PINE64

Problem Statement

In an x11 terminal if you press Shift-` or Shift-3, or AltGr-4, you do not get the expected characters.

And if you open a console (Ctrl-Alt-F1) and login, and you press Shift-`, or Shift-3, or AltGr-`, or AltGr-4, you again do not get the expected characters.

Disclaimer/Recognition

The solution provided below works on the default Debian desktop that is shipped with the Pinebook Pro. Thanks   and  for your work on crafting this.

Solution

You will need an internet connection to install a package (console-setup) farther down.

Confirm you have the problem by checking the keys as described in the Problem Statement above, this could potentially be fixed in a later version of the default Debian desktop.

Open a terminal in an x11 session (the second icon from the left next to the Menu button) and run the following:

Code:

$ localectl
$ sudo localectl set-keymap uk
$ sudo localectl set-x11-keymap gb pc105
$ localectl
$ systemctl reboot

The localectl command shows you what's currently configured, the last command does what you expect and reboots the machine.

Open a terminal in an x11 session again, and run the following:

Code:

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

Enter the following when prompted:

Keyboard model:

Generic 105-key (Intl) PC

Keyboard layout:

English (UK)

Key to function as AltGr:

Right Alt (AltGr)

Compose key:

No compose key

Use Control+Alt+Backspace to terminate the X server?

No

Then in the terminal run:

Code:

$ localectl
$ systemctl reboot

After the system reboots and you have logged into an x11 session, open a terminal and run the following:

Code:

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure locales

When prompted, enter the following:

Locales to be generated:

Select your specific locale, in my case I would select en_US.UTF-8 UTF8. If you are in the UK, it would be en_GB.UTF-8 UTF8

Default locale for the system environment:

Select the same thing you entered in the previous question

Then run in the terminal:

Code:

$ localectl
$ systemctl reboot

After you have logged back into an x11 session, if you open a terminal and check the keys, they should be fully functional in the x11 session.

In a terminal run:

Code:

$ localectl
$ sudo apt install console-setup

This should not require user input, and when finished the console keymap should work fully as the x11 keymap does. A reboot is not required.

Some of the reboots above may not be required, but they don't hurt. The localectl commands peppered throughout may be omited, I just thought it was interesting to watch the changes show up.

Great write up! Should we add/move this to tutorials?

That's your call =)  I wasn't sure if it belonged in tutorials, as it might be a temporary fix.

Why not? It's helpful, and I believe we have a few other temporary/quick fixes posted there as well. (Copied over to Tutorials.)

I was thinking more of the community might weigh in before doing anything, but I think this fits the criteria of a good tutorial.

Really helpful thank you.

I was pulling my hair out wondering why the keyboard combo for the ° symbol wasnt working.
I resorted to googling and even the unicode wasnt working.
Thanks to this post its working fine now (hopefully there is a degree symbol above :-) )

(01-07-2020, 05:06 AM)gandlers Wrote: [ -> ]Thanks to this post its working fine now (hopefully there is a degree symbol  above :-) )

The degree symbol works =) Glad to help!

Just received my ANSI keyboard model Pinebook Pro yesterday. Fooling around using the terminal and soon found some issues on the keyboard mapping.

Key ~ (i.e. shift + `) will move the cursor to the beginning of the line
Key @ (i.e. shift + 2) becomes " (double quote)
Key # (i.e. shift + 3) will move the cursor to the next line
Key | (i.e. shift + \) becomes ~
Key " becomes @
Key \ becomes #

I followed hmuller suggestion above, and here is what I did:

$ sudo localectl set-keymap us
$ sudo localectl set-x11-keymap us pc104
$ systemctl reboot

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

Keyboard model: Generic 104-key PC
Keyboard layout: English (US)
Key to function as AltGr: Right Alt (AltGr)
Compose key: No compose key
Use Control+Alt+Backspace to terminate X server? No

$ systemctl reboot

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure locales

Locales to be generated: en_US.UTF-8 UTF8
Default locale for the system environment: en_US.UTF-8 UTF8

$ systemctl reboot

$ localectl
$ sudo apt install console-setup

After all the steps above, my keyboard behaves as below:

Key ~ (i.e. shift + `) becomes ┐
Key @ (i.e. shift + 2) becomes "
Key # (i.e. shift + 3) becomes £
Key | (i.e. shift + \) becomes ~
Key \ becomes #

I still missing the | key and \ key. (with extra ┐ and £)

Any idea what can I do to fix this.

(Update: 15 Jan 2020 - one last step to fix it)
From the GUI desktop, click on Menu (lower left corner)
=> On the second column: Applications
=> click on Preferences
=> On the third column, click on keyboard

A "Keyboard Preference" window pops up
=> go to Layout tab
=> Here I only have one entry English (US). (no sign of EU keyboard defines here)
=> click on [Show...] button
=> it pops up a UK keyboard which is exactly what's wrong to my keyboard
=> close the show keyboard screen
=> back to Keyboard Preference window
=> click on [Reset to Defaults] button (this is where the magic happen)
=> on the Type to test settings field, try the key, and it is fixed.

Now my ANSI keyboard is working.

I found the keyboard problem on my ANSI PBP was in the software settings under keyboard.

I added 'US keyboard' then deleted 'EU keyboard'

MY @ key and my " keys were reversed. Fixed now.

(01-15-2020, 01:54 AM)bcnaz Wrote: [ -> ]I found the keyboard problem on my ANSI PBP was in the software settings under keyboard.

I added   'US keyboard'     then deleted    'EU keyboard'  

MY   @   key  and my    "   keys were reversed.  Fixed now.

Thanks bcnaz with the hints.

My keyboard setting did not have EU Keyboard setup there.

However, I'm able to fix mine with a little twist. I've update my post above to include all steps. Thanks again.

(01-15-2020, 11:42 AM)chip ling Wrote: [ -> ]

(01-15-2020, 01:54 AM)bcnaz Wrote: [ -> ]I found the keyboard problem on my ANSI PBP was in the software settings under keyboard.

I added   'US keyboard'     then deleted    'EU keyboard'  

MY   @   key  and my    "   keys were reversed.  Fixed now.

Thanks bcnaz with the hints.

My keyboard setting did not have EU Keyboard setup there.

However, I'm able to fix mine with a little twist. I've update my post above to include all steps. Thanks again.

  Are we talking the OEM  Debian/Mate operating system ?   or did you install a different OS  ?