---
name: "xkbprint"
section: "1x"
platform: "linux"
package: "xbase-clients"
version: "4.3.0.dfsg.1-14sarge7"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xkbprint/1x"
---

# xkbprint(1x)

print an XKB keyboard description

## NAME

xkbprint - print an XKB keyboard description

## SYNOPSIS

**xkbprint** \[*option* ...\] *source* \[*output\_file*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **xkbprint** command generates a printable or encapsulated PostScript description of the XKB keyboard description specifed by *source*. *source* can be an X display specification or any compiled keymap (*.xkm*) file that includes a geometry description If *output\_file* is specified, **xkbprint** writes to it. If no output file is specified, xkbprint creates a file of the name name as *source*, replacing the extension of the source file with *.ps* or *.eps* depending on the requested format. If *source* is a non-local X display (e.g., **:0**), **xkbprint** appends the appropriate prefix to the display specification, replacing the colon with a dash. For a local display, **xkbprint** uses server-*n*, where *n* is the server number of the display.

## OPTIONS

- **-?, -help**

  Print a usage message and exit.

- **-color**

  Print using the colors specified in the geometry file; by default, **xkbprint** prints a black-and-white image of the keyboard.

- **-d**

  Report debugging information. This option is only available if debugging support was compiled into **xkbprint**.

- **-dflts**

  Attempt to compute default names for any missing components, such as keys.

- **-diffs**

  Show symbols only where they are explicitly bound.

- **-eps**

  Generate an encapsulated PostScript file.

- **-fit**

  Fit the keyboard image on the page (default).

- **-full**

  Print the keyboard at full size.

- **-grid** *res*

  Print a grid over the keyboard with lines *res* millimeters apart.

- **-I***directory*

  Use the specified directory (an absolute path) for include directives. This option may be specified multiple times, and is only available if debugging support was compiled into **xkbprint**.

- **-if** *fontName*

  Dump the specified font as an internal PostScript Type 1 font to the specified output file, or to fontName*.pfa* if no output file is specified. No keyboard description is printed if an internal font is dumped.

- **-kc**

  Print keycodes, if possible.

- **-label** *type*

  Print labels on the keys of the specified type; **none**, **name**, **code**, and **symbols** are accepted.

- **-lc** *locale*

  Resolve keysyms in the specified locale.

- **-level1**

  Generate level 1 PostScript.

- **-level2**

  Generate level 2 PostScript.

- **-lg** *group*

  Print symbols in keyboard groups starting from *group*.

- **-ll** *level*

  Print symbols starting from the specified shift level.

- **-mono**

  Generate black-and-white image of keyboard (default).

- **-n** *num*

  Print *num* copies.

- **-nkg** *num*

  Print the symbols in *num* keyboard groups.

- **-nokc**

  Do not print keycodes, even if it is possible.

- **-npk** *num*

  Print *num* keyboard images on each page; for EPS files, this specifies the total number of keyboard images to print.

- **-ntg** *num*

  Print no more than *num* total groups.

- **-o** *file*

  Write output to *file*.

- **-R***directory*

  Use *directory* as the root directory; all path names are interpreted relative to *directory*.

- **-pict** *which*

  Use pictographs (where available) instead of keysym names according to the specified policy. *which* can be any of *all*, *none*, or *common* (default).

- **-synch**

  Force synchronization of X requests.

- **-w** *level*

  Set warning level to specified value (0 for no warning, 10 for all warnings).

## SEE ALSO

[**X**(7x)](/X/7x.md), [**setxkbmap**(1x)](/setxkbmap/1x.md), [**xkbbell**(1x)](/xkbbell/1x.md), [**xkbcomp**(1x)](/xkbcomp/1x.md), [**xkbevd**(1x)](/xkbevd/1x.md), [**xkbvleds**(1x)](/xkbvleds/1x.md), [**xkbwatch**(1x)](/xkbwatch/1x.md)

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright 1995, Silicon Graphics Computer Systems\
 Copyright 1995, 1998 The Open Group\
 See [**X**(7x)](/X/7x.md) for a full statement of rights and permissions.

## AUTHOR

Erik Fortune, Silicon Graphics