After reading countless webpages, manpages, and everything I could find, I realize it’s pointless to try to fix the Debian console keymap files.
In the first place, Debian places in the keymaps tons of useless keystrokes no human could possibly make.
In the second place, there is no simple guide to making a corrected keymaps file. It’s all very obtuse, or the simple stuff is utterly missing the parts I need. Nobody has bothered to translate this for common users who can’t write code. Lots and lots of explanation, but nothing most people can use.
Third, it appears Debian folks make sure, even if you do figure out, you won’t be allowed to load your customized keymap. At least, that’s how I understand it. There’s an MD5 hash which must perfectly match the real file and the information in the updates, or it will overwrite your mods.
I’m sure there are good reasons for all this, but I’m not happy with it. At any rate, it leaves me concluding nobody at Debian expected any users to simply use the console as the desktop. They’ve made it difficult in lots of little ways.
Should a sympathetic reader be passing by, I’m trying to add CTRL+Right, CTRL+Left, CTRL+Home and CTRL+End, so that I can use those key combinations in at least two different console applications. I even know what string should be transmitted, but I have no idea how to past that into a keymap Squeeze will allow me to use.
Sigh.
