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#1 2020-05-23 18:15:44
- pranav-dahiya15
- Member
- Registered: 2020-04-17
- Posts: 9
Add layers to any keyboard (Global vim style arrow keys)
Is there any way to add layers to any keyboard in software (like 60% keyboard have)? I tried looking at arch wiki and did not find anything useful.
Specifically, I want to add a second layer to my laptop keyboard (maybe with the Super key/Fn key/right Alt key) to have global vim style arrow keys, so that I don't have to move my hands from the home row every time I have to use them. Also, If possible I would like to add macros to this layer too such as Win+PgUp and Win+PgDn. I use these shortcuts a lot in gnome and my keyboard does not have dedicated PgUp/PgDn keys so its a pain.
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#2 2020-05-23 19:35:56
- seth
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- From: Won't reply 2 private help req
- Registered: 2012-09-03
- Posts: 77,811
Re: Add layers to any keyboard (Global vim style arrow keys)
You mean like what "alt gr" does, a third level shift?
Gnone on wayland or xorg? For Xorg, you'll need to select or write a layout/variant that provides the desired 3rd level keys and defines a 3rd level shift (ie. which key acts as alt gr)
If yout layout already has a 3rd level but just no trigger (available in your hardware) you only need to to define the lv3 switch - did you see https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xo … figuration
?
For gnome on wayland, I seem to recall that it uses the same xkb symbol tables, but don't know whether you can just add them or there's a transcompilation involved.
You will not be able to translate shortcuts this way, but can probably assign the desired action to a symbol that you placed on the 3rd level for the desired key.
The Fn key is not available to the OS for every hardware but is often a hardware internal feature.
For more information, please elaborate on your display server and keyboard layout.
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