18

I want to have shortcuts like in Windows; Super opens the start menu, Super+S opens a search window, Super+E opens Thunar, etc.

I know how to set keyboard shortcuts, but when I set Super to open whiskermenu, whiskermenu also pops up in every other instance of Super+* shortcuts. I think this is because XFCE registers the shortcuts as they come, rather than waiting for simultaneous release (like in Windows).

How do I set that up?

3
  • Have you resolved this ? Sep 4, 2016 at 9:27
  • No I have not. Any suggestions welcome. Sep 4, 2016 at 13:23
  • I have the same problem, I hope we can find a solution for this.
    – GTRONICK
    Sep 22, 2016 at 19:19

2 Answers 2

9

You can achieve it this way:**

  1. Install xbindkeys

    sudo apt install xbindkeys
    
  2. Run the command:

    xbindkeys --key
    

    In the white box that appears, Press your key combination. Example Win + E will return the following :

    "(Scheme function)"
        m:0x50 + c:26
        Mod2+Mod4 + e
    

    Now copy the last (or last second) line and use it as given below.

    In newer versions before you need to do this, which let you jump the next step:

    Please, create one with 'xbindkeys --defaults > /home/$USER/.xbindkeysrc'.
    or, if you want scheme configuration style,
    with 'xbindkeys --defaults-guile > /home/$USER/.xbindkeysrc.scm'

  3. Create a new file .xbindkeysrc in your home Directory

    touch $HOME/.xbindkeysrc
    

    Open it

    nano $HOME/.xbindkeysrc
    

    Enter your required command and keys as given below

    "nautilus"
        release+Mod2+Mod4 + e
    

    (Note: Don't forget release , Replace "nautilus" with any command.)

    Similarly add all the requires command-key combinations one below the other

  4. Now add xbindkeys to xinitrc:

    sudo nano /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
    

    add xbindkeys to the starting (1st line or before . /etc/X11/Xsession)

Reboot your system and you should get expected behavior

TIP: Make sure you don't set conflicting configurations in xbindkeys and your GUI method provided by your DE

For more examples, man xbindkeys.

4
  • I'm no longer on Xubuntu or even XFCE, but will try and spin up a VM to test this. Thanks for taking the time to answer; I thought I would never get one! Oct 1, 2016 at 16:37
  • Will not work on Wayland
    – Ray Foss
    Apr 16, 2019 at 15:53
  • archwiki says that xinitrc is only for manual startup of xorg and xprofile is for ones with display managers. Is this true?
    – Aaron Liu
    Jul 1, 2023 at 20:49
  • Is it actual for Ubuntu 23.10?
    – emoxam
    Apr 3 at 17:39
2

You can fix it by install patched XOrg

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nrbrtx/xorg-hotkeys
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
2
  • PPAs are not safe in general, I'd recommend against this for safety reasons. Nov 15, 2019 at 18:56
  • @ijustlovemath So tell us other working way. It seems that "ppa:nrbrtx/xorg-hotkeys" working good. Even today.
    – emoxam
    Apr 3 at 17:38

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