Arch Linux

varliukstis

Member

Registered: 2011-08-10

Posts: 19

[SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Hello, I am long-term Gnome user on Dell laptop with ATI and finally I changed my desktop environment to XFCE (to get some of 3D my computer should have).. One quite weird problem came around which wasnt while using Gnome. I've searched forums how it would be possible to fix it, nothing seemed to work.
As I use several input languages (2 would be exact- en-us and lt), I often change them. While changed to lt input, numeric keys shanges to letters (i.e. 2 equals to č, etc.) and it is possible to input numbers while in that language by pressing right-alt. After installing xfce I found out, that the input letters only shows up while pressing right-alt and all other time it is as there would be us input language set up... Is there any way to switch it?  (there should be one, as with gnome there are no problems)

Perhaps there are any suggestions how to fix this or any workarounds?

Last edited by varliukstis (2011-08-14 16:10:23)

varliukstis

Member

Registered: 2011-08-10

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

It seems that

setxkbmap -option grp:switch,grp:shift_toggle,grp_led:scroll us,lt

temporarilly fixes the problem (this i got in another arch forum), but after reboot it returns to being odd... I can add a bash script to autorun, but this would be only workaround, not the fix... Perhaos anyone got any suggestions?

bocke

Member

Registered: 2011-07-15

Posts: 40

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Do you use xfce4-xkb-plugin? Did you set your own shortcuts in properties ( I personally use alt+shift for language changing and right alt for 3rd level).

For example, in my language I get '@' by pressing 'right alt' + 'v' and it works.

Btw, there should be done something with those ugly country icons, though.

Last edited by bocke (2011-08-12 14:56:54)

varliukstis

Member

Registered: 2011-08-10

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Yes, everything is set right and should work just as You described....

bocke

Member

Registered: 2011-07-15

Posts: 40

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Did you try changing to alternative keyboard layout? Does it work that way?

Which language are you talking about?

Last edited by bocke (2011-08-12 15:09:55)

varliukstis

Member

Registered: 2011-08-10

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Alternatives works, but they are so uncomfortable.. I mean in alternative type, all special letters are not on numbers, but replaces symbols such as q, w, x, etc. I am talking about Lithuanian language (lt US input type)

bocke

Member

Registered: 2011-07-15

Posts: 40

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

I tried Lithuanian (standard) and it seems to work on my setup.

Test:
–”nµĸ„

Can you post a screenshot of your settings?

varliukstis

Member

Registered: 2011-08-10

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Yes, standart type works, but its layout is very impractical (changes too many keys so I can't recall anybody using it - it is an old relic..).

What kind of settings would you need?

bocke

Member

Registered: 2011-07-15

Posts: 40

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

The screenshot of the properties dialog. Which particular layout do you use?

varliukstis

Member

Registered: 2011-08-10

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

You mean this? After imputing the command I've posted earlyer it looks like this:

Another thing is that alt+shift still works later giving thoughts about some inner conflicts

bocke

Member

Registered: 2011-07-15

Posts: 40

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Try this setting:

Change layout option: Alt+Shift
Compose key position: Right Alt

Now it should work.

The first option is for changing the layout, the other is for accessing so called "3rd level" characters, ie special characters you can't get with shift.

Last edited by bocke (2011-08-12 18:48:21)

varliukstis

Member

Registered: 2011-08-10

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Well, it gives no difference  if not used after early mentioned this input line:

setxkbmap -option grp:switch,grp:shift_toggle,grp_led:scroll us,lt

afterwards everything works flawlesly... Just until restart... After next boot everything goes back to begining... A very stubborn bug, I can say

bocke

Member

Registered: 2011-07-15

Posts: 40

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Restart (or logout and then login), don't touch anything, then open terminal emulator and type in:

cat .config/xfce4/panel/xkb-plugin*.rc
ls -l .config/xfce4/panel/xkb-plugin*.rc

What's the output?

Last edited by bocke (2011-08-12 19:24:44)

varliukstis

Member

Registered: 2011-08-10

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Before restart, when everything works great:

display_type=0
group_policy=2
default_group=1
never_modify_config=false
model=evdev
layouts=us,lt
variants=euro,us
toggle_option=grp:alt_shift_toggle
compose_key_position=compose:ralt

-rw-r--r-- 1 andrius users 185 Aug 12 22:26 .config/xfce4/panel/xkb-plugin-5.rc 

After restart:

display_type=0
group_policy=2
default_group=1
never_modify_config=false
model=evdev
layouts=us,lt
variants=euro,us
toggle_option=grp:alt_shift_toggle
compose_key_position=compose:ralt

-rw-r--r-- 1 andrius users 185 Aug 12 22:26 .config/xfce4/panel/xkb-plugin-5.rc

So nothing really changes but there is a lot of difference...

varliukstis

Member

Registered: 2011-08-10

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

It seems something overrides xkb-plugin-5.rc, as I've modified it like this:

display_type=0
group_policy=2
default_group=1
never_modify_config=true
model=evdev
layouts=us,lt
variants=
toggle_option=grp:alt_shift_toggle
compose_key_position=compose:alt

now everything is fine, but change layout doesn't work...  It seems that opening keyboard layouts busts input... Perhaps it doesn't understand input:

bocke

Member

Registered: 2011-07-15

Posts: 40

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Are you talking about specific application or system wide settings? Have you tried typing in your favorite editor?

What is your locale setting in rc.conf? Did you generate locales on install?

varliukstis

Member

Registered: 2011-08-10

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

No, it is system wide. I didn't generate locales during install as it wasn't needed while installing gnome/testing kde. My locale setting in rc. conf is

LOCALE="en_US.UTF-8"

fBy the way, It seems that I misled You in earlyer post where outputs were... I forgot that I added autorun bash so it would fix my input at least partly. There is the output after restart, suggesting that really something is misunderstood:

model=evdev
layouts=us,lt
variants=,O
toggle_option=grp:alt_shift_toggle
compose_key_position=compose:ralt

-rw-r--r-- 1 andrius users 183 Aug 12 23:10 .config/xfce4/panel/xkb-plugin-5.rc

bocke

Member

Registered: 2011-07-15

Posts: 40

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Your best bet would be to check if there's another xkb setting tool loaded. Or a custom script (like the one you mentioned). Maybe some Gnome package?

varliukstis

Member

Registered: 2011-08-10

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Hmm... I got solution in lithuanian forum... It seems that there is a problem in selecting particular payout (in example US/standart, etc). The solution is as simple as just not to select any particular keyboard and everything works.. I mean no detalisation is better than exact layout in this case...  Simple stupid as it could be said Anyway, problem solved and thank you for your help

bocke

Member

Registered: 2011-07-15

Posts: 40

Re: [SOLVED]Keyboard input language glitch using XFCE

Glad you solved it.  I was thinking about telling you to try some local forum.

Last edited by bocke (2011-08-14 23:45:19)