If you set a virtual machine to act as a VNC server, you can specify which language to use for the keyboard that VNC clients use. By default, the US101 keyboard map (U.S. English) is used.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that the virtual machine is set to act as a VNC server.

  • Determine the language code to use. See Language Codes.

Procedure

  1. In a text editor, open the virtual machine configuration file (.vmx) file for the virtual machine and add the RemoteDisplay.vnc.enabled and RemoteDisplay.vnc.port properties.
    1. Set RemoteDisplay.vnc.enabled to TRUE.
    2. Set RemoteDisplay.vnc.port to the port number to use.

    For example: 

    RemoteDisplay.vnc.enabled = "TRUE"
RemoteDisplay.vnc.port = "portnumber"
  2. Determine the location of the keymap file to use.

    Default keymap files are included in the Workstation Pro installation directory.

    Host System

    Keymap File Location

    Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 hosts

    C:\ProgramData\VMware\vnckeymap

    Linux host

    /usr/lib/vmware/vnckeymap

  3. In the virtual machine configuration (.vmx) file, add a property to specify the location of the keymap file.

    Option

    Description

    To use the default keymap file included in the Workstation Pro installation directory

    Add RemoteDisplay.vnc.keyMap = "xx", where xx is the code for the language to use, such as jp for Japanese.

    To use a keyboard map file in another location

    Add RemoteDisplay.vnc.keyMapFile = "filepath", where filepath is the absolute file path.
  4. Start the virtual machine and connect to it from a VNC client.