View source for Linux Tools to Remap Keys and Mouse Buttons

Various facilities available:
* xbindKeys - a program that grab keys and mouse button events in X and starts associated shell command.  This is to make a key press do something, such as start a program.
* xbindkeys-config - a graphical front-end to xbindkeys.
* xte - use with xbindkeys.  xte is a program that generates fake input using the XTest extension, more reliable than xse. 
* xmodmap - a program which remaps keys to various functions. xmodmap is a utility for modifying keymaps and pointer button mappings in Xorg. Use this to make a key press act as another key press. As of 2013, Ubuntu and derivatives no longer use xmodmap, but instead use xkb.
* xfce4-keyboard-settings - a graphical front-end in Xfce with an "Applications Shortcut" facility for mapping keys to various functions similar to xbindkeys-config, but not using xbindKeys.
* xinput - a utility to list available input devices, query information about a device and change input device settings. 
* xkb - The Xorg XKB replaces xmodmap and more.  It is new.
* imwheel - 
* evrouter - simulate X11 key events and mouse events and run shell controls.

These tools apply to XFree86 X servers and X.org on Linux.

== xbindkeys ==

To install on Ubuntu and Debian:
 sudo apt-get install xbindkeys xbindkeys-config 

Runs process
 /usr/bin/xbindkeys -f /home/mythbox/.xbindkeysrc

There is a graphical configuration tool called xbindkeys-config (GTK frontend).

An example to put in .xbindkeysrc to have CONTROL F open the Firefox web browser.
 "firefox"
   control + f

== xte ==

Install on Ubuntu
 sudo apt-get install xautomation

Example:
 xte 'keydown XF86Paste' 'keyup XF86Paste'

External resources:
* [http://blog.hanschen.org/2009/10/13/mouse-shortcuts-with-xbindkeys/ Mouse shortcuts with xbindkeys]

=== Using xbindkeys with xte ===

Some examples:
 # close the window under the mouse cursor
  "xte 'mouseclick 1' && xte 'keydown Alt_L' 'key F4' 'keyup Alt_L'"
   b:8+Release

 # double click
  "xte 'mouseclick 1' 'mouseclick 1'"
   b:9
=== Using xbindkeys with xvkbd ===
xvkbd is a virtual (graphical) keyboard program for X Window System which provides facility to enter characters onto other clients (softwares) by clicking on a keyboard displayed on the screen. This may be used for systems without a hardware keyboard such as kiosk terminals or handheld devices. This program also has facility to send characters specified as the command line option to another client. 

 sudo apt-get install xvkbd

Using xvkbd (X Virtual Keyboard) it is possible to do something such as mapping the middle mouse button to act as a keyboard key, such as the escape key, as in the example below:  First, open .xbindkeysrc
 vi ~/.xbindkeysrc
Add the following:
 # 3rd mouse button to Escape
 "xvkbd  -text "\e""
    m:0x0 + b:3

This example was a useful way to make a specific button on the [[Aerb Remote Control MX3]] perform a needed keypress for [[MythTV]].

== xmodmap ==

{{:Multimedia Key Mapping in Mythbuntu using xmodmap}}

== xkb ==
The X KeyBoard extension, otherwise known as xkb, is does the mapping of physical keys to their proper function.  The kernel manages console keyboard input, and in X it's managed by xkb, X Keyboard. xkb controls keymapping, keyboard models, and layouts.  

xkb symbol files can be found in /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols and the modifier keys are mapped in /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc

In current Ubuntu distributions, the default directory is not /etc/X11/xkb but rather /usr/share/X11/xkb for xkb.

Example: Disable CAPS LOCK and make it so you can toggle the caps lock state by pressing both shift keys at the same time.  Type the following at console:
 setxkbmap -option "caps:none"
 setxkbmap -option "shift:both_capslock"

External resources:
* [http://madduck.net/docs/extending-xkb/ Extending the X keyboard map with xkb]
* [http://www.x.org/releases/current/doc/xorg-docs/input/XKB-Config.html The XKB Configuration Guide]
* [http://www.charvolant.org/~doug/xkb/ An Unreliable Guide to XKB Configuration]
* [http://www.pixelbeat.org/docs/xkb_remap/ XKB keyboard remapping]
* [http://www.linux.com/learn/tutorials/769644-hacking-your-linux-keyboard-with-xkb Hacking Your Linux Keyboard with xkb: Linux.com]

keyword: XKeyboardConfig

== xinput ==

To get a list of the various input devices, mice and keyboards
 xinput -list

== related ==

* [[USB Mouse Configuration in Linux]]
* [[Multi-Button Mouse and Linux Mint]]
* [[Linux Tools to Remap Keys and Mouse Buttons]]
* [[USB Device Diagnostics in Linux]]


[[Category:Computer_Technology]]
[[Category:Linux]]
[[Category:Ubuntu]]
[[Category:MythTV]]