup a compose key, nothing worked and now i have no mnore ideas how to make it work. I have tried:
Option "XkbOptions" "compose:caps"
in 10-keyboard.conf. Pressing caps does nothing, neither caps nor compose
setxkbmap -config compose:caps
same result
xmodmap -e "keycode 66 = Multi_key"
66 is, according to xev, my caps lock key. Does nothing, caps lock acts as caps lock.
I have tried some variants of these, eg with ralt or shift, as well as other keycode with xmodmap. I also tested some other, more weird things i found on the internet. Nothing worked.
I have two keyboards, one internal IBM notebook keyboard (US Layout) and one PS/2 keyboard (DE layout). By default, i have no keyboard settings in xorg (default us layout is good), but i map r-ctrl to win (xmodmap -e "keycode 105 = Super_L"; sleep 5; xmodmap -e "remove control = Super_L"; (dont ask me about the sleep command. It just dont work without.). I have tried everything without the remapping too, same results.
Any suggestion?

I use this:
Section "InputClass"
Identifier "Keyboard Defaults"
MatchIsKeyboard "yes"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
Option "XkbVariant" "alt-intl,nodeadkeys"
Option "XkbOptions" "compose:rwin"
EndSection

Compose Key in gnome-terminal

Hallo All
We currently have a bit a strange behavior of the compose key in gnome-terminal (jds). If I want to create � a-umlaut and press "compose->drouble brackets-> a I get the following string: "� . But this happens only on gnome-terminal and some gnome-apps. If I start xterm, it works as expected (key sequence generates the expected � ). Can somebody give me a hint, how the compose key is handled on Solaris/X11, and how to configure it correctly under X (gnome) and - later also - KDE?
Many thanks

it's working well with mono fonts, but for reading literary texts I'd prefer proportional fonts. KDE4 konsole doesn't even allow proportional fonts in the selection of available fonts, while with gnome-terminal the proportional fonts are badly displayed. Why not displaying proportional fonts as they should, even if it could break some console programs (such as nethack)?
Last edited by farvardin (2009-04-26 08:11:15)

Mapping the "fn" key to a key on an external extended keyboard

Is it possible to map the "fn" key found on Macbooks to a key (such as the RH Control Key) on the current Apple extended keyboard?
I use an extended keyboard with my Macbook Pro and wish to have access to the fn functions like I do on the Macbook's keyboard.
Thanks.

Oh my gosh I can't believe it you are right - there it is under F13 staring at me.
I have had so many years of that being the "help" key that I didn't notice it had changed on the new aluminium keyboards.
Thank you for pointing it out.

Mapping of BI Key figures to BPC Amount

Hi All,
I want to know that how do we map the key figures in BI cube to BPC Amount.
I have also gone through Pravin Datar's Blog ( /people/pravin.datar/blog/2009/04/16/loading-transactional-data-from-any-infocube-to-bpc-application-in-bpc7nw
) regarding it but didn't find the solution.
All the key figures are suggested to be mapped to Amount, but it will not work as whole data will come in amount only. So please suggest me
1. how to proceed with the mapping of different key figures in BI to BPC Amount.
2. Also do we have to create a seperate dimension to hold all these key figures.
Please help me in above doubts.
Thanks in advance
Sanjay

HI sanjay,
Are you talking about the situation in which multiple key figures are to be mapped to single Signdata in BPC?
if that is the case, there is a possibilty in BI where u can create BI cube with single keyfigure and load the data to it by using rule groups option in BI transformations. fields can be transformed below manner.
BI cube with multiple KFs.
Field 1     Field 2     Fin year end     Quarter     M1     M2     M3
B     IN     2008     1     100     50     80
D     US     2008     2     150     200     250
C     ZY     2008     3     75     450     55
Transformed BI cube structure
Field 1     Field 2     Fin year end     Quarter     Month     KF
B     IN     2008     1     4     100
B     IN     2008     1     5     50
B     IN     2008     1     6     80
D     US     2008     2     7     150
D     US     2008     2     8     200
D     US     2008     2     9     250
C     ZY     2008     3     10     75
C     ZY     2008     3     11     450
C     ZY     2008     3     12     55
this can be achieved using Rule groups technique in BI transformations
Thanks,
Kavya

