How do I change workspace with the numeric pad?

answered 2013-12-16 09:41:58 +0000

Adaephon
2299 ●3 ●16 ●42

updated 2013-12-16 09:54:59 +0000

Although they send the same character, the keys on the numeric pad do not have the same key symbols as the number keys on the upper row.

Every key symbol on the numeric pad starts with KP_

For the numbers (with NumLock enabled) that is

KP_0
KP_1
KP_2
...
KP_9

There are also:

KP_Add
KP_Subtract
KP_Multiply
KP_Divide
KP_Enter
KP_Separator

The navigational keys (with NumLock disabled) send key symbols with leading KP_, too, such as

KP_Up
KP_Home
KP_Delete
...

So, instead of (or in addition to)

bindsym $mod+1 workspace 1
bindsym $mod+2 workspace 2
...

you need these lines

bindsym $mod+KP_1 workspace 1
bindsym $mod+KP_2 workspace 2
...

Also, for the binding it does not matter, whether NumLock is enabled. Bindings with KP_1 will work even when NumLock is disabled, as will bindings with KP_End if NumLock is enabled. This also means, that you cannot bind different functions depending on the state of NumLock.

In general, you can alwasy use xev to get the symbol of a key. Start it with xev -event keyboard from a terminal and make the appearing window ('Event Tester') floating. Any Key you press while the focus is on the 'Event Tester' window should produce an output that looks like this:

KeyPress event, serial 28, synthetic NO, window 0x1800001,
    root 0x25a, subw 0x0, time 546217033, (42,122), root:(2833,555),
    state 0x0, keycode 87 (keysym 0xffb1, KP_1), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (31) "1"
    XmbLookupString gives 1 bytes: (31) "1"
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 28, synthetic NO, window 0x1800001,
    root 0x25a, subw 0x0, time 546217105, (42,122), root:(2833,555),
    state 0x0, keycode 87 (keysym 0xffb1, KP_1), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (31) "1"
    XFilterEvent returns: False

Exceptions are some special keys (mostly on Laptops) that do not send any key event and keys (key combinations) whose events are grabbed globally by another program, that includes key bindings in i3.