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.

Solution 1

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

1. Install the compizconfig-settings-manager package.

2. Hit Alt+F2, type about:config and hit Enter to open the Unity configuration.

3. 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.

Solution 2

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

1. Press Alt+F2
2. Type gnome-terminal Enter
3. 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.

Comments

[MarkovCh1]

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

[Johan Larsson]

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.

[Johan Larsson]

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).

[tlwhitec]

I must say that I'd really appreciate if the Dash/Launcher <kbd>Super</kbd> shortcuts could be modifiable individually. I generally like the concept, but I'd like to live without several shortcuts like <kbd>Super</kbd>+<kbd>G</kbd> that I'm used to use in terminator.

[Mikel]

Running gnome-terminal is recommended because you can't paste into the Alt+F2 dialog. Bug 736222.

[Bleep Bloop]

One downside to this is that Super+(number) no longer works to quickly switch between apps, at least not on my Azerty keyboard.

[desgua]

You are right .

[Michael Durrant]

You may also find the first answer at askubuntu.com/questions/378037/… helpful to see what your key mappings are.

[desgua]

In Ubuntu 14.04 you can assign "Super"+"Key" to a shortcut without needing to change de launcher shortcut.