I want to change the key bindings on some of the keys on my keyboard. I want some to run commands and others to activate different keys.
What applications can I use to do this?
Index:
Default keyboard and shortcut settings (from within System Settings)
sudo apt-get install xbindkeys
Xbindkeys is a very versatile program that lets you remap keys very easily. It uses a config file, my default located in your home directory, to change key bindings into certain commands.
To create a default config file you use the command:
xbindkeys --defaults
Which prints the default config file. So if you want to create the file containing the default values you would use:
xbindkeys --defaults > $HOME/.xbindkeysrc
Which prints the default values into a hidden file named .xbindkeysrc located in home (~).
Now to actually change the bindings of keys we first need to know what the name or keysym of those keys is. xbindkeys allows us to use the -k handle to find the name of a key or key combination. Run:
xbindkeys -k
And press a key or key combination. Your output will look something similar to this (when pressing space):
"NoCommand"
m:0x10 + c:65
Mod2 + space
"No Command" tells us that currently no command is associated with the Space key.
m:0x10 + c:65
Mod2 + space
Is the name of the key/key combination.
Lets open up the config file you made earlier:
gedit .xbindkeysrc
Here is an excerpt from the default config file:
#
# A list of keys is in /usr/include/X11/keysym.h and in
# /usr/include/X11/keysymdef.h
# The XK_ is not needed.
#
# List of modifier:
# Release, Control, Shift, Mod1 (Alt), Mod2 (NumLock),
# Mod3 (CapsLock), Mod4, Mod5 (Scroll).
#
# The release modifier is not a standard X modifier, but you can
# use it if you want to catch release events instead of press events
# By defaults, xbindkeys does not pay attention with the modifiers
# NumLock, CapsLock and ScrollLock.
# Uncomment the lines above if you want to pay attention to them.
#keystate_numlock = enable
#keystate_capslock = enable
#keystate_scrolllock= enable
# Examples of commands:
"xbindkeys_show"
control+shift + q
Every line beginning with # is a comment and won't be read or run by xbindkeys.
So far the only line that isn't commented out is:
"xbindkeys_show"
control+shift + q
This excerpt shows the basic syntax of xbindkeys commands:
"Command to run (in quotes)"
key to associate with command (no quotes)
So as you can see:
"xbindkeys_show"
control+shift + q
Runs the command xbindkeys_show when you press Ctrl+Shift+q.
Now lets try binding a few keys. I recommend clearing the entire default file so that it's blank. It contains preset key bindings you probably don't want.
Now lets say you want to use Ctrl+b to open your browser. First you need to know what the name or keysym of Ctrl+b is. As mentioned earlier you can use xbindkeys -k to find the name of a key or keys, but there is an easier way. For simple combinations like Ctrl+b you can just use:
Control+b
A lot easier isn't it!
Now find the command for your favorite browser:
For Firefox: firefox
For Chromium: chromium-browser
For Opera: opera
Remember the syntax from earlier? The xbindkeys command to launch Firefox (or your other favorite browser) when you press Ctrl+b is:
"firefox"
Control+b
Now put that in your config file and save it. Now you might notice your command doesn't work yet, that's because xbindkeys isn't running. To start it just run xbindkeys from a terminal. Your Ctrl+b should now start your browser!
If you want a key on your keyboard to call a different key on your keyboard, you will need an extra piece of software as xbindkeys does not support this on it's own. I know of two programs which we can use, xdotool and xte. I prefer xte so I'm going to use that.
Install it:
sudo apt-get install xautomation
The syntax for xte is like this:
xte 'command key/mousebutton/xyCoordinates'
Examples:
To call a single key press: xte 'key keyName'
To call a key combination: xte 'keydown keyName' 'keydown secondKeyName' 'keyup keyName' 'keyup secondKeyName
To call a mouse button: xte 'mouseclick buttonNumber' (We'll discuss finding button numbers a little latter)
To move the mouse: xte 'mousemove xCoordinate yCoordinate'
And more! Read man xte
Now that you know the command for simulating key presses you can call it from your xbindkeys script, like this:
"xte 'key b'"
Control+b
As you might guess, this calls xte 'key b' when we press Ctrl+b, which would enter a b into any document you might be currently working on.
I thing to note however is that xbindkeys and xte don't always work very well together. Sometimes you have to press the keys exactly at the same time to get output, other times it works just fine. This may or may not have to do with system configuration and/or hardware.. I'm not sure. See maggotbrain's answer for a more reliable way of binding keys to other keys.
