Unicode Keyboard Layout

Question

Level 1

4 points

Unicode Keyboard Layout

I've been using the Easy Unicode keyboard layout for years now. The instructions have always been to drag the file (EasyUnicode.keylayout) to Library > Keyboard Layouts and restart the computer. I now have a new M4 MacBook Pro running Sequoia 15.1.1. As before I dragged the file into the top level Library >Kayboard, which is where the file is on my older MacBook Pro running Monterrey, although colleagues have successfully used the layout on more recent MacBooks and iMacs. Under the Systems folder there is another Library with another Keyboard Layout folder, the one that holds the AppleKeyboardLayouts.bundle file. That folder won't accept any files. Under Users there are no Library files. Under System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources I should see the Easy Unicode along with my US keyboard, as I do on my older machine. But I don't. I seem to remember something about deleting a plist file as an intermediate step, but I'm not sure about that. Is there something different about the M4 MacBooks or about Sequoia that is preventing it from recognizing the Easy Unicode keyboard layout? What's my next step?

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.1

Posted on Nov 26, 2024 3:11 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

118,492 points

Nov 27, 2024 10:09 AM in response to Dave20yrMac

Glad to hear that worked! It should have also worked if it were just put into Library/Keyboard Layouts.

Apple hides user library by default to minimize the risk that users will accidentally delete crucial stuff. You can make it visible permanently by opening a username folder and doing View > Show View Options and checking the Show Library box at the bottom.

You are probably right, I don't know if the option key shortcut to show user library is mentioned anywhere in the help docs.

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Answer 2

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

118,492 points

Nov 26, 2024 4:29 PM in response to Dave20yrMac

To get to user/library you need to hold down the option key while doing finder > go.

After installing the file, you need to logout/login and use the + button at the bottom of the All input Sources settings to add your new one. It may be in the Others category. No plist edit should be needed.

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Answer 3

Dave20yrMac Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 27, 2024 9:42 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Tom, thank you so much. That totally worked. You have gotten my professional life back on track. Happy Thanksgiving!

My only question is how would Apple expect users to know that holding the option key and pressing the Go menu gets you to a hidden user library folder?

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Answer 4

Dave20yrMac Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 27, 2024 11:12 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Thanks for this additional information.

I actually tried putting it in the top level library and it didn’t seem to work. That may have been because I thought the input source would appear by name after I hit the + button. But maybe it was there under Others, which I wouldn’t have known to look at without your guidance. Thanks again!

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