Binding Windows Key to Gnome (foot/hat) Panel Menu

By thomas, 22 May, 2006
First run xev to see what the keycode is for your Windows Key On my keyboard it is 115 and is bound to Super_L. [uphill@surrey ~]# xev KeyPress event, serial 26, synthetic NO, window 0x4800001, root 0x48, subw 0x0, time 2012015429, (676,609), root:(681,632), state 0x10, keycode 115 (keysym 0xffeb, Super_L), same_screen YES, XLookupString gives 0 bytes: XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes: XFilterEvent returns: False KeyRelease event, serial 29, synthetic NO, window 0x4800001, root 0x48, subw 0x0, time 2012015538, (676,609), root:(681,632), state 0x50, keycode 115 (keysym 0xffeb, Super_L), same_screen YES, XLookupString gives 0 bytes: If you see something like this: KeyPress event, serial 29, synthetic NO, window 0x4800001, root 0x48, subw 0x0, time 2012325397, (302,328), root:(307,351), state 0x10, keycode 115 (keysym 0x0, NoSymbol), same_screen YES, You'll need to set the symbol for your key first. [uphill@surrey ~]# xmodmap -e 'keycode 115 = Super_L' Or alternatively, edit the gnome keyboard xmodmap configuration file (what a mouthful), .gkb_default.xmm You should see a line like keycode 115 = In that file. Change it to: keycode 115 = Super_L

Next, add the keybinding with gconftool-2 [uphill@surrey ~]# gconftool-2 -s -t string /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/panel_main_menu Super_L [uphill@surrey ~]# gconftool-2 -g /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/panel_main_menu Super_L [uphill@surrey ~]# You should then be able to bring up the panel menu by pressing your Windows Key