i3 FAQ - Individual question feed

i3 FAQ - Individual question feedhttps://faq.i3wm.org/questions/Frequently asked questions and answers about the i3 window managerenCopyright i3, 2012Sun, 21 Oct 2012 22:28:44 +0000Using Caps Lock as mod keyhttps://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/I would like to use Caps Lock as my mod key. The only reference to Caps Lock I can find is in the User Guide: *Unlike other window managers, i3 can use Mode_switch as a modifier. This allows you to remap capslock (for example) to Mode_switch and use it for both: typing umlauts or special characters and having some comfortably reachable key bindings. For example, when typing, capslock+1 or capslock+2 for switching workspaces is totally convenient. Try it :-).* But I still don't understand how it can be accomplished. So how can I do it?Thu, 13 Sep 2012 23:41:32 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/Answer by Licaon_Kter for I would like to use Caps Lock as my mod key. The only reference to Caps Lock I can find is in the User Guide: Unlike other window managers, i3 can use Mode_switch as a modifier. This allows you to remap capslock (for example) to Mode_switch and use it for both: typing umlauts or special characters and having some comfortably reachable key bindings. For example, when typing, capslock+1 or capslock+2 for switching workspaces is totally convenient. Try it :-). But I still don't understand how it can be accomplished. So how can I do it? https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?answer=670#post-id-670I have an issue regarding the use of CapsLock as a $mod4 modifier. **~/.i3/config**: http://pastebin.com/q0nB4Vn0 **~/.Xmodmap**: clear Lock keycode 66 = Hyper_L add mod4 = Hyper_L **xmodmap -pm**: xmodmap: up to 4 keys per modifier, (keycodes in parentheses): shift Shift_L (0x32), Shift_R (0x3e) lock control Control_L (0x25), Control_R (0x69) mod1 Alt_L (0x40), Alt_R (0x6c), Meta_L (0xcd) mod2 Num_Lock (0x4d) mod3 mod4 Hyper_L (0x42), Super_L (0x85), Super_L (0xce), Hyper_L (0xcf) mod5 ISO_Level3_Shift (0x5c), Mode_switch (0xcb) And this works OK most of the time, unless I want to move a window ( like the only window in this workspace ) to a different workspace. It goes like this ( workspace 1 has only one window say Opera, workspace 2 empty/not existent ): caps+2 - switch to workspace 2 caps+1 - switch to workspace 1 caps+shift+2 - nothing happens win+shift+2 - window is moved to workspace 2 caps+2 - switch to workspace 2 caps+shift+1 - window is moved to workspace 1 caps+1 - switch to workspace 1 caps+shift+2 - nothing happens win+shift+2 - window is moved to workspace 2 ... Basically Winkey always works, but CapsLock works only if the last move was done with Winkey. Workspace number or move order does not matter afaics. Any idea?Sun, 21 Oct 2012 13:33:46 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?answer=670#post-id-670Comment by Michael for I have an issue regarding the use of CapsLock as a $mod4 modifier. ~/.i3/config: <a href="http://pastebin.com/q0nB4Vn0">http://pastebin.com/q0nB4Vn0</a> ~/.Xmodmap: <pre><code>clear Lock keycode 66 = Hyper_L add mod4 = Hyper_L </code></pre> xmodmap -pm: <pre><code>xmodmap: up to 4 keys per modifier, (keycodes in parentheses): shift Shift_L (0x32), Shift_R (0x3e) lock control Control_L (0x25), Control_R (0x69) mod1 Alt_L (0x40), Alt_R (0x6c), Meta_L (0xcd) mod2 Num_Lock (0x4d) mod3 mod4 Hyper_L (0x42), Super_L (0x85), Super_L (0xce), Hyper_L (0xcf) mod5 ISO_Level3_Shift (0x5c), Mode_switch (0xcb) </code></pre> And this works OK most of the time, unless I want to move a window ( like the only window in this workspace ) to a different workspace. It goes like this ( workspace 1 has only one window say Opera, workspace 2 empty/not existent ): <pre><code>caps+2 - switch to workspace 2 caps+1 - switch to workspace 1 caps+shift+2 - nothing happens win+shift+2 - window is moved to workspace 2 caps+2 - switch to workspace 2 caps+shift+1 - window is moved to workspace 1 caps+1 - switch to workspace 1 caps+shift+2 - nothing happens win+shift+2 - window is moved to workspace 2 ... </code></pre> Basically Winkey always works, but CapsLock works only if the last move was done with Winkey. Workspace number or move order does not matter afaics. Any idea? https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?comment=672#comment-672Please post this as a separate question (otherwise people won’t read it). I will delete it afterwards.Sun, 21 Oct 2012 15:41:44 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?comment=672#comment-672Comment by Licaon_Kter for I have an issue regarding the use of CapsLock as a $mod4 modifier. ~/.i3/config: <a href="http://pastebin.com/q0nB4Vn0">http://pastebin.com/q0nB4Vn0</a> ~/.Xmodmap: <pre><code>clear Lock keycode 66 = Hyper_L add mod4 = Hyper_L </code></pre> xmodmap -pm: <pre><code>xmodmap: up to 4 keys per modifier, (keycodes in parentheses): shift Shift_L (0x32), Shift_R (0x3e) lock control Control_L (0x25), Control_R (0x69) mod1 Alt_L (0x40), Alt_R (0x6c), Meta_L (0xcd) mod2 Num_Lock (0x4d) mod3 mod4 Hyper_L (0x42), Super_L (0x85), Super_L (0xce), Hyper_L (0xcf) mod5 ISO_Level3_Shift (0x5c), Mode_switch (0xcb) </code></pre> And this works OK most of the time, unless I want to move a window ( like the only window in this workspace ) to a different workspace. It goes like this ( workspace 1 has only one window say Opera, workspace 2 empty/not existent ): <pre><code>caps+2 - switch to workspace 2 caps+1 - switch to workspace 1 caps+shift+2 - nothing happens win+shift+2 - window is moved to workspace 2 caps+2 - switch to workspace 2 caps+shift+1 - window is moved to workspace 1 caps+1 - switch to workspace 1 caps+shift+2 - nothing happens win+shift+2 - window is moved to workspace 2 ... </code></pre> Basically Winkey always works, but CapsLock works only if the last move was done with Winkey. Workspace number or move order does not matter afaics. Any idea? https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?comment=677#comment-677done: http://faq.i3wm.org/question/676/using-capslock-as-a-mod-modifier-issue/Sun, 21 Oct 2012 22:28:44 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?comment=677#comment-677Answer by moemoe for I would like to use Caps Lock as my mod key. The only reference to Caps Lock I can find is in the User Guide: Unlike other window managers, i3 can use Mode_switch as a modifier. This allows you to remap capslock (for example) to Mode_switch and use it for both: typing umlauts or special characters and having some comfortably reachable key bindings. For example, when typing, capslock+1 or capslock+2 for switching workspaces is totally convenient. Try it :-). But I still don't understand how it can be accomplished. So how can I do it? https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?answer=491#post-id-491 > cat .Xmodmap clear Lock keycode 66 = Hyper_L add mod4 = Hyper_L then run xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap and use mod4 in your configThu, 13 Sep 2012 23:49:48 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?answer=491#post-id-491Comment by SuprDewd for <pre><code>> cat .Xmodmap clear Lock keycode 66 = Hyper_L add mod4 = Hyper_L </code></pre> then run <pre><code> xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap </code></pre> and use mod4 in your config https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?comment=492#comment-492Thanks! Works perfectly.Thu, 13 Sep 2012 23:54:02 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?comment=492#comment-492Answer by jney for I would like to use Caps Lock as my mod key. The only reference to Caps Lock I can find is in the User Guide: Unlike other window managers, i3 can use Mode_switch as a modifier. This allows you to remap capslock (for example) to Mode_switch and use it for both: typing umlauts or special characters and having some comfortably reachable key bindings. For example, when typing, capslock+1 or capslock+2 for switching workspaces is totally convenient. Try it :-). But I still don't understand how it can be accomplished. So how can I do it? https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?answer=557#post-id-557I just need some more precision. I'd like `Cap Locks` key to be the _only_ one modifier. I set `Cap Locks` as `Alt_R` (i don't have any right ALT on my laptop). Here is `~/.Xmodmap` file : clear Lock clear Mod4 keycode 66 = Alt_R add Mod4 = Alt_R the `xmodmap` config is : # xmodmap -pm xmodmap: up to 2 keys per modifier, (keycodes in parentheses): shift Shift_L (0x32), Shift_R (0x3e) lock control Control_L (0x25), Control_R (0x69) mod1 Alt_L (0x40), Meta_L (0xcd) mod2 Num_Lock (0x4d) mod3 mod4 Alt_R (0x42) mod5 ISO_Level3_Shift (0x5c), Mode_switch (0xcb) Now, `Cap Locks` works, but `Win` keys still works too.. Is there a way to accomplish it ? Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:06:35 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?answer=557#post-id-557Answer by loblik for I would like to use Caps Lock as my mod key. The only reference to Caps Lock I can find is in the User Guide: Unlike other window managers, i3 can use Mode_switch as a modifier. This allows you to remap capslock (for example) to Mode_switch and use it for both: typing umlauts or special characters and having some comfortably reachable key bindings. For example, when typing, capslock+1 or capslock+2 for switching workspaces is totally convenient. Try it :-). But I still don't understand how it can be accomplished. So how can I do it? https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?answer=493#post-id-493It has been already answered but just to be more clear. There is a table in Xorg which contains mappings between keycodes (what keyboard generates) and keysyms (what you see on screen). And this table can be edited by utility called xmodmap. For example i have switched Escape and CapsLock to make life easier in vim and other vim-like apps. At first write desired keymap changes to a file. ~/.xmodmap remove Lock = Caps_Lock keysym Escape = Caps_Lock keysym Caps_Lock = Escape add Lock = Caps_Lock And load that file via xmodmap every time you start X. ~/.xinitrc # load custom map xmodmap ~/.xmodmap Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:34:52 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/490/using-caps-lock-as-mod-key/?answer=493#post-id-493