[Bug Report] [BliKVM v4] [1.4.7-alpha] Special characters are not sent (FR AZERTY keyboard)

[Yeocti]

When using a french keyboard (AZERTY) special character such as @ or # are not sent.
On french keyboards Alt-Gr is used to send those special characters.

An alternative is to use Left Ctlr+Left Alt instead of Alt Gr however it doesn't work either.
Using virtual keyboard does not help.

This issue was probably introduced in matrix release and was not present before.

BliKVM v4 running 1.4.7 alpha.
Using Firefox 130.0.1 on Windows 10 to access BliKVM GUI.
Controlled machine is running Linux with fr keymap.

[ThomasVon2021]

Does your windows is eng keymap？

[ThomasVon2021]

Now I have windows and ubuntu pc. Can you tell me how to reproduce it? I have no experience using keyboards from other countries.

[Yeocti]

I'm using bliKVM from windows 10. Keymap is french (azerty keyboard).
Controlled machine is linux with fr keymap.

Azerty keyboard looks like:

In order to send special characters such as # [ or @, you have to press Alt-Gr + 3 or 5 or 0 (respectively).
So if you want to reproduce, you'd have to add french locale to windows and then set your keyboard to french layout.
Then, when using bliKVM, you'll notice that you're unable to send those special characters (and all others that need the use of Alt-Gr to be sent).

[ThomasVon2021]

Do I need a real French keyboard to test this?
https://github.com/ThomasVon2021/blikvm-web-client/blob/master/src/utils/virtualKeyboard.js
Now the keycode don't have AltGr, which version do you test it is ok?

[Yeocti]

Do I need a real French keyboard to test this?
No. You can just change the layout of your current keyboard.

If you're using windows 10, Select Start > Settings > Time & Language > Language.
Add french as a new language. Then in keyboard you can choose the french layout.
I might be easier if you use the windows virtual keyboard.

https://github.com/ThomasVon2021/blikvm-web-client/blob/master/src/utils/virtualKeyboard.js
Now the keycode don't have AltGr, which version do you test it is ok?

Not sure to understand your question. Using a physical keyboard or the virtual keyboard does the same.
As you pointed AltGr is not mapped in the virtual keyboard. But you can replace AltGr by pressing LeftCtrl and LeftAlt + special character and it does not work either even so Ctrl and Alt are mapped in your virtual keyboard.

What did you use prior to matrix release to capture keyboard input?

[ThomasVon2021]

Can you try shortcut like ctrl+alt_del, see if he will take effect？ If this can take effect, it means that the combination of Ctrl+Alt keys is possible. You can test the @ symbol with a shortcut. The keyboard code is basically the same as before, with no significant changes.

[Yeocti]

Ctrl+Alt+Del works with the shortcut because whereas it's AZERTY or QWERTY keyboard it's the same physical keys.
I was unable to create a working shortcut to get @.

I found a way to get # without creating a shortcut. However it's a bit strange.
On a QWERTY keyboard to get # you have to press Shift + 3
On a AZERTY keyboard it would be Shift + " to get the same physical keys pressed.

So if on my AZERTY keyboard I press Shift + µ it's like I pressed Shift + " on a QWERTY keyboard.
On the console it's translated as if I pressed Shift + 3 and I get #. That's weird !

I think there is definitely a problem with the way key press are converted in your virtual keyboard.

I then tried to change the keymap on controlled machine to eng.
Doing so i can use my physical keyboard and it works fine.

But the virtual keyboard does not work well. Shift and Caps lock keys have not effects.
If i press Shift or Caps lock I can see the keys changing on the virtual keyboard but when i click on a key it's like Shift/Caps lock was not activated.

[ThomasVon2021]

virtual keyboard don't support shortcut now.
Do you mean if you use AZERTY keyboard, and target is eng, it is ok?

[Yeocti]

yes. It's like i was using a QWERTY keyboard...