Detecting keyboard layout

[Ben Scott]

On Nov 30, 2007 1:43 PM, Michael ODonnell <michael.odonnell at comcast.net> wrote:
> Anybody know if it's possible to query a keyboard directly to learn its
> layout?

  Short answer: It is not possible.

  Longer answer: PS/2 doesn't support this at all.  USB supports some
kinds of device identification, but I believe there is no standard way
for a keyboard to report its layout.  You could try and build your own
table of manufacturer and model IDs, but I bet you'll find that a lot
of keyboards just report themselves as somebody's generic USB keyboard
controller chip, used in any number of keyboards, layouts,
manufacturers, etc.

-- Ben