Custom key bindings in Linux

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There are various ways to create custom key bindings/mappings in Linux, I’ll be using xbindkeys and Ubuntu in this tutorial. xbindkeys is a program that allows you to launch shell commands with your keyboard or mouse under the X Window System. It links commands to keys or mouse buttons, using a configuration file.

I have a ThinkPad and my keyboard has one of those blue buttons. Might as well put it to good use. I take a lot of screenshots, I’ll use it for that.

Install xbindkeys: apt-get install xbindkeys

Create a configuration file for xbindkeys: touch $HOME/.xbindkeysrc

Identify the key to be used for launching the command: xbindkeys --key followed by pressing the (blue) button

1 2 3 4 5 6

Press combination of keys or/and click under the window. You can use one of the two lines after "NoCommand" in $HOME/.xbindkeysrc to bind a key. "NoCommand" m:0x10 + c:156 Mod2 + XF86Launch1

4. Add key binding to the configuration file $HOME/.xbindkeysrc :

"gnome-screenshot" m:0x10 + c:156

"gnome-screenshot --window --remove-border --effect=shadow" Mod2 + XF86Launch1

5. Autostart xbindkeys (without arguments) on login. You can use the “Startup Applications” tool.

Posted by Dennis Ideler Jun 22 nd , 2013 productivity , tutorial

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