HOW TO: Add another Keyboard layout in XFCE.

**kagashe** · September 16th, 2005

Hi,

The answer is there on XFCE Wiki:

How do I configure Xkb

Add the XkbLayout Option to your xorg.conf-file. Here is an example if you want to use german and russian keyboard-settings:

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "de,ru"
EndSection

Your default layout will be there in the Option "XkbLayot" line e.g. if the default is English (US) keyboard it will be displayed as

Option "XkbLayout" "us"

You have to add a comma "," and type the symbol of the other keyboard. (de for german and ru for russian in the example).
You may have to restart X (or there may be some other way to make the saved /etc/X11/xorg.conf file effective).

You have to install xfce4-xkb-plugin (through apt or synaptic) and add xkb layout switcher to the panel.

kagashe

**Espina** · September 16th, 2008

I did get to the xorg.conf file, but I couldn't edit it.

Could you please help me? I want to switch between english and spanish keyboard layout.

Thanks!

**lorenbr** · September 19th, 2008

You can edit the xorg.conf file by opening up the terminal and typing in the following command:

gksu gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Alternatively, you should be able to enable the two keyboard layouts by going to System > Preferences > Keyboard, clicking over the the Layout tab, and using the "Add" button.

I hope that helps...

**Espina** · September 19th, 2008

Thank you very much, it actually did help me.

Just a few comments:

1-The 8.04 Xubuntu distribution (with Xcfe environment) doesn't come with gedit, it comes with mousepad, so you have to make that little change in the name on the command line.

2-I haven't found a way of installing it as you latter suggested, but with that simple instructions you gave me and later adding the language bar on the upper task bar I was able to change between keyboard layouts with no problem.

Thank you very much again!

**foxy123** · September 27th, 2008

Originally Posted by Espina

Thank you very much, it actually did help me.

Just a few comments:

1-The 8.04 Xubuntu distribution (with Xcfe environment) doesn't come with gedit, it comes with mousepad, so you have to make that little change in the name on the command line.

2-I haven't found a way of installing it as you latter suggested, but with that simple instructions you gave me and later adding the language bar on the upper task bar I was able to change between keyboard layouts with no problem.

Thank you very much again!

There is an easier way to do it. Go to Settings/Settings Manager/Keyboard. Click on Layout ta b and add a layout you need.

**Weaseal** · September 30th, 2008

This solution didn't work for me. I added the xfce4 xkb app, but when it shows that it has switched languages, everything still inputs in English.

Here is what I added to xorg.conf:

Code:

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier  "Keyboard0"
        Driver      "kbd"
        Option "XkbLayout" "us,ro"
EndSection

Have I missed something?

**foxy123** · October 4th, 2008

Originally Posted by Weaseal

This solution didn't work for me. I added the xfce4 xkb app, but when it shows that it has switched languages, everything still inputs in English.

Here is what I added to xorg.conf:

Code:

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier  "Keyboard0"
        Driver      "kbd"
        Option "XkbLayout" "us,ro"
EndSection

Have I missed something?

Did you try keyboard options in the settings manager?

**crgutierrez** · November 15th, 2008

yes, i did try the settings manager many times, but did not work until I edited the xorg file.................something is not yet ready in xubuntu for an easy switch