Arch Linux

Euphoria

Member

Registered: 2012-01-04

Posts: 8

Advanced keyboard layouts

Hello, I want to create my own keyboard layout. I know how to do this with xmodmap and doing it through XKB doesn't seem hard either, but I'm looking for something a tad more advanced. I want to create extra modes (like caps-lock) and submaps, which work like modifiers, except you only need to press them once rather than holding down the button (like in window managers like Stumpwm). The idea is to use those modes and submaps to use the same buttons for different characters.

There are three ways of doing it:
- Software that creates keyboard layouts with this functionality, in which case: what is the software called?
- Creating multiple keyboard layouts and switching through them by other software. Unpreferred since it probably doesn't allow for submaps, but in this case also: what is the software called?
- Creating the software. I kind of doubt that the software exists, since surely I'm the only one who'd even want something like this. Thing is, I have close to no experience with programming, so this seems like quite a big first programming project. The advantage is that it'd give me motivation. Is it a good idea to just try to write this and learn as I go, and if so, is anyone willing to help me with it?

Thanks in advance.

Procyon

Member

Registered: 2008-05-07

Posts: 1,819

Re: Advanced keyboard layouts

For #2:
You can do 'submaps' with xchainkeys:
https://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=40797

And you can call different xmodmap commands with for instance xbindkeys with a file in /tmp to keep track of which one you are using currently.

If you disable caps lock, you can get led control back with kbd's setleds. If setleds complains about not being able to reach the terminal or something, try it like this:
setleds -L +caps < /dev/tty0

Maximalminimalist

Member

Registered: 2009-09-20

Posts: 112

Re: Advanced keyboard layouts

Making your own keyboard layout through XKB is easy. (I should write something about that in the arch wiki someday...) With your window manager I think you should be able to do a fast switch between multiple keyboard layouts. (At least I can do that with i3.) I don't see why you need extra software, maybe I just don't see the advanced keyboard layout you need.

Last edited by Maximalminimalist (2012-01-05 00:10:44)

Euphoria

Member

Registered: 2012-01-04

Posts: 8

Re: Advanced keyboard layouts

I like xchainkeys a lot. It seems useful even outside what I'm planning to do with it (coincidentally, I was also looking for the exact example given on xchainkeys' main page: key chains in Musca). It also seems to replace the need for multiple keyboard layouts, because I can manually enter and leave key chains with it.

The missing link here, however, is sending key strokes to whatever currently has focus. Is there any program that does this?