Multi Gnome Terminal User's Guide: Multi Gnome Terminal 1.5.0
Prev |  | Next

# 6. Keybindings

This is where keyboard shortcuts for `Multi Gnome Terminal` functions and key definitions for various other purposes may be customized. It is accessed from the Settings menu. This selection will open a Window that displays the current settings. These may be customized to suit individual preferences by using the input fields at the top of the Window.

### The Keybindings Window

At the top of the Window, there is a list of `Multi Gnome Terminal` actions, with an initial entry of Shell->New Tab. Click here to see all available actions that can be customized. The first input field is labeled "String" and the second input field is labeled "Keybinding". The Keybinding field is where you enter your keyboard combination for a particular action or usage.

To define a new shortcut, first select an item from the actions drop-down list, then click on the Keybinding field, and then press the keyboard combination you want to use. Do NOT type the keystroke representations. Example: if you want SHIFT-F1, then press SHIFT-F1, and do not try to spell it. There is no limit on the number of keys that can be used for the key binding definition. This is your choice.

After setting the "action" and the "Keybinding", click on Add, and then, of course, at the bottom of the Window, Apply to make your new addition permanent.

The String input field is for use with the special "Escape Sequence" action. Use this to associate any string with a keystroke combination. This is helpful for forcing problem keys to do what you want, or to perform some custom function that you do repetitively.

As an example, select Escape Sequence from the list, and enter the following text to the String field:

`echo hello world\n`

And then, click the Keybinding field, and press F7, then click the Add, and then Apply. Now press F7 to see the results. You should see:

     [bash]$ echo hello world
     hello world

A more useful example: Select Escape Sequence from the Action list and then enter:

`multi-gnome-terminal --add-tab --tpath=`pwd`\n`

into the String field. Then whatever key combination you like for Keybinding (e.g. F9), then click Add, and lastly Apply. Now try it ;-) This should open a new Tab in the same Window and also land you in the same directory as your current directory.

The Keybinding field will recognize common meta-characters such as `\n` (as above) for newline, and also `\r`, `\t`, etc. `\033` is used to represent the "escape" character. For instance, my keyboard generates `^[[1^` for CTRL-Home. This would be represented in the String field as `\033[1^`.

The Keybinding field will also recognize any octal ascii representation. Example: `\141` octal equals the letter "a". This may be useful for non-printable characters. See `man ascii` for a complete listing of values.

Editing and removing key bindings, is similar, but first highlight the one to be changed from the main listbox, by clicking on it. Then either click Update to modify, or Remove to delete it. And again, click Apply at the bottom of the Window.

You can also easily re-set the default key bindings here. And also specify a different modifier key for the control Pop-up menu (default is CTRL-RightMouse, though often just RightMouse works).

Prev | Home | Next
Edit Commands |  | Mouse usage