You can also use xbindkeys to bind mouse buttons to commands (and thence keyboard shortcuts, see above). The basic format for mouse buttons should be familiar to you now:
" [command to run] "
b:n
Where [command to run] is the command you want to run and n the number of the mouse button you want to use for that command.
If you don't know the number of your mouse button you can use xev to find out what it is:
xev | grep button
The output will be something like this:
user@host:~$ xev | grep button
state 0x10, button 1, same_screen YES
state 0x110, button 1, same_screen YES
state 0x10, button 2, same_screen YES
state 0x210, button 2, same_screen YES
state 0x10, button 3, same_screen YES
state 0x410, button 3, same_screen YES
When I press each of my mouse buttons.
For example:
" firefox "
b:2
Launches firefox when I press my middle mouse button.
Changing key bindings using xev and xmodmap.
Both command line applications are available by default, so there is no need to install additional software.
Xev "creates a window and then asks the X server to send it events whenever anything happens to the window (such as it being moved, resized, typed in, clicked in, etc.)." xev man page
xmodmap is a "program is used to edit and display the keyboard modifier map and keymap table that are used by client applications to convert event keycodes into keysyms." xmodmap man page
The following example will remap the Caps_Lock key to the behavior of the Esc key (Many vi/vim users find this to be a useful keyboard mapping).
Start the xev application from a terminal window (Ctrl-Alt-t). It may be useful to grep its output like xev | grep -i key
The application will initialize, display a number of lines, and start a small window with a box.
Keep the xev application window in focus, and press the key whose properties/behavior that you wish to use.
In the terminal window, you will see several lines of output. Make note of 3rd line returned. This will contain the name of the property you wish to move to the other key.
KeyPress event, serial 32, synthetic NO, window 0x3e00001,
root 0x256, subw 0x0, time 16245388, (616,73), root:(1487,535),
state 0x10, keycode 9 (keysym 0xff1b, Escape), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (1b) ""
In this case, the Esc key(keycode 9) uses the name "Escape".
This time we are looking for the keycode that Caps Lock is using.
Again, note the 3rd line:
KeyRelease event, serial 32, synthetic NO, window 0x4c00001,
root 0x256, subw 0x0, time 94702774, (862,151), root:(1733,613),
state 0x10, keycode 66 (keysym 0xffe5, Caps_Lock), same_screen YES,
XKeysymToKeycode returns keycode: 9
XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (1b) ""
Now that we have obtained the information on the keys that we wish to change from xev, we will use xmodmap to modify the keymaps.
From the command terminal (Ctrl+Alt+t), run the following commands:
This command modifies the Caps Lock to use the same behavior as Esc
xmodmap -e "keycode 66 = Escape"
You can also remap it to basically any key, here it is remapped to the p key
xmodmap -e "keycode 66 = p"
This option prints the current keymap table as expressions into the file ~/.Xmodmap
xmodmap -pke > ~/.Xmodmap
Activate the changes(for this login session only) with following command:
xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap
Making changes persistent across reboots:
If it doesn't exist, create a file in your home folder called .xinitrc.
touch ~/.xinitrc
Place the following line in the file and save the file:
xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap
(such as Num Lock)
Obtain the keymap table for the modifier keys (output abbreviated here)
$ xmodmap -pm
shift Shift_L (0x32), Shift_R (0x3e)
mod2 Num_Lock (0x4d)
If you wanted to change, for example, the behavior of the period on Del/Period key on the number keypad, to a comma, use the following command:
xmodmap -e "keycode 91 mod2 = KP_Delete comma"
Note that this is using mod2 keymapping to change key behavior when the modifier Num Lock is pressed.
The syntax for this is:
xmodmap -e "<KEYCODE> <MODIFIER> = <behaviour> <behaviour_with_modifier>"
xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap freezes my terminal on Ubuntu 20.04. Any thoughts?
By default (This is just to complement the Excellent answer by Seth), Ubuntu (In this example I am using 16.04) has 2 categories that come by default in the System Settings:
To go to the System Settings, on the Top Right click on the Gear icon:
Then select System Settings:
Here you will find 2 options that can send you to the Shortcut Creation section.
If you select Text Entry you will have to select the Keyboard Settings Link on the Bottom Right which would send you directly to the Shortcuts options.
If you select the Keyboard option, you would have to click on the Shortcuts Tab
After arriving at the Shortcuts tabs, you would select the Custom Shortcuts at the bottom of the list in the left side:
And then click on the Plus Sign at the bottom in order to start creating your very own Shortcut:
From there on, it's just a matter of you adding the name of the shortcut (Do not confuse the name of the shortcut, for the name of the actual command you will be executing). And below, in the Command field, is where you will put what command will be executed for this shortcut. In the following example I named the Shortcut "Sublime Text 3" to know what that specific shortcut relates to. And on the command field I added the actual command which is subl.
