Remapping Alt + F2 in Unity

Question

I disabled the Alt + F2 default shortcut in unity (ubuntu 11.10) using ccsm and I set a new shortcut using the default system shortcut manager (system settings > keyboard). And it works, until I execute a command like compiz --replace. After that, all shortcuts keep working normally, except for Alt + F2. It does nothing.

Any suggetions to keep the custom Alt + F2 shortcut working after compiz --replace?

Answer 1

Install gconf-editor if you don't have it. sudo apt-get install gconf-editor
Under Apps-compiz-1-plugins-unityshell-screen0-options set execute command to whatever you want it remapped to be.

One example could be Alt. If you want to set it to something that is already occupied(in the case of this example Alt, you may need to unset that shortcut in keyboard shortcuts first).

Reports indicate that setting it to nothing is ineffective. I would recommend setting it to something you don't anticipate using.

Answer 2

This is how I managed to do this with Unity

• Install CompizConfig by execute

  sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

• Open CompizConfig by typing "compiz" into your launcher or ccsm in terminal.

• Choose Advanced search, enter execute a command into the search box, choose Ubuntu Unity Plugin on the right.

• Edit the shortcut into something else, like Alt F3 and voila!

Credit: https://askubuntu.com/a/323945/189124

Answer 3

I would think this may be because of the order in which 'plugins' are loading. I would ensure that the setting has been changed in Unity. CCSM may be making the change under metacity.

I use gconf-editor (which is not installed by default); you can install by doing:

sudo apt-get install gconf-editor

After launching gconf-editor you navigate the tree:

apps > compiz-1 > plugins > unityshell > screen0 > options

There will be a setting in the right hand column 'execute_command' with a value of <Alt>F2 change this to Disabled or set a new combination.