Working with table type any with mapping according to keys

Hi All ,
I have table type any with data and I need to fill structure type any according to respective key and verify that the field is have mapping .
i.e. I have a table <lt_itab> and I need to find the specific entry on it according to the key and the mapping .
I guess that the best way is to give example.
<lt_itab> - Is type any and can have lot of entries
lt_key - Is specified table with field_name and value
lt_map - Table with field_name which have mapping (have unique field name in every entry of the table )from f1..fn -
I need to fill fields in <ls_output> just if they appear in lt_map
<ls_output> - Is structure type any that in the end should have all the data from <ls_itab> according to the mapping and the keys of the table
<lt_itab> - table
f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f6
1   2    3 4   5 6
5   5    4 3   8 4
6   9    2 5   3 5
1   3    3 4   2 1
lt_key - table
field_name   value
f1            1
f2            3
lt_map - table
field_name
f1
f2
f5
f6
<ls_output> - structure
field value
f1 -   1
f2 -   2
f3 "Not in mapping so it's empty
f4 "Not in mapping so it's empty
f5 -   2
f6 -   1
<ls_output> have the field values of the last entry of <lt_itab> according to the key of f1 and f2 and according to the mapping f3 and f4 are empty
since they are not appaer in lt_map
Regards
Joy

Hi
You have to loop fully your main table in order to get the records in according to they keys:
LOOP AT <LT_ITAB> ASSIGNING <WT_ITAB>.
   L_KO = SPACE.
   LOOP AT LT_KEY.
        ASSIGN COMPONENT LT_KEY-FIELDNAME OF STRUCTURE <WT_ITAB> TO <FS_KEY>.
        IF <FS_KEY> NE LT_KEY-VALUE.
           L_KO = 'X'.
           EXIT.
        ENDIF.
    ENDLOOP.
    CHECK L_KO IS INITIAL.
    LOOP AT LT_MAP.
        ASSIGN COMPONENT LT_MAP-FIELDNAME OF STRUCTURE <WT_ITAB>      TO <FS_FROM>.
        ASSIGN COMPONENT LT_MAP-FIELDNAME OF STRUCTURE <WT_OUTPUT> TO <FS_TO>.
        <FS_TO> = <FS_FROM>.
    ENDLOOP.
    APPEND <WT_OUTPUT> TO <LT_OUTPUT>.
ENDLOOP.
Max

JSF/ADF - Referencing a Map with Integer keys

I'm generating several ADF input text boxes from a HashMap using Java code in my managed bean. The Map contains Integer keys and String values. Each input text corresponds to a key/value pair.
I'm trying to build a string to bind the text box to the String object, but I'm struggling with the EL syntax for Maps. I know a Map with String keys would look like this:
#{bean.object.map['stringKey']}
But is it possible to specify a non-String key?
Thank you.

Hi,
why don't you try it ? My assumption is that yes, it
will work because Integer objects have a toString()
method
FrankI'm building the binding string in my bean, so Integer's value is inserted, resulting in:
#{bean.object.map[1]}
I don't believe the EL supports this for Maps. At least I wasn't able to get it to work. I also tried:
#{bean.object.map['1']}
This suggest a string '1' which isn't right either. My guess is that it isn't possible, but I'm hoping someone can prove me wrong.
From searching the forum I've read that calling processUpdates() might eliminate the need for the ValueBinding step, but I'm not sure. If I called:
component.setValue(myString);
Then processUpdates() on each component after the form submit, would this get the its text back to the bean object? If so, could the code go in the form's save action method?
Thanks.

Compose key not working in StarOffice

Hallo,
Since I make my text in various european languages, I am very much hooked on using the Compose key.
The standard Compose key works in Solaris, but not in StarOffice. What do I have to do to make this work?
Thanks, Bram
P.S. I know I can use diacritical characters with "Insert => Special Character", but working with my Compose key is so much faster.....

I want to set easy to use umlaut characters for when I'm writing in German. I would also like all the Greek letters and math symbols for when I'm writing physics notes.

Why is my compose key not working?

