Linux on Mac. keyboard issue..

[Tins]

Pretty simple, really. I have a distro of LinuxMint running on an old iMac. I use it for a couple of things, and Linux is the only modern OS it will run, and the only way to run a modern browser. I think Snow Leopard is the last macOS it will support.
OK, the issue is that certain symbols don't work, most notably and infuriatingly the "@" symbol won't type no matter what keystroke combinations I try. Does anyone know of a workaround? I don't want to waste money going down a new keyboard rabbit hole where the problem might continue.

[BradC]

Apple can do some funky things with keyboards. Do you have the hid_apple module loaded?


brad@bklaptop:~$ lsmod | grep hid_apple
hid_apple 20480 0
hid 221184 3 usbhid,hid_apple,hid_generic

[RANDLOVER]

I've had to copy and paste the @ symbol when I had a similar keyboard language issue.

[Tins]

I've had to copy and paste the @ symbol when I had a similar keyboard language issue.

Yes. It has occurred to me to copy it to a thumb drive. It's PITA but I guess I don't need the @ symbol often in this application. So, does Linux read APFS formatted drives or do I need to use FAT?

Hmm, one way to find out I guess.

[Tins]

Apple can do some funky things with keyboards. Do you have the hid_apple module loaded?


brad@bklaptop:~$ lsmod | grep hid_apple
hid_apple 20480 0
hid 221184 3 usbhid,hid_apple,hid_generic


Nope. I'll try that, but is that a command line for Linux or a Terminal line in Mac? I'm tipping the former, but the cancer drugs play some funky stuff of their own on my head.

[BradC]

Linux.

I suspect it'll be loaded because it's pretty much default on any modern linux distribution, but off the top of my head it was all I could think of.
Having a look at the possible module options, I don't see anything there for the "@" symbol. Lots of other tweaks for things like function keys however :


name: hid_apple
vermagic: 6.11.9-dirty SMP preempt mod_unload
parm: fnmode:Mode of fn key on Apple keyboards (0 = disabled, 1 = fkeyslast, 2 = fkeysfirst, [3] = auto) (uint)
parm: iso_layout:Swap the backtick/tilde and greater-than/less-than keys. ([-1] = auto, 0 = disabled, 1 = enabled) (int)
parm: swap_opt_cmd:Swap the Option ("Alt") and Command ("Flag") keys. (For people who want to keep Windows PC keyboard muscle memory. [0] = as-is, Mac layout. 1 = swapped, Windows layout., 2 = swapped, Swap only left side) (uint)
parm: swap_ctrl_cmd:Swap the Control ("Ctrl") and Command ("Flag") keys. (For people who are used to Mac shortcuts involving Command instead of Control. [0] = No change. 1 = Swapped.) (uint)
parm: swap_fn_leftctrl:Swap the Fn and left Control keys. (For people who want to keep PC keyboard muscle memory. [0] = as-is, Mac layout, 1 = swapped, PC layout) (uint)

[Tins]

Linux.

I suspect it'll be loaded because it's pretty much default on any modern linux distribution, but off the top of my head it was all I could think of.
Having a look at the possible module options, I don't see anything there for the "@" symbol. Lots of other tweaks for things like function keys however :


name: hid_apple
vermagic: 6.11.9-dirty SMP preempt mod_unload
parm: fnmode:Mode of fn key on Apple keyboards (0 = disabled, 1 = fkeyslast, 2 = fkeysfirst, [3] = auto) (uint)
parm: iso_layout:Swap the backtick/tilde and greater-than/less-than keys. ([-1] = auto, 0 = disabled, 1 = enabled) (int)
parm: swap_opt_cmd:Swap the Option ("Alt") and Command ("Flag") keys. (For people who want to keep Windows PC keyboard muscle memory. [0] = as-is, Mac layout. 1 = swapped, Windows layout., 2 = swapped, Swap only left side) (uint)
parm: swap_ctrl_cmd:Swap the Control ("Ctrl") and Command ("Flag") keys. (For people who are used to Mac shortcuts involving Command instead of Control. [0] = No change. 1 = Swapped.) (uint)
parm: swap_fn_leftctrl:Swap the Fn and left Control keys. (For people who want to keep PC keyboard muscle memory. [0] = as-is, Mac layout, 1 = swapped, PC layout) (uint)



When I relocate the Mac to my little hobby room I'm setting up to while away the days of treatment I'll have a look. It's a recent Mint distro. Not sure if it's the best for my needs.

[BradC]

How to check what parameters are set :


brad@bklaptop:~$ grep . /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/*
/sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode:3
/sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/iso_layout:-1
/sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/swap_ctrl_cmd:0
/sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/swap_fn_leftctrl:0
/sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/swap_opt_cmd:0

[p38arover]

Apple does some odd things with symbols on internet fora. As an Admin, I often have edit posts obviously made from a Mac because it uses its own version of punctuation symbols.

[JDNSW]

Easier than having it on a thumb drive is to use the Character Mmap application that I suspect comes with all variants of LinuxMint. I use this regularly for the ° symbol. If the same as mine it is on the first page of the first font (Common) in the character map application.

[Tins]

Thanks, folks. Funny how I have learned more in a short time on a Land Rover forum than I did on YT.

[V8Ian]

Why not simply type 'at'?

[BradC]

Thanks, folks. Funny how I have learned more in a short time on a Land Rover forum than I did on YT.

Hardly surprising. We're trained to solve problems.

[p38arover]

Easier than having it on a thumb drive is to use the Character Mmap application that I suspect comes with all variants of LinuxMint. I use this regularly for the ° symbol. If the same as mine it is on the first page of the first font (Common) in the character map application.

Hmm, I’ll try that on my Mint install.

[incisor]

Modern Mac keyboard has a different mapping to older mac keyboards

Is there more than one Mac keyboard mapping available in linux distribution you are using?

[Tins]

Modern Mac keyboard has a different mapping to older mac keyboards

Is there more than one Mac keyboard mapping available in linux distribution you are using?

I'm using older Mac keyboards as they just keep working. I will check the mapping.