Letting modifier keys act as toggles under X

Question

Is there any way to let the Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys behave as toggles under X? I know how one could do it under CLI (for example, by doing this) but found no reference for doing so under X.

Please note that this is not a question on sticky keys, which can be enabled by an accessibility option.

Answer 1

This is implemented on the DE level AFAIK. KDE has the option to Lock Sticky Keys:

With Lock Sticky Keys enabled:

If you press the Shift key twice then press the F key, the computer interprets this as Shift+F. Now if you type a P, the computer interprets this as the letter P (Shift+P). To de-select the Shift key, press it again.

http://docs.kde.org/stable/en/kdebase-workspace/kcontrol/kcmaccess/index.html

Answer 2

Keys in X11 are remapped with xmodmap, but there is no Control_Lock in /usr/include/X11/keysymdef.h

If you have a few keys you could map Control to something like ISO_Next_Group_Lock and define your keys in this group with Control + Key.

I found some info here: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=75771

Answer 3

This can be achieved using XKB compatibility component

1. Check the compatibility variant you are using

   $ setxkbmap -v -query
   Trying to build keymap using the following components:
   keycodes:   evdev+aliases(qwerty)
   types:      complete
   compat:     complete
   symbols:    pc+us(altgr-intl)+us:2+inet(evdev)
   geometry:   pc(pc105)
   rules:      evdev
   model:      pc105
   layout:     us,us
   variant:    altgr-intl,
   
   $ more /usr/share/X11/xkb/compat/complete 
   default xkb_compatibility "complete"  {
       include "basic"
       augment "iso9995"
       augment "mousekeys"
       augment "accessx(full)"
       augment "misc"
       augment "xfree86"
       augment "level5"
       augment "caps(caps_lock)"
   };
   

2. Modify misc file, the one which contains the needed modifiers interpretations

   sudo nano /usr/share/X11/xkb/compat/misc
   

   I have changed Shift_L, Alt_L & Alt_R action from SetMods to LockMods, added new Shift_R, Control_L & Control_R interpretation with LockMods and commented //setMods.clearLocks (not sure if it's needed). Here is the complete file:

   default partial xkb_compatibility "misc"  {
   
       virtual_modifiers   Alt,Meta,Super,Hyper,ScrollLock;
   
       // Interpretations for some other useful keys
   
       interpret Terminate_Server {
           action = Terminate();
       };
   
       //setMods.clearLocks= True;
   
       // Sets the "Alt" virtual modifier
   
       interpret Alt_L+Any     {
           //useModMapMods= level1;
       virtualModifier= Alt;
       action = LockMods(modifiers=modMapMods);
       };
   
       interpret Alt_L {
       action = LockMods(modifiers=Alt);
       };
   
       interpret Alt_R+Any     {
           //useModMapMods= level1;
       virtualModifier= Alt;
       action = LockMods(modifiers=modMapMods);
       };
   
       interpret Alt_R {
       action = LockMods(modifiers=Alt);
       };
   
       // Sets the "Meta" virtual modifier
   
       interpret Meta_L+Any     {
   //        useModMapMods= level1;
       virtualModifier= Meta;
       action = SetMods(modifiers=modMapMods);
       };
   
       interpret Meta_L    {
       action = SetMods(modifiers=Meta);
       };
   
       interpret Meta_R+Any     {
           //useModMapMods= level1;
       virtualModifier= Meta;
       action = SetMods(modifiers=modMapMods);
       };
   
       interpret Meta_R    {
       action = SetMods(modifiers=Meta);
       };
   
       // Sets the "Super" virtual modifier
   
       interpret Super_L+Any     {
   //        useModMapMods= level1;
       virtualModifier= Super;
       action = SetMods(modifiers=modMapMods);
       };
   
       interpret Super_L   {
       action = SetMods(modifiers=Super);
       };
   
       interpret Super_R+Any     {
           //useModMapMods= level1;
       virtualModifier= Super;
       action = SetMods(modifiers=modMapMods);
       };
   
       interpret Super_R   {
       action = SetMods(modifiers=Super);
       };
   
       // Sets the "Hyper" virtual modifier
   
       interpret Hyper_L+Any     {
   //        useModMapMods= level1;
       virtualModifier= Hyper;
       action = SetMods(modifiers=modMapMods);
       };
   
       interpret Hyper_L   {
       action = SetMods(modifiers=Hyper);
       };
   
       interpret Hyper_R+Any     {
           //useModMapMods= level1;
       virtualModifier= Hyper;
       action = SetMods(modifiers=modMapMods);
       };
   
       interpret Hyper_R   {
       action = SetMods(modifiers=Hyper);
       };
   
       // Sets the "ScrollLock" virtual modifier and
       // makes it actually lock when pressed.  Sets
       // up a map for the scroll lock indicator.
       interpret Scroll_Lock+Any   {
       virtualModifier= ScrollLock;
       action = LockMods(modifiers=modMapMods);
       };
   
       include "ledscroll"
   
       include "misc(assign_shift_left_action)"
   };
   
   partial xkb_compatibility "assign_shift_left_action"  {
       // Because of the irrevertable modifier mapping in symbols/pc <LFSH> is 
       // getting bound to the Lock modifier when using 
       // symbols/shift(both_capslock), creating unwanted behaviour. 
       // This is a quirk, to circumvent the problem.
       interpret Shift_L {
           action = LockMods(modifiers = Shift);
       };
   
       interpret Shift_R {
           action = LockMods(modifiers = Shift);
       };
   
       interpret Control_L {
           action = LockMods(modifiers = Control);
       };
   
       interpret Control_R {
           action = LockMods(modifiers = Control);
       };
   
   };
   

3. Compile the change & update the initramfs images

   sudo dpkg-reconfigure xkb-data
   sudo update-initramfs -u -k all
   

4. Reboot

References:

• Archlinux Wiki: X KeyBoard extension
• An Unreliable Guide to XKB Configuration
• XKB Configuration Files