In Citrix Workspace app, the Keyboard Dynamic synchronization mode functions differently on a Linux client from a Windows client. In general, on a Linux client, the keyboard output follows the client keyboard layout, which is different from the Windows VDA layout. If a Linux client keyboard is synchronized to a Windows VDA, users may observe unpredictable keyboard output. Also, in dynamic synchronization mode, Citrix Workspace app for Linux does not support VDA users to switch the keyboard layout inside a VDA session.
In the server default mode, both Linux and Windows use the session (VDA) side keyboard layout with predictable output. You can configure the keyboard layout mode using either Wyse Management Suite or Admin Policy Tool. The keyboard layout that you select on the thin client is not automatically synchronized in the VDA session. ThinOS supports the server default mode that enables VDA users to select or switch the keyboard layout inside the VDA session using the Windows Input Method Editor (IME) language bar. For other modes such as Specific keyboard, Client Setting, or Dynamic Sync, there can be unpredictable mismatch in the keyboard output if you switch the keyboard layout in VDA. This is because the Citrix Workspace app Linux keyboard sync mode does not support switching the layout in VDA.
As a VDA administrator, you must configure the VDA desktop with the required keyboard language layout options. The IME language bar must be enabled on the Windows lock screen. The VDA user can select the appropriate keyboard language layout on the Windows lock screen.
In scenarios such as opening a new application in a VDA session, locking, or unlocking the VDA session, the keyboard layout falls back to the VDA default layout. For example, EN_US. This is a known issue for a Linux client in the
server default mode.
You can customize VDA registry settings for a consistent keyboard layout in the VDA session.
For a desktop operating system VDA, the feature is enabled by default.
For a server operating system VDA, you can enable the feature using the system registry.
In the system registry of VDA, go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout.
Create a DWORD entry
IgnoreRemoteKeyboardLayout=1.
By default, the
IgnoreRemoteKeyboardLayout entry is unavailable. The default keyboard is set to ENG, irrespective of the Control Panel setting.
For example, open an application, lock, or unlock the session, the keyboard is set to ENG. To resolve this issue, ensure that you set
IgnoreRemoteKeyboardLayout=1.
For information about the Keyboard Layout Modes and Keyboard Layout rules in Citrix Workspace app, see the
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops keyboard and IME configurations article at
www.citrix.com/blogs.
Table 1. Citrix Workspace app keyboard layout configuration for VDA users on ThinOS How to configure CWA keyboard for VDA users in ThinOS
VDA user scenario
Wyse Management Suite settings
VDA settings
Summary
The client keyboard is synchronized to VDA, and the keyboard layout is not switched in the VDA desktop or application.
Configure the required keyboard layout for local client users and remote VDA users.
Set the VDA policy for Dynamic synchronization.
Keyboard output follows the client Linux keyboard layout and not the Windows layout. As a result, there can be an unpredictable mismatch in the keyboard output. Citrix Workspace app Linux keyboard sync mode does not support switching the layout in VDA.
The client keyboard is synchronized to VDA, and the keyboard layout is switched in the VDA desktop using the IME language bar.
The client keyboard is synchronized to VDA, and the keyboard layout is switched in VDA published applications using the IME language bar.
The client keyboard is not synchronized to VDA, and the keyboard layout is not switched in the VDA desktop or application.
Configure the required keyboard layout for using the client locally. There is no impact to the keyboard usage on remote VDA.
No specific settings are required. For recommended settings, see the
VDA settings for server default mode section.
Keyboard layout follows the VDA Windows layout with predictable output.
When opening a new application in a VDA session, locking the VDA session, or unlocking the VDA session, the keyboard layout falls back to the VDA default layout. For example, EN_US.
The following are the recommended settings for VDA administrators:
Enable multiple layouts in VDA IME.
Enable IME on the Windows lock screen.
Set the default keyboard layout to any non-English keyboard layout.
