[dev] [dmenu] Xkb redirection not recognized

Hi

In X11 using the X keyboard extension (xkb) it is possible to redirect
one key to another. For example I have redirected "Control+j" to
"left", "Control+l" to "right" and likewise other keys.

So when I press "j" while control is pressed this is supposed to
redirect to "left" and release all modifier state before doing so. So
all applications should see/handle is the resulting "left" without a
modifier set.

This is explained in some more detail at
http://www.mail-archive.com/i18n@xfree86.org/msg01858.html.

Dmenu does not recognize the redirection. In fact it appears to simply
ignores the respective key presses completely.

To make it easier to reproduce this I have attached a patch with
modifies the us layout to redirect "Control-j,k,l" to left, up and
right respecively.

Apply it like this:

0. setxkbmap -print # so the current configuration can later be restored

1. cd /path/to/xkb/configuration # likely /usr/share/X11/xkb
2. patch -p5 --backup < us-redirect.2.diff
3. setxkbmap -layout us
4. start dmenu, provide some input
5. try to move around with "C-j"->"left" and "C-l"->"right"

6. cp symbols/us.orig symbols/us; cp types/complete.orig types/complete
7. setxkbmap -layout "the one from above" # or if this fails restart X11

thx for your help
Received on Fri Oct 16 2009 - 11:44:58 UTC