mk_modmap

translate a Linux keytable file into an xmodmap file

TLDR

Translate a Linux console keymap to xmodmap format

$ mk_modmap [keymap_file]

Save the output to a file

$ mk_modmap [keymap_file] > [keymap.xmodmap]

Translate with verbose output

$ mk_modmap -v [keymap_file]

Dump the current keymap and convert it

$ dumpkeys | mk_modmap

mk_modmap translates a Linux console keytable file into a file that can be parsed by xmodmap and used within X11. The translated result is written to standard output. It requires the X11 header files to be installed at build time.The tool is part of the xkeycaps package. Modern X.Org versions initialize their keymap from the active Linux keymap, so mk_modmap is rarely needed on contemporary systems.

PARAMETERS

-v

Verbose output during conversion.

keymapfile_

A Linux console keytable file (as produced by `dumpkeys` or shipped under `/usr/share/keymaps`).

INSTALL

sudo apt install kbd

sudo dnf install kbd

sudo pacman -S kbd

sudo zypper install kbd

nix profile install nixpkgs#kbd

CAVEATS

X11 specific. Output for xmodmap. Not all console key actions have a direct xmodmap equivalent. Largely obsolete on modern X.Org and Wayland setups.

HISTORY

mk_modmap ships with xkeycaps, originally written by Jamie Zawinski. It dates to early X11/Linux days when keyboard layouts were configured separately for the console and X server.