[NTLUG:Discuss] Instant access keys.

[Kevin Brannen]

Steve,

Most window managers allow you to map "key events" to actions, the most
powerful action being the "exec" function.  So if you can find out what
the key sends (try using xev to help), then in theory, you could create
that key/action mapping in our window manager's .rc file.  In that
mapping, you also should get the chance to say where that mapping
applies:  root window, frames, ...; so just make sure it applies
everywhere. :-)

If that proves to be a little too hard, because of very odd sequences,
you could simplify it a bit by using xmodmap to change that "extra"
key's scancode to something else (on my laptop, I change the left
"windows key" to page-up and the right "windows key" to page-down) like
Alt-F20 (or something else you'll probably never use), then do the first
paragraphs's work by mapping Alt-F20 to the action you need done.

HTH,
Kevin


Steve Baker wrote:
> 
> A lot of keyboards are coming with some *really* dedicated
> keys that presumably bind to special software in Windoze.  I'm
> talking about fluff like 'Instant Internet' buttons and things
> that turn the sound volume up and down.
> 
> I'm not impressed with these things - but my wife *is*. She's
> been known to hound me about getting Windoze on our PC at home
> (presently a Linux box) because: "you can get on the Internet
> with just one button - without all the messing around with
> pppup and netscape".
> 
> So, is there an easy way to tie either standard function keys
> to desktop functions - or especially - those funky extra keys?
> Bearing in mind that it has to work no matter which window
> the mouse might happen to be pointing at.
> 
> Let's assume that X is already running - so it doesn't have
> to work from the Linux console.
> 
> --
> Steve Baker                  http://web2.airmail.net/sjbaker1
> sjbaker1 at airmail.net (home)  http://www.woodsoup.org/~sbaker
> sjbaker at hti.com      (work)
> 
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