Simple question. I was about to assign the Ctrl+Alt++ keyboard shortcut to increase the volume, but I then realized it was already assigned for something. If I press this key combination the screen flashes black for a second, and then comes back. Pressing Ctrl+Alt+- produces similar behavior. So I'm curious, what's this shortcut supposed to do?
Ubuntu – What does the Ctrl-Alt-+ shortcut do
shortcut-keys
Related Solutions
To change the so-called Alt+` and Alt+Shift+`, which switch between multiple windows of one application, to any custom key combination:
Click here to install the Compiz Settings Manager (CCSM) using the Software Center
- Or install it from the terminal with
sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-managerfrom the terminal
- Or install it from the terminal with
Start it from the Dash or by typing
ccsmfrom the terminal.Statutory Warning: Compiz Config Settings Manager is an advanced tool and one tiny mistake, typo or an accidental click of the mouse can leave your desktop unusable, requiring time and effort to fix it. Please be very careful and follow instructions...thanks. If you mess up, please see this answer on how to fix things.
Type "Unity" in the filter box on the left, and click on the Ubuntu Unity Plugin:
Click on the Switcher Tab on top, and
- Look for the Key to flip through windows in the switcher entry near the bottom (scroll down if necessary)
- Click on the Disabled button next to it
- Check the Enabled box on the "Edit Key" popup
- The keys will show, and click on the Grab key combination button
- Press the keyboard shortcut combination you do want to use and this will appear beneath the box.
Click on OK, and this shortcut will now show in place of the Disabled button
The Alt+` is now remapped. To do the same for the reverse Alt+Shift+` shortcut, repeat step 4 for the Key to flip through windows in the switcher entry, or you can just leave it disabled.
Finally, close CCSM and if you no longer need it, please consider uninstalling it.
Unity maps Ctrl+Alt+S to Windows > Toggle Shaded State, whatever that is. If you disable this shortcut, then its passed to whatever application is in that window, including emacs. It is quite confusing though.
Best Answer
Ctrl + Alt + F1 through F12 are mapped for switching between virtual consoles. Your graphical display is usually mapped to
vt7orvt8, so F7 or F8.Ctrl + Alt + BkSp aborts your graphical server and kills all graphical processes.
Ctrl + Alt + - and + switch to a smaller or higher screen resolution, respectively.
Ctrl + Alt + Esc runs
xkillby default. The next window you click is killed.There are several others, but I can't recall them.
If you want to map +/- to something, I'd suggest using the Windows key as a modifier, if you have one. It's treated as a "Super" Meta-key, and doesn't normally have any mappings at all.