Re-mapping keys in Lubuntu

[SysLinGuy]

I am a complete Linux newb.

I just ran my first Lubuntu session using a USB SD card install.
Not bad overall.

I would like to re-map two keys on my netbook to make this Lubuntu usable.
I have learned that these two apps are the way to go.

xev
xmodmap

Are they built into Linux?
If they are, how do I run them?
How do I get to a command line to run them once Lubuntu has loaded and I'm at the main screen?

Any other tips would be most welcome!

[SysLinGuy]

I am a complete Linux newb.

xev
xmodmap

Are they built into Linux?
If they are, how do I run them?
How do I get to a command line to run them once Lubuntu has loaded and I'm at the main screen?

OK, so I figured out how to run the commands.
I got the key names.
Now I'd like to get them into my .bashrc file wherever the heck that is.

When I tried to run gedit .bashrc I was notified that gedit wasn't installed yet!
It gave the command to install it. I typed the command given.
It notified me with a bunch of errors that it couldn't install it.

WTF?

Is this what Linux is all about?
Typing commands at the command line, having them not work and then?

Reading Linux books for months to find out how to use the system?
Sorry for being so cynical.
I thought Linux was supposed to be fast and easy and blow away Windows.

This is not what I was expecting.

[MikeTbob]

Check your system repos and look for "Keytouch", it's for configuring the "Extra Keys" on most keyboards but also has a section for remapping the keys. It's a pretty easy to use GUI.

[SysLinGuy]

Check your system repos and look for "Keytouch", it's for configuring the "Extra Keys" on most keyboards but also has a section for remapping the keys. It's a pretty easy to use GUI.

Thanks Mike.
If I knew what system repos was then I could look for Keytouch.
I am a complete Linux Noob!
Honestly. Now that doesn't mean I'm an idiot, just a newb.

If we leave aside Keytouch for a moment (because I'm really close to getting it to work with xmodmap) perhaps you can help me with a couple of 'simple' things.

More research has led me to believe that the reason my modifications to the infamous .bashrc file (and also .profile file) hasn't been sticking is because I don't have something that's known as 'root access'.

I have researched this subject and discovered that if you type 'sudo'
at the linux command line you have root access.

Well if that's true, it's very nice, but it doesn't help me!
That's because I am not at the command line when I am working on my .bashrc or .profile files.
I'm in the graphical interface (where I want to be) opening up the .bashrc file
and editing it using AbiWord.

Any help would be appreciated (really).

[SysLinGuy]

So the same thing happened when I tried to install Keytouch as when I tried to install gedit.

I'm at the command line.
I type:
sudo apt-get install keytouch

It shoots back a bunch of stuff:
Reading package etc.
Building dependency, (you know the usual sh_t)
Reading state etc.
Do you want to continue y/n?
Of course I want to continue !!!! duh!

Temporary failure resolving 'archive.ubuntu.com'
Err ptth://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/]Index of /ubuntu
maverick/universe keytouch i386 sh_t
Temporary failure resolving 'archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch ptth://archive.sh_t
E: Unable to fetch some archives, maybe run apt-get update or try with -- fix-missing

Isn't this fun!

[SysLinGuy]

E: Unable to fetch some archives, maybe run apt-get update or try with -- fix-missing

Isn't this fun!

OK. OK. So I didn't have my WiFi turned on!
Like it's so obvious, right.

So KeyTouch is installed on my system.
But I'm no further along than before!

You see, KeyTouch wants to know your keyboard model.
And wouldn't you know it. My keyboard model isn't on their list!!!!
It's the eeePc 701 by ASUS. A very unique keyboard design.

.....

[MikeTbob]

Dang! I was hoping your keyboard would be listed.
As for the .bashrc file, you just open a terminal window and type

cd ~

gedit .bashrc

Make your changes and then save and exit. You shouldn't need root or sudo access for files in your home directory.

[SysLinGuy]

Dang! I was hoping your keyboard would be listed.
As for the .bashrc file, you just open a terminal window and type

cd ~

gedit .bashrc

Make your changes and then save and exit. You shouldn't need root or sudo access for files in your home directory.

Damn! Pardon my language.
It didn't work.

Let me fill you in a bit and perhaps you can tell me where I went wrong....again.

gedit wasn't on my system.
I had to enable WiFi again and type sudo gedit etc. from the command line to fetch the program from the web.

OK so gedit is now on the system.
I do gedit .bashrc from the command line as per your instructions.
Up pops .bashrc and I insert the two lines:

xmodmap -e "keycode 108 = Prior"
xmodmap -e "keycode 135 = Next"

at the end of the file.

Save and exit gedit.
I log out and re-start Lubuntu.
Open a text file, make two pages and try the two 're-mapped' keys (for the 22nd time only).
It doesn't work!

I check the .bashrc file.
Sure enough the two lines aren't there at the end!

I look for gedit, it's now gone from the system!

Maybe a few more items will help you diagnose.
I am running Lubuntu 10.10 from a USB SD card.
I haven't done an install yet.
Just running purely from the SD card.

Please help me! I'm going crazy!

[MikeTbob]

Try

sudo nano .bashrc

Try this link also.
xmodmap at startup - Ubuntu Forums
It says to create a new file named .xmodmaprc in your home folder.

[SysLinGuy]

Try

sudo nano .bashrc

Try this link also.
xmodmap at startup - Ubuntu Forums
It says to create a new file named .xmodmaprc in your home folder.

The good news, I suppose, is that you are still trying to help me.
The bad news is that it still doesn't work.

I was able to run the sudo nano above.
.bashrc opened to edit.
I inserted the two lines and saved and exited.
The lines are there for the session, but you need to re-boot for them to take effect.
When I re-boot the LINES DISAPPEAR from .bashrc.

I also tried creating a .xmodmaprc file and placing it in my home folder.
I couldn't name the file just that using abiWord. So I re-moved the .abi extension after leaving abiword.

When I re-booted the file DISAPPEARED completely from the home folder!
Yes I checked off "show hidden files".

I've spent the whole day trying to get two keys to work in Lubuntu.
Is this a sign of what's in store for me with Linux?