Unable to use IntelliJ IDEA keyboard shortcuts on Ubuntu

Question

I am very new to Ubuntu, and I'm having a problem that I don't know how to get it fixed. I even tried looking it up on the web for answers, but maybe I don't know the right terms to search for it.

I work with IntelliJ IDEA, an application for development. And I am very used to the keyboard shortcuts, but when I made the switching from Windows XP to Ubuntu 13.10, some shortcuts don't work anymore. For example, such as;

• Ctrl + Alt + ←
• Alt + F8

Is there any reason as to why? and are there any fix for this? Or maybe just something to guide me on my searching

Thank you all very much in advance.

Solution 1

As a bit of reading taught me, Intellij IDEA is a keyboard-centric IDE. What it means is that a user can work with it without touching the mouse. Also, I've managed to find to keymap settings:

For Ubuntu

See How to change keyboard shortcuts?

Here’s a list of tweaks you need to make with default system key bindings so that they won’t interfere with IntelliJ IDEA actions (listed in brackets).

• Disable the Shade window action, assigned to Ctrl + Alt + S (Settings dialog)
• Change or disable the Lock Screen action, assigned to Ctrl + Alt + L (Reformat code)
• Change or disable the Launch terminal action, assigned to Ctrl + Alt + T (Surround with)
• Change or disable the Switch to workspace action, assigned to Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Keys (Navigation)
• Disable the Move window action, assigned to Alt + F7 (Find usages)
• Change or disable the Resize window action, assigned to Alt + F8 (Evaluate expression)

Hope this helps!

Note: You can always revert Ubuntu shortcuts back to its default state. Just refer to How can I restore default keyboard shortcuts?, in case if you're lost.

Source: -- Intellij IDEA Keymap

Solution 2

I ran into this problem too, my solution, however, was different.

No hack or changing your systemwide keymap required

IntelliJ has different Keymaps, which you can change according to your OS.

You can change your IntelliJ Keymap from the settings.

Just go to Settings -> Keymap and select your desired keymap from the dropdown. In my case, I chose "Default for GNOME" since I am using Ubuntu Gnome 16.04.

Solution 3

For ubuntu 18.04 LTS ctrl + alt + left （Intellij idea shortcut conflict）

• install Dconf Editor in ubuntu software

• launch Dconf Editor, go to /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-left

• double click like below

• use default value (click Off) -> Custom value (like me or else)

• you could use it in intellij idea now

Solution 4

I have created this script that disables all clashing shortcuts between Ubuntu (tested with 15.10) and IntelliJ (and probably more Jetbrains products). It disables them in Ubuntu.

It also creates a backup file so that you can restore your previous settings.

To not have some shortcuts disabled, comment them out in the KEYS array.

#!/bin/bash
set -euo pipefail

# Disables Ubuntu shortcuts that clash with IntelliJ Idea (and probably other
# Jetbrain products).
#
# Creates a backup file to restore the previous settings. To not have some
# shortcuts disabled, comment them out in the `KEYS` array.
#
# Tested on : Ubuntu 15.10
# Author    : Jonas Gröger

readonly BACKUP_FILE="undo-fix-shortcuts-$(date +%s%N).sh"
readonly KEYS=(
    "/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/toggle-shaded"
    "/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/screensaver"
    "/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/terminal"
    "/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-down"
    "/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-up"
    "/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-left"
    "/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-right"
    "/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/begin-move"
    "/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/begin-resize"
    # To disable resetting a value, just comment out the line
)
readonly DISABLED_VALUE="['disabled']"

main() {
    # Make backup
    printf "#!/bin/bash\n" >>  "$BACKUP_FILE"
    for key in "${KEYS[@]}"; do
        local value
        value=$(dconf read "$key")
        printf "dconf write \"%s\" \"%s\"\n" "$key" "$value" >> "$BACKUP_FILE"
    done

    # Disable all Ubuntu shortcuts
    for key in "${KEYS[@]}"; do
        dconf write "$key" "$DISABLED_VALUE"
    done
}
main

You can get it from here:

wget -O fix-shortcuts.sh https://gist.githubusercontent.com/JonasGroeger/94cfa1071fa12572f465/raw/fix-shortcuts.sh

Solution 5

See here for a way to disable Ubuntu shortcuts programmatically and only if windows of certain applications are active.

