Detecting the presence/absence of a numeric keypad?

Question

Is it possible to determine whether there is a numeric keypad connected to the system? Desktop keyboards typically have numpads, while laptops typically don\'t (though they put

Answer 1

I don't believe you can query for keyboard capabilities but iirc there is a "numpad" key. ;)

You should be able to query if Num is on or off, but it being off won't be a foolproof way to know that there is no numeric keypad.

What you could probably do is detect keys being pressed on a numpad and subliminaly trick the user into doing so, which would identify said characteristic.

Answer 2

install these packages

sudo apt-get install -y numlockx xdotool x11-utils

then use a script like this

#!/bin/bash
cd
numlockx off &
rm -f s1.sh s2.sh out
 echo -e "#\041/bin/bash
sleep 2
xdotool key KP_5 | xev > out
exit 0" >> s1.sh
chmod +x s1.sh
echo -e "#\041/bin/bash
sleep 9
killall -9 xev
sleep 5
xdotool key BackSpace
exit 0" >> s2.sh
chmod +x s2.sh


bash s1.sh &
bash s2.sh

rm -f s1.sh s2.sh
if [[ "$(cat out | grep "keycode 84" | grep "KP_Begin" )" != "" ]]; then
  echo "Separated Numpad Detected!"
fi
rm out
exit 0

because KP_Begin is the keycode for the numpad key KP_5 when numlock isn't active, in a real keyboard with a real keypad. Tested on 3 PCs, one with a separated keypad e 2 without it.