Creating a new key binding set

To create a new key binding set, perform the following steps.

1. Open the desired window manager configuration file for editing.

   • pmwm mode:
     
     /usr/lib/X11/system.pmwmrc for system-wide changes

     $HOME/.pmwmrc for individual changes

   • mwm mode:
     
     /usr/lib/X11/system.mwmrc for system-wide changes

     $HOME/.mwmrc for individual changes

2. Locate the ``DefaultKeyBindings'' section in the window manager configuration file, copy it, then use it as a template for your new set.

3. Configure the new key, function, and context specifications.

4. Configure the new key binding set for use by the window manager with the keyBindings resource.

   Add this resource to /usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/Pmwm (for pmwm mode), /usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/Mwm (for mwm mode), or to the $HOME/.Xdefaults-hostname file, using the following syntax:
   
   PmwmkeyBindings: bindings_set_name

   or

   MwmkeyBindings: bindings_set_name

5. Restart the window manager and test your new key binding set.

See also:

• ``Example of configuring key bindings'' for sample key binding definitions

Step 1: Editing a window manager configuration file

If you want to make system-wide changes to the default key bindings, open the system-wide window manager configuration file, /usr/lib/X11/system.pmwmrc if you are using pmwm mode or system.mwmrc if you are using mwm mode. The system-wide file contains the default functionality for the window manager key bindings.

If you want to customize the key bindings in your local Graphical Environment, edit your personal window manager configuration file, $HOME/.pmwmrc if you are using pmwm mode or $HOME/.mwmrc if you are using mwm mode. The personal configuration file is not provided with the system by default. If it does not already exist, you must create your own by copying the appropriate system-wide window manager configuration file to .pmwmrc or .mwmrc in your $HOME directory.

See also:

• ``Customizing the window manager'' for more information on the system-wide and local window manager configuration files

Step 2: Locating the DefaultKeyBindings section

When you locate the ``DefaultKeyBindings'' section, you see entries with the following syntax:

   Keys  DefaultKeyBindings	
   {
       keys  context     function
       keys  context     function
                .
                .
   }

Keys

the type of the binding set being defined

``DefaultKeyBindings''

the default name assigned to a set of bindings

keys

the specification that defines the key press action. See ``Modifiers'' for a list of modifiers that can be used with the key press actions.

context

the specification that defines the context in which the key specification becomes active. See ``Key binding contexts'' for a list and description of the values that can be used for context.

function

the specification that defines one of the many window manager functions or actions. See ``About window manager functions'' for a basic description of functions. See ``Using window manager functions'' for a list and a detailed description of window manager functions.

Step 3: Defining key, function, and context specifications

Each key binding definition consists of key event, function, and context specifications. Use the template you created in Step 2 to create these new specifications.

• Define the new key event specification on the first line. The key event specification has the following syntax:
  
  key  =  [modifier_list]<Key>key_name

  where:
  
  modifier_list  =  modifier_name {modifier_name}

  Key events are single key presses; key releases are ignored. Designate any single key for the value in key_name. If you are creating a mnemonic key binding, do not designate a value for modifier_name. If you are creating an accelerator key binding, make sure your key-action combination is unique by selecting one or more of the values in ``Modifiers'' for the value in modifier_name.

• Define the function specification, after the key event specification. The syntax for naming a function is:
  
  function  =  function_name [function_args]

  function_name is one of the valid window manager functions and function_args is a valid argument to the function. If function_args contains more than one word, the argument must be contained in quotes.

  See ``Using window manager functions'' for a complete list and a detailed explanation of all of the valid window manager functions.
  

• Define the context specification after the function specification. The syntax for the context specification is:
  
  context  =  app | border | frame | icon | root | title | window

  The context specification defines the context in which the key specification becomes active; it indicates where the keyboard input focus must be for the key specification to be effective. The button specification can be active in more than one context. See ``Key binding contexts'' for a list and description of the values that can be used for context.

Step 4: Specifying the keyBindings resource

Define the name of the new key binding set through the keyBindings resource, using the appropriate resource file.

If you are making local changes, you must define the new binding set in the $HOME/.Xdefaults-hostname file. (If this file does yet not exist, create a file in your $HOME directory named .Xdefaults-hostname, where hostname is the name of the host, or machine, where the window manager is running.)

If you want the new key binding set to be used by all users on your system, specify the resource in /usr/lib/X11/app-default/Pmwm (if you are using pmwm mode) or /usr/lib/X11/app-default/Mwm (if you are using mwm mode).

The syntax of the resource specification is the same for all of the window manager configuration files:

Pmwm*keyBindings: new_key_bindings_set_name

or

Mwm*keyBindings: new_key_bindings_set_name

See also:

• ``Understanding resources'' for more information on resources and the .Xdefaults-hostname file

Step 5: Restarting the window manager

After you create your new key binding set, you must restart the window manager so your changes can take effect. Restart the window manager by selecting the Restart Window Manager option from the Root menu. The Root menu is accessed by pressing and holding mouse button 1 on the Desktop background or, if the Desktop is not running, in the Root window.

Verify that the new key binding set was created correctly by testing your new key sequences in the appropriate contexts. The key bindings are effective immediately after the window manager is restarted.