Hello All,

My config is as follows:
Debian 4.0 Etch
Desktop Environment: KDE
Active layouts (Configure>KDE Control Module): U.S. English (default) and Russia

I need to be able to do just one simple thing: switch between (i.e, back and forth) English and Russian keyboard layouts by a keyboard combination Ctrl+Shift

That's it. Seems like very simple.

I presume the switching between layouts is controlled by the Xkb applet.
I spent a whole week playing with Xkb options and trying to see if one of them would work. No luck so far.

I have also found that this shortcut (found among KDE's so-called Global Shortcuts) - Ctrl+Alt+K - seems to be able to switch like this: US > RU. But I cannot switch back from RU to US by pressing Ctrl+Alt+K again - seems like it works just one way. Currently I have to use the mouse to switch back RU > US, which is a real PITA for a touch-typing person.

If anybody has experienced this, please share your thoughts - much appreciated!

you could check the kde control panel after switching to RU, maybe the shortcut changes on a russian keyboard layout?

other idea: Where do you find the latin "K" on the russian keyboard? I don't think it is the same (physical) key as it is in the US layout, so you have to press
CTRL+Alt+<your new K location> to switch back.

third proposal: change the global shortcut ctrl+alt+k to something unambigous in both layouts, such as ctrl+alt+ArrowUp or something like that. Then you should be able to switch forth and back with the same key.

(my switching between US and DE works using ctrl+alt+K in both directions, that's where my first two ideas come from.)

HTH,
Florian

Sounds totally logical, please let us know what works.

where exactly should I be looking? Under "Keyboard Layout" or "Keyboard Shortcuts"?
nope, doesn't work
that's it. I assigned Cltrl+Alt_ArrowUp and it worked.
Thank you so much, you're a savior

That still leaves me wondering about the ways it works. Btw, I took the liberty of writing a message to the maintainer, hope he will be able to clarify the issue.

Thanks again, and have a great day!

Thanks for posting your answer.

And please post back if you get a response from the maintainer.