[breezy] Error activating XKB configuration in gnome keyboard prefs

[Paul Lauria]

Going to System->Preferences->Keyboard to change my keyboard layout, I get a
popup w/ this error;

Error activating XKB configuration.
It can happen under various circumstances:
- a bug in libxklavier library
- a bug in X server (xkbcomp, xmodmap utilities)
- X server with incompatible libxkbfile implementation

This error _used_ to appear on the startup of my gnome session, but since I
followed Daniel's advice (from the devel mailing list):

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=54569

that no longer occurs.

Also, prior to Daniel's advice, I used to get /three/ of these same
popup-errors, but now I only get one :D So apparently we're really close to
resolving xorg-keyboard issues once and for all?

[Daniel Stone (daniels)]

please attach /etc/X11/xorg.conf and /var/log/Xorg.0.log.

[Paul Lauria (black-hole-sun16)]

Created an attachment (id=3187)
xorg log

[Paul Lauria (black-hole-sun16)]

Created an attachment (id=3188)
xorg config file

[Paul Lauria (black-hole-sun16)]

(In reply to comment #1)
> please attach /etc/X11/xorg.conf and /var/log/Xorg.0.log.

Done.

Also, with today's xkeyboard-config update, I am again recieving the
aforementioned error on gnome startup :(

[Matt Zimmerman (mdz)]

The requested information was provided; Daniel, does this shed any light on the
situation?

[Daniel Stone (daniels)]

paul, which layout have you selected in the gnome keyboard applet?

[Didier-dfr (didier-dfr)]

FWIW I had the same problem and solved it by manually creating the directory
/etc/X11/xkb/compiled
Before doing this I had errors in the X server log that it couldn't write to
that directory.
This happened after upgrading from hoary.
Probably the postinstall script needs to make sure this dir exists.

[Alberto Moreno (albertomm)]

(In reply to comment #7)
> FWIW I had the same problem and solved it by manually creating the directory
> /etc/X11/xkb/compiled

I have the same problem but that directory exists. My layout is spanish.

[François Bouffard (fbouffar)]

> I have the same problem but that directory exists. My layout is spanish.

This is a "me too" post. The directory exists. Layout is ca_enhanced. The error
began to pop-up at logon two days ago. Also, it pops up when attempting to add
another layout in the keyboard layout indicator. Attempting to add a keyboard
layout results in the error pop-up, and the new layout does not appear in the
keyboard list. In fact, I cannot change keyboard layout at all right now. Should
I open a new bug?

[Conceptid (conceptid)]

(In reply to comment #9)
> > I have the same problem but that directory exists. My layout is spanish.

This is another "me too" post ;)

I never had the pop-up at logon but impossible to have my layout "ca_enhanced"
working. Each time I try to Reset to default or add a new layout I receive the
pop-up error about 8 times in one shot.

The only way I found to have my layout is to put in xorg.conf the layout
"ca_enhanced", reboot, login, go to gnome keyboard settings and in layout say:
"Reset to default". I have about 8 pop-up again but... I have accents and all
layout is ok even if I layout selection in gnome has no effect at all (except
display pop-up each time I try to change something).

Another observation: It is impossible to click the check box "default" for a
layout...

[Dani (dani-berzas)]

I have solved a similar problem.
(in spanish)
http://almocafre.blogspot.com/2005/11/error-al-activar-la-configuracin-xkb.html
Thanks

[Alberto Moreno (albertomm)]

(In reply to comment #11)
> I have solved a similar problem.
> (in spanish)
> http://almocafre.blogspot.com/2005/11/error-al-activar-la-configuracin-xkb.html

Works for me. Gracias!

[Steven Brown (steven-w-j-brown)]

I tried following the spanish instructions, above. Even though I no longer get the the error, I still cannot use my PrintScreen key or my Windows Key, as expected. :( When setting my keyboard shortcuts, PrintScreen shows up as the hex, 0x6f, and does not actually cause the "take screenshot" program to appear. Windows key does not act as a modifier, and cannot be combined with other keys. Even by itself, it does not seem to register.

Using Dapper, btw, which is where I first started noticing the problem.

[Henrik Nilsen Omma (henrik)]

Hi Tollef,

I guess you are looking at keyboard issues these days. Personally, I also have an issue with the PrnSc key showing up as 0x6f and not taking screenshots (new problem in dapper). I'm using a UK layout. It's a USB keyboard with a compact layout (laptop-like).

- Henrik

[Henrik Nilsen Omma (henrik)]

on pressing PrScr

[Henrik Nilsen Omma (henrik)]

setxkbmap -print > setxkbmap.out

[Tollef Fog Heen (tfheen)]

I can't reproduce this, even with your XKB settings. If you could retry this with a live cd or something similar (as talked about on IRC), that'd be great.

[Henrik Nilsen Omma (henrik)]

On the live CD everything works as expected. I can take screenshots and in the keyboard shortcuts menu the buttun is recognised as 'Print'. After changing the keyboard layout from US to GB and turning on sticky keys it still works fine.

I must have something wonky on my installed system.

[Michal Suchanek (hramrach)]

I got xkb errors as well (after upgrading to Dapper Flight 6). But after upgrading to the latest packages from tha Dapper online repository yesterday they were fixed.

My layout is us,cz variant ,querty and bunch of options.

[Ian Oliver (hvy4-idbo)]

I just (12:30GMT on 25th April) updated my Dapper to the latest version from the repos. I still get the errors when logging in and when changing my keyboard type. I cannot select a working UK keyboard despite trying all the work-arounds that have been suggested in the many forum threads on this issue.

Everything worked fine on Breezy and on the Dapper Live CD.

I really hope this one gets fixed before the Dapper release.

Ian

[Fabio Massimo Di Nitto (fabbione)]

Bug is already opened against the proper package. No point in 2 tasks for the same issue.

[towsonu2003 (towsonu2003)]

have this same bug on an up-to-date breezy. Extremely annoying bug! can"t use turkish keyboard -grr

[Tollef Fog Heen (tfheen)]

towsonu2003 skrev:
> have this same bug on an up-to-date breezy. Extremely annoying bug!
> can"t use turkish keyboard -grr

The XKB setup in breezy unfortunately has a series of hard bugs to fix
and I don't think we'll be able to solve them there. My best
recommendation would be to upgrade to dapper where the problem should be
fixed. (If it's not, we're in a much better position to get it fixed,
though.)

- tfheen

[Tollef Fog Heen (tfheen)]

Can you still reproduce this in dapper, edgy or feisty?

[Tollef Fog Heen (tfheen)]

Ubuntu 5.10 is no longer supported, so rejecting this bug. It has been fixed in later versions.