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TommorowV

Member

Registered: 2025-11-23

Posts: 8

[CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

Hello! I need to bind kupfer on Super (Mod1) + N for fast app access in i3-wm. But I can't.

I have this in /etc/i3/config :

# Bind for app launcher
bindsym Mod1+n exec kupfer

I save the file, press Super + Shift + R to reload the config file, press Super + N and kupfer won't open. Nothing is happening.

SOLUTION:
I've been editing the config file at /etc/i3. It's not the config file you want. The actual config file that i3 uses is located at ~/.config/i3/config (~ is your home folder, like /home/user) and it should be edited.

Last edited by TommorowV (2025-11-27 11:11:35)

patrick4370

Member

From: Australia

Registered: 2018-07-19

Posts: 5

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

Hello! I need to bind kupfer on Super (Mod1) + N for fast app access in i3-wm. But I can't.

I have this in /etc/i3/config :

# Bind for app launcher
bindsym Mod1+n exec kupfer

I save the file, press Super + Shift + R to reload the config file, press Super + N and kupfer won't open. Nothing is happening.

Mod1 is the Alt key. You'll need Mod4 if you are using the super key.
If you want to use uppercase N, you'll need

bindsym Mod4+Shift+n exec kupfer

Last edited by patrick4370 (2025-11-23 05:02:33)

TommorowV

Member

Registered: 2025-11-23

Posts: 8

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

Hello! I need to bind kupfer on Super (Mod1) + N for fast app access in i3-wm. But I can't.

I have this in /etc/i3/config :

# Bind for app launcher
bindsym Mod1+n exec kupfer

I save the file, press Super + Shift + R to reload the config file, press Super + N and kupfer won't open. Nothing is happening.

Mod1 is the Alt key. You'll need Mod4 if you are using the super key.
If you want to use uppercase N, you'll need

bindsym Mod4+Shift+n exec kupfer

I modified my config file and is still doesn't work, kupfer is still not launching

patrick4370

Member

From: Australia

Registered: 2018-07-19

Posts: 5

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

I modified my config file and is still doesn't work, kupfer is still not launching

Can you paste your i3 config.

TommorowV

Member

Registered: 2025-11-23

Posts: 8

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

Can you paste your i3 config.

# i3 config file (v4)
#
# Please see [url]https://i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html[/url] for a complete reference!
#
# This config file uses keycodes (bindsym) and was written for the QWERTY
# layout.
#
# To get a config file with the same key positions, but for your current
# layout, use the i3-config-wizard
#

# Font for window titles. Will also be used by the bar unless a different font
# is used in the bar {} block below.
font pango:monospace 8

# This font is widely installed, provides lots of unicode glyphs, right-to-left
# text rendering and scalability on retina/hidpi displays (thanks to pango).
#font pango:DejaVu Sans Mono 8

# Start XDG autostart .desktop files using dex. See also
# [url]https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/XDG_Autostart[/url]
exec --no-startup-id dex --autostart --environment i3

# The combination of xss-lock, nm-applet and pactl is a popular choice, so
# they are included here as an example. Modify as you see fit.

# xss-lock grabs a logind suspend inhibit lock and will use i3lock to lock the
# screen before suspend. Use loginctl lock-session to lock your screen.
exec --no-startup-id xss-lock --transfer-sleep-lock -- i3lock --nofork

# NetworkManager is the most popular way to manage wireless networks on Linux,
# and nm-applet is a desktop environment-independent system tray GUI for it.
exec --no-startup-id nm-applet

# Use pactl to adjust volume in PulseAudio.
set $refresh_i3status killall -SIGUSR1 i3status
bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ +10% && $refresh_i3status
bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ -10% && $refresh_i3status
bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle && $refresh_i3status
bindsym XF86AudioMicMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-source-mute @DEFAULT_SOURCE@ toggle && $refresh_i3status

# use these keys for focus, movement, and resize directions when reaching for
# the arrows is not convenient
set $up l
set $down k
set $left j
set $right semicolon

# use Mouse+Mod1 to drag floating windows to their wanted position
floating_modifier Mod1

# move tiling windows via drag & drop by left-clicking into the title bar,
# or left-clicking anywhere into the window while holding the floating modifier.
tiling_drag modifier titlebar

