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Get the Damn Windows Key Working

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Get the Damn Windows Key Working

2 Nov
ubuntu karmic koala

So you’ve got Linux Ubuntu and wonder how to have that Windows key do something useful, or just do anything. Here’s how to set it up.

Let’s make that Windows key do something useful, (other than just openly advertising the fact that Microsoft operates a cartel and we’re all pretty much obliged to bow to that.)

Open this file, else it’ll create if never before used:-

[sniplet guvSellBox]
[sniplet jauntyIndexSell]
[text]sudo nano /home/USERNAME/.xstartup[/text]

In there, paste:-

[text]
xmodmap -e “keycode 115 = Super_L”
xmodmap -e “add mod4 = Super_L”
[/text]

Now go here:-

[text]System > Preferences > Keyboard shortcuts[/text]

Choose whatever tasks you want to assign to a Windows key+something combination, click on the current shortcut, if any, and click your preferred combo.

For instance, I change these:-

Show the panel’s run application dialogue box Wins+R
Search Wins+S

If you have any problems, try adding this line to the .xstartup file:-

[text]xmodmap -e “remove mod4 = F13″[/text]

Want more shortcut ideas? Here’s a start, Part 17 – Custom Keyboard Application Shortcuts.

[sniplet jauntyIndex]

Posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2009
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  1. Tony Maro November 4th, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    Keep in mind, the Windows key is bound to many of the default Compiz settings, so if you’re running the enhanced desktop effects, you might not want to mess with that.

    For instance, I use the “Desktop Expo” effect, and hitting Win+E will zoom out to view all my desktops side by side.

  2. the_guv November 5th, 2009 at 8:32 am

    @Tony .. fair play, tx .. similar deal with a bunch of apps, besides.

    F’rinstance, I use the Windows key in Quanta as part of a combinator to issue various commands (mainly wrapping code chunks) .. so beware that your splendid shortcuts can come undone when you change defaults. Easy enough to change back though.

  3. loevborg December 2nd, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    I don’t think remapping the windows key (in vendor-neutral language Super key or Mod4 key) is a good idea. As Tony says, some existing bindings will stop working. What’s more, it’s not really necessary to use the key. For instance, you can set up “Win+T” to start a terminal in “System/Preferences/Keyboard Shortcuts”: just click on “Run a Terminal” and hit Win+T. It’ll show up as “Mod4+T”.

  4. the_guv December 7th, 2009 at 9:56 am

    @loevborg .. tx for that but tell me ..

    “some existing bindings will stop working” .. which ones? haven’t had problems. then again, using Keyboard Shortcuts is a good idea as well and covered in this guide as an alternative or additional method.

  5. Anant Shrivastava March 19th, 2010 at 8:07 am

    any means to get windows or or SuperL to work independently example to open ubuntu menu.

  6. the_guv April 1st, 2010 at 3:29 am

    @anant .. sorry, never tried with that but daresay there are some guides about via the big G :P

  7. Meins321 April 18th, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    Can please descibe how to use Windows Key alone? without any combo with “+E” or “+X” just how to use it alone?

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