X Windows configuration details

making an x*.hosts file

specifying key remapping expressions

Whether you remap a single key “on the fly” with a command-line entry or install an entire new keyboard map file, you must use valid expressions in your specification, one expression for each remapping.

A valid expression is any one of the following:

Table 4-1

To do this . . .

Use this expression . . .

 

 

Assign a key symbol to a keycode

keycode <keycode> = <keysym>

 

 

Replace a key symbol expression with another

keysym <keysym> = <keysym>

 

 

Clear all keys associated with a modifier key

clear<modifier>

 

 

Add a key symbol to a modifier

add <modifier>= <keysym>

 

 

Remove a key symbol from a modifier

remove <modifier> = <keysym>

 

 

keycode

Refers to the numerical value that uniquely identifies each key on a keyboard. Values may be in decimal, octal, or hexadecimal.

keysym

Refers to the character symbol name associated with a keycode; for example, KP_Add.

<modifier >

Specifies one of the eight modifier names: Shift, Control, Lock, Mod1,

Mod2, Mod3, Mod4, and Mod5.

On Hewlett-Packard keyboards, the lock modifier is set to the Caps key. However, any of the modifiers can be associated with any valid key symbol. Additionally, you can associate more than one key symbol with a modifier (such as Lock = Shift_R and Lock = Shift_L), and you can associate more than one modifier with a key symbol (for example, Control = Caps_Lock and Lock = Caps_Lock).

For example, on a PC-style keyboard, you can press D to print a lower case "d", Shift D to print a capital "D", Alt D to print something else, and Shift Alt D to print still something else.

The xmodmap client gives you the power to change the meaning of any key at any time or to install a whole new key map for your keyboard.

Chapter 4

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