• Introduction
• Installing
• Configuration and detecting key codes
• Examples and tips
• References

Xbindkeys is a program that allows you to launch shell commands with your keyboard or your mouse under X Window. It links commands to keys or mouse buttons, using a configuration file. It's independant of the window manager and can capture all keyboard keys (ex: Power, Wake…).

It is useful to make “dead keys” of a multimedia keyboard work. (ex: play, pause, browser homepage…)

Use tazpkg to quickly install xbindkeys package. Open a terminal as root and type:

# tazpkg get-install xbindkeys

—-

Xbindkeys uses a configuration file to link a command to a key on your keyboard. Usually this file is : $HOME/.xbindkeyrc

You can have a default one created by using :

$ xbindkeys --defaults > $HOME/.xbindkeysrc

Start the program using:

$ xbindkeys

To add a custom keyboard shortcut, first you have to detect the key code. To do this, use:

$ xbindkeys -k

When a small white window shows up on screen, just press the desired key. Terminal will show you the 3-line code of the pressed key. Example:

"(special function)"
m:0x10 + c:180
Mod2 + XF86HomePage

Now, close xbindkeys application to make changes on configuration file:

$ killall xbindkeys

Open .xbindkeysrc file on Leafpad (or on your favorite text editor) and copy the 3-line code above to the end of the file. We need to change the first code line to link the key code to a desired function. For example, if we want opening Midori when XF86Homepage key is pressed, we must change the first line to:

"midori"
m:0x10 + c:180
Mod2 + XF86HomePage

Save and close the .xbindkeysrc file. Restart xbindkeys program and your new shortcut is already working! To add other shortcuts, repeat the proceeding above.

If you want to detect a multi-key shortcut code, like CTRL+F, use:

$ xbindkeys -mk

Summary of commands:

# tazpkg get-install xbindkeys
$ xbindkeys --defaults > $HOME/.xbindkeysrc
$ xbindkeys
$ xbindkeys -k
$ killall xbindkeys
$ leafpad HOME/.xbindkeysrc
$ xbindkeys

This section shows you many command codes ready to use. Key codes (last two of 3-line key code) may vary from keyboard to keyboard, so it's up to you to catch them using xbindkeys.

#Muter/UnMute
"amixer set "Master" toggle"
m:0x00 + c:121
XF86AudioMute

#Volume up
"amixer set "Master" 5%+"
m:0x0 + c:123
XF86AudioRaiseVolume

#Volume down
"amixer set "Master" 5%-"
m:0x0 + c:122
XF86AudioLowerVolume

#stop alsaplayer
"alsaplayer --pause"
m:0x0 + c:172
XF86AudioPlay

#next alsaplayer
"alsaplayer --next"
m:0x0 + c:171
XF86AudioNext

#previous alsaplayer"
"alsaplayer --prev"
m:0x0 + c:173
XF86AudioPrev

#Open Midori at Homepage
"midori --execute Homepage"
m:0x10 + c:180
Mod2 + XF86HomePage

#Back for previous page
"midori --execute Back"
m:0x10 + c:166
Mod2 + XF86Back

#Forward to next page
"midori --execute Forward"
m:0x10 + c:167
Mod2 + XF86Forward

#Stop loading current page
"midori --execute Stop"
m:0x10 + c:136
Mod2 + Cancel

#Reload/Refresh current page
"midori --execute Reload"
m:0x10 + c:181
Mod2 + XF86Reload

NOTES: If you use Firefox or Google Chrome, there's no need to modify xbindkeysrc file: these browsers automatically recognize the multimedia keys. Also, if you change from Midori to Firefox or Chrome, you must comment (#) or delete the shortcuts above. If you don't do this, it will open a Midori window when you press a navigation button.

#suspend to ram
"sudo pm-suspend"
m:0x0 + c:150
XF86Sleep

NOTE: this one (suspend to ram) works if you install pm-utils.

#screenshot
"mtpaint -s"
m:0x0 + c:107
Print

To be continued… Please, don't modify this page yet.