# start a terminal
bindsym Mod1+Return exec i3-sensible-terminal

# Bind for an app launcher
bindsym Mod4+Shift+n exec kupfer

# kill focused window
bindsym Mod1+Shift+q kill

# start dmenu (a program launcher)
bindsym Mod1+d exec --no-startup-id dmenu_run
# A more modern dmenu replacement is rofi:
# bindsym Mod1+d exec "rofi -modi drun,run -show drun"
# There also is i3-dmenu-desktop which only displays applications shipping a
# .desktop file. It is a wrapper around dmenu, so you need that installed.
# bindsym Mod1+d exec --no-startup-id i3-dmenu-desktop

# change focus
bindsym Mod1+$left focus left
bindsym Mod1+$down focus down
bindsym Mod1+$up focus up
bindsym Mod1+$right focus right

# alternatively, you can use the cursor keys:
bindsym Mod1+Left focus left
bindsym Mod1+Down focus down
bindsym Mod1+Up focus up
bindsym Mod1+Right focus right

# move focused window
bindsym Mod1+Shift+$left move left
bindsym Mod1+Shift+$down move down
bindsym Mod1+Shift+$up move up
bindsym Mod1+Shift+$right move right

# alternatively, you can use the cursor keys:
bindsym Mod1+Shift+Left move left
bindsym Mod1+Shift+Down move down
bindsym Mod1+Shift+Up move up
bindsym Mod1+Shift+Right move right

# split in horizontal orientation
bindsym Mod1+h split h

# split in vertical orientation
bindsym Mod1+v split v

# enter fullscreen mode for the focused container
bindsym Mod1+f fullscreen toggle

# change container layout (stacked, tabbed, toggle split)
bindsym Mod1+s layout stacking
bindsym Mod1+w layout tabbed
bindsym Mod1+e layout toggle split

# toggle tiling / floating
bindsym Mod1+Shift+space floating toggle

# change focus between tiling / floating windows
bindsym Mod1+space focus mode_toggle

# focus the parent container
bindsym Mod1+a focus parent

# focus the child container
#bindsym Mod1+d focus child

# move the currently focused window to the scratchpad
bindsym Mod1+Shift+minus move scratchpad

# Show the next scratchpad window or hide the focused scratchpad window.
# If there are multiple scratchpad windows, this command cycles through them.
bindsym Mod1+minus scratchpad show

# Define names for default workspaces for which we configure key bindings later on.
# We use variables to avoid repeating the names in multiple places.
set $ws1 "1"
set $ws2 "2"
set $ws3 "3"
set $ws4 "4"
set $ws5 "5"
set $ws6 "6"
set $ws7 "7"
set $ws8 "8"
set $ws9 "9"
set $ws10 "10"

# switch to workspace
bindsym Mod1+1 workspace number $ws1
bindsym Mod1+2 workspace number $ws2
bindsym Mod1+3 workspace number $ws3
bindsym Mod1+4 workspace number $ws4
bindsym Mod1+5 workspace number $ws5
bindsym Mod1+6 workspace number $ws6
bindsym Mod1+7 workspace number $ws7
bindsym Mod1+8 workspace number $ws8
bindsym Mod1+9 workspace number $ws9
bindsym Mod1+0 workspace number $ws10

# move focused container to workspace
bindsym Mod1+Shift+1 move container to workspace number $ws1
bindsym Mod1+Shift+2 move container to workspace number $ws2
bindsym Mod1+Shift+3 move container to workspace number $ws3
bindsym Mod1+Shift+4 move container to workspace number $ws4
bindsym Mod1+Shift+5 move container to workspace number $ws5
bindsym Mod1+Shift+6 move container to workspace number $ws6
bindsym Mod1+Shift+7 move container to workspace number $ws7
bindsym Mod1+Shift+8 move container to workspace number $ws8
bindsym Mod1+Shift+9 move container to workspace number $ws9
bindsym Mod1+Shift+0 move container to workspace number $ws10

# reload the configuration file
bindsym Mod1+Shift+c reload
# restart i3 inplace (preserves your layout/session, can be used to upgrade i3)
bindsym Mod1+Shift+r restart
# exit i3 (logs you out of your X session)
bindsym Mod1+Shift+e exec "i3-nagbar -t warning -m 'You pressed the exit shortcut. Do you really want to exit i3? This will end your X session.' -B 'Yes, exit i3' 'i3-msg exit'"

# resize window (you can also use the mouse for that)
mode "resize" {
        # These bindings trigger as soon as you enter the resize mode

