Installing Kbd

Installation of Kbd

Install Kbd by running the following commands:


./configure --datadir=/usr/share/kbd &&
make &&
make install &&
rm /usr/share/kbd/keymaps/i386/qwerty/defkeymap.map.gz

Now we have to choose a default keymap. Explore the /usr/share/kbd/keymaps directory, and find the keymap that you would like to use as a default. Then execute this command:


cd /usr/share/kbd/keymaps &&
ln -s <path-to-keymap> defkeymap.map.gz

Replace <path-to-keymap> with the path to the keymap you have selected, relative to the /usr/share/kbd/keymaps/ directory. For example, if you have chosen the US keymap, you would replace it with i386/qwerty/us.map.gz.

Command explanations

--datadir=/usr/share/kbd: This puts the kbd data files (fonts, keymaps, and such) in the /usr/share/kbd directory, as the FHS suggests.

rm /usr/share/kbd/keymaps/i386/qwerty/defkeymap.map.gz: We remove this file because we don't know which keymap you need to use.

ln -s <path-to-keymap> defkeymap.map.gz With this command you set the default keymap that can be loaded using the loadkeys -d command.

Contents

The Kbd package contains the chvt, deallocvt, dumpkeys, fgconsole, getkeycodes, kbd_mode, kbdrate, loadkeys, loadunimap, mapscrn, psfxtable, resizecons, screendump, setfont, setkeycodes, setleds, setmetamode, setvesablank, showfont, showkey, unicode_start, and unicode_stop programs. There are some other programs that don't get installed by default, as they are very optional. Take a look at the Kbd package contents if you have trouble with your console.

Description

chvt

chvt changes foreground virtual terminal.

deallocvt

deallocvt deallocates unused virtual terminals.

dumpkeys

dumpkeys dumps keyboard translation tables.

fgconsole

fgconsole prints the number of the active virtual terminal.

getkeycodes

getkeycodes prints the kernel scancode-to-keycode mapping table.

kbd_mode

kbd_mode reports or sets the keyboard mode.

kbdrate

kbdrate sets the keyboard repeat and delay rates.

loadkeys

loadkeys loads keyboard translation tables.

loadunimap

loadunimap loads the kernel unicode-to-font mapping table.

mapscrn

mapscrn loads a user defined output character mapping table into the console driver. Note that it is obsolete and that its features are built into setfont.

psfxtable

psfxtable is a tool for handling Unicode character tables for console fonts.

resizecons

resizecons changes the kernel idea of the console size.

screendump

A screen shot utility for the console.

setfont

This lets you change the EGA/VGA fonts in console.

setkeycodes

setkeycodes loads kernel scancode-to-keycode mapping table entries.

setleds

setleds sets the keyboard LEDs. Many people find it useful to have numlock enabled by default, and it is by using this program that you can achieve this.

setmetamode

setmetamode defines the keyboard meta key handling.

setvesablank

This lets you fiddle with the built-in hardware screensaver (not toasters, only a blank screen).

showfont

showfont displays data about a font. The information shown includes font information, font properties, character metrics, and character bitmaps.

showkey

showkey examines the scancodes and keycodes sent by the keyboard.

unicode_start

unicode_start puts the console in Unicode mode.

unicode_stop

unicode_stop reverts keyboard and console from unicode mode.