Turn Caps Lock key into delete key

Question

Using Kubuntu on a Macbook there is no delete key. Delete can be done with Backspace+Fn, but there is only one Fn on the farthest corner from Backspace, so that a delete action requires both hands.

I don't use CapsLock for uppercase, I use Shift for that, so CapsLock could be used for delete. I can make it act as a Backspace with the keyboard advanced settings, but this new Backspace doesn't work with Fn in order to delete.

How could I make CapsLock work as a key for "Backspace+Fn=delete" or simply turn it into a Delete key?

Editing the xkb layout files certainly could cut it (assign `Delete` to ` { [ Delete ] };`, but I have no idea where to change that for an apple keyboard. — vanadium, Apr 28 '22 at 11:50

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 23 '23 at 14:00

1

You can use the remapper deamon keyd for this purpose. See this answer for installation, usage and tips.

After installation, use this config:

[ids]

*

[main]

capslock = delete

answered Feb 23 '23 at 14:00

Rasmus

8,115
11
45
72

cipricus · Accepted Answer · 2023-01-25T16:00:35.737

Here and here I have found that the keycode for Capslock is 66. From here I've got the command to remap Caps Lock as Delete:

xmodmap -e "keycode 66 = Delete"

After testing that it worked I have made it run at startup by creating the file ~/.config/autostart/capslock-delete.desktop (based on last link) with the lines:

[Desktop Entry]
Exec=sh -c 'xmodmap -e "keycode 66 = Delete"'
Name=capslock is delete
Terminal=false
Type=Application

It may happen that the Capslock key continues to trigger lock-uppercase beside doing delete. It needs to be disabled as said here, or in KDE, under keyboard settings - Advanced - Capslock behavior - Disable...

Update:

In case the solution of the said above desktop file or command to run at startup is not working, following this answer, this seems to work in Kubuntu 22.04:

create a file ~/.Xmodmap containing the keycode setting: keycode 66 = Delete

create a script like for example ~/bin/capslock.delete.sh:

 #!/bin/bash           
sleep 1;               
echo "running xmodmap" 
xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap

make the .sh file executable
add the same script file to be executed at startup

In case one still wants a key or key combination to lock the upper keys (the CapsLOck key default behavior), the following command - involving xdotool - which can be associated with shortcut like Super+CapsLock or Alt+CapsLock) - will do:

xdotool key Caps_Lock

Install xdotool:

sudo apt install xdotool

I have associated Alt+CapsLock with the command sh -c 'xdotool key Caps_Lock'.

One would expect that xdotool might be used in the first place to get the delete action with a command like:

xdotool key Delete

but that doesn't seem to work very well, as said here; I have been able to use it - sort of - with Ctrl+D, but that only deletes text to the right without deleting files. A good alternative to get the delete action (as well as others that I haven't tested) is to use AutoKey, described here, about the delete action:

Turn Caps Lock key into delete key

2 Answers2

Update:

Linked