        # Pressing left will shrink the window’s width.
        # Pressing right will grow the window’s width.
        # Pressing up will shrink the window’s height.
        # Pressing down will grow the window’s height.
        bindsym $left       resize shrink width 10 px or 10 ppt
        bindsym $down       resize grow height 10 px or 10 ppt
        bindsym $up         resize shrink height 10 px or 10 ppt
        bindsym $right      resize grow width 10 px or 10 ppt

        # same bindings, but for the arrow keys
        bindsym Left        resize shrink width 10 px or 10 ppt
        bindsym Down        resize grow height 10 px or 10 ppt
        bindsym Up          resize shrink height 10 px or 10 ppt
        bindsym Right       resize grow width 10 px or 10 ppt

        # back to normal: Enter or Escape or Mod1+r
        bindsym Return mode "default"
        bindsym Escape mode "default"
        bindsym Mod1+r mode "default"
}

bindsym Mod1+r mode "resize"

# Start i3bar to display a workspace bar (plus the system information i3status
# finds out, if available)
bar {
        status_command i3status
}

#######################################################################
# automatically start i3-config-wizard to offer the user to create a
# keysym-based config which used their favorite modifier (alt or windows)
#
# i3-config-wizard will not launch if there already is a config file
# in ~/.config/i3/config (or $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/i3/config if set) or
# ~/.i3/config.
#
# Please remove the following exec line:
#######################################################################
exec i3-config-wizard

Last edited by TommorowV (2025-11-24 04:09:19)

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 75,086

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

Please use [code][/code] tags, not "quote" tags. Edit your post in this regard.

Can you eg.

bindsym Mod4+Shift+n exec i3-sensible-terminal

press Super + Shift + R to reload the config file

# reload the configuration file
bindsym Mod1+Shift+c reload
# restart i3 inplace (preserves your layout/session, can be used to upgrade i3)
bindsym Mod1+Shift+r restart

What is the output of

xmodmap

do you run xmodmap or setxkbmap while i3 is starting (assuming you're using some xinitrc, post that…)

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TommorowV

Member

Registered: 2025-11-23

Posts: 8

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

Can you eg.

bindsym Mod4+Shift+n exec i3-sensible-terminal

I changed it, reloaded the config using Mod1+Shift+c, hit Mod4+Shift+n and nothing happens.

What is the output of

xmodmap

do you run xmodmap or setxkbmap while i3 is starting (assuming you're using some xinitrc, post that…)

Heres my xmodmap:

xmodmap:  up to 4 keys per modifier, (keycodes in parentheses):

shift       Shift_L (0x32),  Shift_R (0x3e)
lock        Caps_Lock (0x42)
control     Control_L (0x25),  Control_R (0x69)
mod1        Alt_L (0x40),  Alt_R (0x6c),  Alt_L (0xcc),  Meta_L (0xcd)
mod2        Num_Lock (0x4d)
mod3        ISO_Level5_Shift (0xcb)
mod4        Super_L (0x85),  Super_R (0x86),  Super_L (0xce)
mod5        ISO_Level3_Shift (0x5c)

do you run xmodmap or setxkbmap while i3 is starting (assuming you're using some xinitrc, post that…)

I just installed i3-wm after using xfce4, I'm just using the defaults it gave me.

Last edited by TommorowV (2025-11-24 05:55:25)

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 75,086

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

Comment the binding, reload the config, run "xev -event keyboard", press Mod4+Shift+n and post the output

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TommorowV

Member

Registered: 2025-11-23

Posts: 8

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

Comment the binding, reload the config, run "xev -event keyboard", press Mod4+Shift+n and post the output

Outer window is 0x1600001, inner window is 0x1600002

KeymapNotify event, serial 24, synthetic NO, window 0x0,
    keys:  139 0   0   0   16  0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   
           0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   

