i3 FAQ - Individual question feed

How do I simulate keypresses?

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:20:49 +0000

Hello everybody,

this is my first post here, although I've been using i3 for some months now. I really have to thank the developers for this incredible wm (and for its docs!! :) ).

Some context for my question.
I'm using an Apple keyboard and I set the **Meta** key as **$mod**. Since this key is easier to reach than **Ctrl**, I would like to use it for copy/paste shortcuts and other stuff. E.g., I'd like to press **Meta+c** to copy the selected text to the clipboard, and **Meta+v** to paste. I tried different programs (xdotool, xte, xvkbd ...) to simulate keypresses. They do work in a terminal, i.e, if I run in xterm

*xte "keydown Control_R" "key c" "keyup Control_R"*

I do get ^C as output. However, if I configure i3 like this

*bindsym $mod+c exec xte "keydown Control_R" "key c" "keyup Control_R"*

nothing happens, probably becasue the command is run in the login shell. So I guess my question becomes: is there a way to tell i3 to send a keypress to the focused container?

Thanks in advance.
Bye

Answer by Michael for
Hello everybody,

this is my first post here, although I've been using i3 for some months now. I really have to thank the developers for this incredible wm (and for its docs!! :) ).

Some context for my question.
I'm using an Apple keyboard and I set the Meta key as $mod. Since this key is easier to reach than Ctrl, I would like to use it for copy/paste shortcuts and other stuff. E.g., I'd like to press Meta+c to copy the selected text to the clipboard, and Meta+v to paste. I tried different programs (xdotool, xte, xvkbd ...) to simulate keypresses. They do work in a terminal, i.e, if I run in xterm

xte "keydown Control_R" "key c" "keyup Control_R"

I do get ^C as output. However, if I configure i3 like this

bindsym $mod+c exec xte "keydown Control_R" "key c" "keyup Control_R"

nothing happens, probably becasue the command is run in the login shell. So I guess my question becomes: is there a way to tell i3 to send a keypress to the focused container?

Thanks in advance.
Bye

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 22:27:25 +0000

I think you will find your answer in ticket https://github.com/i3/i3/issues/485 A short summary: In the current git "next" version (what will be i3 v4.3 soonish), you can use the following: bindsym --release $mod+x exec --no-startup-id xdotool key --clearmodifiers ctrl+v

Comment by gak for

I think you will find your answer in ticket https://github.com/i3/i3/issues/485

A short summary: In the current git "next" version (what will be i3 v4.3 soonish), you can use the following:

bindsym --release $mod+x exec --no-startup-id xdotool key --clearmodifiers ctrl+v

Sat, 13 Dec 2014 01:04:39 +0000

Thanks, this is perfect. Shame I can't vote..

Comment by scanf for

I think you will find your answer in ticket https://github.com/i3/i3/issues/485

A short summary: In the current git "next" version (what will be i3 v4.3 soonish), you can use the following:

bindsym --release $mod+x exec --no-startup-id xdotool key --clearmodifiers ctrl+v

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:42:14 +0000

Fantastic! I installed the git version and it works. Thank you very much :)

Answer by joepd for
Hello everybody,

this is my first post here, although I've been using i3 for some months now. I really have to thank the developers for this incredible wm (and for its docs!! :) ).

Some context for my question.
I'm using an Apple keyboard and I set the Meta key as $mod. Since this key is easier to reach than Ctrl, I would like to use it for copy/paste shortcuts and other stuff. E.g., I'd like to press Meta+c to copy the selected text to the clipboard, and Meta+v to paste. I tried different programs (xdotool, xte, xvkbd ...) to simulate keypresses. They do work in a terminal, i.e, if I run in xterm

xte "keydown Control_R" "key c" "keyup Control_R"

I do get ^C as output. However, if I configure i3 like this

bindsym $mod+c exec xte "keydown Control_R" "key c" "keyup Control_R"

nothing happens, probably becasue the command is run in the login shell. So I guess my question becomes: is there a way to tell i3 to send a keypress to the focused container?

Thanks in advance.
Bye

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:30:50 +0000

This sounds like a convoluted approach. I defined some remappings of my keyboard in ~/.Xmodmap. This way, any application that not on a real TTY has CAPSLOCK removed, and functions as an extra ESC there. Might want to make that my i3-modifier, but I am getting addicted to the fast escape key in vim... Xmodmap is very readable: $ cat ~/.Xmodmap remove Lock = Caps_Lock keysym Caps_Lock = Escape And it is activated like this in ~/.xinitrc: xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap

Comment by scanf for

This sounds like a convoluted approach.

I defined some remappings of my keyboard in ~/.Xmodmap. This way, any application that not on a real TTY has CAPSLOCK removed, and functions as an extra ESC there. Might want to make that my i3-modifier, but I am getting addicted to the fast escape key in vim...

Xmodmap is very readable:

$ cat ~/.Xmodmap
remove Lock = Caps_Lock
keysym Caps_Lock = Escape

And it is activated like this in ~/.xinitrc:

xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:42:43 +0000

Yes, I thought about remapping the keyboard. The problem is, if I define the **Meta** key to be **Ctrl**, I lose it as $mod. Or, if I then set $mod to be **Ctrl**, I might get some conflicts. That's why I discarded it as an option. I might try it though if I all else fails. Thank you

i3 FAQ - Individual question feed

How do I simulate keypresses?

Comment by gak for
I think you will find your answer in ticket https://github.com/i3/i3/issues/485

A short summary: In the current git "next" version (what will be i3 v4.3 soonish), you can use the following:

`bindsym --release $mod+x exec --no-startup-id xdotool key --clearmodifiers ctrl+v`

Comment by scanf for
I think you will find your answer in ticket https://github.com/i3/i3/issues/485

A short summary: In the current git "next" version (what will be i3 v4.3 soonish), you can use the following:

`bindsym --release $mod+x exec --no-startup-id xdotool key --clearmodifiers ctrl+v`