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HoCo_
Asked: 2019-04-14 06:31:50 +0800 CST

Use xmodmap returns me "bad keysym"

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I would remap my keyboard as following: 

xmodmap -e "keycode 77= w W {" 
xmodmap -e "keycode 78= x X }"

xmodmap -e "keycode 24= a A @"
xmodmap -e "keycode 49= ` & 2"
xmodmap -e "keycode 65= space space _"

xmodmap -e "keycode 111= Up Up Down"
xmodmap -e "keycode 113= Left Left Right"


xmodmap -e "keycode 51= * \" \' "

xmodmap -e "keycode 113= Left Left Right"
xmodmap -e "keycode 113= Left Left Right"

But xmodmap returns me:

xmodmap: commandline:1: bad keysym name 'XF86XK_{' in keysym list

I have seen on the web I should firstly remove the key but I m wondering if that could create some bug, so before trying a move I would ask the community some advice,

thanks

customization keyboard 18.04

1 Answers

  1. Regarding the error you mentioned, use as xmodmap -e "keycode 77 = w W braceleft"

    get the keysym from xev command.

    KeyPress event, serial 37, synthetic NO, window 0x2200001,
    root 0x195, subw 0x0, time 470232, (535,249), root:(623,392),
    state 0x2001, keycode 34 (keysym 0x7b, braceleft), same_screen YES,
    XKeysymToKeycode returns keycode: 16
    XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (7b) "{"
    XmbLookupString gives 1 bytes: (7b) "{"
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 37, synthetic NO, window 0x2200001,
    root 0x195, subw 0x0, time 470424, (535,249), root:(623,392),
    state 0x2001, keycode 34 (keysym 0x7b, braceleft), same_screen YES,
    XKeysymToKeycode returns keycode: 16
    XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (7b) "{"
    XFilterEvent returns: False

    If I understood correctly, your keycode 77 is Num_Lock

    so, you want to make your Num_Lock key as w W and braceleft

    to achieve this..

    1. xmodmap -e "remove Mod2 = Num_Lock" this will remove the Modifier Num_Lock from the Num_Lock Key..

    Note: Assign Num_Lock keysym to anyother keycode other wise you will loose Num_Lock. (this is not covered at this stage)

    1. xmodmap -e "keycode 77 = NoSymbol NoSymbol w W braceleft"

    you dont need to worry about removing the Modifier as above two changes will not persist after a logout or reboot.

    Example for Swapping of Num_Lock and braceleft keysymbols

    $ xmodmap -e "remove Mod2 = Num_Lock"
$ xmodmap -e "keycode 34 = bracketleft Num_Lock"
$ xmodmap -e "add Mod2 = Num_Lock"
$ xmodmap -e "keycode 77 = braceleft"
$
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