NAME

       kbd_mode - report or set the keyboard mode

SYNOPSIS

       kbd_mode [ -a | -u | -k | -s ] [ -f ] [ -C CONSOLE ]

DESCRIPTION

       Without  argument,  kbd_mode  prints  the current keyboard mode (RAW, MEDIUMRAW or XLATE).
       With argument, it sets the keyboard mode as indicated:

       -s: scancode mode (RAW),

       -k: keycode mode (MEDIUMRAW),

       -a: ASCII mode (XLATE),

       -u: UTF-8 mode (UNICODE).

       Of course the "-a" is only traditional, and the code used can be any 8-bit character  set.
       With  "-u"  a  16-bit  character  set  is expected, and these chars are transmitted to the
       kernel as 1, 2, or 3 bytes (following the UTF-8 coding).  In these latter  two  modes  the
       key mapping defined by loadkeys(1) is used.

       kbd_mode  operates  on  the  console  specified  by the "-C" option; if there is none, the
       console associated with stdin is used.

       Warning: changing the keyboard mode, other than between ASCII and Unicode,  will  probably
       make  your  keyboard unusable. Set the "-f" option to force such changes.  This command is
       only meant for use (say via remote login) when some program  left  your  keyboard  in  the
       wrong  state.   Note  that in some obsolete versions of this program the "-u" option was a
       synonym for "-s" and older versions of this program may not recognize the "-f" option.

SEE ALSO

       loadkeys(1)