Thanks azuvix - I just finished setting up a xubuntu 18.04 virtual machine to play with layouts, and also to experiment with storing my config files (dotfiles as they usually referred to as they begin with .something) in github for easy sync across machines and OS installs.

Having multiple layouts with the Big Bag active is no problem. The only hurdle is if you're using keyboard models for ergo mods, then you'll have to make sure you switch those as well. But it's easily scriptable. Also, some functionality is buggy for the non-first layouts; this is an inherent XKB weakness. Not sure exactly what it entails.

I believe I have given examples of having multiple layouts active?

The Hebrew Colemak[eD] layout is still Work In Progress. We had some good collaboration on it but then my collaborator fell silent. I'd like to get it finished!

That's really really strange. I have no explanation for it. And those keys seem quite unrelated.

Could there be some sort of hotkey settings that interfere? But then why would they interfere only when setxkbmap has been run? Oddness.

lv5:lsgt_switch_lock            =       +level5(lsgt_switch_lock)
lv5:ralt_switch_lock            =       +level5(ralt_switch_lock)
lv5:lwin_switch_lock            =       +level5(lwin_switch_lock)
lv5:rwin_switch_lock            =       +level5(rwin_switch_lock)
lv5:caps_switch_lock            =       +level5(caps_switch_lock)
lv5:lctl_switch_lock = +level5(lctl_switch_lock)

These are the switch rules defined in xkb/rules/evdev and that's what you have to choose between by way of lv5 switches from the GUI menu I think. In xkb/symbols/level5 you see some more that could be included in the options component. But as you can see, there's no rule for LAlt. So you can't get that without making one. And that's a bit technical.

You could, however, do a low-down dirty hack by piggybacking on an existing switch! Find the code in xkb/symbols/level5 that goes:

// The CapsLock key (while pressed) chooses the fifth shift level.
partial modifier_keys
xkb_symbols "caps_switch" {
  key <CAPS> {
    type[Group1]="ONE_LEVEL",
    symbols[Group1] = [ ISO_Level5_Shift ]
  };
  include "level5(modifier_mapping)"
};

Then change <CAPS> to <LALT> and it might just work... I hope. You'd choose "lv5:caps_switch" but it'd actually affect the LAlt key. I hope. ^_^

[edit: Hack confirmed! Well, that's nice! ^_^]

I also use LAlt as my Extend modifier, it works very well!

My solution was slightly different: I wanted to also map the Left Alt function to the "left windows" key. To do this I simply changed scan code definitions of <LALT>, <LWIN> and <CAPS> in `keycodes/evdev`. Achieves pretty much the same result, but lets you move arbitrary modifier keys to where you want them.

Since you're talking about controllers, maybe you'll want to read in the other Big Bag topic (the USB-2-USB aka TMK one) too for more info.

However, I'll answer your question briefly. A Human Interface Device (HID) whether connected with USB or PS/2 or another protocol, can only send input events such as key/mouse/joystick "clicks". The OS cannot to my knowledge (certainly not for USB devices) identify these events as they don't have a "source tag" on them.

So you're a bit out of luck in this: Your QMK keyboard will send the same kind of events as your laptop keyboard does, and I don't know of a way to make them behave differently short of having a hotkey to switch your system settings quickly.

One suggestion might be to put your QMK keyboard in "throughput" mode though. I'd have a simple QWERTY layout on a lockable QMK layer, so you can use the laptop and external keyboard interchangeably without wringing your head. I've been doing something like that on my work computers.

The DH mod is part of my install. So is the ANSI-AngleZ mod. What SteveP has on his page is not my business.

It's not that hard to add the Croatian letters, but did you see my suggestion and consider whether that may work for you?

I agree, that is even more confusing. Check the output from the command:

setxkbmap -v 9

Your bottom row is actually the dh-modded one, but without any Angle or CurlAngle mods. So it seems only your image is affected.

To make the settings permanent, I use a line in the ~/.bashrc file; it can be written by setxkb.sh once you find out what you need. It has come to my attention that since not all distros use Bash this isn't so robust, but I haven't found a better way yet. The reason I've opted for this solution is that it doesn't easily bork your system like some deeper-level methods may do (for instance if you select a layout and then it goes missing).

What was your activation command then? You're not telling me what you're doing so how should I know how to help you?

setxkb.sh 4c us us

This should activate an ANSI Curl-AngleZ Colemak[eD], with the US English layout. If you want it added to bashrc, add an -a switch before the shortstring.

@colemaklover: You're trying to do something a bit strange: Using Cmk-DH Wide but without an Angle mod. Why not use AngleZ and get better left wrist angles? If you're using an Angle cheat, then you can improve your typing experience by using a proper Angle mod. But to answer your question: I think you'd have to swap V and D in the symbols/colemak file, under the curl section.

@DreymaR Thanks for the response! Is 4cw the layout you are talking about?

how do you switch capslock to backspace

So, the above output looks perfect. It makes an ANSI-Curl(DH)-Angle(Z)-Colemak[eD] US layout w/ Extend, as it should.

Why it works differently in terminal/notes from in konsole/browser, is beyond me. Does your terminal have a .rc file you could add the .bashrc line to? If your settings GUI lets you choose both keyboard model, layout and the relevant options then you can use that – but for some reason several of the settings GUIs I've seen lately have been dumbed down so they're less useful. :-(

Making layouts like I have done is wayyy beyond the scope of a forum reply, unfortunately. It's a rather complex task. Read up on the Arch Linux xkb FAQ and other relevant sources. If you don't want all that hardship, just tweak one of mine instead.