Keyboard mapping with a Mac keyboard

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Mac OS X hosts.
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dietervds
Posts: 4
Joined: 12. Jul 2011, 20:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 10.04

Keyboard mapping with a Mac keyboard

Post by dietervds »

Hi guys,

I'm new to VirtualBox (starting today), but I've looked around at possible solutions for my problem and while there are a few related ones, I can't find a solution for this one.

That being said, here goes:
I'm running Max OS 10.6.8 and VirtualBox 4.0.4.
I have installed an Ubuntu 10.04 image to do development work on.

However, a lot of special keys, like @, #, {, }, [, ], etc. are not working within the Ubuntu instance as they should.
I selected the Belgian keyboard layout, and changed 'keyboard type' to Apple (and some variations), but I still the wrong layout. It seems to use the layout for a standard Belgian PC keyboard, not the Apple one.

In the future I would like to share this VM with other developers in the company. Since not all of them have a Mac, I'm hoping for a solution that doesn't dig to deep into the VM itself which would make sharing more difficult probably.
Does anyone have any idea's?

Thanks a lot in advance,
Cheers,

Dieter
Sasquatch
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Posts: 17798
Joined: 17. Mar 2008, 13:41
Primary OS: Debian other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows XP, Windows 7, Linux
Location: /dev/random

Re: Keyboard mapping with a Mac keyboard

Post by Sasquatch »

Your keyboard looks like noted here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2841? If so, then try a normal Belgian layout. Ubuntu should have an on-screen keyboard that you can bring up that shows you the layout of the selected keyboard. Else there is a text area where you can test the layout.
Read the Forum Posting Guide before opening a topic.
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Online User Manual: A must read if you want to know what we're talking about.
Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions
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See the Tutorials and FAQ section at the top of the Forum for more guides.
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dietervds
Posts: 4
Joined: 12. Jul 2011, 20:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 10.04

Re: Keyboard mapping with a Mac keyboard

Post by dietervds »

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, the keyboard that I use looks exactly like the Belgian one on the link you provided.
However, when I select Belgian in Ubuntu, and let it show the layout, it shows the layout of a Belgian PC keyboard, not my Belgian MAC keyboard.
Sasquatch
Volunteer
Posts: 17798
Joined: 17. Mar 2008, 13:41
Primary OS: Debian other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows XP, Windows 7, Linux
Location: /dev/random

Re: Keyboard mapping with a Mac keyboard

Post by Sasquatch »

Well, there's not much we can do. You have a Mac, you would have the same problem if you in stalled Linux on it without VB. Please ask in the forums of your distro, which would be http://ubuntuforums.org.
Read the Forum Posting Guide before opening a topic.
VirtualBox FAQ: Check this before asking questions.
Online User Manual: A must read if you want to know what we're talking about.
Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions
Howto: Use Shared Folders on Linux Guest
See the Tutorials and FAQ section at the top of the Forum for more guides.
Try searching the forums first with Google and add the site filter for this forum.
E.g. install guest additions site:forums.virtualbox.org

Retired from this Forum since OSSO introduction.
dietervds
Posts: 4
Joined: 12. Jul 2011, 20:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 10.04

Re: Keyboard mapping with a Mac keyboard

Post by dietervds »

Understood, will do.
Cheers!
dietervds
Posts: 4
Joined: 12. Jul 2011, 20:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 10.04

Re: Keyboard mapping with a Mac keyboard

Post by dietervds »

In case anyone else gets this problems and comes looking here: to get the Belgian keyboard for Mac, you apparently have to select 'France' as your layout.
No idea why, but it works here now :-)
davep
Posts: 2
Joined: 8. Jun 2011, 13:11
Primary OS: Mac OS X Leopard
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 11.04

Re: Keyboard mapping with a Mac keyboard

Post by davep »

Actually, on the latest Ubuntu (12.04 or 12.10) all I had to do was select "English (Mac) UK International" and it had my exact keyboard. There are a whole load of Mac variants listed, with a preview.
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