Ubuntu – How to use the Windows (Super) key

keyboardwindows

The Windows key seems to not have any use in Ubuntu, but since I'm just coming from Windows I'm used to this key having some function.
How can I make good use of the Windows key in Ubuntu?

I've seen that I can remap keys in System>Preferences>Keyboard>Layout>Options>Alt/Super key behavior, but I have no idea what the choices meta, super, hyper mean. The help button in this dialog doesn't give any specifics about them.

I've experimented a little and found that meta seems to have some use, like Super+M = Me menu, or Super+S is the shutdown menu, but for some keys (B, I) it's more like Ctrl (bold, italic). Haven't found any further.

What would a useful setting be for a Linux newbie?

Best Answer

Windows key tab is useful for compiz fusion toggling of windows. It's also a great key to assign to your own custom shortcuts due to it's general lack of use in the linux world.

Related Solutions

Ubuntu – How to make the Caps Lock key a third Shift key

Expanding on @Zacharee1 answer:

make a backup with cp /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc ~/pckeybak

then edit with gksu gedit /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc or your favorite editor.

Find the line (22) that says:

key <CAPS> { [ Caps_Lock ] };

and change it to

key <CAPS> { [ Shift_L ] };

and the line (36) that says:

modifier_map Lock { Caps_Lock };

and change it to

//modifier_map Lock { Caps_Lock }; (which should comment it out in effect disabling the locking)

Testing indicates that the Num Lock still works as expected. Further testing indicates that the keyboard indicator lights appear to be a bit dyslexic in 16.04 on even an unmodified system. Scroll Lock indicator on at login but Scroll lock off and Num Lock light off, but Num lock on. Tapping the left Ctrl key seems to resolve this behaviour and I'm not sure if it's related to my use of a KVM switch (which is possible)

Note: Further testing shows that the NumLock indicator light is flaky even without a KVM switch and has to be tapped twice to get back in sync with NumLock If you always leave it on you can ignore the light or if it bothers you you can tap it twice to get it back in sync. Why this occurs is likely a basis for a new question...

Another simple solution to your original problem would be to simply obtain an inexpensive US keyboard and use the US keyboard mapping.

Sources: @Zacharee1 answer and analysis of /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc and trial and error testing

Ubuntu – How to emulate the super key

Here is how I would do it without xmodmap. I'm not sure if I can emulate the SysRQ key this way, but it should work for other keys.

Step One

Install xbindkeys and xte:

sudo apt-get install xbindkeys xautomation

Now we need to find the bindings of the keys you want to use as Super.
Run xbindkeys -k and press the keys you want. The output should look something like this:

    m:0x15 + c:110
Control+Shift+Mod2 + Home

(I used Home because I can't use SysRQ on this computer since it requires FN to access it).

Step Two

Create the xbindkeys configuration file:

touch $HOME/.xbindkeysrc

Now open the file so we can edit it:

gedit .xbindkeysrc

Add this to the bottom of the file:

"xte 'key Super_L'"
 m:0x15 + c:110
Control+Shift+Mod2 + Home

Save the file.

Restart the computer. The keys you chose earlier should now act as Super when you press them.