Mac OS X Server 10.4: Unable to switch keyboard layouts in input menu

Issue or symptom

If you choose a keyboard layout in Server Assistant other than the one that matches the language chosen in the Mac OS X Server installer, you cannot switch between keyboard layouts in the input menu (the menu that often looks like a little flag icon).

For example, if you chose English when installing Mac OS X Server, but then choose the French keyboard layout in Server Assistant, when you log into the server after restarting you will have options for both French and US keyboards in the input menu. However, selecting the US flag icon will not change the keyboard layout.

Solution

1. From the input menu, choose Open International. This will open the Input Menu tab of the International pane in System Preferences.
2. Uncheck (deselect) the box next to the input method that does not work. ("US" in the example above.)
3. Reselect "Show input menu in menu bar".
4. Quit System Preferences.
5. Choose Open International from the input menu again.
6. Reselect the desired input method.
7. Quit System Preferences.

You may now switch between all available keyboard layouts in the Input Menu as desired.