Arch Linux

sheepname

Member

Registered: 2025-05-23

Posts: 2

Add a new layout in the base layout ?

Hello everyone,

The first time I installed Arch with KDE Plasma (Wayland), I encountered an issue with my keyboard layout.
I use a Belgian period keyboard, but the layout is not included in the official package.
So, I had to create my own layout by modifying configuration files.

There are two problems with this approach:

    I have to reinstall my layout after every update.

    This solution only works for me, but I know many other Belgian users face the same issue.

Do you know if there is a way to include this layout in the official distro?

I join the method to add my own layout.

to add in usr/share/x11/sybole/be

//period
partial alphanumeric_keys
xkb_symbols "period" {

    include "latin"
    include "level3(ralt_switch)"
    name[Group1]= "Belgian (period)";

    // Ligne des chiffres
    key <AE01> { [ ampersand, 1,  bar] };
    key <AE02> { [ eacute, 2, at ] };
    key <AE03> { [ quotedbl, 3, numbersign ] };
    key <AE04> { [ apostrophe, 4, braceleft ] };
    key <AE05> { [ parenleft, 5, bracketleft ] };
    key <AE06> { [ section, 6, asciicircum ] };
    key <AE07> { [ egrave, 7, exclam ] };
    key <AE08> { [ exclam, 8, ccedilla ] };
    key <AE09> { [ ccedilla, 9, braceleft ] };
    key <AE10> { [ agrave, 0, braceright ] };
    key <AE11> { [ parenright, degree ] };
    key <AE12> { [ minus, underscore ] };

    // Ligne AZERTY
    key <AD01> { [ a, A ] };
    key <AD02> { [ z, Z ] };
    key <AD03> { [ e, E, EuroSign ] };
    key <AD04> { [ r, R ] };
    key <AD05> { [ t, T ] };
    key <AD06> { [ y, Y ] };
    key <AD07> { [ u, U ] };
    key <AD08> { [ i, I ] };
    key <AD09> { [ o, O ] };
    key <AD10> { [ p, P ] };
    key <AD11> { [ dead_circumflex, dead_diaeresis, bracketleft ] };
    key <AD12> { [ asterisk, dollar, bracketright ] };
    key <BKSL> { [ mu, pound, dead_grave ] };

    // Ligne QSD
    key <AC01> { [ q, Q ] };
    key <AC02> { [ s, S ] };
    key <AC03> { [ d, D ] };
    key <AC04> { [ f, F ] };
    key <AC05> { [ g, G ] };
    key <AC06> { [ h, H ] };
    key <AC07> { [ j, J ] };
    key <AC08> { [ k, K ] };
    key <AC09> { [ l, L ] };
    key <AC10> { [ m, M ] };
    key <AC11> { [ ugrave, percent, dead_acute ] };

    // Ligne WXC
    key <AB01> { [ w, W ] };
    key <AB02> { [ x, X ] };
    key <AB03> { [ c, C ] };
    key <AB04> { [ v, V ] };
    key <AB05> { [ b, B ] };
    key <AB06> { [ n, N ] };
    key <AB07> { [ comma, question ] };
    key <AB08> { [ semicolon, period ] };
    key <AB09> { [ colon, slash ] };
    key <AB10> { [ equal, plus, asciitilde ] };

    // Touche < > (souvent entre LShift et Z)
    key <LSGT> { [ less, greater, backslash ] };

};

to add in usr/share/x11/rules/evdev.xml
<variant>
          <configItem>
            <name>period</name>
            <description>Belgian (period)</description>
          </configItem>
        </variant>

unixman

Member

Registered: 2015-03-12

Posts: 135

Re: Add a new layout in the base layout ?

Most accurate upstream of kbd layouth stuff is 'xkbcommon' i think.

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 69,216

Re: Add a new layout in the base layout ?

How is that different from

setxkbmap -layout be -variant oss

?

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Wismill

Member

Registered: 2025-08-12

Posts: 3

Re: Add a new layout in the base layout ?

Arch with KDE Plasma (Wayland)

You should not modify system files but go for a user-configuration.