Dvorak keymap in single user mode
I use the US Dvorak keyboard layout, and I find it very difficult to type in single user mode (when installing world, for example), because single user mode uses the QWERTY keyboard layout, and does not seem to pay any attention to kbdmap (I think that's the command name - the one with the interactive keymap chooser). Someone suggested that it's possible to compile the Dvorak layout into my kernel, but how is this done, and is there an easier way of changing keyboard layout in single user mode? -- Bob ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Dvorak keymap in single user mode
Robert Downes wrote: I use the US Dvorak keyboard layout, and I find it very difficult to type in single user mode (when installing world, for example), because single user mode uses the QWERTY keyboard layout, and does not seem to pay any attention to kbdmap (I think that's the command name - the one with the interactive keymap chooser). Someone suggested that it's possible to compile the Dvorak layout into my kernel, but how is this done, and is there an easier way of changing keyboard layout in single user mode? Okay, made some progress here. Finally noticed that kbdmap says, quite clearly, *BUGS* http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=kbdmapsektion=1apropos=0manpath=FreeBSD+5.1-RELEASE+and+Ports#end The *kbdmap* and *vidfont* utilities work only on a (virtual) console and not with X11. The single user mode is not a virtual console, as virtual consoles are not permitted to run during single user mode. However, the command-line (non-interactive) equivalent is kbdcontrol, and it seems to suffer no such limitation. So, once in single user mode, type mount -a to make sure that /usr is mounted (needed because it contains the keymaps), and then type df to check that the filesystems are mounted. (Actually, you may not need all of them.) If /usr is now showing up, type kbdcontrol -l us.dvorak and you will be reunited with the (cough... superior... cough) Dvorak keyboard layout. This can be done with any of the available layout files in /usr/share/syscons/keymaps However, never happy with a simple option, I wonder if there's an easy (read lazy) option... is it possible to automate this process, so that this command is run by default? (Or is that inadvisable because it requires /usr to be available, and /usr should not necessarily be available in single user mode everytime?) -- Bob ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Dvorak keymap in single user mode
Reply to myself again, just to make sure this thread can be of use to anyone searching archives at any point in the future. Stéphane Witzmann suggested that the kernel configuration be altered to specify a default keyboard. So, after checking NOTES and the name of the keyboard map I want (us.dvorak), I changed my custom kernel configuration file (BOBKERN) so that it now contains a section exactly like this: # atkbdc0 controls both the keyboard and the PS/2 mouse device atkbdc # AT keyboard controller device atkbd # AT keyboard options ATKBD_DFLT_KEYMAP makeoptions ATKBD_DFLT_KEYMAP=us.dvorak # use Dvorak key layout Once this was built and installed (see the handbook for advice on custom kernel building), I booted into single user mode and, hallelujah, it is now in Dvorak layout by default. Thanks to Stéphane. DISCLAIMER: Bob is not liable for any minor, major, or irreparable damage his advice may cause. Furthermore by having read the above message, you have already agreed to indemnify Bob against all legal, civil, military, and psychologically hurtful action, whether or not initiated by you. Should any part of this agreement contradict itself, you will close your eyes and ignore the section that is of less profitability to Bob. Should any of this agreement be deemed illegal, you agree to raise up an army and defeat any and all that stand in the way of a change in the law that will install or reinstate the validity of this agreement. -- Bob ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
