I'm trying to use the 3D software Blender in Ubuntu and the software is very keyboard shortcut heavy. The issue is, a lot of the keyboard shortcuts overlap with Ubuntu's system shortcuts. For example, Alt+RightClick is a shortcut in Blender. However, Ubuntu overrides and displays a menu which allows me to minimize/close/maximize/etc the window. Is there any way to disable all the keyboard shortcuts except for Alt+Tab when I'm using blender? I like the shortcuts in all my other programs, but since Blender has too many intersecting shortcuts, I just want to turn off the system shortcuts when I'm in Blender. Any ideas?
Ubuntu – Disable all keyboard shortcuts except for Alt+Tab in program
blendercompizkeyboardshortcut-keysunity
Related Solutions
Here is an example of how to disable and enable individual shortcut-keys in Compiz:
Assign these two commands to hotkeys, or just run them in the terminal (either asis, or in scripts).
You can setup your shortcut-keys via "Keyboard Shortcuts" in the Preferences Menu... (I use xbindkeys.. It has finer control over wihch keys you can use. eg Numlock on/off makes a difference.)
Turn enable the shortcut-key for: Zoom Specific Level 1:
gconftool-2 --set /apps/compiz/plugins/ezoom/allscreens/options/zoom_specific_1_key --type string "<Shift><Control>Return"
Turn disable the shortcut-key for: Zoom Specific Level 1:
gconftool-2 --set /apps/compiz/plugins/ezoom/allscreens/options/zoom_specific_1_key --type string "Disabled"
If there are many hotkeys, just make two scripts: one for on, and the other for off
You can find all the Compiz keys in Gconf Editor: `gconf-editorenter code here
It is possible to achieve this with a python script. The script requires python-wnck and python-gtk to be installed in order to work, although I think these are installed by default anyway.
Copy and paste this into a text editor and save in a sensible place (eg. as minimise.py in your home folder):
#!/usr/bin/env python
import wnck
import gtk
screen = wnck.screen_get_default()
while gtk.events_pending():
gtk.main_iteration()
windows = screen.get_windows()
active = screen.get_active_window()
for w in windows:
if not w == active:
w.minimize()
You can then set up the keyboard shortcut by opening Keyboard Shortcuts.
Click on Add to create a new shortcut.
Use the command bash -c 'python ~/minimise.py' (this is assuming you saved it as minimise.py in your home folder).
You can then assign your preferred keyboard combination to this action.
The script will minimise all non-active windows. I don't think this is very useful for your use case because you will want to have all of the Gimp windows open. You can use a slightly different script to minimise all windows that aren't from the current application instead:
#!/usr/bin/env python
import wnck
import gtk
screen = wnck.screen_get_default()
while gtk.events_pending():
gtk.main_iteration()
windows = screen.get_windows()
active_app = screen.get_active_window().get_application()
for w in windows:
if not w.get_application() == active_app:
w.minimize()
Best Answer
This issue happens quite often with default settings. A lots of applications rely on Alt shortcuts but don't work because unity or compiz is already using them.
I don't know of a way to disable the shortcuts temporarily, but even if there is the best solution i've found is to avoid conflicts altogether. The first thing i do on a new setup is go through the desktop keyboard shortcut settings and have them use Super instead of Alt.
It makes things very clear:
The "windows" keys act as Super by default, but you could have the "menu" key do it:
(i like to have it on the right side and there's no right "window" key on my keyboard)
System Settings -> Keyboard Layout -> Layouts -> Options -> Alt/Win Key Behavior
and choose "Alt is mapped to Right Win, Super to Menu".
Now go through keyboard shortcut settings and change Alt bindings to Super ones.
Change compiz shortcuts as well with CompizConfig Settings Manager (install it first).
You can easily find all Alt shortcuts with:
Advanced Search -> Search in ... Settings value and type "Alt"
That's it, you will never be annoyed by conflicting shortcuts again.