Custom key bindings in Linux

There are various ways to create custom key bindings/mappings in Linux. This tutorial uses xbindkeys on Ubuntu.

xbindkeys is a program that allows you to launch shell commands with your keyboard or mouse under the X Window System. It links commands to keys or mouse buttons, using a configuration file.

I have a ThinkPad and my keyboard has one of those blue buttons. Might as well put it to good use. I take a lot of screenshots, I’ll use it for that.

1. Install xbindkeys
   apt-get install xbindkeys

2. Create a configuration file for xbindkeys
   touch $HOME/.xbindkeysrc

3. Identify the key to be used for launching the command
   xbindkeys --key

   
   Press combination of keys or/and click under the window.
   You can use one of the two lines after "NoCommand"
   in $HOME/.xbindkeysrc to bind a key.
   "NoCommand"
       m:0x10 + c:156
       Mod2 + XF86Launch1
   

4. Add the following key binding to the configuration file $HOME/.xbindkeysrc

   
   "gnome-screenshot"
     m:0x10 + c:156
   

   or

   
   "gnome-screenshot --window --remove-border --effect=shadow"
     Mod2 + XF86Launch1
   

5. Autostart xbindkeys (without arguments) on login. One option is to use the “Startup Applications” tool.