You will end up with the following on screen that shows that, since the shortcut does not yet have a key or key combination assigned, it is Disabled by default:
We would then click on the "Disabled" message in order to add a key combination to it:
In this part, I assign the key combination of SHIFT+CTRL+S so that when I press this combination it opens the Sublime Text App.
After which, you can simply test your combination by pressing the corresponding key combination and seeing the app open:
NOTE: For special combinations like the one to kill the X Server, I suggest visiting the following link: How do I enable Ctrl-Alt-Backspace to kill the X server?
If you click on the Options button at the bottom right (Found on 13.04 or previous versions)... Where is the options button on versions >13.04?
Go to System Settings → Keboard, select Shortcuts tab and add a new custom shortcut for your browser. If your default brouser is Firefox, use firefox for in command field; if your default brouser is Firefox, use chromium-browser, and so on:
You can create complex (multi-key) keyboard shortcuts by installing AutoKey from the software center. Unlike xmodmap, AutoKey doesn't rebind the actual keys on your keyboard; it runs in the background and intercepts your defined keyboard shortcuts, then sends simulated keypresses to your applications.
The first time you launch AutoKey, it will start the service in the background (the notification icon hasn't been updated for unity, so there's no visual indication). Once it's running, you can bring up the configuration interface by running the launcher again:
Now open Edit > Preferences and select "Automatically start AutoKey at login" to make sure that your shortcuts work whenever you are logged in.
Type the keys you want to map to in the text box.
+ between them (e.g. <ctrl>+c would copy in most applications; <ctrl>+c<ctrl>+n<ctrl>+v would create a new document containing the selection; <shift>+ubuntu would type the text "Ubuntu")Press the "Set" button next to "Hotkey". This will bring up a dialog that allows you to determine the key combination you want to map from:
Select File > Save
An example of a completed configuration (which sends <enter> when you press <ctrl>+m) looks like this:
Try this:
Install a program called XKeyCaps. To install, just press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open Terminal. When it opens, run the command(s) below:
sudo apt-get install xkeycaps
Once installed, you can do xkeycaps at the prompt to run the program. Once it runs, choose the right keyboard layout, and click OK
Then when you get the keyboard on the screen right click the key that you want, in your case its the S, and choose exchange keys.
Make sure to add the line below to your sessions so it autostarts each time you boot up.
xmodmap ~/.xmodmap-`uname-n`
Source: UFM ytsejam1138
xkb is the X Keyboard extension. It is responsible for mapping your keyboard's keys to their designated function.
xkb symbols can be found in /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/. The modifier keys are mapped in /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc.
Say, I need to switch the functions of Caps Lock and Left Control keys. These changes are required to the pc file:
key <CAPS> { [ Control_L ] };
key <LCTL> { [ Caps_Lock ] };
In order to apply the new mappings you need to clear out xkb’s cache from /var/lib/xkb:
rm -rf /var/lib/xkb/*
Now, just restart your X session and you are good to go.
Source: https://radu.cotescu.com/remapping-keys-in-ubuntu-14.04/
Edit:
Doing an ls inside the symbols directory gives this:
af cm gn kz nec_vndr sk
al cn gr la ng sn
altwin compose group latam nl sony_vndr
am ctrl hp_vndr latin no srvr_ctrl
apl cz hr level3 nokia_vndr sun_vndr
ara de hu level5 np sy
at digital_vndr ie lk olpc terminate
az dk il lt pc th
ba ee in lv ph tj
bd empty inet ma pk tm
be epo iq macintosh_vndr pl tr
bg es ir mao pt tw
br et is md ro typo
brai eurosign it me rs tz
bt fi jp mk ru ua
bw fo ke ml rupeesign us
by fr keypad mm se uz
ca fujitsu_vndr kg mn sgi_vndr vn
capslock gb kh mt sharp_vndr xfree68_vndr
cd ge kpdl mv shift za
ch gh kr nbsp si
The mappings inside the file ru are based on the Russian standard keyboard. The macintosh_vndr folder contains the mappings for Apple keyboards. In a nutshell, this approach is so much versatile. Go ahead and play with it :)
If you just want to remap keys, the other answers are great.
However, there's another way to approach it. AutoKey is a keyboard macro processor that allows you to associate any key/modifier combination with a script that can do almost anything you can do from your keyboard and a lot more.