Specifically, use these values (assuminging you use the JetBrains Toolbox with its standard install path; adapt otherwise):

apppattern = "JetBrains"
backupfile = "~/.local/share/JetBrains/keymap_backup"

While the script runs, Ubuntu shortcuts will always work except when IDEA et al. have focus.

I have a collection of JetBrains-specific shortcuts here; input is appreciated.

View more solutions

Comments

[AzkerM]

Are you referring to the Ubuntu shortcuts or the shortcuts within the running program. In you case, IntelliJ IDEA?

[AzkerM]

You see, most of the shortcuts are pretty different between OS's but not the very common. As I can see shortcuts under keyboard (search from dash home), ALT+F8 refers to re-size window.

[Rodrigo Sasaki]

Is there anyway to make the application's shortcuts take precedent over the OS's ones? Or any other solution, I'd really like to get my shortcuts back

[Rodrigo Sasaki]

You're saying I have to disable those actions on the OS so they won't overlap with the application's?

[AzkerM]

Exactly! As the points explains even on the official page. Some says disable and some points explains to change or disable by assuming that the user would use. For instance, user uses lock screen frequently, considering the fact; a user may change or disable according to their need. This make no harm but just disable/modify the shortcuts. :)

[Rodrigo Sasaki]

So simple :) Thank you for that! Thank you very much

[Lee Meador]

That's all well and good to tell us what keys need to be freed from their use in the OS. But you didn't tell us how to do that.

[AzkerM]

@LeeMeador - OP's question was about keyboard shortcuts relating to IntelliJ IDEA. I've constructed the answer to fit OP's need. But, thanks for pointing out. I'll add that as well. (:

[Lee Meador]

I added an answer for giving <Alt>F7 it's freedom here: askubuntu.com/questions/515883/…

[Dean Schulze]

To change keyboard shortcuts in Ubuntu go to Settings -> keyboard -> shortcuts. You'll have to navigate through the various windows to find where the shortcuts are set.

[bfncs]

Thanks a lot for sharing, this is a much better solution to the problem than changing your systemwide keymap. Might be problematic if you do a lot of OS/WM switching, though.

[Francisco C.]

I haven't run into this problem, at least not that I can remember. I would look into it anyways and let you know.

[Francisco C.]

@jscherman - what keymap are you using?

[jscherman]

@FranciscoC. i'm using the one you mentioned: "Default for GNOME". But unfortunately there are still collisions as i said in my previous comment. I've already asked in the Jetbrains support and there they told me that there was an open feature request regarding to this already. So apparently i can't do anything but start disabling some Ubuntu's shortcuts

[Raphael]

@jscherman Unity apparently differs from Gnome in this regard.

[fan]

I use Alt-F1 quite a lot. But I don't want to unmap it from Ubuntu. So I mapped Alt-§, which in my keyboard is located at the top left. I.e., close to the original Alt-F1

[fan]

I also unmapped the Alt Left-Button, for multiple select. It is used for dragging windows. See askubuntu.com/questions/118151/… for a how to

[fIwJlxSzApHEZIl]

This is a solution to the problem but really unfortunate if you're coming to IntelliJ from a different platform like OSX. The GNOME and OSX keybinds could not be more different. Definitely a letdown from IntelliJ's side.

[Dean Schulze]

This is a partial solution at best. Ctrl+Alt+S (open settings) still minimizes the windows. IntelliJ needs to come up with an alternative key mapping that works.

[Coder-Man]

I disabled the shortcut, and now what? Intellij's navigate back functionality still doesn't work.

[Coder-Man]

This did not work at all.

[Coder-Man]

Did exactly this and intellij's navigate back functionality still doesn't work...

[Francisco C.]

@Coder-Man - what are you experiencing? Now that Gnome is Ubuntu's default DE, I would expect this to be a more viable solution.

[Honza]

Ctrl + Alt + Left or Ctrl + Alt + Right cannot be unassigned in Gnome GUI anymore :/ you need to use command-line version in another answer :/