Since I study Japanese and I never use caps lock I want to rebind it to another key that I can use to change input mode in ibus.

I've tried to edit the keyboard variant I'm using (se, at /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/se) and add this to it:

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key <CAPS>  {
   type[Group1]="PC_ALT_LEVEL2",
   symbols[Group1]= [ Zenkaku_Hankaku, Kanji ]
};

I got this from the Japanese file, and it is the specification for they key used to switch mode on a Japanese computer (normally 'key <HZTG>' but I changed it to <CAPS>).

However nothing happens. (I've also unsuccessfully tried to rebind it to other keys just to see if I could get anything to happen)

What am I doing wrong?
Is there a better way of doing it?

You shouldn't be altering files in /usr as they are managed by your package manager, and will be overwritten during updates.

You should use "xmodmap" to make changes to the active keyboard layout.

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xmodmap -e "keysym Caps_Lock = Control_L"

You simply need to change "Control_L" to the appropriate item, which you will need to determine then ensure this command is run on login.

Thanks!
I was so set on using setxkbmap somehow that I missed xmodmap.

I got it working now with:

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xmodmap -e "remove lock = Caps_Lock"
xmodmap -e "keysym Caps_Lock = Zenkaku_Hankaku"

.. in case anyone else wonders.

[Edit]
Had to add another line first to disable caps lock.

aabbqrstp wrote:Thanks!
I was so set on using setxkbmap somehow that I missed xmodmap.

I got it working now with:

Code: Select all

xmodmap -e "remove lock = Caps_Lock"
xmodmap -e "keysym Caps_Lock = Zenkaku_Hankaku"

.. in case anyone else wonders.

[Edit]
Had to add another line first to disable caps lock.

Such a thing would be very handy, since Caps Lock is useless for me as well.
Which file do you have to put this in so it's executed on every login?

Simply create a file ending with ".sh" in ~/.kde4/Autostart ( such as rebind-capslock.sh ) and place those lines in that file. After ensuring it is executable, log out and back in again.

For KDE-way, start
$ kcmshell4 kcm_keyboard
(or find it in system settings)

Go to the 'Advanced' tab -> Ctrl key position -> Make CapsLock an additional Ctrl

Is there a KDE way to rebind CapsLock to Left Alt?

I want to swap Caps Lock for Escape. Is there a way to do this from KDE or do I have to do it from the terminal?