How can I map F11 and F12 to Ctrl+F9, Ctrl+F10?

haemogoblin · 10-29-2015, 06:27 AM

Hi guys & gurls

This is my first post here on LQ and I really am hoping that some boffin can help me out of the pickle I appear to be in.

I've built a Raspberry PI2 in to an Amiga A600 case and using a Keyrah, I was able to use the Amiga's keyboard as a USB device. It all works pretty darn well, apart from the fact that the Amiga has no F11 or F12. The keyrah does have a switch that you can flick to access the right hand side of the keyboard. But this isn't much good if your using keys on the left for something. So I was wondering if I can modify the keymap and tell Linux from the get go, that F11 and F12 have become Ctrl+F9 and Ctrl+F10.

I've spent the last few days trying my best to make sense of how to do this, but a lot of it is Greek to me and I would truly appreciate the advice, guidance, hand holding of a superior authority on Linux.

qlue · 10-30-2015, 02:36 AM

It may depend somewhat on which ARM distro you're using.
However, this post should provide a solution for you.
I suggest you read that post through a few times to understand what they're doing and then work out what needs to be done differently to apply it to your case. (at least, that's what I'd do.)

haemogoblin · 10-30-2015, 08:42 AM

At the moment the Pi is running the latest version of Raspbian, which is an based on Debian.

II had a glance at the link and i'm not sure if this will do what I'm after, as this is swapping keys. Where as I want to map key combinations using the Ctrl+F9 and F10 keys, so that they register as F11 and F12. The guide doesn't seem to mention whether this is possible.

Emerson · 10-30-2015, 08:48 AM

Below is how I added some characters to my US keyboard. Similar setup should work for you.

Code:

~ $ cat .xmodmaprc 
keycode 133 = Mode_switch
keycode  13 = 4 dollar 4 cent
keycode  26 = e E EuroSign cent
keycode  30 = u U udiaeresis Udiaeresis
keycode  32 = o O odiaeresis Odiaeresis
keycode  38 = a A adiaeresis Adiaeresis
keycode  40 = d D degree
keycode  58 = m M Greek_mu

Edit: This is for X only.

haemogoblin · 10-30-2015, 10:48 AM

Thanks for posting this, could I trouble you to talk me through what you posted? I recognize the keycodes. However what I'm trying to do, is assign two missing keys so that they can be accessed via CTRL+F9 OR CTRL+F10. How would that translate in to the code you posted there? As that looks to me like your assigning the function to singular keys, not a key combination.

Emerson · 10-30-2015, 10:51 AM

Mode_switch is the key you hold down. In my case it is Left Windows Key.

haemogoblin · 10-30-2015, 12:22 PM

Ahhh! (he says with the light bulb above it head)

So let me see if I understand you, because mode switch is the first on the list. You've told Linux that everything that comes after is a combination of Keycode 133 + another key.

So If I supplemented keycode 133 with the keycode for Ctrl then followed below by the keycodes for F9 and F10, it should 'in theory' recognize it as those keys? Would I be right in thinking these alterations will be lost as soon as I reboot?

Emerson · 10-30-2015, 12:50 PM

When X starts it is supposed to parse ~/.xmodmaprc. In case it does not you can add xmodmap to your X startup somewhere, there is more than one option.

Emerson · 10-30-2015, 01:02 PM

There are four columns in my .xmodmaprc.

Code:

keycode  38 = a A adiaeresis Adiaeresis

First - a - this is what you get when you hit a
Second - A - same with Shift key
Third - ä - a with modeshift key
Fourth - Ä - a with modeshift key and Shift key

You can see your keymap in effect with xmodmap -pke.