Ubuntu – How to make “CTRL + ALT + T” open new Terminal window when one is already open

gnomegnome-terminalshortcut-keys

I am running Ubuntu GNOME 15.10 with GNOME 3.18 and would like to know if there is some way to get CTRL + ALT + T to open a new Terminal window even if one is already open (that is rather than just bring the currently open one to the front)?

Best Answer

The funny thing is that on Unity, CTRL + ALT + T does open a new window, apparantly not on Gnome...

To make the setup:

First disable the existing command/key combination with the command:
```
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys terminal ""
```
Which will make CTRL + ALT + T "available" again for another command.
Now open keyboard settings: System Settings > "Keyboard" > "Shortcuts" > "Custom Shortcuts". Click the "+" and add the command:
```
gnome-terminal --window-with-profile=<profilename>
```
to CTRL + ALT + T, where <profilename> is the name of your profile, most likely Default

From man gnome-terminal:

   --window-with-profile=PROFILENAME
             Open  a new window containing a tab with the given profile.
             More than one of these options can be provided.

Related Solutions

Ubuntu – Set Ctrl+Alt+T to open a maximized terminal

In gconf-editor set the key

/apps/compiz-1/plugins/gnomecompat/screen0/options/command_terminal

to gnome-terminal --maximize

enter image description here

Ubuntu – Make Ctrl-Alt-T to open a terminal tab if any terminal was open

Here is what I've done and it did the job pretty good.

change gnome-terminal preferences to default if you have changed it.
so, set the Ctrl+Shift+t as shortcut for opening a new tab.
We need xdotool (it's around 30KB) install it via:
```
sudo apt install xdotool
```
Now create a file (e.g in your home named .custom-terminal-key.sh) and put these lines in it (Thanks to Jacob Vlijm):
```
#!/bin/bash

if [[ "$(xprop -id "$(xdotool getactivewindow)" WM_CLASS)" == *"gnome-terminal"* ]]; then
  sleep 0.1
  xdotool key ctrl+shift+t
elif ! pgrep 'gnome-terminal'; then
  gnome-terminal
fi
```
Every time we run it, if any gnome-terminal was open, it will simulate a Ctrl+Shift+t key binding, otherwise it runs gnome-terminal.
Finally we change the default behavior of Ctrl+Alt+t, instead of opening a terminal every time you press these, it will run our script.
```
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.default-applications.terminal exec '/home/USER/.custom-terminal-key.sh'
```
Change USER with your real username.
Don't forget to give our script the executable bit:
```
chmod +x ~/.custom-terminal-key.sh
```

We are done.

Rollback

Whenever you changed your mind just run:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.default-applications.terminal exec 'gnome-terminal'

Remove our script rm ~/.custom-terminal-key.sh and xdotool: sudo apt remove xdotool.

Getting active window name

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Ubuntu – Set Ctrl+Alt+T to open a maximized terminal

Ubuntu – Make Ctrl-Alt-T to open a terminal tab if any terminal was open

Rollback

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