Can I define keyboard shortcuts using the Super key?

Question

In 10.04, I had a lot of keyboard shortcuts defined using Super/Mod4 and one single other key,

Super+O ran Opera
Super+W opened Nautilus pointing to my Work folder, etc.

In 11.04, these do not seem to work -- only Super+R works to run the terminal, and Super+Shift+W successfully runs Nautilus.

Is there some way I can get these to function again?

Adding them in Keyboard Shortcuts does not work, and neither does adding commands in CompizConfig Settings Manager.

Are you adding commands in the Commands plugin for ccsm? It works fine for me: just make sure to remember to set both the command and they key-binding :P — MarkovCh1, Apr 08 '11 at 19:37
Yep, I did that, as I wrote, and set the keybindings, but it didn't work until I removed the Launcher binding, as instructed below. — Rasmus, Apr 11 '11 at 09:15
Follow-up for 12.04: I encountered a problem updating to 12.04, namely that some shortcuts did again not work and some had been altered. Under System Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts, some of my custom shortcuts had been changed from Super+<key> to Mod4+Super+Hyper+<key>. These wtill worked, so did all with other modifiers, i.e. Ctrl+Super+<key>. Pure Super+<key> did not work when set in that dialog. Setting them in CCSM using the Commands plugin does work (in conjunction with the answer below). — Rasmus, Apr 26 '12 at 12:47
I must say that I'd really appreciate if the Dash/Launcher Super shortcuts could be modifiable individually. I generally like the concept, but I'd like to live without several shortcuts like Super+G that I'm used to use in terminator. — tlwhitec, Feb 04 '15 at 15:51

score 33 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 08 '14 at 12:19

33

This happens because in Natty Super/Mod4 is a shortcut to the Unity panel. You can change that in Compiz.

Install the compizconfig-settings-manager package.
Hit Alt+F2, type about:config and hit Enter to open the Unity configuration.
Change the shortcut for Key to show the launcher as you like to free your Super key:

In this example I've changed from Super to Super + L

Now your mod key is free to use as you like.

edited Feb 08 '14 at 12:19

user.dz

48,105

answered Apr 09 '11 at 19:21

desgua

32,917

2

One downside to this is that Super+(number) no longer works to quickly switch between apps, at least not on my Azerty keyboard. – Bleep Bloop Apr 23 '13 at 10:31
You are right . – desgua Apr 23 '13 at 22:32
You may also find the first answer at http://askubuntu.com/questions/378037/keyboard-shortcuts-how-to-see-a-list-of-them helpful to see what your key mappings are. – Michael Durrant Mar 29 '14 at 11:30
I cannot find the equivalent to this in ubuntu 14.04, would you know where that would be? – Three Diag Jun 28 '15 at 16:15
In Ubuntu 14.04 you can assign "Super"+"Key" to a shortcut without needing to change de launcher shortcut. – desgua Jun 28 '15 at 16:45

score 6 · Answer 2 · answered May 02 '11 at 00:05

6

To do this without installing anything and without having to navigate the unfamiliar menus.

Press Alt+F2
Type gnome-terminal Enter
Type gconftool-2 --set --type string /apps/compiz-1/plugins/unityshell/screen0/options/show_launcher '<Super>a' Enter

Change the a after <Super> to whichever key you prefer.

Note that s and w are already taken, and I wouldn't recommend using l because that's often used for lock screen.

answered May 02 '11 at 00:05

Mikel

6,558

2

Running gnome-terminal is recommended because you can't paste into the Alt+F2 dialog. Bug 736222. – Mikel May 02 '11 at 00:07

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:24

0

Simpler from here: In System Settings / Keyboard / Typing tab / Layout Settings link (at the bottom) / Layouts tab / Options button / "Alt/Win key behaviour", choose Meta is mapped to Left Win key.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:24

Community

1

answered Jul 19 '12 at 04:26

pabloab

47

Can I define keyboard shortcuts using the Super key?

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