General keyboard topics, including keyboard hardware and keyboard functionality in software.
4
votes
1answer
305 views
What are/were the keys on a Sun keyboard for?
I have a Sun type 7 UNIX keyboard that I'd like to get more productivity out of. So what are those extra keys for, or rather, what were they intended for by Sun? And is there a way to approximate ...
4
votes
2answers
215 views
Custom xkb layout in which one key creates two unicode code points
I am writing a new custom keyboard layout for Xorg, but there is one particular glyph which does not exist in Unicode. It is, however, easy to create it by using a standard letter plus a combining ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
AltGr keys don't work with Ubuntu in VirtualBox
I just installed VirtualBox (from Oracle) in Windows 7, and created a virtual machine with latest Ubuntu.
Here in Firefox I can use the left Ctrl key, while the right one doesn't have any effect. ...
4
votes
2answers
868 views
Remapping caps-lock to escape, and menu to compose, on the linux console
When running X I use a .xmodmaprc to remap certain keys thusly:
! Make it so that both Caps Lock and Escape do Escape
clear Lock
keysym Caps_Lock = Escape
! Remap the menu key as Compose
keysym Menu ...
4
votes
2answers
427 views
Diagnosing xmodmap errors
I'm getting this error when trying to use xmodmap to get rid of caps lock:
$ xmodmap -e 'clear Lock'
X Error of failed request: BadValue (integer parameter out of range for operation)
Major opcode ...
4
votes
1answer
934 views
Keyboard macros for X and/or KDE
I'm looking for a utility to record and playback keyboard macros in X applications (KDE specifically). I've tried xmacrorec and xmacroplay, but after running them, my mouse and keyboard does not ...
4
votes
1answer
313 views
Debian Wheezy, VirtualBox, HP DV6-7099EL problem with AltGr
I just bought a HP DV6-7099EL laptop (Italian keyboard).
I'm going to install Debian in a week or two, I just want to test the computer without touching the partitions (just in case I need ...
4
votes
1answer
534 views
What does GNOME do with multimedia keys?
GNOME makes multimedia keys, such as fn+directional keys on my laptop, maybe dedicated keys on your keyboard, into very useful keys. They seem to work with a large number of application. What can I do ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I type Unicode characters into KDE's Konsole terminal from a Gnome desktop?
I use Ubuntu.. In 'gnome-terminal', I can type Unicode Codepoints by first typing Ctrl-Shift-u followed by the Codepoint hex value, eg. C-S-u 2468 produces ⑨
konsole, my preferred terminal, does ...
4
votes
2answers
72 views
How to disable caps-lock, without remapping or disabling it?
I have an X11 program that grabs caps-lock, and uses it. The problem is, I want to disable the regular caps-lock toggling, but doing so seems to disable the key.
So whatever X11 gets for a caps-lock ...
4
votes
1answer
115 views
Set customized keyboard layout as default
I designed a keyboard layout for myself, after I run xmodmap it works OK, but after standby or reboot, the layout turn back to qwerty.
How can I set it as default? My OS is Debian Wheezy with Xfce4.
...
4
votes
1answer
162 views
Filtering the keyboard input
I have a program that takes input from the keyboard and presents a nice visualization. The purpose of the program is so that my infant can mash on the keyboard and get the computer to do something.
...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
Switch Fn key state
I have this issue with Lenovo Thinkcentre Edge. Its keyboard has Fn key, which acts in my Ubuntu (with Fluxbox) as if it is always "active/pressed".
I can't use standard F1-F12 keys unless I hold ...
4
votes
1answer
284 views
Disabling or changing console switching keys
For some reasons on my Ubuntu 11.04 Natty running Linux 2.6.38-13, with an Italian layout for the keyboard, the keystrokes
AltFx switch between virtual consoles (instead of the normal CtrlAltFx ...
4
votes
1answer
834 views
How to make BT keyboard available at login and OS selection screens
Is it possible to have my bluetooth keyboard active before I enter into the desktop environment? I'm unable to type in my login and password at the login screen because the Debian hasn't associated ...
4
votes
2answers
78 views
Changing one character in keyboard layout
I edited the file /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/us and added a definition with my new layout as follows
partial alphanumeric_keys modifier_keys
xkb_symbols "us_pl" {
include "us(basic)"
...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
Set window manager's meta key depending on connected Xserver
Situation
A linux server is running an xdm supporting XDMCP, it is connected to from various different Linux and OS X boxes using XDMCP via an X -query <server> command.
