Bindings for custom keys on Lenovo x230t and x220t don't work

[Maximilian Federle]

i) Steps to reproduce

1) Open keyboard shortcut settings
2) Add a test shortcut
3) assign a single key to the shortcut. Normally a laptop special key is set here

ii) Expected result

Shortcuts set this way just work.

iii) Actual result

No effect whatsoever.

An interesting side note: If you have the key bound to some action with xbindkeys, it will not work initially after starting unity. If you then assign the key to a specific action in the keyboard settings, it will still not work. Buf after having removed the key again from the shortcut settings, xbindkeys takes over and from there on the xbindkeys shortcut works for the rest of the session.

I must admit I'm a bit baffled that such a bug slipped into a release. The whole shortcut system is a mess (self resetting shortcuts on every login, this...).

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
Package: unity 6.10.0-0ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-18.29-generic 3.5.7
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-18-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu6
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
Date: Wed Nov 14 04:46:28 2012
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-09-27 (47 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Alpha amd64+mac (20120905.2)
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Single key shortcuts do work. I have just tested this in CCSM and "System Settings > Keyboard". In both cases I can set single key shortcuts that work.

Please try this:
1. sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
2. ccsm
3. Set your shortcuts.

Also, what key(s) are you trying that don't work?

[Maximilian Federle (ppd)]

I try to set the rotate keys on my Lenovo x230t, where you can turn the screen. The keys show up fine in the system settings when I assign them to a action, for example a custom shortcut which launches gedit.

The one shows up as "0xa1" and the other one as "RotateWindows". As I noted just today, the 0xa1 key is "free" for xbindkeys right from the beginning when I start unity. RotateWindows requires the above mentioned method of setting it in unity and then unsetting.

I tried setting shortcuts in ccsm, but found no plugin for all-purpose shortcuts. Therefore I experimented with changing shortcuts of unity itself. Here I noted that setting the "RotateWindows" to some action (I chose open panel menu) works decently. It shows up as Xf86RotateWindows though. On the other hand setting 0xa1 is impossible. CCSM will just not recognize it when I press it.

So I summarize:

1) In the keyboard settings I can set both keys to actions although they won't work. However I can "free" keys for xbindkeys this way.
2) In CCSM I can only set the RotateWindows key, this works then. 0xa1 (161) gets ignored.
3) If I start xbindkeys, it can get a hold of 0xa1 by default, RotateWindows gets only free to grab if I set and unset it again in the keyboard settings.

I'm interested in doing any diagnostical work required. Thanks for having a look at this issue!

[Maximilian Federle (ppd)]

Sorry for the spam:

I played around a little and it seems like you're completely right: In general single-key shortcuts do work. Like for example the F-keys. So it really comes down to those two keys that some component of the desktop environment refuses to process. Keycodes are 161 and 162.

[Maximilian Federle (ppd)]

Is there any way I can boost the processing of this bug? Like do some debugging work or capture any helpful logs?

[Maximilian Federle (ppd)]

Update: I upgraded the Laptop to Raring and the problem is still there. It might be of interest that the very same problem also applies to the slightly older Lenovo x220t.

[Alexander Heuer (evilphish)]

Same problem here on an X220t. Added to that I can't get *any* custom shortcuts to work. As a simple example I tried binding xterm to either the F-keys, other "normal" key combinations or the special rotation keys on the X220t. Not a single one worked.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.