Change keyboard layout with python?

Question

I'm working on a college system (windows XP) and want to set the keyboard to Dvorak when I log on. I currently have a python script that changes the desktop image.

Can I use python to change the layout as well? Or are there other ways?

Leacock

One answer in #167531 that doesn't programmatically change to the Dvorak layout but does remap all the keys -- that might be fine since registry settings will be cleared when you log out, assumably. – Creighton

But how can you use vim with Dvorak? :/ – Pelmas

I actually used vim with Dvorak for a while (back in aught-one). Bit of a mind blower. I got used to it, but I don't necessarily recommend it. – Befit

I didn't learn vim until well after converting to Dvorak, so vim with Dvorak works fine for me. – Spirochaetosis

Answer 1

to Change keyboard layout

import win32api
win32api.LoadKeyboardLayout('00000409',1) # to switch to english
win32api.LoadKeyboardLayout('00000401',1) # to switch to arabic

and for Dvorak :

win32api.LoadKeyboardLayout("00010409",1)

or

win32api.LoadKeyboardLayout("00020409",1)

Astigmatic

Do you have the keyboard layout code for Dvorak or a link to the documentation for win32api? – Antiscorbutic

use this to get your keyboard layout code: win32api.GetKeyboardLayout() – Astigmatic

Thanks; but I don't want to find my own, I want to know whether loadKeyboardLayout has a Dvorak option, which is what OP is looking for. – Antiscorbutic

I think the keyboard layout code for Dvorak is ("00010409" or "00020409") – Astigmatic

I don't know - I asked because that was what the OP was asking for. Thanks for adding it to the answer! – Antiscorbutic

This doesn't really change current layout for me. Instead, it just adds new one to current list. – Police

Answer 2

answer can be found at Programmatically change keyboard to Dvorak

Epigastrium

comments are not supposed to be posted as answers. – Lawrenson

Answer 3

I would use AutoHotKey to change the layout. You could write a script remapping the keys and compile it as an executable file.

For example

q::'
+q::"
w::,
+w::<
e::.
+e::>
r::p

etc.

Wilsonwilt

Answer 4

For those, who found this post after 2024 and code from previous answers does not work - you just need to get foreground window and send language changing message to it:

import win32gui
import win32api
import win32process

WM_INPUTLANGCHANGEREQUEST = 0x0050  # win32api const
EN = 0x4090409  # English
UK = -0xf57fbde # Ukrainian

window_handle = win32gui.GetForegroundWindow()
win32api.PostMessage(window_handle, WM_INPUTLANGCHANGEREQUEST, 0, EN)
# win32api.PostMessage(window_handle, WM_INPUTLANGCHANGEREQUEST, 0, UK)

Baker