How do I enable Scroll Lock?

Question

I need to enable scroll lock so I can toggle lights on my keyboard. This works on Arch.Funny thing it doesn't work on Ubuntu.

http://linuxtechie.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/getting-scroll-lock-to-work-in-ubuntu/

$ xmodmap -e ‘add mod3 = Scroll_Lock’
xmodmap:  unknown command on line commandline:1
xmodmap:  unable to open file 'mod3' for reading
xmodmap:  unable to open file '=' for reading
xmodmap:  unable to open file 'Scroll_Lock’' for reading
xmodmap:  4 errors encountered, aborting.

Solution 1

xmodmap -e 'add mod3 = Scroll_Lock'

(Note the difference in the single-quotes!)

Copy this and paste it in a terminal.

Then the error will no longer occur.

I have used this command successfully on my Ubuntu 12.04 system.

Solution 2

Or you can switch the lights with these:

On:

xset led named "Scroll Lock"

Off:

xset -led named "Scroll Lock"

Works on Ubuntu 12.04 x86 for my SpeedLink illuminated keyboard (SL-6453-SSV-A).

Solution 3

Found the permanent way after a long night up with lots of half baked solutions.

# backup your symbols file
sudo cp /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/us{,.distribution} 

Add the following line in the xkb_symbols "basic" { section. do not worry if that second line is not there, it is only there for some languages and was not there for us on my system.

...
    modifier_map Mod3   { Scroll_Lock }; <==<< Add this line

    include "level3(ralt_switch)" <==<< before this line
};

You may have to do the same in your other layouts if you switch between languages

Also, there is a cache where xkb layouts live. You should clear it before restarting your X server to check the new keyboard symbol file(s).

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xkb-data

Comments

[Pykler]

How can you use setxkbmap to have scroll lock just work?

[Giovanni Toraldo]

Works on ubuntu 14.04 too (tested with Cooler Master Devastator keyboard)

[Giovanni Toraldo]

This won't work anymore on Gnome 3.10 since it will reset keyboard map after every login and screen lock/unlock

[CMCDragonkai]

How do you do this with just xkb instead of xmodmap?

[Then Enok]

ps: you must remove the '<==<< Add this line' part or else you will not have a functional keyboard upon x restart :)

[NotKyon]

This worked for me on Ubuntu 16.10. Thanks a bunch, it's been driving me nuts for ages!

[foxite]

To any archaeologists: Still works on Ubuntu 16.04

[Ronald]

Worked on Mint 18!

[Ronald]

How can you do this automatically when linux boot?

[rneves]

Works on Ubuntu 16.04 too

[yanychar]

The right place is actually /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc. If you edit it, you don't need to edit any layouts files.

[Scott Hather]

Works great on pure debian (testing, latest stable kernel etc) with K700 keyboard

[Gaurang Arora]

Worked like a charm. Thanks.

[Admin]

thank you, it helps me a lot. S2