---
name: "mk_modmap"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "kbd"
version: "2.10.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mk_modmap/8"
---

# mk\_modmap(8)

translate a Linux keytable file into an xmodmap file

## NAME

mk\_modmap - translate a Linux keytable file into an xmodmap file

## SYNOPSIS

**mk\_modmap** \[ **-v** \] keymap\_file

## DESCRIPTION

The **mk\_modmap** command tries to translate a Linux console keytable file into a file that can be parsed by xmodmap, and used within X. It outputs the results to standard out.

If the **-v** flag is used, verbose output is given.

It requires the X header files to be installed. (In Debian, these are in the "xlibs-dev" package).

## NOTES

Since XFree version 2.1, X initialises its keymap using the Linux keymap, so xmodmap will often be superfluous.

## AUTHORS

Kjetil T. Homme \<kjetilho@ifi.uio.no\>\
 Pablo Saratxaga \<pablo@mandrakesoft.com\>\
 Manpage by Alastair McKinstry, \<mckinstry@computer.org\>

## SEE ALSO

[**dumpkeys**(1)](/dumpkeys/1.md), [**keymaps**(5)](/keymaps/5.md), [**xmodmap**(1)](/xmodmap/1.md)