Bug 74748

Summary:	ability to remap 'windows' key
Product:	[Unmaintained] kicker	Reporter:	Kevin Fenzi <kevin-bugs-kde>
Component:	general	Assignee:	John Firebaugh <jfirebaugh>
Status:	RESOLVED DUPLICATE
Severity:	wishlist	CC:	kde
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	unspecified
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	RedHat Enterprise Linux
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Kevin Fenzi 2004-02-09 20:14:35 UTC

Version:            (using KDE KDE 3.2.0)
Installed from:    RedHat RPMs
OS:          Linux

Not sure if this is a bug or a wish...

Currently in kde-3.2 the 'windows' key is mapped to pop up the k-menu. 

This was not the behavior in previous versions. 

There doesn't appear to be any way to remap this key. 
K-Hotkeys won't let you since the win key is a modifier, so it won't accept it by itself. 
None of the keyboard mapping options seem to change it. 
Nothing in kdeglobals seems to change this behavior. 

I map my windows key + arrows to switching desktops, which works fine, but if I don't hit a arrow
key fast enough or change my mind and don't hit one, the k-menu comes up, which is very anoying. 

Happy to provide any additional information on my settings or things I have tried.

Comment 1 Sebastien 2004-09-15 20:20:25 UTC

Just to give my opinion on this.

I love to save space anywhere and removed the K-Menu button from my
(overloaded by plugins) kicker. It give the extra pixels for the
(overloaded too) taskbar.
I use hotkeys to launch programs or Alt+F2, but sometimes I want to see
all the installed applications or launch a rarly used program (not in
Alt+F2 history anymore or too long to type).
So I use the Lin/Win key for that.
(yes, I can modifier+click the desktop but I never want/support to
minimize all windows for that very single and fast action).

In the same time, I was loving Windows Win+key shortcuts.
I launch all my programs with Ctrl+Alt+key but it give some problems:
- Two modifiers are needed. One is faster
- I tend to occupe all the possible keys. Have the Win+keys would
souble my productivity.

So, have Win/Lin key as a modifier key AND single key would be very good
and I don't see any problem. After all, it's why it was designed.

As stated on kde-usability mailing list, the Alt meta key also can act as a normal key when pressed alone: it move focus to the menubar.
Users don't think in meta-key or normal-key (at last for me and my entourage, and for that Win/Lin key). I was surprised when I started to search how to make it works that the Win/Lin key can only be a modifier or not.
Alt key can be both, so why not Win/Lin key. If ever not possible, a small hack could be done for this purpose.

Users want both: some complains the Win key can't open the K-Menu (Bug 29105) and others complains when the Win key now open the K-Menu :-D
It's a sign that even if it's a technical challenge, it's a very great enhancement for users (that don't think with modifier, again).

Comment 2 Lubos Lunak 2005-05-30 15:24:18 UTC


*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 76041 ***