Once the user is ...
4
votes
0answers
550 views
Fix Fn-keys for keyboard illumination
I've tried following the Ubuntu hotkeys/media keys troubleshooting guide and /usr/share/doc/udev/README.keymap.txt.gz to make the Fn keys work. After copying the map file and modifying ...
4
votes
0answers
354 views
Dead keys not working in Java Swing applications
I'm currently using Ubuntu 10.10 and Netbeans 7.0 and I can't type accented letters with dead keys any more. It's not a version specific problem seems it's related with Swing since I've got the same ...
3
votes
3answers
70 views
Ctrl-a does not take me to the beginning of the prompt while I am working within a GNU screen
To navigate to the starting and end of a command, I usually use Ctrla and Ctrle.
However, when I work within a GNU screen, those keybinding do not work becuase perhaps they are being used by the GNU ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
how to assign another modifier to Alt key for X11?
Aim:
I would like to assign Alt to CapsLock-key, and Meta to Alt-key. But in such way, Alt-key would no longer be recognized as Alt, and CapsLock-key would no longer be recognized as CapsLock.
...
3
votes
1answer
4k views
How to change keyboard keymap
I accidentally set my keyboard type to US during installation, but it actually is UK type. How do I change it?
[note] I use Debian Squeeze.
3
votes
1answer
70 views
How to distinguish input from different keyboards?
I want to write an application in Python that you can use with your default keyboard and a specially designed one for the application. I will design it simply by using a small numerical keyboard with ...
3
votes
2answers
218 views
The key codes for Caps Lock, Shift, Left Control and FN key?
Can somebody please provide the key codes for these keys:
Caps Lock
Left Shift
Left Control
Option key
FN
The key code I'm talking about is something along the lines of \<Esc>[200~, although ...
3
votes
2answers
525 views
Why does Ctrl+Arrow make my terminal switch to a strange mode?
When i type Ctrl+Left or Ctrl+Right within Guake or gnome-terminal the last one's behaviour turns to a some kind of non-usual mode: - key acts like arrow up and + like arrow down, v runs Nano, etc. ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
How to remap the Context Menu key to the Super key
This keyboard has only one super key, so I want to remap the menu key to make up for that.
3
votes
3answers
238 views
Ubuntu 12.04 Gnome 3 “freezes” randomly - not a normal freeze though
Since upgrading to 12.04, I've randomly experienced this strange phenomenon where my mouse mostly doesn't work and keyboard mostly does. I have not been able to identify a cause for this. Sometimes it ...
3
votes
1answer
166 views
What is the Mode_switch modifier for?
Playing with xmodmap I encountered a modifier key I hadn't heard of: Mode_switch. It seems to have something to do with inserting special characters.
I assigned it to a key but it seems to have no ...
3
votes
1answer
361 views
sysrq won't reboot with a keystroke, but will with echo “b” > /proc/sysrq-trigger
CentOS 6.2, 2.6.32-220.el6.x86_64 laptop. SysRQ is enabled for keyboard input, as is witnessed by:
$ cat /proc/sys/kernel/sysrq
1
Common Magic SysRQ Keys are working such as alt-sysrq-h. However, ...
3
votes
2answers
636 views
Is there a way to remap the AltGr key to Ctrl with setxkbmap?
I've already checked the option section in /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/base.lst but I didn't find an entry for AltGr...
3
votes
1answer
342 views
Create and set custom keyboard layout
I want to create and set a custom keyboard layout with setxkbmap. I created a file in ~/.xkb/prog with this content:
partial default alphanumeric_keys
xkb_symbols "basic" {
include "latin(type4)"
...
3
votes
2answers
895 views
assign shortcut key to run a script
I've written a script to change the brightness of my screen.
It's useful when I am working on text mode and shortcut keys of my keyboard to change brightness doesn't work.
Is it possible to run this ...
3
votes
1answer
640 views
command line retrieve list of all valid kbd layouts, variants and toggle options (to use with setxkbmap)
Is there a way from command line to retrieve the list of all available
keyboard layouts and relative variants?
I need to list all the valid layout/variants choices to be used then from setxkbmap.
...
