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Appendix A

Modifying the Keyboard

This appendix describes how to remap options for special keyboard keys and how to disable and enable the Compose key on your keyboard.

For information on remapping your mouse buttons (for example, more convenient left-handed use of the mouse), see the user documentation for your desktop environment.

Disabling and Enabling the Compose Key

IA only - The Compose key is defined to be Ctrl-Shift-F1 on IA-based systems.

If you do not use the Compose key, you can disable it so that you do not press it inadvertently. First, find out the keycode for Multi_key: 

$ xmodmap -pk | grep Multi_key

Your system displays a line similar to:

nn 0xff20 (Multi_key)

Use the two-digit keycode number at the beginning of the line, represented by nn, to construct the following line in your .xinitrc file. 

xmodmap -e 'keycode nn = NoSymbol'

To re-enable the Compose key, comment out the previous line in your .xinitrc file and restart the OpenWindows software.

SPARC: Left-Handed Key Remapping

The key remapping script in this section (provided for the Type-4 and Type-5 keyboards) remaps most of the special keys on the left panel and right panel of the keyboard (that is, the keypads to the left and right of the main keyboard area).

SPARC only - Note the following sections that describe "Left-Handed Key Remapping" apply only to SPARC-based machines.

SPARC: Using the Remapping Script

To remap the special keys on the left panel and right panel of your keyboard, follow these steps.

  1. Create a file called lefty.data by using any text editor.

    This file can be in any directory. Step 4 must occur in the same directory in which you create this file.

  2. Type in the script as shown in "lefty.data Script".

    Any line with an exclamation point in front of it is a comment line, and does not execute any operation.

  3. Save the changes and quit the editor.

  4. At the prompt, type:

    $ xmodmap lefty.data

    Note - You must be in the same directory as the script file.

  5. Click a mouse button in the Workspace to make the script effective.

    The keyboard is now remapped for left-handed use.

lefty.data Script

Type the following script into the file lefty.data, as described in Step 2.

!
! lefty.data
!
! Data for xmodmap to set up the left and right function keys
! for left-handed use on Sun Type-4 keyboard. To use this data,
! type the following where <filename> is the name of the file
! (i.e., lefty.data).
!
! xmodmap <filename>
!
! The comments below correspond to the keycode assignments
! following immediately thereafter.
!
! swap L2 (Again) with R1 (Pause)
! swap L3 (Props) with R6 (KP_Multiply)
! swap L4 (Undo) with R4 (KP_Equal)
! swap L5 (Front) with R9 (KP_9)
! swap L6 (Copy) with R7 (KP_7)
! swap L7 (Open) with R12 (KP_6)
! swap L8 (Paste) with R10 (KP_Left)
! swap L9 (Find) with R15 (KP_3)
! swap L10 (Cut) with R13 (KP_1)
!
! chng R3 (Break) to L1 (Stop)
! chng R2 (Print) to R10 (Left)
! chng R5 (KP_Divide) to R12 (Right)
!
! chng Linefeed to Control-R
!
keycode 10 = R1 R1 Pause
keycode 28 = L2 L2 SunAgain
keycode 32 = R6 R6 KP_Multiply
keycode 54 = L3 L3 SunProps
keycode 33 = R4 R4 KP_Equal
keycode 52 = L4 L4 SunUndo
keycode 56 = R9 R9 KP_9 Prior
keycode 77 = L5 L5 SunFront
keycode 58 = R7 R7 KP_7 Home


keycode 75 = L6 L6 SunCopy
keycode 79 = Right R12 KP_6
keycode 100 = L7 L7 SunOpen
keycode 80 = Left R10 KP_4
keycode 98 = L8 L8 SunPaste
keycode 102 = R15 R15 KP_3 Next
keycode 121 = L9 L9 SunFind
keycode 104 = R13 R13 KP_1 End
keycode 119 = L10 L10 SunCut
keycode 30 = L1 L1 SunStop
keycode 29 = Left R10 KP_4
keycode 53 = Right R12 KP_6
keycode 118 = Control_R
add control = Control_R

SPARC: Undoing the Keyboard Remapping

You can switch the keys back to their original settings in the following ways.