KeyRelease event, serial 25, synthetic NO, window 0x1600001,
    root 0x192, subw 0x0, time 360601, (-588,451), root:(99,469),
    state 0x0, keycode 36 (keysym 0xff0d, Return), same_screen YES,
"   XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (0d) "
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyPress event, serial 28, synthetic NO, window 0x1600001,
    root 0x192, subw 0x0, time 362821, (-588,451), root:(99,469),
    state 0x0, keycode 133 (keysym 0xffeb, Super_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyPress event, serial 28, synthetic NO, window 0x1600001,
    root 0x192, subw 0x0, time 362954, (-588,451), root:(99,469),
    state 0x40, keycode 50 (keysym 0xffe1, Shift_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyPress event, serial 28, synthetic NO, window 0x1600001,
    root 0x192, subw 0x0, time 363092, (-588,451), root:(99,469),
    state 0x41, keycode 57 (keysym 0x4e, N), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (4e) "N"
    XmbLookupString gives 1 bytes: (4e) "N"
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 28, synthetic NO, window 0x1600001,
    root 0x192, subw 0x0, time 363167, (-588,451), root:(99,469),
    state 0x41, keycode 57 (keysym 0x4e, N), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (4e) "N"
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 28, synthetic NO, window 0x1600001,
    root 0x192, subw 0x0, time 363331, (-588,451), root:(99,469),
    state 0x41, keycode 50 (keysym 0xffe1, Shift_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
    XFilterEvent returns: False

Last edited by TommorowV (2025-11-24 12:40:22)

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 75,086

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

state 0x41, keycode 57 (keysym 0x4e, N), same_screen YES,

You're for sure generating the keyboard event

Mod1+Shift+n

does likewise not work? Also not

bindsym Mod1+Shift+n exec i3-sensible-terminal

while

bindsym Mod1+Return exec i3-sensible-terminal

does?

For kupfer specifically I could imagine it trying to grab the keyboard, try "bindsym --release"

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TommorowV

Member

Registered: 2025-11-23

Posts: 8

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

Also not

bindsym Mod1+Shift+n exec i3-sensible-terminal

while

bindsym Mod1+Return exec i3-sensible-terminal

does?

Mod1+Shift+n doesn't work, Mod1+Return does.

I've gone to config file, put

bindsym Mod1+Shift+n exec i3-sensible-terminal

there, saved the file, did Mod1+Shift+c for config reload, pressed Mod1+Shift+n, nothing happened. I've gone to Mod1+Return bind for terminal, replaced Mod1+return with Mod1+Shift+c and terminal with kupfer, saved the file, reloaded the config, pressed Mod1+Return and terminal opened. I returned the terminal bind, saved the file, logout and login, Mod1+Shift+n not working, Mod1+Return works.

For kupfer specifically I could imagine it trying to grab the keyboard, try "bindsym --release"

I added --release after bindsym, relogin, try and it still wouldn't launch. Same I did trying to put --release after exec, relogin, try the bind and nothing happened.

Last edited by TommorowV (2025-11-25 06:17:13)

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 75,086

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

Did you just add all those or also replaced/commented the existing collisions?

replaced Mod1+return with Mod1+Shift+c and terminal with kupfer, saved the file, reloaded the config, pressed Mod1+Return and terminal opened

Cause you're clearly not updating the config.
You're either not editing the correct file or editing it "wrong" or not reloading/updating the config.

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TommorowV

Member

Registered: 2025-11-23

Posts: 8

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

Did you just add all those or also replaced/commented the existing collisions?

I'm deleting old lines of config or editing existing ones.

replaced Mod1+return with Mod1+Shift+c and terminal with kupfer, saved the file, reloaded the config, pressed Mod1+Return and terminal opened

Cause you're clearly not updating the config.
You're either not editing the correct file or editing it "wrong" or not reloading/updating the config.

I am editing file at

/etc/i3/

named config using nano. After I wrote I want I save the file using Ctrl+s and reload the config with Mod1+Shift+c. The lower bar flickers, that's how I know if it "reloaded" the config, though nothing happens. Mod1+Shift+r also triggers screen flickering, but the binds and config wont change.

Last edited by TommorowV (2025-11-26 11:38:09)

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 75,086

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/I3#Configuration
Sure you don't have a ~/.config/i3/config ??

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TommorowV

Member

Registered: 2025-11-23

Posts: 8

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/I3#Configuration
Sure you don't have a ~/.config/i3/config ??

I thought the config file at /etc/i3 was the one I should edit. I cd'd into ~/.config/i3/config and there was a fresh config file. I added

 # Bind for kupfer
bindsym $mod+Shift+c exec kupfer

I save the file, do Mod1+Shift+r and see above this error message:

You have an error in your i3 config file!

Now writing this post I remember that config reload is bound on $mod+Shift+c and it conflicts. I changed it to $mod+Shift+n and now upon reloading I don't have the error message and I can now launch kupfer.
Thank you!

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 75,086

Re: [CLOSED] Trying to bind kupfer on Mod1+N in i3-wm

\o/
Please mark the thread as "[SOLVED]", "closed" is what mods do when they lock a thread.

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