How to permanently swap esc and caps lock in xfce / xubuntu?

Question

I followed some post a while ago, and it said to make an ~/.xmodmap file like so:

! Swap caps lock and escape
remove Lock = Caps_Lock
keysym Escape = Caps_Lock
keysym Caps_Lock = Escape
add Lock = Caps_Lock

I did, and it now I can swap esc and caps lock by doing xmodmap ~/.xmodmap. I wanted this to be permanent, so I added that command to my ~/.bash_profile, but it doesn't seem to work; I still have to manually xmodmap. As an EEng dropout, I am tempted to just rewire my keyboard }:-) but I know there must be a better way. How can I make this work, permanently?

Solution 1

Execute xfce4-settings-manager, in Session and Startup -> Application autostart, add an entry, which executes xmodmap ~/.xmodmap

Or rename the file to ~/.Xmodmap

Solution 2

xkb has an option that does just that:

caps:swapescape      Swap ESC and Caps Lock

so you could simply add¹

/usr/bin/setxkbmap -option "caps:swapescape"

to your XFCE autostart items.

---

^{1: there might be a better way to do this but I'm not a XFCE user}

Solution 3

In Xfce on Opensuse I swapped my Esc and Caps Lock keys by editing the /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/00-keyboard.conf file as explained at the archlinux wiki. I added a line that says

Option "XkbOptions" "caps:swapescape"

to the section that starts with

Section "InputClass"

then restarted my computer and the deed was done.

Back up the file before you edit it. If you make a mistake your gui might not start and you will have to restore or edit the file from a command prompt. In Ubuntu I recall that I had to put add the option line in a keyboard configuration file that had a different name.

Solution 4

Using the .Xmodmap didn't work for me.

However, a quick man xmodmap says that this works and did:

.xmodmaprc

which can be executed:

xmodmap .xmodmaprc

EDIT: ack...I'm wrong...the default did change a few years ago to .Xmodmap from .xmodmaprc. Creating the .Xmodmap file caused my xfce to load "funny". In .bash_profile, I put:

xmodmap .xmodmaprc

Then it worked, and I have a script that restarted my Xfce so it all works.

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Comments

[Dan Ross]

I renamed the file (it worked!), but I am surprised that my .bash_profile method didn't work. I thought my bash-fu was not weak :P

[Dan Ross]

Cool, I'll give it a shot on my next reboot. Xmodmap doesn't quite work perfectly for me, I have to manually trigger it after switching keyboard languages, for example. I'm also not on XFCE anymore. That was cool, but I wanted more control at home (Arch) and better interop with the stuff my colleagues use at work (vanilla Ubuntu).

[don_crissti]

@DanRoss - Well, if you're using gnome (the only DE that I'm familiar with) it's as simple as adding caps:swapescape to your xkb-options

[G-Man Says 'Reinstate Monica']

don_crissti has already posted setxkbmap -option "caps:swapescape" as an answer.  Since the question asks how to swap Esc and Caps Lock, I wonder why you believe that this is a better answer (or even a correct one at all).  Can you justify your claim that your answer works?  Do you claim that you answer works better than don’s? … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Please do not respond in comments; edit your answer to make it clearer and more complete.  Include references, if possible.