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using dvorak in i3

asked Mar 17 '14

EnergyMatter gravatar image

I want to use the dvorak layout in i3. I tried installing xkb-switch but it doesn't have Dvorak listed. I was wondering if there was any way to do it.

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answered Mar 28 '14

Tahtisilma gravatar image

I am using Debian so I give answer that works on that distribution. You should be able to find similar commands on your distribution.

I am using two keyboard layouts: dvorak for programmers with switched escape key with caps lock with polish letters and polish layout. I wanted layout to be changed both in terminal and X applications. I needed to edit my /etc/default/keyboard file to look like:

XKBLAYOUT="pl,pl"
XKBVARIANT="dvp,basic"
XKBOPTIONS="caps:swapescape,group:sclk_toggle"

The equivalent command would be:

setxkbmap -layout "pl,pl" -variant "dvp," -option "caps:swapescape,grp:sclk_toggle"

But that will change layout only under X applications. In your case you may want to change pl to us and dvp to dvorak so for example command would be:

setxkbmap -layout "us" -variant "dvorak"

Consult man keyboard for description of the config file and man xkeyboard-config for possible layouts options.

To have nice icon for switching layouts I use fbxkb.

Comments

When I execute: setxkbmap the layout is changed, however when I restart i3wm, the layout is back to qwerty... how to make the configuration change permanent?

elviejo79 gravatar imageelviejo79 (Mar 22 '15)edit

@elviejo79 Modify /etc/default/keyboard or run sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration . That will work on Debian based systems like Ubuntu etc.

Tahtisilma gravatar imageTahtisilma (Mar 27 '15)edit
0

answered Mar 19 '14

updated Mar 20 '14

Adaephon gravatar image

I use setxkbmap dvorak

0

answered Mar 18 '14

joepd gravatar image

Yes, there is a way to do it: Xorg has had support for funny keyboard layouts since the thirties or the sixties, I cannot remember. Different distrubutions have their own convenience scripts to configure that kind of stuff. Do a locate dvorak on your machine, and check the easiest way to adjust the Variants parameter of your Xorg configuration. Good luck!

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Asked: Mar 17 '14

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Last updated: Mar 28 '14