Unity key bindings doesn't work well together with gnome keybindings

[Jonas Ådahl]

Binary package hint: unity

In gnome I have bound Super-Enter to start a Terminal. After upgrading to 11.04 and running Unity, pressing Super-Enter will successfully start my terminal, but it will also show the launcher and put the keyboard focus there.

I also use Super-[arrow keys] to change virtual desktop, and doing this also trigger this behavior. It is avoidable by holding down the Super-key longer before pressing any other key, though then instead the Unity side bar is displayed for a blink of a second.

Steps to reproduce:
1. Open gnome-keybinding-properties
2. Bind something using the Super key as modifier, for example Super-Enter (Mod4+Return) to "Run a terminal".
3. Try to use your keybinding (without being slow), for example press Super-Enter.

Result:
Your keybinding will have been triggered, but the Unity Launcher has been displayed and taken the focus

Expected result:
Only the configured key-binding should have been triggered, and No Unity Launcher should have been displayed.

[thorstenmz (th-guenther)]

Unity has "stolen" the Super key. You can't really use your own keyboard shortcuts with it any more.

I use Super+Tab to initiate Compiz plug-in Shift Switcher. (It doesn't work well, because the top panel and the Launcher stay in place. But I disgress.) When I choose a window, it will come in front, but as soon as the animation ends, the dash will show up.

Conclusion:
The dash is triggered when the Super key is tapped shortly. It should not be triggered when the Super key is used with some other key as a keyboard shortcut combination.

[Jonas Ådahl (jadahl)]

I have a temporary work around to bind the Dash (or whatever it's called the thing that was originally bound to Super) to Super-Space. This way I can still use my Gnome key-bindings (Super-Enter, Super-[arrow keys], etc), without Unity interfering.

[thorstenmz (th-guenther)]

Thanks for the hint, that has brought some relief!