Diagrams of location of the APL characters on the keyboard can be found at http://dfns.dyalog.com/n_keyboards.htm.
[Edited by Jason/Andy...]
[2016-12-06]
Both the /usr/bin/dyalog and $DYALOG/mapl scripts for 14.0 onwards now accept the "-kbd" paramter. This calls $DYALOG/aplkeys.sh which should allow you to input APL characters. $DYALOG/aplkeys.sh needs to be called only once in each desktop instance, once X has started. This applies to RIDE clients running on Linux too.
Ubuntu 13.10
Ubuntu have once again changed their keyboard management. We are still (as of 2013-12-20) working on full support, but for now, here is a workaround:
Create a script, called aplkeys.sh, to contain the following code:
Code: Select all
#!/bin/bash
if [ "$DISPLAY" >> /dev/null ]
then
## We are running Xorg
if ! [ `setxkbmap -query | awk '/layout/ {print $2}' | grep "apl"` ]
then
## We have no APL layout - so lets set one up - we're going to use the Windows Key.
## Setup keyboard map
XKBRULES=`setxkbmap -query | awk '/rules/ {print $2}'` 2>/dev/null
XKBMODEL=`setxkbmap -query | awk '/model/ {print $2}'` 2>/dev/null
XKBLAYOUT=`setxkbmap -query | awk '/layout/ {print $2}'` 2>/dev/null
XKBVARIANT=`setxkbmap -query | awk '/variant/ {print $2}'` 2>/dev/null
XKBOPTIONS=`setxkbmap -query | awk '/options/ {print $2}'` 2>/dev/null
setxkbmap -rules ${XKBRULES} -model ${XKBMODEL} -layout "${XKBLAYOUT},apl" \
-variant "${XKBVARIANT},dyalog" \
-option "${XKBOPTIONS},grp:win_switch" 2>/dev/null
fi
fiThis script needs to be run each time you log on to Ubuntu (not each time you open a terminal window).
The script assumes that you have only one language (other than APL) installed. Note that in non-US environments the US keyboard may still be defined: in which case, replace -layout "${XKBLAYOUT},apl" with -layout "uk,apl" (replace uk with your language).
Ubuntu 12.04-13.04, Fedora 17 onwards, openSUSE 12.2 onwards & LinuxMint 15 you already have the keyboard installed
There is perhaps other distributions that include this too, however currently they are currently unconfirmed.
- KDE - In KDE you can choose the language "APL" with the 'dyalog' Variant and select your "Shortcut for Switching layout" in the input settings → Keyboard
- Gnome3/Unity - In Gnome3 or Unity by default you won't be able to see the "APL" Language, this is due to a feature in Gnome-Control-Center.
Running the following command will allow Gnome-Control-Center → Keyboard layout show the "APL" language:
gsettings set org.gnome.libgnomekbd.desktop load-extra-items true
Once you've run this from a command line you will be able to add the "APL" language (dyalog variant) to your keyboard settings, after which you should click "Options" and select "Key(s) to change layout" selecting a "While Pressed" key. Note that you can search for "dyalog" in the list of keyboard layouts.
Ubuntu 11.x
Follow the instructions for Ubuntu 10.04. However, both Unity and Gnome3 reserve the Windows keys for their own purposes, and it's not clear how you might reassign them. It will therefore be necessary to associate a different metakey with the mode swap to APL .. either one of the Control keys or the Alt key seems best ..
Ubuntu 10.04
Use
sudo dpkg --install dyalog-keyboards.debto install the keyboard support.
Then for each user select System->Preferences->Keyboard->Layouts->Options:
Select Dyalog APL symbols in group 2 in the Dyalog APL options section.
Select your preferred key to get the APL characters in the Key(s) to change layout section.
Dyalog recommends either Any Win key (while pressed) or Left Win (while pressed)
You may need to Reset to Defaults and try again if you find that this process results in you getting APL characters when you're expecting normal characters; the normal characters can be obtained by holding down the key which you have chosen to use to get APL characters. Don't forget this if your screen lock kicks in !
Centos5/RHEL5
Use
sudo rpm -Uvh dyalog-keyboards.rpmto install the keyboard support.
Then for each user select System->Preferences->Keyboard->
Layouts:
Add APL to the list of layouts, ensuring that it is the second in the list
Layout Options-> Group Shift/Lock Behaviour:
Select your preferred key to get the APL characters in the Key(s) to change layout section.
Dyalog recommends either Any Win key (while pressed) or Left Win (while pressed)
openSUSE 11.3 with KDE4.4
It appears that the default settings for terminal windows grab the Windows key for the terminal's own purposes, so you cannot get some APL characters, and cannot use the edit/trace commands associated with the Enter key. This will be updated in due course.