Linux: Keyboard Software Guide

This page is a overview of how to create keyboard shortcuts, how to remap/swap keys, how to change keyboard layout.

In Linux, there are 2 steps to create keyboard shortcuts:

1. Action: A shell command that does something, for example, switch/close window, simulate key press, mouse click, launch app, open file, empty trash.
2. Bind Key: Make a key press run a shell command/script.

First, let's look at the easy way.

Basic of Keybinding Using Control Panel

The most easy way to add a new keyboard shortcut or keyboard layout, is the system control panel in a graphical user interface (available in any of the Gnome, KDE, Ubuntu, Xfce, LXDE). Under the system control panel (aka Setting Manager or System Preference), usually there are apps named Window Manager, or Keyboard, or Keyboard Layout.

The window manager typically lets you set keys related to manipulating windows, system-wide, such as switching windows, close window, max/min window, move window, show/hide/iconify window, switch workspace (aka virtual screen), etc.

The keyboard setting tool typically lets you set a key to launch app, or run a shell script. But it does not lets you swap keys, or set a key to send key combo such as 【Ctrl+s】

Swapping Keys, Remap Keys

How to set system keyboard layout?

keybinding in linux can be divided into 2 layers: the X11 window system layer, or system level.

Many keybinding setup works in X11 layer only. i.e. when in Virtual Console or single user mode console or system startup console, your custome key setting won't kick in.

The letter layout, is usually in the system layer. (but it can also be X11 layer only too.)

[see Linux: Set System Keyboard Layout]

Tool to Bind Key

xbindkeys

if your desktop doesn't provide a way to bind a key to launch a script, then you can use xbindkeys.

[see Linux: xbindkeys Tutorial]

Tool for Key Actions

#Install xdotool
 sudo apt-get install xdotool

Other Keyboard Tools

Mouse Extra Button Tools

• roccat mouse Linux drivers. http://sourceforge.net/projects/roccat/
• by Michael Speth http://sourceforge.net/projects/kbmaster/

How to set 5 buttons mouse?

apt-get install imwheel for config mouse buttons.

Emacs

See: Emacs Keybinding, Keyboard, Articles Index.

Space Bar as Dual Key

Linux utility to configure modifier keys to act as other keys when pressed and released on their own. https://github.com/alols/xcape