Compose key stopped working at some point, I need it in Dvorak and Russian, mainly in Qupzilla browser on i3.
$ setxkbmap -print -verbose 10
Setting verbose level to 10
locale is C
Trying to load rules file ./rules/evdev...
Trying to load rules file /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/evdev...
Success.
Applied rules from evdev:
rules: evdev
model: pc105
layout: dvorak,ru
options: grp:caps_toggle,compose:lwin
Trying to build keymap using the following components:
keycodes: evdev+aliases(qwerty)
types: complete
compat: complete
symbols: pc+us(dvorak)+ru:2+inet(evdev)+capslock(grouplock)+compose(lwin)
geometry: pc(pc105)
xkb_keymap {
xkb_keycodes { include "evdev+aliases(qwerty)" };
xkb_types { include "complete" };
xkb_compat { include "complete" };
xkb_symbols { include "pc+us(dvorak)+ru:2+inet(evdev)+capslock(grouplock)+compose(lwin)" };
xkb_geometry { include "pc(pc105)" };

Every day's a school day
Last edited by stozi (2014-11-08 18:36:16)

[SOLVED] Dead keys on console in UTF-8 locale

Hello,
I want to share something interesting I found out about dead keys support on the Linux console (i.e., without X).
I live in Canada and use the "Canadian French" keyboard, which uses dead keys for several diacritical marks (e.g., to type ê I push and release the ^ key, then type the e key). It works perfectly under X, but I was unable to type any character using dead keys on the console. On the other hand, non-ASCII characters like "é" that do not use dead keys worked perfectly.
After some googling, I found many posts claiming the kernel did not support dead keys when the console was in Unicode mode. So I changed the locale to a non-UTF-8 setting in /etc/rc.conf, and indeed dead keys started working. But this was not useful to me, since editing UTF-8 files resulted in gibberish, and I did not want to regress back to Latin1 encoding or have to support both encodings. I tried many combinations of settings, but none worked. For a few days, I thought there was no way to have dead keys and Unicode working on the Console.
But then I started to install Arch Linux on another computer and noticed that when I set the keyboard to Canadian French with the "km" utility before installing (the keymap is called "cf"), dead keys worked, even though the locale was Unicode! So there was a way to do it.
I started digging and trying new things, and found out that after the following incantations, I was able to enable dead keys for Unicode on the console:
kbd_mode -a
sudo loadkeys cf
kbd_mode -u
This sets the console to ASCII mode, loads the "cf" keymap, and sets the console back to Unicode. I found it by trial and error, and I have no idea why it works or whether it breaks anything. I'm posting here to ask if there are easier ways to have a functional Canadian French keyboard on the console, and to document what I did in case someone has a similar problem.
Last edited by pguertin (2010-01-23 21:44:33)

I have the exact same issue.
The weird thing for me is that before I was using gentoo and never had a problem with dead keys and unicode. Also, I confirm that dead keys is working when booting from the archlinux installation cd. Either run 'loadkeys cf' rigth after login or pass 'keymap=cf' as a boot parameter to the kernel line by editing it in grub before booting.
Your solution is interesting, however the cf.map.gz file is the same on the installation cd (and on my gentoo system) so it should works without editing it.
In my quest to solve this issue, I found something interesting. I added the 'keymap' hook in /etc/mkinitcpio.conf and regenerated the image by issuing
mkinitcpio -g /boot/kernel26.img
This alone didn't solved the issue, but then I REMOVED the keymap assignation in /etc/rc.conf (i.e. leaving it as
KEYMAP=
), rebooted... and voilà, it now works.
Furthermore, now if I run
sudo loadkeys cf
after login it stops working (well of course because it's the same as defining KEYMAP="cf" in /etc/rc.conf). Issuing the 3 commands of your first post make it works again. OK so I did one more test: boot from the archlinux installation cd by adding the 'keymap=cf' boot parameter to the kernel line and then run 'loadkeys cf' after login to see if it breaks dead keys. But no, it still works.
So is this issue comes from a newer version of the kernel/loadkeys/mkinitcpio/...? How different is the kernel and initramfs images of the installation cd compared to the installed system ?

[SOLVED] Mapping a compose key in console

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for