Not possible to switch keyboard layout through gnome-shell

[Jens Georg]

I have de + sv configured, both in nodeadkeys variant. On 3.12 it was possible to switch the keyboard layout using Super-Shift or the menu on top-right. Not this doesn't work anzmore.

A similar issue is also reported upstream: https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=739157

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.10
Package: gnome-shell 3.14.1-0ubuntu1~utopic3 [origin: LP-PPA-gnome3-team-gnome3-staging]
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-23.31-generic 3.16.4
Uname: Linux 3.16.0-23-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.7-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: GNOME
Date: Sun Oct 26 11:41:45 2014
DisplayManager: gdm
GsettingsChanges:
 b'org.gnome.shell.calendar' b'show-weekdate' b'true'
 b'org.gnome.desktop.interface' b'menus-have-icons' b'true'
 b'org.gnome.desktop.interface' b'gtk-im-module' b"'gtk-im-context-simple'"
 b'org.gnome.desktop.interface' b'monospace-font-name' b"'Monospace 11'"
 b'org.gnome.desktop.interface' b'clock-show-date' b'true'
InstallationDate: Installed on 2010-07-01 (1577 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release amd64 (20100427.1)
SourcePackage: gnome-shell
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to utopic on 2014-10-25 (0 days ago)

[arturtr (arturtr)]

I have the same problem after upgrade to GNOME 3.14 via staging ppa

[arturtr (arturtr)]

Found this answer for problem http://askubuntu.com/a/544194/76685

[Jens Georg (yg-jensge)]

I do have ibus-m17n installed and it does not help.

[Behrooz Nobakht (nobeh)]

Same here. Having `ibus-m17n` does not resolve the issue.

[Dima (hummerd)]

Jens and Behrooz, have you installed m17n languages, after installing ibus-m17n. I mean in layout settings you have to add your native language with suffix (kbd (m17n)). For me it was "Russian (kbd (m17n))".

[Behrooz Nobakht (nobeh)]

@Dima, thanks for the hint. Here is how it resulted on my installation Ubuntu 14.10 + GNOME Shell 3.14:

* sudo apt-get install ibus-m17n
* Go to GNOME Settings > Region & Languages (Input Sources)
* Add Persian (isiri (m17n))
* Use Super + / as the source changer

The observations:

* All GNOME applications (e.g. gedit) work as expected with the new input source, however, the layout is different
* All non-GNOME applications (e.g. Firefox) still have the same issue

[Jens Georg (yg-jensge)]

And on top of that that's for languages that have complex scripts. I just want to switch between two latin keyboard layouts. (de+sv)

[aurelijusr (aurelijus-rozenas)]

Same here: Ubuntu 14.10, Gnome Shell 3.14 (via staging ppa)
Have two languages: english and lithuanian. Installing ibus-m17n did not change anything because there is no additional layout for lithuanian.
Tried adding russian language as Dima suggested - does not work.
Login screen - does not work.
Downgraded to 3.12 version with ppa-purge - _works_ as it should. Updated again to 3.14 - does not work.
Changed shortcut keys - does not matter, does not work.

Another interesting thing: if I keep pressing my change layout button (scroll lock) and keep pressing symbols on keyboard sometimes I get symbol from other layout.

[Jens Georg (yg-jensge)]

So, I checked with

a) a new user on the ubuntu system
b) FC21 beta live cd

a) doesn't work
b) works fine.

So it looks like it's an ubuntu issue at least for my simple xkb switching

@infro: You removed everything from gnome ppas and went back to stock 14.10?

[Jens Georg (yg-jensge)]

Issue seems in gnome-settings-daemon. Replacing libkeyboard.so with the one from Fedora makes it work again.

[Jens Georg (yg-jensge)]

Looking at the applied patches, I'd suspect the fix for https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-settings-daemon/+bug/1318673 causing this

[Jens Georg (yg-jensge)]

Confirmed. Building gnome-settings-daemon without ubuntu-force-lock-group.patch makes switching working again.

[Behrooz Nobakht (nobeh)]

@Jens, thanks for the attachment. When do you think we can expect to get it from downstream repo?

[Dmitry Golovin (cyb3r)]

This suggested package suggests to remove gnome-shell and gdm. Needs update.

[Dmitry Golovin (cyb3r)]

Sorry, if I install it with dpkg, everything is okay, but ubuntu-software-center asks to uninstall half of the system to install this package.

