Microsoft Remote Desktop Client: on-board keyboard mapping for macOS | OS X (without karabiner) -> see README.md for details.

README.md

Getting started

Simple keyboard mapping for macOS users of the Microsoft Remote Desktop.app with no need of external programms like karabiner.

Default mappings:

Action	macOS	Windows	From
Select all	CMD + A	CTRL + A	Microsoft
Copy selected	CMD + C	CTRL + C	Microsoft
Find string	CMD + F	CTRL + F	Microsoft
Paste from clipboard	CMD + V	CTRL + V	Microsoft
Cut selected	CMD + X	CTRL + X	Microsoft
Undo	CMD + Z	CTRL + Z	Microsoft
Redo	CMD + Shift + Z	CTRL + Shift + Z	Additional
Save	CMD + S	CTRL + S	Additional

Hint: Users with a non US keyboard may have to switch some keys. For example German keyboards have to replace Z with Y. If you use Dvorak instead of QWERTY you can also set layout name to <layout name="com.apple.keylayout.Dvorak">.

Download here: https://apps.apple.com/de/app/microsoft-remote-desktop/id1295203466

1. Change keyboard mode

Make sure that the keyboard mode is set to unicode. Go to menu and activate Connections > Keyboard Mode > Unicode.

2. Replace config file

Path to file: Applications > Microsoft Remote Desktop.app > Contents > Resources > Keyboard > ClipboardActionTransformations.xml

3. Add your own key shortcuts

You can add more shortcuts if you want. For example add the transform tag below to tranformations tag inside the default layout. This will open a print diaglog in common programs.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<!-- transformation for clipboard actions (cut copy paste) -->
<!-- layout specific -->
<layouts>
    <!-- the default is US keyboard physical position for X C V -->
    <layout name="default">
        <transformations>
            
            ...
            
            <!-- Command+P to Control+P -->
            <transform>
                <from command="1" key="P" />
                <to control="1" key="P" />
            </transform>
            
            ...
            
        </transformations>
    </layout>
</layouts>

Hint: Besides command and control, shift is also available. Set shift="1" in a from or to tag.

ClipboardActionTransformations.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<!-- transformation for clipboard actions (cut copy paste) -->
<!-- layout specific -->
<layouts>
    <!-- the default is US keyboard physical position for X C V -->
    <layout name="default">
        <transformations>

            <!-- Command+A to Control+A -->
            <transform>
                <from command="1" key="A" />
                <to control="1" key="A" />
            </transform>

            <!-- Command+C to Control+C -->
            <transform>
                <from command="1" key="C" />
                <to control="1" key="C" />
            </transform>
            
            <!-- Command+F to Control+F -->
            <transform>
                <from command="1" key="F" />
                <to control="1" key="F" />
            </transform>

            <!-- Command+V to Control+V -->
            <transform>
                <from command="1" key="V" />
                <to control="1" key="V" />
            </transform>
            
            <!-- Command+X to Control+X -->
            <transform>
                <from command="1" key="X" />
                <to control="1" key="X" />
            </transform>

            <!-- Command+Z to Control+Z -->
            <transform>
                <from command="1" key="Z" />
                <to control="1" key="Z" />
            </transform>
            
            <!-- Command+Shift+Z to Control+Shift+Z (added) -->
            <transform>
                <from command="1" shift="1" key="Z" />
                <to control="1" shift="1" key="Z" />
            </transform>

            <!-- Command+S to Control+S (added) -->
            <transform>
                <from command="1" key="S" />
                <to control="1" key="S" />
            </transform>
        </transformations>
    </layout>
</layouts>