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Anton Ciprian Vasilache
Asked: 2012-04-29 10:01:40 +0800 CST

How do I enable Scroll Lock?

  • 772

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.
keyboard 12.04 lock

4 Answers

  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.

    • 29

  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).

    • 23

  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
    • 11

  4. If you just modify the

    /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc

    you should use a command like

    sudo gedit /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc

    and add the line

     modifier_map Mod3   { Scroll_Lock };

    inside the

    xkb_symbols "pc105" {

    It's enough

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