dead key settings don't persist from session to session

[Liam Zwitser]

I have been trying to get the usa international with dead keys keyboard layout to work, do I can create an accented e with ' + e, for example, and an umlaut with shift + ' + u . Selecting this layout in keyboard preferences however only works until I restarted the x-server / my computer, and for some reason, doesn't work at all anymore now. this is my current xorg.conf keyboard section:

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
Option "XkbVariant" "intl"
EndSection

Now how can I set it so that dead keys work as described above, and why doesn't gnome-keyboard-properties work? I think it has something to do with permissions, because the program doesn't ask for your password, and /etc/X11/xorg.conf requires root permissions to save any changes in it. Also, when I log in as root, by typing "startx" from a root terminal, and I select the keyboard layout (graphically), the program works fine. (until I restart the xserver / reboot the computer, then the dead keys don't work anymore, just like before)

[Joop (jpvm)]

It is also not possible to choose the standard keyboard layout in gnome-keyboard-properties!

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Please attach your /var/log/Xorg.0.log, the output from `setxkbmap -print` and the output of `xkbcomp :0 -`

[Joop (jpvm)]

 setxkbmap -print
xkb_keymap {
 xkb_keycodes { include "xfree86+aliases(qwerty)" };
 xkb_types { include "complete" };
 xkb_compat { include "complete" };
 xkb_symbols { include "pc+us(intl)+inet(btc9000a)+level3(ralt_switch_for_alts_toggle)+group(alts_toggle)" };
 xkb_geometry { include "pc(pc104)" };
};
xkbcomp: 0-
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ KP_Multiply, XF86_ClearGrab ]
    };
    key <LALT> {
        type= "PC_RALT_LEVEL2",
        symbols[Group1]= [ Alt_L, ISO_Prev_Group ]
    };
    key <SPCE> { [ space ] };
    key <CAPS> { [ Caps_Lock ] };
    key <FK01> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ F1, XF86_Switch_VT_1 ]
    };
    key <FK02> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ F2, XF86_Switch_VT_2 ]
    };
    key <FK03> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ F3, XF86_Switch_VT_3 ]
    };
    key <FK04> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ F4, XF86_Switch_VT_4 ]
    };
    key <FK05> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ F5, XF86_Switch_VT_5 ]
    };
    key <FK06> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ F6, XF86_Switch_VT_6 ]
    };
    key <FK07> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ F7, XF86_Switch_VT_7 ]
    };
    key <FK08> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ F8, XF86_Switch_VT_8 ]
    };
    key <FK09> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ F9, XF86_Switch_VT_9 ]
    };
    key <FK10> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ F10, XF86_Switch_VT_10 ]
    };
    key <NMLK> { [ Num_Lock, Pointer_EnableKeys ] };
    key <SCLK> { [ Scroll_Lock ] };
    key <KP7> { [ KP_Home, KP_7 ] };
    key <KP8> { [ KP_Up, KP_8 ] };
    key <KP9> { [ KP_Prior, KP_9 ] };
    key <KPSU> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ KP_Subtract, XF86_Prev_VMode ]
    };
    key <KP4> { [ KP_Left, KP_4 ] };
    key <KP5> { [ KP_Begin, KP_5 ] };
    key <KP6> { [ KP_Right, KP_6 ] };
    key <KPAD> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ KP_Add, XF86_Next_VMode ]
    };
    key <KP1> { [ KP_End, KP_1 ] };
    key <KP2> { [ KP_Down, KP_2 ] };
    key <KP3> { [ KP_Next, KP_3 ] };
    key <KP0> { [ KP_Insert, KP_0 ] };
    key <KPDL> { [ KP_Delete, KP_Decimal ] };
    key <MDSW> { [ Mode_switch ] };
    key <LSGT> {
        type= "FOUR_LEVEL",
        symbols[Group1]= [ less, greater, bar, brokenbar ]
    };
    key <FK11> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1]= [ F11, XF86_Switch_VT_11 ]
    };
    key <FK12> {
        type= "CTRL+ALT",
        symbols[Group1...

[rofl (rofl)]

Try to edit the keyboard setting through gconf-editor, described in this bug report: #297999.
Don't forget to reset your xorg.conf.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

In theory those xorg.conf settings should no longer be required - what happens if you boot X with no xorg.conf, or with those lines removed from xorg.conf?

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

We're closing this bug since it is has been some time with no response from the original reporter. However, if the issue still exists please feel free to reopen with the requested information. Also, if you could, please test against the latest development version of Ubuntu, since this confirms the bug is one we may be able to pass upstream for help.