Jot Notes

One of the disconcerting things about switching from Windows to Ubuntu is that Ubuntu doesn’t treat the Windows key the same way Windows does, at least not by default.  This article will show you how to set up your Ubuntu system so that it treats the Windows key in a way that’s similar to how it is used in Windows.

In Windows, the Windows key on your keyboard is what is known as a “modifier key”, meaning when you press the key and hold it down, it modifies the meaning of any other keys you press.  For example, in Windows, if you press “r” then you get the letter “r” on your screen, but if you press and hold down the Windows key and then press the “r” key, it launches the Run dialog box.

By default, the Windows key is not treated as a modifier key in Ubuntu.  It is just a regular key that does not modify anything else, and is therefore not nearly as useful as it could be.

In order to set up your Windows key to be a modifier key in Ubuntu, you need to do the following:

1. Go to System >> Preferences >> Keyboard.
2. Go to the Layouts tab.
3. You will see a button marked Layout Options (Hardy and earlier) or Other Options (Intrepid).  Click on this button.  This will bring up a dialog box.
4. In the list of options, there is an item marked Alt/Win key behaviour.  Change the value from “Default” to “Super is mapped to the Win-keys”.  This will allow you to use the Windows key as a modifier key.

Now that the Windows key is a modifier key, you can go into System >> Preferences >> Keyboard Shortcuts and use it to create some shortcuts.  In the Keyboard Shortcuts panel the Windows key will show up as “Mod4″.

Additional references:

• Use WinKey in Ubuntu
• Modifier key (Wikipedia article)