[Solved] xmodmap mapping escape to caps lock

shalva · 2017-06-06 06:45:47

Hello, i am having problems mapping escape to caps lock.

if i use ~/.Xmodmap with a code like this:

clear lock
keycode 66 = Escape

that code works perfect in XFCE, or any other code i could find. but few days ago i decided to try i3wm.
i noticed that xmodmap was just broken, unusable at startup. any key i would map to "keycode 66" whould show up in Lock modifier and have 2 functions.

then i discovered that if i delete this file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/00-keyboard.conf xmodmap starts working just like before:

Section "InputClass"
        Identifier "system-keyboard"
        MatchIsKeyboard "on"
        Option "XkbLayout" "us,ru,ge"
        Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
        Option "XkbOptions" "grp:alt_shift_toggle"
EndSection

at this point, i am left without keyboard layouts. i like simplicity of xmodmap, u know... i can keep any key remap at one place.
what are the alternatives to useing different keyboard layouts in i3wm? or if this is a bug where could i report it.

Last edited by shalva (2017-06-06 19:04:08)

seth · 2017-06-06 07:07:54

Don't xmodmap and add ",caps:escape" to the XkbOptions

grep caps /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/base.lst

for fun with the most useless key in computer history.

ayekat · 2017-06-06 09:08:48

seth wrote:

the most useless key in computer history.

I BEG TO DIFFER IT IS A VERY USEFUL KEY DON'T YOU DARE QUESTIONING THE cAPS lOCK

... OK, fun aside, it is useful, for this very reason: As computer manufacturers remove more and more physical keys from their keyboards, I value the existence of this peculiar, easily accessible large key that just sits there and literally begs for being assigned to some user-defined action.

@shalva There might be some situations where you still want to keep a Caps Lock around. In that case, you could also try the "caps:swapescape" option (as listed in the file seth posted).

seth · 2017-06-06 12:31:16

Oh, I totally don't mind having a free key (using it for XIM composition) - just its stock function :-)

shalva · 2017-06-06 13:53:00

thanks @seth, it is now one of the most useful keys i have got

seth · 2017-06-06 15:45:45

great, please always remember to mark threads as "[SOLVED]" by editing the subject of your initial post - once you're satisfied with the the outcome.
(this helps others to know that no more help is required resp. that they might find an answer to their similar problem here)

Arch Linux

#1 2017-06-06 06:45:47

[Solved] xmodmap mapping escape to caps lock

#2 2017-06-06 07:07:54

Re: [Solved] xmodmap mapping escape to caps lock

#3 2017-06-06 09:08:48

Re: [Solved] xmodmap mapping escape to caps lock

#4 2017-06-06 12:31:16

Re: [Solved] xmodmap mapping escape to caps lock

#5 2017-06-06 13:53:00

Re: [Solved] xmodmap mapping escape to caps lock

#6 2017-06-06 15:45:45

Re: [Solved] xmodmap mapping escape to caps lock

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