KBD_MODE(1)		      Linux Users Manual		  KBD_MODE(1)



NAME
       kbd_mode - report or set 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
       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 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) when some program left your keyboard
       in the wrong state, to get the keyboard	back  into  XLATE  or  UNICODE
       mode.

       Note that in 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)