This is an old revision of the document!
Table of Contents
Xbindkeys
Table of contents
- Introduction
- Installing
- Configuration and detecting key codes
- Examples and tips
- References
Introduction
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…)
Installing
Use tazpkg to quickly install xbindkeys package. Open a terminal as root and type:
# tazpkg get-install xbindkeys
—-
Configuration and detecting key codes
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:
"(Scheme 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
Summary of commands:
# tazpkg get-install xbindkeys $ xbindkeys --defaults > $HOME/.xbindkeysrc $ xbindkeys $ xbindkeys -k $ killall xbindkeys $ leafpad HOME/.xbindkeysrc $ xbindkeys
Adding xbindkeys in autostarted applications
In the PCManFM in your home folder search for hidden folder .config, open it, next open openbox folder, and open autostart.sh in your text editor. Add these lines at the end of your file:
# Fn Keys xbindkeys &
Save and quit text editor. All custom shortcuts will stay after you reboot or switch off/on your machine.
Examples and tips
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.
Volume control (Alsa mixer)
#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
Alsaplayer
#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
Midori Browser
#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.
Power management
#suspend to ram "sudo pm-suspend" m:0x0 + c:150 XF86Sleep
NOTE: this one (suspend to ram) works if you install pm-utils.
#power off button "poweroff" m:0x0 + c:124 XF86PowerOff
Screenshots
#screenshot "mtpaint -s" m:0x0 + c:107 Print
References
Xbindkeys homepage:
http://www.nongnu.org/xbindkeys/xbindkeys.html
Forum topics:
http://forum.slitaz.org/topic/make-fn-keys-work
http://forum.slitaz.org/topic/slitaz-40-how-to-made-screen-shots-captures-d-ecran
http://forum.slitaz.org/topic/keyboard-shortcutshooks
http://forum.slitaz.org/topic/keyboard-shortcuts-how-create-them
http://forum.slitaz.org/topic/magic-sysrq-keys-power-button
http://forum.slitaz.org/topic/power-button-shutdown
http://forum.slitaz.org/topic/fn-key
Page Review Section | |
---|---|
Quality | |
Review | |
Priority | |
Problems | |
How to Improve | |
Add new rows like this | |