Declare a new modifier key with XKB

Question

I'm trying to create a one handed keyboard layout and want to use Hyper to produce special keys when I press some keys.

For example, when I press Hyper_L and B, I want XKB to produce XF86AudioRaiseVolume.

Relevant parts from custom_2.kbd (full code at http://pastebin.com/gm8cggn3) :

xkb_keycodes { <K_36> = 54; // b B XF86AudioRaiseVolume <K_85> = 133; // Hyper_L }; xkb_symbols { key <K_36> { type = "HYPER_LEVEL", [ b, B, XF86AudioRaiseVolume ] }; key <K_85> { type = "ONE_LEVEL", [ Hyper_L ] }; }; xkb_compatibility { interpret Hyper_L { action = SetMods(modifiers=Hyper); }; }; xkb_types { type "HYPER_LEVEL" { modifiers= Shift+Hyper; map[Shift]= Level2; map[Hyper]= Level3; map[Shift+Hyper]= Level3; }; };

It seems fine to me, but when I try it:

~$ xkbcomp custom_2.kbd $DISPLAY Error: Identifier "Hyper" of type int is unknown Error: Key type mask field must be a modifier mask Key type definition ignored Warning: Map entry for unused modifiers in HYPER_LEVEL Using none instead of Shift Error: Identifier "Hyper" of type int is unknown Error: The key type map entry field must be a modifier mask Ignoring illegal assignment in HYPER_LEVEL Error: Identifier "Hyper" of type int is unknown Error: The key type map entry field must be a modifier mask Ignoring illegal assignment in HYPER_LEVEL -> 1

(error code is 1)

And now I'm stuck. Does anyone have an idea how to make this work? A solution without Hyper is OK.

Edit

By changing Super and Hyper to Mod4 and Mod5, that error goes away:

~$ xkbcomp custom_3.kbd ( no output ) ~$ diff custom_{2,3}.kbd 188,190c188,190 < interpret Super_L { action = SetMods(modifiers=Super); }; < interpret Hyper_L { action = SetMods(modifiers=Hyper); }; < }c; --- > interpret Super_L { action = SetMods(modifiers=Mod4); }; > interpret Hyper_L { action = SetMods(modifiers=Mod5); }; > }; 204c204 < modifiers= Shift+Hyper; --- > modifiers= Shift+Mod5; 206,207c206,207 < map[Hyper]= Level3; < map[Shift+Hyper]= Level3; --- > map[Mod5]= Level3; > map[Shift+Mod5]= Level3;

However, it still doesn't work:

~$ xkbcomp custom_3.kbd $DISPLAY Error: success in unknown Couldn't write keyboard description to :0.0 X Error of failed request: BadValue (integer parameter out of range for operation) Major opcode of failed request: 135 (XKEYBOARD) Minor opcode of failed request: 9 (XkbSetMap) Value in failed request: 0x8010202 Serial number of failed request: 12 Current serial number in output stream: 14 -> 1

BRPocock · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-07 14:55:01Z

Still having some (I think unrelated) issues with XKB myself, but I do have a Hyper modifier mapped, and I believe the relevant settings are these:

compat:

virtual_modifiers Shift,Control,Meta,Super,Hyper,AltGr; interpret Hyper_R { action = SetMods(modifiers=Mod4); };

symbols:

modifier_map Mod4 { <DELE> }; // Hyper key <DELE> { type="UNMODIFIED", [ Hyper_R ], repeat=no };

then something like

key <K_36> { type = "SHIFT+HYPER", [ b, B, XF86AudioRaiseVolume, XF86AudioRaiseVolume ] };

types

virtual_modifiers Meta,AltGr,Super,Hyper,Mod5;

don't need the Mod5 there unless you're using it also; but likewise, omit Shift & Control here…

type "SHIFT+HYPER" { modifiers= Shift+Hyper; map[Shift]= Level2; map[Hyper]= Level3; map[Shift+Hyper]= Level4; };

For what it's worth, I had far, far worse hassles trying to redefing the geometry and key codes than it was worth, and ended up reverting to the pc105 key symbols in <AE01> form, even though many of them are ludicrously mis-named. (e.g. <DELE> for my Hyper key)

PS. For a working example, see https://github.com/brpocock/spacey-cadet-keyboard …

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