KDE-Forum.org

Hi,

I don't know if this is a bug or just a design feature but xxkb in kde 3.5.8 (as part of the fedora core 8 distro) does not work as I would expect.

What I want is pretty basic: to set up two layouts (us and ru) and to be able to switch between these with either clicking on the country flag indicator or using a keyboard shortcut. The flag image should reflect the changes. I don't want much, do I?

Well, it turnes out that if I add two (us and ru) layouts on the ControlCenter->Regional&Accessability->KeyboardLayout->Layout tab, check the switches "Show country flag" and choose a shortcut key (e.g. Ctrl-Shift) in the "Xkb Options" tab, the flag appears, I can change layouts with my mouse (clicking on the flag) but NOT with the shortcut. The shortcut simply does not have any effect.

Looking at the "setxkbmap" command lines in the Layout tab possibly explains the reason: For a given layout, the command looks like e.g. "setxkbmap -model pc104 -layout ru". I understand that this command is issued when I click the flag and change the layout to "ru". Once the command is issued I cannot change to another layout as it simply does not exist. Every time I click the flag, a new command introducing a SINGLE layout is issued.
I do a lot of work in two languages and having to use my mouse to switch the layout every time is VERY annoying.

OK, now I do the same but this time check the "Include latin layout" checkbox in the Layout tab. The command becomes

"setxkbmap -model pc104 -layout ru,us"

and finally, the keyboard shortcut works as long as the flag shows "ru". But the flag image always stays "ru", whichever actual layout is in use. Very inconvenient, to say the less. Especially if I choose to change layouts of windows independently. E.g. I have 4 windows and no indication of which layout is in which window.

Apart from that, the order "ru,us" is very inconvenient. It means that any newly opened app has the "ru" layout at start. I do most of my work in xterm issuing commands etc, that is my default layout should be us. Unfortunately, the above line is not editable.

Is it possible to resolve this issue without using independent programs like xxkb etc? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Igor

Just found a "solution" - It turnes out that KDE IGNORES any XKB settings set up in the "Keyboard Layout->XKB Options" tab. The shortcut which IS used is on the "Keyboard Shortcuts" window of Control Center (at the bottom of the list - Global Shortcuts->"Switch to Next Keyboard Layout". Stupid stupid stupid... I spent almost two days trying to resolve the issue. As someone commented this is why people use Windows... I have to use Linux at work and I actually love it, but things like this just drive me crazy... This is a BUG. People have written an application (the XkbOptions tab) which is completely broken. How can it be???

Also, it seems that in the "Keyboard Shortcuts" window the choice of the shortcuts is very restricted. One cannot use combinations like Ctrl-Shift or Alt-Ctrl etc. One MUST use a letter like Alt-Ctrl-K etc. Very inconvenient.

I still hope that someone with more knowledge can shed some light on the issue. Is there a way to use the XkbOptions tab to switch layouts so that the switch is reflected in the state of the flag?

Thanks,
Igor