In the system registry of VDA, go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout and create the following DWORD entry:
The client keyboard is not synchronized to VDA, and the keyboard layout is not switched in the VDA desktop using the IME language bar.
The client keyboard is not synchronized to VDA, and the keyboard layout is not switched in VDA published applications using the IME language bar.
Table 2. Language keyboard layout settingsLanguage keyboard layout settings
ThinOS keyboard layout
Windows layout
Wyse Management Suite settings
Citrix Workspace app Linux dynamic synchronization
Recommended settings
Polish
Keyboard layout partially matches with the Windows layout.
Supported
Enabled
On the client side, select the keyboard layout that fully matches with the Windows layout for local usage.
On the VDA side, select the best layout from the Windows IME language bar after the connection is established.
For VDA administrators, see the
Citrix Workspace app keyboard layout configuration for VDA users on ThinOS table in this document.
Polish (Legacy)
Keyboard layout fully matches with the Windows layout.
Supported
Enabled
French (France)
Keyboard layout partially matches with the Windows layout.
Supported
Enabled
French (Microsoft)
Keyboard layout fully matches with the Windows layout.
Supported
Enabled
Belgian
Keyboard layout does not match with the Windows layout.
Supported
Enabled
Belgian (Comma)
Keyboard layout fully matches with the Windows layout.
Supported
Enabled
Spanish
Keyboard layout does not match with the Windows layout.
Supported
Enabled
VDA settings for Server Default mode
When set to server default mode, the keyboard layout falls back to the VDA default layout. For example, EN_US. This issue can be related to Citrix Workspace app or Windows server operating system 2016 and 2019. All workarounds may require you to modify registry keys on the server side. For more information about workarounds, see the Citrix articles
CTX269153 and
CTX223316 at
support.citrix.com. If you do not want to modify registry keys, contact the Citrix support team or the Microsoft support team.
Table 3. Citrix Workspace app Linux keyboard layout settings—Client and VDACitrix Workspace app Linux keyboard layout settings—Client and VDA
Mode
Client-side settings
Server or VDA-side settings
Additional information
Server default
~/.ICAClient/wfclient.ini
[WFClient]
keyboardlayout=(Server Default)
Setting is configured on the StoreFront server. For example,
Set the mode on either the client side or the server side. This mode takes the highest priority.
Specific keyboard
~/.ICAClient/wfclient.ini
[WFClient]
keyboardlayout=French
XenApp server version 2006 and higher—Enable the following policies on the server side:
Set the
Enable Unicode keyboard layout mapping to
Allowed.
XenApp server version before 2006—There are no policies available to enable specific keyboard sync mode. You must set the registry key in the Windows VDA desktop Keyboard sync configuration. The setting is enabled by default on Windows Server 2012 and Windows 10 operating system. The setting is disabled by default on Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019.
To enable Unicode Keyboard Layout Mapping for Windows VDA, add the following registry keys:
Set the mode on either the client side or the server side. You must set the value in
/opt/Citrix/ICAClient/module.ini [KeyboardLayout].
Dynamic sync
/opt/Citrix/ICAClient/config/module.ini
[ICA 3.0]
KeyboardSync=On
~/.ICAClient/wfclient.ini
[WFClient]
keyboardlayout=(User Profile)
XenApp server version 2006 and higher—Enable the following policies on the server end:
Set the
Client Keyboard Layout synchronization and IME improvement policy to
Support dynamic client keyboard layout sychronization and IME improvement.
Set the
Enable Unicode keyboard layout mapping to
Allowed.
XenApp server version before 2006—There are no policies available to enable dynamic sync mode. You must set the registry key in the Windows VDA desktop Keyboard sync configuration. The setting is enabled by default on Windows Server 2012 and Windows 10 operating system. The setting is disabled by default on Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019.
To enable the setting, add the following registry key:
HKLM\Software\Citrix\ICA\IcaIme\DisableKeyboardSync value=DWORD 0.
To enable Unicode Keyboard Layout Mapping for Windows VDA, add the following registry keys: