(Resending to list only after bounce)

On Sat, Dec 13, 2025 at 03:01:51PM +0100, Helg wrote:
> Hi tech@
> 
> I've been frustrated with the keyboard behaviour on my MacBook Air and
> started digging into wsconsctl. I could have saved myself a bit of time
> if the man pages or FAQ had examples on how to create custom keyboard
> mappings. Here's a diff that adds this information to the man page.
> 
> It seems that you are not stuck with the built in keyboard mappings and
> are free to even create an entirely new mapping if you need it.
> 
> ok?

I didn't apply the patch, but as someone who is totally new to this and
did struggle to change the key mappings, the hint that one can display
the current mapping with 'keyboard.map' was a game changer. I now have
my keyboard working as I am used to.

So this update on the man page is really welcome.

Thanks!

> 
> 
> Index: wsconsctl.8
> ===================================================================
> RCS file: /cvs/src/sbin/wsconsctl/wsconsctl.8,v
> diff -u -p -r1.26 wsconsctl.8
> --- wsconsctl.8	6 Feb 2022 00:29:02 -0000	1.26
> +++ wsconsctl.8	13 Dec 2025 16:46:58 -0000
> @@ -96,6 +96,28 @@ value can be changed, and the keyboard e
>  to switch keys, should the user find a keyboard's default layout
>  difficult to use.
>  .Pp
> +Alternatively, the mapping can be modified or an entirely new mapping
> +created for an unsupported keyboard layout. The current mapping can be
> +printed with
> +.Nm
> +.Ar keyboard.map .
> +The value for each keycode specifies the keysym that is output when
> +each of
> +.Ar Key ,
> +.Ar Shift
> ++
> +.Ar Key ,
> +.Ar AltGr
> ++
> +.Ar Key ,
> +or
> +.Ar Shift
> ++
> +.Ar AltrGr
> ++
> +.Ar Key
> +is pressed.
> +.Pp
>  There are also definitions relating to video
>  control and cursor control, which are not applicable to
>  all display types, and to text emulation and graphics
> @@ -106,7 +128,7 @@ Use the
>  utility to determine which keyboard encodings are available for your
>  country.
>  .Pp
> -A keyboard mapping can also be specified in
> +A keyboard encoding can also be specified in
>  .Pa /etc/kbdtype .
>  .Sh FILES
>  .Bl -tag -width /usr/include/dev/wscons/wsconsio.h -compact
> @@ -176,6 +198,21 @@ by the
>  key is enough \- see the previous example for details.
>  .Pp
>  .Dl # wsconsctl keyboard.encoding=us.swapctrlcaps
> +.Pp
> +Update the keyboard mapping so that the @ symbol is output when the
> +key combination
> +.Ar AltGr
> ++
> +.Ar L
> +is pressed as well as a few other tweaks for a German Apple keyboard.
> +Note that the 7 key defines behaviour for all key combinations.
> +.Pp
> +.Dl # wsconsctl keyboard.map+="keycode 15 = l L at"
> +.Dl # wsconsctl keyboard.map+="keycode 34 = 5 percent bracketleft"
> +.Dl # wsconsctl keyboard.map+="keycode 35 = 6 ampersand bracketright"
> +.Dl # wsconsctl keyboard.map+="keycode 36 = 7 slash bar backslash"
> +.Dl # wsconsctl keyboard.map+="keycode 37 = 8 parenleft braceleft"
> +.Dl # wsconsctl keyboard.map+="keycode 38 = 9 parenright braceright"
>  .Pp
>  Set the bell pitch to be 1200:
>  .Pp
>