Synergy Key Mapping

Question

I'm running a Synergy server on Ubuntu and a Synergy+ client on OSX. The server has a standard windows keyboard with shift, ctrl, windows, and alt keys. My MacBookPro has shift, fn, control, alt/option, and command keys.

When I press ctrl-c, ctrl-v, etc., the appropriate copy/paste action doesn't happen on the Mac, but it does in Ubuntu. If I'm controlling the mac, and press alt-c, alt-v, then I get the copy/paste action.

So I played around with key mapping in synergy.conf and found that the following allows me to do copy/paste with ctrl-c/ctrl-v:

section: screens
    godzilla:
    mbp.local:
        ctrl = alt
        alt = ctrl
end

Is this all that I need to do? Or are there other mappings that will help as well? The synergy configuration page refers to the following key mappings. What are the equivalent keys for each of these on the Windows keyboard and Mac keyboard? What is a meta or super key?

shift = {shift|ctrl|alt|meta|super|none}
ctrl = {shift|ctrl|alt|meta|super|none}
alt = {shift|ctrl|alt|meta|super|none}
meta = {shift|ctrl|alt|meta|super|none}
super = {shift|ctrl|alt|meta|super|none}

Thanks!

score 41 · Answer 1 · edited Nov 10 '16 at 20:49

For what it's worth, I finally took the time to figure out my Synergy mapping setup.

Linux server (desktop), OS X client (macbook). I wanted the following:

Ctrl on desktop -> Ctrl on macbook
WinKey on desktop -> Command/⌘ on macbook
Alt on desktop -> Alt/Option on macbook

This allows for the same keyboard mappings that my Hackintosh desktop keyboard uses, so keyboard shortcuts like copy/paste are still different between Linux and OS X, but I'm okay with that.

I used the following config:

section: screens
    desktop:
          # Linux server, no mapping
    batbook:
        # OS X client
        ctrl = ctrl
        alt = meta
        super = alt
        # meta = ??  # no idea where this shows up on the client end
end

score 17 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 16 '12 at 10:31

I was in a similar situation at one point, and I found a somewhat 'unique' way around it. Plug the keyboard directly into your Mac, and edit the keyboard preferences directly. After that, any non-Apple keyboard you attach will use those mappings.

Plug in they keyboard.
Open System Preferences (Apple Menu -> System Preferences).
Enter "Keyboard" preferences (under Hardware).
From the "Keyboard Mapping" (or similarly named) tab, change the key mapping as you see fit.

Synergy+ will use these key mappings, since it identifies as a virtual keyboard.

EDIT: Equivalent mappings, based on function:

Linux   │ Mac
────────┼─────────
Control │ Command
Alt     │ Control
Meta    │ Alt
Shift   │ Shift
Super   │ Super

Mac has the extra modifier key (kind of like the old EMACS-style keyboards, which had up to 5 modifier keys). Super is generally deprecated, so you shouldn't have to worry about remapping it.

score 11 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 04 '12 at 16:36

I have a mac full size keyboard plugged into my PC which is synergy server.

When connected to mac client (osX mountain lion), I've switched ctrl and commmand keys so that ctrl-c copies regardless of machine.

This is done in the synergy gui by double clicking the client and setting:

ctrl: Meta meta: ctrl

I hope this helps!

score 9 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 28 '17 at 22:05

As a PC user wanting to connect to OS X, you may find the following useful:

shift = shift
ctrl = meta
alt = ctrl
meta = super
super = alt

This will get you a setup where your usual cut / copy / paste will do what you want and the other keys will be available.

Mapping (Windows to Mac):

<Ctrl>   -> ⌘ (command) 
<WinKey> -> ⌥ (option / alt)
<Alt>    -> ⌃  (control)

Notes:

Using Synergy v1.8.8
Don't forget to fix your registry if you have disabled the windows key. The On-Screen Keyboard is great for checking this.

score 5 · Answer 5 · edited Dec 06 '17 at 15:01

5

If you're used to a PC keyboard and want to control your Mac remotely without changing your setup, you map the remote Macintosh computer's keyboard configuration in Synergy with the following:

Shift -> Shift

Ctrl -> Meta

Alt -> Alt

Meta -> Ctrl

Super -> Super

edited Dec 06 '17 at 15:01

studiohack

13,477

answered Sep 06 '14 at 23:20

Luckboy

51

score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Jan 01 '10 at 22:01

2

Super is the "Windows" key on most keyboards. Meta is (I believe) the Esc key.

answered Jan 01 '10 at 22:01

etlovett

787

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Dec 31 '16 at 20:44

This change, at least when serving from OSX (10.11) to Windows 10 is;

section: screens
  ClientNameHere:
    ctrl = super
    super = ctrl

Note: If you're not using the synergy.conf file; configure the client by double clicking on the client in the layout screen.

score 0 · Answer 8 · edited Jun 17 '21 at 11:56

Sorry for reviving this old question, but I found it relevant and useful for configuring my current setup. I thought I'd share my config for those interested.

Using a Logitech G613 keyboard on a macOS 11.23 (with CTRL - WINDOWS - ALT layout) to also control a Windows 10 laptop.

Here is my setup: Synergy and macOS setup

Help pages:

I can easily use my copy/paste functionalities without having to use weird shortcuts on one of the 2 machines, beside the fact that it is a CTRL+C on Mac instead of COMMAND+C.

score 0 · Answer 9 · answered Jul 08 '24 at 20:52

I have a similar but reverse setup, in case anyone finds this helpful for reference.

Server: Mac with USB mac keyboard. Modifier keys on the mac are set to treat Command/⌘ as Ctrl and Ctrl as Command/⌘, on that mac's keyboard and usb keyboard.
Client: Windows laptop with normal key mappings

When I use the Command/⌘ as Ctrl keys on the client screen, they seemed to swap back to their original mappings (ie. Command/⌘ was Ctrl and Ctrl was `Windows). To fix this, I did a similar setup to DanielEli but slightly different mapping:

Navigate to Configure Server
Double click on the client computer
Set Ctrl to Super
Set Super to Ctrl

Here's how my mappings look for client computer.

score 0 · Answer 10 · answered Nov 08 '24 at 14:09

I have a macos server (and also using deskflow synergy 1 fork) and a windows client

After about 15-20 minutes of configuring, I ended up with this working configuration.

    TRUTH-IN-LOVE:
        halfDuplexCapsLock = false
        halfDuplexNumLock = false
        halfDuplexScrollLock = false
        xtestIsXineramaUnaware = false
        switchCorners = none 
        switchCornerSize = 0
        ctrl = alt #i wanted to swap ctrl and alt
        alt = super #middle options key = winkey on win client
        super = ctrl #the alt key on my das keyboard was acting as my winkey, this makes it act like cmd [ctrl opt alt] is my keyboard layout

So now the alt key (which acts as a cmd key on my macos), acts as ctrl, the middle key acts as the winkey and the left is alt (swapped how I like it so I can keep pressing cmd+c to copy and paste after switching to next screen)

Synergy Key Mapping

10 Answers10