Where can I see the full key-to-character mapping for a language-specific keyboard?
Question
I'd like to know which character is output from which key, including with modifiers like ⌥ ⌘ ⇧ ⌃, including the character and its Unicode number.
Only the primary characters appear on my physical keyboard, but some less-known ones are produced with the modifiers.
This can actually be seen under System Preferences->Keyboard->Input Sources; Select language and then press modifier keys. However, I cannot screenshot the image of the keyboard with a modifier because the screenshot key-combination overrides the modifier key; and in any case this is a tiny image of the keyboard, whereas I would like a precise listing in text form.
Is this in a configuration file somewhere on my Macbook (2017 15 inch; OS 10.15.7), or can I output it with a certain command?
[Edit]: In addition to the answer below, using Ukelele, note this code which processes Ukelele output into a searcable document.
Solution
The Ukelele app suggested in this answer can give you a printout of the keyboard layout for every combination of modifier keys in the form of keyboard diagrams (not a list unfortunately). The resulting diagram looks like this:
Follow below steps to get a diagram:
- Install and open Ukelele, you're greeted by the main window:
- Open System Preferences → Keyboard → Input Sources and select the input source for which you want an overview. Alternatively select it in the menubar:
- In Ukelele go to File → New From Current Input Source, this creates a copy of the keyboard layout:
- Double click on it to open the keyboard layout in the main window.
- Press the Print button in the top right corner:
- Actually print the overview or save it as a PDF (through the PDF dropdown in the lower middle of the print dialog).
- Repeat step 2 to 6 for any other input sources you need.
OTHER TIPS
Use Keyboard Viewer instead of the preferences pane.
Use the Screenshot app found in Applications/Utilities to create shots of the different modifier levels.
I don't know of any easy way to get the Unicode numbers. Perhaps the Ukelele app, which can make a copy of the current input source for analysis.
This site provides a key-to-character mapping for the default US keyboard in Mac OSX.