  • Exit the Solaris operating environment and start it up again

  • Create a second script and initiate it any time you want to switch back

Follow these instructions to create the second script.

  1. Use a text editor to create a file called nolefty.data.

  2. Type in the script as shown in "nolefty.data Script"

    Any line with an exclamation point in front of it is a comment line, and does not execute any operation.

  3. Save the nolefty.data script in the same directory as the lefty.data script and quit the editor.

  4. At the prompt, type the following command.

    $ xmodmap nolefty.data

    Note - For the nolefty.data file to execute, you must type the previous command in the same directory as the script file.

nolefty.data Script

!
! nolefty.data
!
! Data for xmodmap to reset the left and right function keys
! after being set for left-handed use on the Sun type-4 keyboard. 
! To use this data, type the following where <filename> is the name 
! of the file.
!
! xmodmap <filename>
!
! Reassign standard values to left function keys.
!
keycode 10 = L2 L2 SunAgain
keycode 32 = L3 L3 SunProps
keycode 33 = L4 L4 SunUndo
keycode 56 = L5 L5 SunFront
keycode 58 = L6 L6 SunCopy
keycode 79 = L7 L7 SunOpen
keycode 80 = L8 L8 SunPaste
keycode 102 = L9 L9 SunFind
keycode 104 = L10 L10 SunCut
!
! Reassign standard values to right function keys.
!
keycode 28 = R1 R1 Pause
keycode 29 = R2 R2 Print
keycode 30 = R3 R3 Scroll_Lock Break
keycode 52 = R4 R4 KP_Equal
keycode 53 = R5 R5 KP_Divide
keycode 54 = R6 R6 KP_Multiply
keycode 75 = R7 R7 KP_7 Home
keycode 77 = R9 R9 KP_9 Prior
keycode 98 = Left R10 KP_4
keycode 100 = Right R12 KP_6
keycode 119 = R13 R13 KP_1 End
keycode 121 = R15 R15 KP_3 Next
!
! Reassign the Linefeed key as such and remove from control map.
!
remove control = Control_R
keycode 118 = Linefeed

IA: Function Key and Control Key Remapping

You can remap the function keys of an IA machine so that they function like the Help, Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo, and Front keys on a SPARC keyboard. You can also remap the right Control key to be a Meta key.

IA only - Note that the following sections describing "Function Key Remapping" apply only to IA machines. After you remap the keys, you cannot use kdmconfig to change setup or video information without first undoing the keyboard remapping.

IA: Using the Remapping Script

Follow these steps to create and use your remapping script:

  1. Create a file in your home directory that is called fkeys by using any text editor.

  2. Type in the script as shown in "fkeys Script".

  3. Save the changes and quit the editor.

  4. At the prompt, type the following command.

    $ xmodmap fkeys

    Note - You must be in the same directory as the script file.

  5. Click a mouse button in the Workspace to make the script effective.

    After you complete these steps, you can use the function keys as Help, Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo, and Front keys.

fkeys Script

! 
keysym F2 = L10 
keysym F3 = L6 
keysym F4 = L8 
keysym F5 = L9  

keysym F8 = L4 
keysym F9 = L5  

remove control = Control_R 
keycode 0x47 = Meta_R 
add mod1 = Meta_R

IA: Undoing the Keyboard Remapping

You can switch the keys back to their original settings in two ways.

  • Exit the Solaris operating environment and start it up again

  • Create a second script and initiate it any time you want to switch back

Follow these instructions to create the second script:

  1. Use a text editor to create a file called normal.

  2. Type the script as shown in "normal Script".

  3. Save the normal file in the same directory as the fkeys script and quit the editor.

  4. At the prompt, type:

    $ xmodmap normal

    Note - You must type the previous command in the same directory as the script file.

 		 
 
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