KBD_MODE(1) Linux User's Manual KBD_MODE(1)
NAME
kbd_mode - report or set(7,n,1 builtins) the keyboard mode
SYNOPSIS
kbd_mode [ -auks ]
DESCRIPTION
Without argument, kbd_mode prints the current keyboard mode. With argu-
ment, it sets the keyboard mode as indicated:
-s: scancode mode (RAW),
-k: keycode mode (MEDIUMRAW),
-a: ASCII mode (XLATE),
-u: UTF-8 mode (UNICODE).
The XLATE mode is the traditional one, where the codes used can be any
8-bit character set. Is is usually expected that this character set(7,n,1 builtins)
matches the one used later to translate them internally into Unicode,
after they are sent to the screen to be displayed, using the map
selected by consolechars -m.
In UNICODE mode, a 16-bit character set(7,n,1 builtins) is expected, and these chars
are transmitted to the kernel as 1, 2, or 3 bytes (following the UTF-8
coding). In these latter two modes the key mapping defined by load-
keys(1) is used.
WARNING: changing the keyboard mode, other than between ASCII and Uni-
code, will probably make your keyboard unusable. This command can also
be useful (say via remote login(1,3,5)) when some program left your keyboard
in(1,8) the wrong state, to get the keyboard back into XLATE or UNICODE
mode.
Note that in(1,8) some obsolete versions of this program the -u option was a
synonym for -s.
SEE ALSO
loadkeys(1), consolechars(8).
Console tools 28 Oct 1997 KBD_MODE(1)