Make the Windows Key Open the Gnome Panel Menu
We’ve already covered how to make that Windows Key useful in KDE and Xfce, but what about Gnome? Well these instructions should help you out getting the Windows Key to open up the Gnome Panel Menu.
First run xev to see what the keycode is for your Windows Key On my keyboard it is 115 and is bound to Super_L.
[tux@training ~]# xev
KeyPress event, serial 26, synthetic NO, window 0×4800001,
root 0×48, subw 0×0, time 2012015429, (676,609), root:(681,632),
state 0×10, keycode 115 (keysym 0xffeb, Super_L), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False
KeyRelease event, serial 29, synthetic NO, window 0×4800001,
root 0×48, subw 0×0, time 2012015538, (676,609), root:(681,632),
state 0×50, keycode 115 (keysym 0xffeb, Super_L), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
If you see something like this:
KeyPress event, serial 29, synthetic NO, window 0×4800001,
root 0×48, subw 0×0, time 2012325397, (302,328), root:(307,351),
state 0×10, keycode 115 (keysym 0×0, NoSymbol), same_screen YES,
You’ll need to set the symbol for your key first.
[tux@training ~]# xmodmap -e ‘keycode 115 = Super_L’
Or alternatively, edit the gnome keyboard xmodmap configuration file (what a mouthful), .gkb_default.xmm You should see a line like
keycode 115 =
In that file. Change it to:
keycode 115 = Super_L
Next, add the keybinding with gconftool-2
[tux@training ~]# gconftool-2 -s -t string /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/panel_main_menu Super_L
[tux@training ~]# gconftool-2 -g /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/panel_main_menu
Super_L
[tux@training ~]#
You should then be able to bring up the panel menu by pressing your Windows Key
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The one problem I have with this, is that I have other shortcuts (quite a few compiz functions) using Super_L as well. It would be better is the menu opened on release of Super_L, and is ignored if any other combination is pressed.