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    Colemak in Ubuntu Without Caps Remap?

    • Started by Viett
    • 6 Replies:
    • Reputation: 0
    • Registered: 25-Nov-2010
    • Posts: 4

    I'm looking to use Colemak in Ubuntu without remapping Caps Lock. Is this possible?

    Thanks,
    Viett

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    • From: Ann Arbor, MI
    • Registered: 25-Sep-2008
    • Posts: 36

    Use xmodmap.

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    • Registered: 25-Nov-2010
    • Posts: 4

    I tried fiddling around with xmodmap. I can use it to remap the caps lock to certain functions, but I cannot "unmap" it from backspace. For example, I can map caps lock to caps lock using xmodmap, but then hitting the caps lock key will both toggle caps lock and hit backspace.

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    • From: Belgium
    • Registered: 26-Feb-2008
    • Posts: 487

    xmodmap -e 'keycode 66 = Caps_Lock'
    xmodmap -e 'add Lock = Caps_Lock' 
    xset -r 66

    The first two (the part between quotes) can be put in an .Xmodmap file in your homedir, I think Gnome will load them automatically.  If not, run "xmodmap .Xmodmap" in your startup script.

    Alternatively, you can edit the layout files directly (make a copy, or download the original one from the Colemak website, so system updates won't overwrite your changes).

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    • Registered: 25-Nov-2010
    • Posts: 4

    Good suggestion modifying the layout itself. I commented out the Caps remap and it works perfectly. I had trouble finding the xkb/symbols directory, though. Apparently it's in /usr/share/X11, unlike many guides suggested.

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    • Registered: 25-Nov-2010
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    Me:

    hey look, this guy from 15 years ago has the same problem as me!

    In all seriousness, I have found that keyd is a more modern solution to this issue, especially with the advent of Wayland.

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    • Reputation: 24
    • From: Belgium
    • Registered: 26-Feb-2008
    • Posts: 487

    The modern solution at the xkeyboard-layout level is `setxkbmap -option caps:capslock`.

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