i3 FAQ - Individual question feedhttps://faq.i3wm.org/questions/Frequently asked questions and answers about the i3 window managerenCopyright i3, 2012Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:07:22 +0000How to configure modifier keys to act as other keys when pressed and released on their own.https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6252/how-to-configure-modifier-keys-to-act-as-other-keys-when-pressed-and-released-on-their-own/For example, I have `Super + d` mapped to `Escape` bindsym --release $super+d exec --no-startup-id xdotool key --clearmodifiers Escape But I also want to remap what `Super` does when it's pressed by itself. I actually want it to just type `s` and then I'll remap `Super` to the `s` key. This works, but is not what I want: bindsym --release $super+s exec --no-startup-id xdotool type "s" This is what I want but does not work: bindsym --release $super exec --no-startup-id xdotool type "s"Sun, 05 Jul 2015 11:31:49 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6252/how-to-configure-modifier-keys-to-act-as-other-keys-when-pressed-and-released-on-their-own/Comment by Adaephon for <p>For example, I have <code>Super + d</code> mapped to <code>Escape</code></p> <pre><code>bindsym --release $super+d exec --no-startup-id xdotool key --clearmodifiers Escape </code></pre> <p>But I also want to remap what <code>Super</code> does when it's pressed by itself. I actually want it to just type <code>s</code> and then I'll remap <code>Super</code> to the <code>s</code> key.</p> <p>This works, but is not what I want: bindsym --release $super+s exec --no-startup-id xdotool type "s"</p> <p>This is what I want but does not work: bindsym --release $super exec --no-startup-id xdotool type "s"</p> https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6252/how-to-configure-modifier-keys-to-act-as-other-keys-when-pressed-and-released-on-their-own/?comment=6256#comment-6256IMHO, using i3 bindsym and xdotool is the wrong way to go about modifiying your keyboard layout. I would suggest using either [`xmodmap`](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xmodmap) or [X Keyboard Extension](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/X_KeyBoard_extension) for that.Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:07:22 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6252/how-to-configure-modifier-keys-to-act-as-other-keys-when-pressed-and-released-on-their-own/?comment=6256#comment-6256Comment by oberon for <p>For example, I have <code>Super + d</code> mapped to <code>Escape</code></p> <pre><code>bindsym --release $super+d exec --no-startup-id xdotool key --clearmodifiers Escape </code></pre> <p>But I also want to remap what <code>Super</code> does when it's pressed by itself. I actually want it to just type <code>s</code> and then I'll remap <code>Super</code> to the <code>s</code> key.</p> <p>This works, but is not what I want: bindsym --release $super+s exec --no-startup-id xdotool type "s"</p> <p>This is what I want but does not work: bindsym --release $super exec --no-startup-id xdotool type "s"</p> https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6252/how-to-configure-modifier-keys-to-act-as-other-keys-when-pressed-and-released-on-their-own/?comment=6254#comment-6254May I ask what the benefit of this would be? Why would one not simply use the <Esc> or 's' key? ;)Sun, 05 Jul 2015 20:45:20 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6252/how-to-configure-modifier-keys-to-act-as-other-keys-when-pressed-and-released-on-their-own/?comment=6254#comment-6254