Arch Linux

Maurizio Ferreira

Member

Registered: 2019-03-28

Posts: 104

[SOLVED] What is a compiled keymap for ?

I know that I can use xkbcomp to compile and load a keyboard definition:
xkbcomp mydef.xkb $DISPLAY

But I can also create a xkm file :
xkbcomp mydef.xkb  (it generates mydef.xkm)

What's the purpose of this command ?

How can I use the generated file ?

Thanks

Last edited by Maurizio Ferreira (2023-03-24 22:53:50)

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 75,718

Re: [SOLVED] What is a compiled keymap for ?

https://man.archlinux.org/man/extra/xor … bcomp.1.en

The most common use for xkbcomp is to create a compiled keymap file (.xkm extension) which can be read directly by XKB-capable X servers or utilities.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/X_keyb … ing_keymap

Note that without $DISPLAY argument xkbcomp(1) will try to compile .xkb file into (mostly useless) .xkm file, without uploading anything to the server.

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Maurizio Ferreira

Member

Registered: 2019-03-28

Posts: 104

Re: [SOLVED] What is a compiled keymap for ?

Thanks,I've already read that pages.

The most common use for xkbcomp is to create a compiled keymap file (.xkm extension) which can be read directly by XKB-capable X servers or utilities.

This means that the only way to feed the result of the compilation to the server is to specify the display ?
Than why does it generate an useless file if that parameter is not given ?

I thought to compile the source only once, and than to feed it someway to the server at every system boot.
Isn't this really possible ?

Maurizio Ferreira

Member

Registered: 2019-03-28

Posts: 104

Re: [SOLVED] What is a compiled keymap for ?

The quotation speaks also of utilities. Which ones are they ?

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 75,718

Re: [SOLVED] What is a compiled keymap for ?

*mostly* useless.
The server can load the file directly and will try a /var/lib/xkb/server-0.xkm if you've no usable keyboard config

Surprisingly "setxkbmap" allows you to "set" the "xkb" key"map".

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How to upload text · How to boot w/o GUI · Disable Windows Fast-Start! · Fix your xinitrc

Maurizio Ferreira

Member

Registered: 2019-03-28

Posts: 104

Re: [SOLVED] What is a compiled keymap for ?

Well, I've found.
I can use:
   xbkcomp mydef.xkm $DISPLAY
to load the compiled file (.xkm) In the server.