I’ve configured my keyboard to generate a special key code when you press the Caps Lock key by itself. I use this as a mode switch in Emacs which I have configured somewhat like VIM.<\/p>\n
For VIM users the escape key is used to switch between typing and command mode and escape is pressed all the time.<\/p>\n
The problem is that it is a long reach to hit the escape key. The Caps Lock key is in a prime location and who needs the Caps Lock key anyway? (You can move it if you want.)<\/p>\n
On Ubuntu I use the program xcape to accomplish this remapping. I will show you how to download, install, configure and test xcape.<\/p>\n
Note:<\/em> Here is the link to xcape: https:\/\/github.com\/alols\/xcape#readme<\/a><\/p>\n First install the necessary dependencies. It requires git, gcc, make libx11-dev and libxtst-dev libraries. Open a terminal and type:<\/p>\n sudo apt-get install git gcc make libx11-dev libxtst-dev<\/strong><\/p>\n Next make a folder for xcape in your home folder:<\/p>\n cd<\/strong> Download the source code for xcape:<\/p>\n git clone https:\/\/github.com\/alols\/xcape.git<\/a> .<\/strong><\/p>\n Build the application. This makes a executable called xcape.<\/p>\n make<\/strong><\/p>\n ls<\/strong> To see the usage statement:<\/p>\n .\/xcape -h<\/strong> I am using the Ubuntu system settings to turn the Caps Lock into a control key and xcape to generate Alt+R when it (now a control key) is pressed by itself.<\/p>\n Use the system settings to make Caps Lock a control key:<\/p>\n If you are a VIM user and you want Caps Lock by itself to generate an escape, use the defaults and run xcape like:<\/p>\n .\/xcape<\/strong><\/p>\n I want the left control to generate Alt_L+R when pressed on its own, so I run xcape like:<\/p>\n .\/xcape -e ‘Control_L=Alt_L|R’<\/strong><\/p>\n You can remap multiple keys at once using the semicolon to separate commands:<\/p>\n xcape -e ‘Shift_L=Escape;Control_L=Control_L|O’<\/strong><\/p>\n The list of key names is found in the header file X11\/keysymdef.h (remove the XK_ prefix). Here is a link to the file:<\/p>\n http:\/\/cgit.freedesktop.org\/xorg\/proto\/x11proto\/plain\/keysymdef.h<\/a><\/p>\n Run xev to test the keycodes generated when you type a key.<\/p>\n xev<\/strong><\/p>\n For my case the system generates a Control_L press and release then the Alt_L+R press and release combination.<\/em><\/p>\n Note:<\/em> Note:<\/em> ps aux | grep xcape<\/strong> Quit the extra running xcape processes above:<\/p>\n kill 13342<\/strong> To make xcape run once when you login, add the xcape to your .bashrc file,<\/p>\n emacs ~\/.bashrc<\/strong><\/p>\n add this line to the bottom of the file:<\/p>\n # Generate a Alt+R when the control key is pressed and released by itself. I’ve configured my keyboard to generate a special key code when you press the Caps Lock key by itself. I use this as a mode switch in Emacs which I have configured somewhat like VIM. For VIM users the escape … Continue reading
\nOn the Mac you can use KeyRemap4MacBook and PCKeyboardHack to do the same thing.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nmkdir xcape<\/strong>
\ncd xcape<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nLICENSE Makefile README.md xcape xcape.c<\/p>\n
\n.\/xcape: invalid option — ‘h’
\nUsage: .\/xcape [-d] [-t timeout_ms] [-e <mapping>]
\nRuns as a daemon unless -d flag is set<\/p>\n\n
\nIf you change the keyboard system settings, rerun xcape or it will continue to run with the old settings.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nMake sure you only run one xcape process. To see the xcape process or processes:<\/em><\/p>\n
\nsteve 13342 0.0 0.0 11984 688 ? Ssl 09:25 0:00 .\/xcape
\nsteve 13467 0.0 0.0 11984 684 ? Ssl 09:44 0:00 .\/xcape
\nsteve 13564 0.0 0.0 11984 688 ? Ssl 10:01 0:00 .\/xcape -e Control_L Alt_L R<\/p>\n
\nkill 13467<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n# Run xcape once.
\nif [ -z $XCAPE ] ; then
\nexport XCAPE=1
\n~\/xcape\/xcape -e ‘Control_L=Alt_L|R’
\nfi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"