Xorg

• Multiple keyboard layouts
• Keyboard shortcuts using the Multi_key
• Xinput
• Keys combination available to use in X

Multiple keyboard layouts

Having multiple keyboard layouts in X is possible by setting up a file under /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ like 00-keyboard.conf and adding all the layouts you desire as:

Option "XkbLayout" "us,it,pl"

To switch between them, use another option in the same file:

Option "XkbOptions" "grp:rctrl_rshift_toggle"

Which will make pressing Right Ctrl + Right Shift together switch keyboard layout.

Keyboard shortcuts using the Multi_key

Multi_key is a special key that permit to generate various symbols when pressed along with one or more other keys. If it’s not already mapped in the current keymap, use xmodmap -e "keycode xxx = Multi\_key" where xxx is the keycode furnished by xev. Read /usr/share/X11/locale/current_locale/Compose to know which keyboard shortcuts can be used and their results.

Or read the full list on the web

Xinput

Very useful tool to get more informations about input devices (keyboards, mice etc.). A few commands:

• xinput list = lists all devices with their IDs. Those are then used to get specific informations about a single device
• xinput get-button-map <id> = returns a list of buttons of a device (mouse)
• xinput list-props <id> = returns detailed informations about a device

Keys combination available to use in X

All these combinations and more can be read at man xkeyboard-config.