Linux: LXDE/Openbox, Change Keyboard Shortcuts

This page shows you how to add or remove keyboard shortcuts for linux LXDE/Openbox.

Edit the file at

~/.config/openbox/lxde-rc.xml

or

~/.config/openbox/lubuntu-rc.xml

Example: Toggle Maximize Window

For example, to make F12 key toggle maximize window, add the following

<!-- toggle maximize window -->
<keybind key="F12">
  <action name="ToggleMaximize"/>
</keybind>

Copy and paste the above inside the <keyboard>…</keyboard> tags.

Example: Run Terminal Command

This example shows how to set a key to run any terminal command.

<!-- switch to Firefox -->
<keybind key="F8">
  <action name="Execute">
    <command>wmctrl -xa firefox</command>
  </action>
</keybind>

You need to install wmctrl for switching windows by name.

[see Linux: Add Keyboard Shortcut to Switch App]

Example: Resize/Move Window

Examples of resize window, move window, etc.

<!-- resize window. Control F1 -->
<keybind key="C-F1">
  <action name="Resize"/>
</keybind>

<!-- move window -->
<keybind key="C-F2">
  <action name="Move"/>
</keybind>

<keybind key="F1">
  <action name="Iconify"/>
</keybind>

<keybind key="F12">
  <action name="ToggleMaximize"/>
</keybind>

Example: Switch to Next Window

This example switch to next window, like Alt+Tab, but using the Pause key.

<!-- like alt+tab, use pause key -->
<keybind key="Pause">
  <action name="NextWindow">
    <dialog>yes</dialog>
    <interactive>yes</interactive>
    <raise>yes</raise>
  </action>
</keybind>

Example: Send a Key

The next example shows you how to send a key. You need xvkbd installed.

[see Linux: xvkbd tutorial]

<!-- prev tab -->
<keybind key="F11">
  <action name="Execute">
    <command>xvkbd -no-jump-pointer -xsendevent -text '\C\[ISO_Left_Tab]'</command>
  </action>
</keybind>

<!-- next tab -->
<keybind key="F12">
  <action name="Execute">
    <command>xvkbd -no-jump-pointer -xsendevent -text '\C\[Tab]'</command>
  </action>
</keybind>

<!-- close window. Ctrl+w -->
<keybind key="F14">
  <action name="Execute">
    <command>xvkbd -no-jump-pointer -xsendevent -text '\Cw'</command>
  </action>
</keybind>

Reload Config File

After you changed the config, reload it, by

# reload openbox key config
openbox-lxde --reconfigure

Key Syntax

Modifier key syntax

• S → Shift key
• C → Ctrl key
• A → Alt key
• W → Super key (the Microsoft Windows logo key)
• M → Meta key
• H → Hyper key

For example, if you want Alt+7, use <keybind key="A-7">.

Special Key Syntax

Key syntax for function keys. page up/down, home/end, tab, enter, etc, are standard X11 “keysyms”.

[see Linux: X11 Keyboard Key Names]

For example, if you want Alt+↑, use <keybind key="A-Up">.

Remove Keys

To remove keys, just delete the proper section.

For example, i want to removeCtrl+Alt+→ (because i need it for emacs). I delete the following:

<keybind key="C-A-Left">
  <action name="DesktopLeft">
    <dialog>no</dialog>
    <wrap>no</wrap>
  </action>
</keybind>

<keybind key="C-A-Right">
  <action name="DesktopRight">
    <dialog>no</dialog>
    <wrap>no</wrap>
  </action>
</keybind>

<keybind key="C-A-Up">
  <action name="DesktopUp">
    <dialog>no</dialog>
    <wrap>no</wrap>
  </action>
</keybind>

<keybind key="C-A-Down">
  <action name="DesktopDown">
    <dialog>no</dialog>
    <wrap>no</wrap>
  </action>
</keybind>

Disable Mouse Scroll Wheel Shade Window

Linux: LXDE/OpenBox, Disable Mouse Scroll Wheel Hide Window

Reference

http://openbox.org/wiki/Help:Bindings