i3 FAQ - Individual question feedhttps://faq.i3wm.org/questions/Frequently asked questions and answers about the i3 window managerenCopyright i3, 2012Thu, 26 Mar 2015 22:31:43 +0000Why are not all key symbols recognised in i3 config?https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5663/why-are-not-all-key-symbols-recognised-in-i3-config/The [user guide](http://i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html#keybindings) suggests using `xmodmap -pke` or `xev` to figure out key symbols to use with `bindsym` in the i3 config. However not all key symbols are recognised, e.g. `Alt_L` (key code 64). How is the user supposed to know that you need to use the modifier keys `Mod1` rather than `Alt_L` and `Mod4` rather than `Super_L`?Thu, 26 Mar 2015 08:34:58 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5663/why-are-not-all-key-symbols-recognised-in-i3-config/Answer by Michael for <p>The <a href="http://i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html#keybindings">user guide</a> suggests using <code>xmodmap -pke</code> or <code>xev</code> to figure out key symbols to use with <code>bindsym</code> in the i3 config. However not all key symbols are recognised, e.g. <code>Alt_L</code> (key code 64).</p> <p>How is the user supposed to know that you need to use the modifier keys <code>Mod1</code> rather than <code>Alt_L</code> and <code>Mod4</code> rather than <code>Super_L</code>?</p> https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5663/why-are-not-all-key-symbols-recognised-in-i3-config/?answer=5664#post-id-5664Alt+L is a modifier, hence X11 handles it differently than just a regular key. Running `xmodmap` (without arguments) will display the available modifiers and which keys trigger each modifier. I don’t think there’s anything we can do in i3 to make this significantly easier, that modifiers exist and how they are configured/how they behave is just something that you’ll have to learn when dealing with X11 :).Thu, 26 Mar 2015 08:40:59 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5663/why-are-not-all-key-symbols-recognised-in-i3-config/?answer=5664#post-id-5664Comment by kynan for <p>Alt+L is a modifier, hence X11 handles it differently than just a regular key.</p> <p>Running <code>xmodmap</code> (without arguments) will display the available modifiers and which keys trigger each modifier.</p> <p>I don’t think there’s anything we can do in i3 to make this significantly easier, that modifiers exist and how they are configured/how they behave is just something that you’ll have to learn when dealing with X11 :).</p> https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5663/why-are-not-all-key-symbols-recognised-in-i3-config/?comment=5672#comment-5672OK, thanks for explaining, I wasn't aware that modifiers are treated differently in general. The docs do actually mention `xmodmap` so I suppose it's clear enough.Thu, 26 Mar 2015 22:31:43 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5663/why-are-not-all-key-symbols-recognised-in-i3-config/?comment=5672#comment-5672