Xbindkeys¶
author: | sidini, linea, hgt |
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Introduction¶
Xbindkeys is a program that allows you to launch shell commands with your keyboard or your mouse under X Windows. It links commands to keys or mouse buttons using a configuration file. It’s independent of the window manager and can capture all keyboard keys (ex: Power, Wake…).
It is handy 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/.xbindkeysrc
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 to open 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 procedure 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
Note
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