---
name: "keyboard_translatekeys"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libsvga1-dev"
version: "1:1.4.3-33"
release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/keyboard_translatekeys"
---

# keyboard\_translatekeys(3)

modify scancode mappings in raw keyboard mode

## NAME

keyboard\_translatekeys - modify scancode mappings in raw keyboard mode

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<vgakeyboard.h\>**

**void keyboard\_translatekeys(int** *mask***);**

## DESCRIPTION

This function sets several flags which control how certain scancodes are mapped. At startup a *mask* value of 0 is active.

*mask* must be a logical or of zero or more of the following **#predefined** integers to turn the features listed on:

- **TRANSLATE\_CURSORKEYS**

  Translate the scancodes of the **SCANCODE\_CURSORBLOCK\*** keys to those of the cursor keys on the number pad, s.t. [**keyboard\_getstate**(3)](/keyboard_getstate/3.md) and [**keyboard\_keypressed**(3)](/keyboard_keypressed/3.md) report a keypress of the corresponding number pad cursor key and not the one on the cursor block.

- **TRANSLATE\_DIAGONAL**

  Translates the scancodes of diagonal cursor keys (keypad 7, 9, 1, 3) to presses of two of the ordinary up, down, left, right keys. For example, instead of reporting a press of **SCANCODE\_CURSORUPRIGHT** [**keyboard\_getstate**(3)](/keyboard_getstate/3.md) and [**keyboard\_keypressed**(3)](/keyboard_keypressed/3.md) report a simultaneous press of **SCANCODE\_CURSORUP** and **SCANCODE\_CURSORRIGHT**.

- **TRANSLATE\_KEYPADENTER**

  The scancode of the keypad enter key is mapped to that of the ordinary enter key, s.t. [**keyboard\_getstate**(3)](/keyboard_getstate/3.md) and [**keyboard\_keypressed**(3)](/keyboard_keypressed/3.md) report a press of **SCANCODE\_ENTER** regardless if keypad enter or ordinary enter is pressed.

- **DONT\_CATCH\_CTRLC**

  Pressing **\<Ctrl\>-C** does **not** raise a **SIGINT**. On contrary to the other flags this has also effect when a user defined keyboard event handler is used. Svgalib will **always** process **\<Alt\>-F1** - **\<Alt\>-F10** and perform console switches accordingly.

## BUGS

The **TRANSLATE\_\*** options above do really do simple scancode translations. For example, when **TRANSLATE\_KEYPADENTER** is active and the user presses both enter and keypad enter. Then, if he releases one of them (say keypad enter), it's release event will clear the common keyboard state, s.t. no keypress is reported even though enter is still pressed.

Similarly, if **TRANSLATE\_DIAGONAL** is active, the user holds cursor upleft (keypad 7) down and then presses and release cursor up (keypad 8), svgalib will only report a pressed cursor left but the simulated cursor up will be lost. You can easily try this with the **keytest**(6) demo to make the effect more clear to you.

## SEE ALSO

[**svgalib**(7)](/svgalib/7.md), [**vgagl**(7)](/vgagl/7.md), [**libvga.config**(5)](/libvga.config/5.md), **keytest**(6), **eventtest**(6), [**keyboard\_seteventhandler**(3)](/keyboard_seteventhandler/3.md), [**keyboard\_init**(3)](/keyboard_init/3.md), [**keyboard\_init\_return\_fd**(3)](/keyboard_init_return_fd/3.md), [**keyboard\_close**(3)](/keyboard_close/3.md), [**keyboard\_update**(3)](/keyboard_update/3.md), [**keyboard\_waitforupdate**(3)](/keyboard_waitforupdate/3.md), [**keyboard\_setdefaulteventhandler**(3)](/keyboard_setdefaulteventhandler/3.md), [**keyboard\_getstate**(3)](/keyboard_getstate/3.md), [**keyboard\_clearstate**(3)](/keyboard_clearstate/3.md), [**keyboard\_keypressed**(3)](/keyboard_keypressed/3.md), [**vga\_waitevent**(3)](/vga_waitevent/3.md)

## AUTHOR

This manual page was edited by Michael Weller \<eowmob@exp-math.uni-essen.de\>. The exact source of the referenced function as well as of the original documentation is unknown.

It is very likely that both are at least to some extent are due to Harm Hanemaayer \<H.Hanemaayer@inter.nl.net\>.

Occasionally this might be wrong. I hereby asked to be excused by the original author and will happily accept any additions or corrections to this first version of the svgalib manual.