AutoKey has a script recorder and a simple way to enter basic key sequences, but its scripts are written in Python and can do almost anything you can code.
The simplest way to use it is to have it send keystrokes to your applications/desktop. When used this way, the system/applications cannot tell that it's not you typing, so there is no API or other interface needed, they just do what "you" typed.
AutoKey can also process phrases. When you type a triggering character string, it can substitute new text for that string (either immediately or after you type a separator character like a newline or tab.)
It also has window filters so that you can restrict a particular phrase or script to only run in particular types of windows (like ones that have Mozilla in the title so they work only in things like Firefox or Thunderbird).
AutoKey currently has Gtk and Qt versions.
Edits:
User Forum Active user forum.
There are a number of example scripts in the wiki. Because it's primarily a GUI app with a lot of options, examples would require a lot of screenshots and a whole article.
I have a phrase defined so that when I type "Jmail!", it instantly replaces it with my rather long email address.
I wrote a script that is triggered by typing Ctrl-P which is only active in windows that have "Mozilla" in their title. Typing Ctrl-P brings up the (Firefox or Thunderbird) print dialog, selects Print to File and then fills in the name of the next available print file in my print queue (I number them 01, 02, ... and the script reads the queue directory, finds the last file number and increments it by 1). I use it with my duplex printing emulation software (duplexpr) to eliminate a ton of keystrokes and mouse movements.
I have seen some other scripts from gamers that let them access information about their character and resources very quickly so they can stay focused on the action.
USING KEYBOARD KEYS AS MOUSE BUTTONS
You may want to map a keyboard key to a mouse button. If you want to click using a keyboard key (useful if you have a macbook or a bad trackpad button) then you can do the following.
install some utilities:
sudo apt-get install x11-utils xkbset x11-xserver-utils
find the keycode for the key you want to map:
xev | grep keycode in the terminalpress the key of interest and a line like this will appear:
state 0x0, keycode 64 (keysym 0xffe9, Alt_L), same_screen YES,
using the keycode, remap the key to do the same as the left mouse button:
xkbset mxmodmap -e "keycode 64 = Pointer_Button1"Pointer_Button3 is the right mouse button and Pointer_Button2 is the middle.
It turned out that it is under the 'keyboard' application.
If you bring that up, you can then change shortcuts as needed...
change is a bit strange on first use. You click over on the right (the column that has ctrl-alt-T, Disabled, etc. then click the actual keys, eg ctrlaltb that you want. You'll see the new key sequence appear now in that space. Close the window (or click away) and the new shortcut will now work.
The shortcut already exist as WWW, just change it to Ctrl+Alt+b. No need to create a new one.
CCSM lets you change some system keyboard shortcuts.
To install it, use the Software Center, or this command:
sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
I used it to change the "Window spread" shortcut from the default Super+W to Super+Tab, like on Windows 10. From my answer on another thread:
- Run CCSM from the Dash.
- Go to Window management -> Scale -> Bindings tab -> Initiate Window Picker
Click the keyboard shortcut (
<Super>won your PC, but<Super>Tabin this screenshot).
Click Grab key combination, press the desired key(s), then click OK.
I wanted to press Print Screen to save a screen shot using the gnome-screenshot application, as in Mint
But I wanted to do it using terminal, not GUI, as I want to make it default while creating a custom ISO using squashfs tools.
First I installed gnome-screenshot using command
sudo apt-get install gnome-screenshot
Then I assigned the custom shortcut using Settings -> Keyboard -> Custom shortcuts -> Add (+) button ->
In the dialog:
Press Add Button
Then press the Print screen key.
Key is now bound, and I can save the screen shots as required.
But not using terminal, it's the GUI way
Then I installed dconf-editor using
sudo apt-get install dconf-editor
And search for gnome-screenshot
I find my custom key bindings at this path
/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/custom0/
Values of keys are:
Now I copy these and delete the GUI custom shortcut key
I open terminal and type these commands
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/custom0/command "'gnome-screenshot'"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/custom0/binding "'Print'"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/custom0/name "'print screen'"
And voila
Now I can save screen shots without any GUI only using dconf and terminal. I don't need dconf-editor any more either, it was just installed to get the values.
I tried Kevin's solution (the xmodmap approach) on ubuntu 18.04. It didn't work in my case. Yet this procedure made it work finally:
xmodmap .Xmodmap in a file called .xsession rather than .xinitrc. /home/<YOUR_USER_NAME>/.xsession as command.
xkb-answer: askubuntu.com/a/347382/354350