For users, the settings for the keyboard layout include language choices that allow mapping of the modifier keys, function keys, and special keys. Learn the keyboard options offered in Horizon Client for iPadOS.

You can select from an extended set of keyboard layouts provided by the client for use in remote desktops or published applications. The first time you open the client, the keyboard layout matches the local operating system settings. For example, if the iPad setting is Spanish, then the hardware keyboard of the client shows Spanish-Spain. If you enable manual configuration, you can change the layout and map the keys. The settings you make persist and become the default settings in the client. Your changes do not affect the local operating system.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that the operating system on your iPad with iPadOS is version 14.0 or later. These features are not available to versions earlier than 14.0.
  • Your device has one or more external keyboards connected.
  • Open the client and verify that the client has a connection to a server with Horizon Connection Server and Horizon Agent 8.4.0 or later and that a remote desktop or published application is open. If the client detects an external keyboard, a prompt offers to enable the Manually Configure Keyboard.

Procedure

  1. At the bottom of the client window, tap Settings and tap Keyboard..
    The list of available settings appears.
  2. To activate, tap Manually Configure Keyboard.
    The extended set of language and mapping options appears. The language selected matches the local operating system or manual change made previously.
  3. Examine the current language for Hardware Keyboard.
    1. To select from additional layouts, tap Next (>) located at the end of that line, tap a language and, then tap < Back.
      The list of keyboard layouts appears. This list is independent of the keyboard layouts offered by the local operating system. Your selection affects only the client and the remote desktops or published applications. You can see some languages offer multiple layouts. For example, you can select English (United States) or English (United Kingdom). To see more layouts, you can tap Next ( >) located at the end of that line.
    2. To finish setting the keyboard layout, tap < Hardware Keyboard and verify that a checkmark appears next to the layout you want, and then, tap < Back.
      Your layout selection appears next to Hardware Keyboard and the external keyboard adopts the layout for use in the remote desktops and applications.
  4. To change the key mapping, tap Key Mapping. Certain options are active by default.
    1. In the list, find the CMD key combination and toggle the mapped key to activate or deactivate.
    2. To add a new mapping, tap +.
      A list of modifier keys with an empty drop-down box appears for a From area and a To area. In the From area, tap the modifier keys you want to set, and then tap inside the drop-down box to add a key choice. For example, to map Shift + CMD + S, you tap Shift, CMD, and enter S in the box. To map the function key, F3, or the special key, home, enter that key in the drop-down box. Complete the To area in the same way for the Windows equivalent you want to set.
      Note: If you try to add a key mapping that exists, a message appears. If the key combination you specify is invalid, the Done is not available.
    3. To edit or delete a current mapping, tap Edit.
      A list of mapped keys appears. To delete a mapping, tap the red circle with the minus sign ( -) and then tap Delete. To modify, tap a mapping and change the values in the From area and a To area. You can tap the modifier keys you want, and then tap inside the drop-down box and enter the new key.
    4. After making additions, edits, and deletes to the mapping, tap Done.
    5. Examine the list. If you want to undo the changes, tap Restore Defaults.
  5. To finish, tap < Back.

Results

While working in a remote desktop or published application, the keyboard behavior reflects the settings made in the client. After you customize the keyboard hardware, the client does not use the local iOS system keyboard settings, and the local language setting you see in the iOS system might not match the client.
Note: Some published applications override the system and the client keyboard settings. For example, certain assistive technologies replace the two-key combination behavior. For this reason, you can map a three-key combination to provide the needed two-key you might typically use.

What to do next

You can expect the keyboard behavior to match the changes while you work on the remote desktops or published applications. Those customizations pertain only to your remote work areas.