3
votes
1answer
658 views
Disabling caps lock by setxkbmap makes it Shift key in Emacs
I'm using GNU Emacs 23.2.1. within Xfce 4.8.0 (both coming from the Ubuntu Natty repository). I disable the CapsLock by running /usr/bin/setxkbmap -option "ctrl:nocaps" at the beginning of the Xfce ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Enable num-lock as default in Linux
There has been a similar question - but IMHO there has to be a simpler solution. If num-lock is on in the BIOS - why is it turned off during linux boot and/or KDE/Gnome/whatever startup?
3
votes
1answer
147 views
Keyboard bindings from bash to zsh?
I have the following entries on my .inputrc for bash:
"\C-p": history-search-backward
"\C-n": history-search-forward
"\e[A": history-search-backward
"\e[B": history-search-forward
"\e[C": ...
3
votes
2answers
403 views
Why does US International Keyboard break Alt_R
All adding the U.S. English International (with dead keys) keyboard layout breaks my Alt_R key. Any ideas why?
I'm working on RHEL 5.5 using GNOME. The problem disappears if I remove the additional ...
3
votes
1answer
715 views
The caps lock and scroll lock lights are flashing and everything is frozen
I was using a small Linux distro that was running X11 with JWM as its window manager. I was browsing a directory when all of a sudden the mouse froze and the keyboard became unresponsive. The caps ...
3
votes
1answer
137 views
Getting keyboard to work in debian 6.0 in order to unlock root partition
I just installed Debian 6.0, encrypted / and now I'm trying to boot. When GRUB comes up, I select Debian, it loads the initrd and asks for the root password, however I can't enter anything, because ...
3
votes
1answer
81 views
How to use the Meta/Alt Key with tput?
I want to redefine keybindings for the commandline of a lisp dialect. The commandline is actually modeled after Vi and implemented with tput/terminfo. I want an alternative version with Emacs ...
3
votes
1answer
132 views
detect if key is pressed from script
I would like to detect if a key is being pressed when running a script. I have the following script:
#!/bin/bash
sleep 0.5
xte 'str sometext'
I run this script using a shortcut to paste "sometext" ...
3
votes
2answers
423 views
How does X map from kernel key scan codes to a keysym?
According to this page there is no direct mapping from udev key mappings to X, it has its own mappings.
X has a (quasi) total independent way of mapping keys: X reads the kernel keycode table at ...
3
votes
1answer
536 views
Some keys are invalid on emacs when using German keyboard
When I am using emacs 23.3 on KDE, I can not input ^, ´ and ~ from my German keyboard. If I press these keys, then emacs says that <dead-circumflex>, <dead-acute> and <dead-tilde> ...
3
votes
2answers
819 views
Disable scroll lock
We have a shell/tty based application that has ~1,000 users. It is running in an environment where X Server is not available. If a user accidently turns on the Scroll Lock, it makes it seem as if the ...
3
votes
2answers
234 views
Uppercase input turns on periodically
I have some problem. Every 3-5 second everything, that I input from keyboard became UPPERCASE only. I also have two keyboard layouts: us and ua. And when uppercase happens - I can't switch my keyboard ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Keyboard Problem with Debian testing and gdm3
I'm driving a Debian testing machine that is running fine. But since testing includes Linux Kernel 3 I have the following problem:
While booting all is working (I mean especially the keyboard) - ...
3
votes
1answer
598 views
Automating typing strings in xmacro
Could you show me how to write macro in xmacro (that will work in whole desktop environement) that is able to expand strings?
e.g. I will type thx and it will expand to "thank you".
3
votes
1answer
1k views
How to change the USB keyboard layout in an OpenBSD console?
I may be abusing the word console but I mean the mode without X i.e. pressing ^+Alt F1 and then log as other user where I want to use my chosen layout with USB keyboard.
X works, it configures the ...
3
votes
1answer
160 views
How to force release of a keyboard modifiers
Sometimes, when I use synergy between my machines when one is using full-screen VirtualBox guest I get stuck with some weird key modifiers turned on. If they exist on my keyboard (like Shift_L) I can ...
3
votes
1answer
152 views
Have Sun keyboard moon key (116) not shut down my computer
On my Sun keyboard, the top-rightmost key (with a moon image, right above the keypad) shuts down my computer. I'd like it not to, as I hit it by mistake now and then.
In /etc/default/keyboard, I only ...
