[SOLVED] How do I run a key press as a command?

[urukrama]

I am not looking to assign commands to keyboard keys, but rather the other way round. I am looking for an application that allows me to run the pressing of a key on my keyboard as a command. In other words, that if I run command xyz it is the equivalent of pressing key a.

I've been looking for it on these and other Linux forums, and on Google, but haven't had much success yet. I hope it is possible, as every key has a unique code that could perhaps be simulated on the command line by a particular application.

Any suggestions anyone?

[scizzo]

Sounds like you are trying to create a macro on the keyboard. So that for example: Ctrl+Alt+F1 is equivalent to Ctrl+F1

Am I right?

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MultimediaKeys

that link might help?

[urukrama]

Originally Posted by scizzo Am I right?

No. I want to use a command for a keypress, not a keypress for another keypress or command.

[SoulinEther]

I am screaming at my keyboard "NO! NO!" when I read scizzo's response.

I am looking for the EXACT same thing!! If you find it, I want to know about it!

Hey, just got a thought.... maybe we should look at the source code for the gnome on screen keyboard....

Edit: Looking at onboard's source... it's not very clear to me... it uses GDK...and some object oriented programming that I don't understand in python yet.

[Crashmaxx]

Why do you need to output key presses? Why not just run the command you want from the command line? Or output the text you want if that is what you are trying to do?

[cwej]

You want to trigger a keypress event, right? What programming language (makes a difference)? Does this link help? http://www5.experts-exchange.com/Pro..._20460831.html

[yabbadabbadont]

Is btnx what you are looking for?

[Lostincyberspace]

What are you using it for?

[SoulinEther]

K, well, for me... it's probably best that I don't use it to issue a keyboard command, but I just wanted it as a bandaid solution.

I want to make a new Xfce panel that displays the name of the active window (this part i have not figured out...), and provides functionality to close, minimize, restore, etc the active window.

Xfce's default shortcuts are like Alt+F5 to grow/shrink, Alt+F8 to minimize, etc..... Because I don't want to go through the hell of figuring out how to directly call for the minimizing of the current window, (though i'm sure it's closely related to finding out what the title of the active window is), I wanted this bandaid solution to just press Alt+F5 on launching a script or quick program.

I think it would involve the use of GDK, at least for GTK purposes....

Or does someone know how to make direct X event calls or whatever?
..

(and for that matter, on the side, preferrably in python, could someone help me with how to manipulate an active window ? lol.)

Thanks.

[popch]

In that case I find the cure (simulating key strokes) worse than the ailment (wanting to manipulate a window), because I am sure that there must be an API do to just that.

However, I think there are solutions out there which do simulate keystrokes.