keyboard layout is ignored while composing Ctrl-modified keys

[selkovjr]

Binary package hint: python-vte

This bug emerged after upgrading to Intrepid. I did not see it in Hardy.

It manifests itself as incorrect Ctrl-key combinations sent to the shell in TerminalScreenlet.py

For example, when I press Ctrl-K on my Dvorak keyboard, the shell receives Ctrl-V.

Reporoducing the bug: run the terminal screenlet with non-US keyboard layout and examine the Ctrl-modified keys where the layouts differ. The composed key seen by the client will match the US layout.

Other python-vte apps may show the same bug, but I don't know of any, so cannot verify. I do not know if it is a vte or python-vte bug either, so I'm reporting it for python-vte because that's where it shows.

python-vte 1:0.17.4-0ubuntu1
xorg 1:7.4~5ubuntu3
xserver-xorg-core 2:1.5.2-2ubuntu3

[Screenlet Package]
Name=TerminalScreenlet
Author=spdf
Desc=A Terminal Screenlet
Version=0.1.10
ApiVersion=0.1.2
Created=2008/07/02

Terminal screenlet is not part of the screenlets package; I think I got it from gnome-look:
    http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Terminal+Screenlet?content=74844

[Sayamindu Dasgupta (sayamindu)]

We have been seeing this on OLPC's Fedora based builds. I have reported this at http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=589557 with a possible patch.

[Pedro Villavicencio (pedro)]

Thanks for sent it upstream.

[MilkaJinka (milkajinka)]

Looks like a duplicate of bug #204202

[MilkaJinka (milkajinka)]

See also bug #204202

[Suraj N. Kurapati (sunaku)]

I applied the upstream patch to vte-0.25.91 and it solved the problem! I have also notified upstream about this, asking them to incorporate the patch so we can close this bug once and for all.

[Suraj N. Kurapati (sunaku)]

This is how I tested the patch:

# get the source code
sudo apt-get build-dep vte
apt-get source vte
cd vte-*/

# apply the upstream patch
wget "https://bugzilla.gnome.org/attachment.cgi?id=139124" -O- | patch -p1

# rebuild the package
fakeroot debian/rules binary
cd ..

# install the new package
sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Now close all instances of gnome-terminal.
Open a brand new gnome-terminal instance.
Observe that the problem is solved!

Cheers.

[Suraj N. Kurapati (sunaku)]

A workaround for this entire problem is to NOT set up multiple layouts in GNOME's keyboard preferences dialog. Instead, use the setxkbmap command to manually switch between your desired keyboard layouts. For example:

setxkbmap dvorak # switch to Dvorak
setxkbmap us # switch to QWERTY

The downside is that you no longer get the nice GUI keyboard layout switcher in the notification area (system tray), but the upside is that your desired keyboard layout functions correctly in all applications, including gnome-terminal and compiz.

Hope this helps.

[selkovjr (selkovjr-observercentral)]

Hi Suraj,

Thank you for fixing this, and for the workaround, too.

Regards,

--Gene