ESC key to close any active window

[Koala Kid]

Hi good people,
I'd like to set my ESC key to close any active window. Is it possible ?

Thank you

[ajgreeny]

Yes, it should be possible in System ->Preferences ->Keyboard Shortcuts, Window management, but it may confuse some programs where the Esc key is already set to do something else, so take care.

[Koala Kid]

Well, you can't really use ESC key, because when you try to set it, it just closes the preferences window
What I did is to use this command:

wmctrl -c :ACTIVE:

and associate it with Alt+Z combination.

[ajgreeny]

Well, you can't really use ESC key, because when you try to set it, it just closes the preferences window
What I did is to use this command:

wmctrl -c :ACTIVE:

and associate it with Alt+Z combination.

Yes, when you think about it, I suppose it would.

I presume you did get it working OK with no problem, but I'm interested as to why it was needed rather than Alt+F4.

[Koala Kid]

Oh, I wasn't aware of this. Anyway, alt+z is more comfortable for my fingers

[surfdoc]

does anyone know if this can be done? i use a mini keyboard (its like using a mobile), so any multi-key function is a hastle. esc is the obvious choice as it is used in programs like xbmc to go back to the parent view.

cheers

[surfdoc]

so the missing link is xbindkeys

install xbindkeys and wmctrl

run

xbindkeys --defaults > /home/joe/.xbindkeysrc

to create a default config file
edit the file, comment out the examples with #, and add the lines

wmctrl -c :ACTIVE:
  Escape

then save the file and run

xbindkeys

voila

[|{urse]

You too cool for alt+f4 or something?



edit: oh forum blindness lol

[surfdoc]

Actually - yes

[wildmanne39]

Hi, this is an old thread so it has been closed, thanks for sharing.