Keyboard layout options changes do not take effect

[Trevor Wermund]

I'm trying to switch my keyboard layout so I do the following:

 System Settings > Keyboard > Options > Ctrl key position and turn on `Caps Lock as Ctrl`
 System Settings > Keyboard > Options > Alt/Win key behavior `Left alt is swapped with Left Win and turn on`

after setting these options and exiting System Settings they do not take effect. I've also tried logging out and rebooting, nothing seems to stick.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: elementary OS 0.3
Package: elementary-desktop 1.349+393~ubuntu0.3.1 [origin: LP-PPA-elementary-os-daily]
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
CrashDB: elementary_meta
CurrentDesktop: Pantheon
Date: Thu Aug 14 01:16:51 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-08-14 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: elementary OS 0.3 "Freya" - Daily amd64 (20140810)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: elementary-meta
SuspiciousXErrors:

ThirdParty: True
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Daniel Röhrig (roehrig-daniel)]

Cannot change Caps Lock to Escape nor can I reassign ctrl+space which is annoying since I need it in eclipse.

[Daniel Röhrig (roehrig-daniel)]

The ctrl+space problem results from ibus which is set to trigger that combination. With the dconf-editor I was able to solve that by just leaving the Desktop >> ibus >> hotkey >> triggers and trigger field empty.

[Ahmed Jadelrab (jadolyo)]

I've the same problem there is no action when I press the switching keys.

[Victor Krot (krot4u)]

Same problem here... with Freya and En > Ru with shortcut CapsLock or Left Alt+Left Shift

[Mohammad Alshehabi (moh-alshehabi)]

Same problem, I can't change between arabic/english by keyboard.

[assem (assemdido-gmail)]

Same problem, can't switch between two languages

[Vladimir Toncar (vladimir-n)]

Same problem here, I'm using Alt+Shift as the keys to change the layout. This has an impact on anyone who needs to use two languages.

It seems to have been reported under several aliases, for example here: https://answers.launchpad.net/elementaryos/+question/252941/

[Vladimir Toncar (vladimir-n)]

This seems to be a duplicate as well: https://bugs.launchpad.net/elementaryos/+bug/1356731

[Vladimir Toncar (vladimir-n)]

Yet another duplicate: https://bugs.launchpad.net/elementaryos/+bug/1272203

[Bogdan Lisnenko (lem8r)]

Same problem here

[Jonathan (s-launchppd-y)]

WORKAROUND.

This is just a very dirty workaround that I do not suggest you do. It will render "Geary" useless (but you can choose another app, your call):

1. Step 1:

[code]
echo (setxkbmap -query | grep -q "layout:\s\+us") && setxkbmap il || setxkbmap us > ~/geary
chmod +x ~/geary
sudo cp ~/geary /bin/geary
[/code]
this will override geary.

2. Step 2:
Go to system settings -> keyboard -> shortcuts -> applications.

Set keyboard shortcut for mail (super + shift), ALT-SHIFT doesn't work.

3. Step 3:
Collect underpants.

4. Step 4:
Profit!