[Jan Mynarik (jan-mynarik)]

Don't do it if it uninstalls all those packages. It didn't want me to do that although I don't user ubuntu-software-center but command-line tools 'aptitude'.
This package by @Jens was probably create more as a proof of possible solution then a permanent one. On the plus side it helped him and it helped me. We all be happy when an official fix version of such package will come from developers.

[Michael Milligan (milli)]

I confirm the above deb in comment #14 fixes the issue for me.

[gregory bahde (nystal-deactivatedaccount)]

Hello there, well it seems like it is not fixing for every one:

trying to install with dpkg or ubuntu software I have 2 unmet dependencies: "libupower-glib3 (>= 0.99.0) but it is not installable"
and "libgeocode-glib0"

So english kb for me still :[

[gregory bahde (nystal-deactivatedaccount)]

needless to say I tried to DL the libupower-glib3 package but it lead me nowhere as I had to apt-get -f install to fix my VM afterwards

[gregory bahde (nystal-deactivatedaccount)]

Work around for me is to use "setxkbmap -option grp:alt_shift_toggle us,fr" to toggle to french from terminal for those in pain.

[Jan Mynarik (jan-mynarik)]

It is fixed with new version 3.14.2-0ubuntu1~utopic1 of gnome-settings-daemon.

[Dmitry Golovin (cyb3r)]

Still not fixed for me. Only switches layout for the first time, then it is not possible to switch it back (only indicator changes, not actual keyboard layout). Maybe I should delete some old config files?

[Behrooz Nobakht (nobeh)]

The latest update of `gnome-settings-daemon` from the upstream ppa:gnome3-team/gnome-staging fixed the issue for me.

[aurelijusr (aurelijus-rozenas)]

Tried Jens solution - not fixed, only switches layout for the first. Latest update also did not fix the issue.
@Jens went back to stock just try if switching works - worked. Upgraded again to 3.14 - does not work.

[Bruce Pieterse (octoquad)]

I have tested this particular problem with 14.10 + main ppa + staging ppa.

1. Added new input methods: de (no dead keys) and sv
2. Able to switch using ctrl+space (custom mapping - virtualbox)
3. Logged out.
4. New input methods missing from login screen (not sure if this is normal or not - pending confirmation)
5. Last know input method is active (sv)
6. Input for gnome apps using sv works and de works
7. Switching back to en works with custom mapping
8. Input for non-gnome apps using sv and de works
9. Switching back to en works with custom mapping

ibus-m17n not installed.

Stock 14.10

1. Added new input methods: de (no dead keys) and sv
2. Able to switch using ctrl+space
3. Logged out
4. New input methods missing from login screen (might be normal - pending confirmation)
5. Last know input method is active (sv)
6. Input for gnome apps using sv works and de works
7. Switching back to en works with custom mapping
8. Input for non-gnome apps using sv and de works
9. Switching back to en works with custom mapping

ibus-m17n not installed.

gnome-settings-daemon:
  Installed: 3.14.2-0ubuntu1~utopic1
  Candidate: 3.14.2-0ubuntu1~utopic1
  Version table:
 *** 3.14.2-0ubuntu1~utopic1 0
        500 http://ppa.launchpad.net/gnome3-team/gnome3-staging/ubuntu/ utopic/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     3.12.2-1ubuntu2 0
        500 http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ utopic/main amd64 Packages

Please try updating all packages (sudo apt-get update and sudo apt-get dist-upgrade) and try again.

Thanks

[aurelijusr (aurelijus-rozenas)]

So after last dist-upgrade swithing is kind of working. The first time I usually need to press shortcut multiple times (completely unpreditable), then it start to work correctly. If I go to input data to another window, I have to press multiple times again.
What else can I do (either to resolve this or to provide more information)?

[Bruce Pieterse (octoquad)]

Infro, please can you provide me with the shortcut key that you are using. Maybe you are now experiencing this problem: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-settings-daemon/+bug/1218322 can you confirm?

[Usama Akkad (uakkad-deactivatedaccount)]

I've tried many shortcuts but none works to switch layout. When I click on language symbol in system top corner it changes the language but the symbol does not change.

What informations do you require to complete this bug report?
I'm using updated gnome from PPA. gnome3-team/gnome3 and gnome3-team/gnome3-staging

I was using unity but I installed gnome shell on top of it.

[Bruce Pieterse (octoquad)]

Hi all,

Just checking in to see if you are still experiencing this problem with either 15.04 or the upcoming 15.10 release. Can anybody confirm that this problem still exists? Utopic is now end of life as well.

[Waqar Ahmed (waqar-17a)]

All is well in 14.04.3 release.

[Waqar Ahmed (waqar-17a)]

I have checked in 15.04. It's working fine there, too.