[regression] Cannot easily switch between QWERTY and Dvorak keyboard layouts while using Japanese Anthy input method

[Tristan Schmelcher]

In Precise, it was possible in the System Settings program to separately configure switchable keyboard layouts (e.g., QWERTY, Dvorak) and switchable input methods (e.g., Anthy). That made it possible to use the Anthy input method with a Dvorak keyboard layout and switch between QWERTY and Dvorak for different Japanese typists using one keyboard shortcut for the layout switch and a different keyboard shortcut for the input method switch.

In Trusty, the merged Text Entry menu does not support this. The "Japanese (Anthy)" input source always uses whatever keyboard layout was in use last. Thus, switching keyboard layouts while staying with the Anthy input method is very cumbersome. For example, if the user's text entry sources are:

English (Dvorak)
English (US)
Japanese (Anthy)

Then to switch from "English (Dvorak)" to "Japanese (Anthy)" with a Dvorak layout, the user must press Shift+Super+Space. If the user instead presses Super+Space twice, they get "Japanese (Anthy)" with a QWERTY layout.

Similarly, once "Japanese (Anthy)" is in use with a Dvorak layout, switching to a QWERTY layout with the same input method requires pressing Shift+Super+Space followed by Super+Space. Switching back to Dvorak requires the reverse: Super+Space followed by Shift+Super+Space.

Furthermore, this workaround is only possible if the user only wants to switch between two keyboard layouts. If the user wants a third keyboard layout then it is impossible to order them in such a way as to make all of them usable with the user's input method(s).

Another user has encountered this problem and posted about it on the forums. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2223071

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: unity-control-center 14.04.3+14.04.20140604-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-34.60-generic 3.13.11.4
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-34-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.3
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Mon Aug 25 08:13:12 2014
DistributionChannelDescriptor:
 # This is a distribution channel descriptor
 # For more information see http://wiki.ubuntu.com/DistributionChannelDescriptor
 canonical-oem-somerville-precise-amd64-20120703-2
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/unity-control-center
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-12-07 (625 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 "Precise" - Build amd64 LIVE Binary 20120703-15:08
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_US
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: unity-control-center
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to trusty on 2014-08-24 (0 days ago)
usr_lib_unity-control-center:
 activity-log-manager 0.9.7-0ubuntu14
 deja-dup 30.0-0ubuntu4
 gnome-control-center 1:3.6.3-0ubuntu56.1

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Matt McCormick (mattmccor)]

This method did work in 14.04 but does not work anymore in 15.04