Bug 256765

Summary:	arrow key remapping via X11 mechanisms does not seem to work
Product:	[I don't know] kde	Reporter:	tmbdev
Component:	general	Assignee:	Unassigned bugs mailing-list <unassigned-bugs>
Status:	RESOLVED FIXED
Severity:	normal	CC:	arysin, kde, nate
Priority:	NOR
Version:	unspecified
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Ubuntu
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Attachments:	script with xmodmap mapping arrow keys to key combinations

Description tmbdev 2010-11-13 05:59:34 UTC

Version:           unspecified (using KDE 4.5.1) 
OS:                Linux

I use xmodmap to remap some keys.  In particular, I map arrow keys to a combination of Mode_switch and letters.  This works in Gnome and X11 apps, but it doesn't work in KDE apps; KDE apps just seem to ignore the arrow key mappings; they do pick up non-arrow key mappings.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
Run the script below.  Use Mode_switch + l to attempt to move the cursor right.

Actual Results:  
Nothing happens.

Expected Results:  
Cursor should move to the right.

Here is my guess at a possible source of this problem.  Arrow keys in OS X are not treated like other keys and keyboard remapping doesn't work for them on OS X (this is a deficiency on OS X that serves no purpose).  Some cross-platform apps and toolkits have added workarounds for OS X that break arrow key handling on Linux (and probably Windows).

Whatever the source of the problem, OS X should respect and correctly implement standard X11 keyboard mappings.

Comment 1 tmbdev 2010-11-13 06:00:41 UTC

Created attachment 53383 [details]
script with xmodmap mapping arrow keys to key combinations

Comment 2 Christoph Feck 2010-11-13 14:49:07 UTC

Is this a duplicate of bug 256266?

Comment 3 tmbdev 2010-11-13 17:43:30 UTC

(In reply to comment #2)
> Is this a duplicate of bug 256266?

A duplicate is a bug that's reproduced, verified, and fixed in the same way.  This bug is reproduced and verified differently.  For example, the other bug involves khotkeys, this one involves xmodmap, and they may use different keyboard mapping methods.

It may well turn out that they have the same underlying cause and fix, but people won't know that until someone who understands the software looks at it.

Comment 4 Andriy Rysin 2010-11-14 18:17:35 UTC

I am a bit confused why OS X is mentioned in the report...

Comment 5 tmbdev 2010-11-15 08:47:02 UTC

Sorry, the last sentence has a confusing typo.  Of course it should read:

"Whatever the source of the problem, *KDE* should respect and correctly implemen,  standard X11 keyboard mappings."

Comment 6 tmbdev 2010-11-15 08:52:19 UTC

(In reply to comment #4)
> I am a bit confused why OS X is mentioned in the report...

OS X is mentioned because attempting to support OS X's broken keyboard support has been a source of problems with arrow key mappings in other cross-platform toolkits, and it may be the source here as well.

Let me try to be crystal clear: KDE apps do not correctly handle arrow keys remapped with xmodmap in, for example, Kate running under X11 on Ubuntu Linux 10.10.

Comment 7 Andrew Crouthamel 2018-11-05 03:20:46 UTC

Dear Bug Submitter,

This bug has been stagnant for a long time. Could you help us out and re-test if the bug is valid in the latest version? I am setting the status to NEEDSINFO pending your response, please change the Status back to REPORTED when you respond.

Thank you for helping us make KDE software even better for everyone!

Comment 8 Andrew Crouthamel 2018-11-17 05:06:19 UTC

Dear Bug Submitter,

This is a reminder that this bug has been stagnant for a long time. Could you help us out and re-test if the bug is valid in the latest version? This bug will be moved back to REPORTED Status for manual review later, which may take a while. If you are able to, please lend us a hand.

Thank you for helping us make KDE software even better for everyone!

Comment 9 Nate Graham 2020-09-28 23:17:44 UTC

No response; assuming it was fixed since then.