no alt gr functionality

[OliverN]

Since 9.10, I lost all alt gr functionality, and I'm getting tired of copy-pasting symbols. I'm running a Dell Inspiron 6400 notebook. This is my xorg.conf:


# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# Note that some configuration settings that could be done previously
# in this file, now are automatically configured by the server and settings
# here are ignored.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

I remember this thing being longer..?

I'm running a Danish keyboard setup. I've tried all the different Alt/Win configurations available in the keyboard layout setup. Help?

[OliverN]

bamp

[Andreas Rieck]

Hi OliverN,

I had the same issue, soon after distribution upgrade from 9.04 -> to 9.10, any Alt+GR functionality where lost, for any gnome application, but (oh wonder) still works inside a terminal window on command line.
Using Dell XPS 1730 notebook.

Reason on my side where misconfigured keyboard settings.

solution:
1) call /usr/bin/gnome-keyboard-properties
2) click on tab "Layouts"
3) click on button "Layout Options"
4) make sure that Option "Key to choos 3rd level" is not misconfigured to a key which dont exist at your Dell Keyboard. In my case there was (for what ever reason) "Any Win key" activated, which cause the issue that Alt+Gr was ignored. I have current "no" key activated at this menu (leaving all blank), and it solves the issue on my notebook.

best regards,
Andreas

[OliverN]

thanks for your reply!

all options were already blank in the menu you specified. I tried setting them to 'right alt' since I'm guessing that's where my alt gr key is - no luck though. My keyboard basically resembles this by the way and the key is circled in red.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2495/4085543721_f061a93857_o.jpg

When I use alt gr + 2 (which should produce @) two times in a terminal I get

::1 ff02::1 ip6-allnodes ip6-loopback
disciplen-ubuntu ff02::2 ip6-allrouters ip6-mcastprefix
fe00::0 ff02::3 ip6-localhost localhost
ff00::0 ip6-allhosts ip6-localnet

which looks like some kind of web stat thing..?

[OliverN]

final bump...

[nathan726]

AltGr works fine for me...


System > Preferences > Keyboard
go to "Layout" tab
click "Layout Options"
expand "compose key position"
tick "right alt" check-box

[OliverN]

AltGr works fine for me...


System > Preferences > Keyboard
go to "Layout" tab
click "Layout Options"
expand "compose key position"
tick "right alt" check-box

unfortunately that doesn't work for me either. Is alt gr equal to the 'compose' key, then?

[nathan726]

Is alt gr equal to the 'compose' key, then?Not exactly, but it allows you to type special characters and accents, for example "AltGr, o, o" makes a degree ° sign.
Alternatively, you can enter any character you like by pressing <Ctrl>+<Shift>+u and then type the hex character code (http://www.ascii.cl/htmlcodes.htm).

After a bit of trial and error with the Danish layout and I was able to get <AltGr>+2 to output a "@"
Go into layout options and go down to "Key to choose 3rd level". Tick "right alt".
Note: changes only affect newly opened programs (but you can test in the "Type to test settings" box).

[OliverN]

Not exactly, but it allows you to type special characters and accents, for example "AltGr, o, o" makes a degree ° sign.
Alternatively, you can enter any character you like by pressing <Ctrl>+<Shift>+u and then type the hex character code (http://www.ascii.cl/htmlcodes.htm).

After a bit of trial and error with the Danish layout and I was able to get <AltGr>+2 to output a "@"
Go into layout options and go down to "Key to choose 3rd level". Tick "right alt".
Note: changes only affect newly opened programs.

I don't understand - for some reason it doesn't work for me. I dual boot xp, and there's no problem there so the keyboard must be fine.

here's what I do to copy what you did - I hope it makes sense even though it's in Danish.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4102852127_e4fdca661d_o.png

'Tast for at vælge tredje niveau' is 'Key to choose 3rd level' and 'Højre' is 'Right'.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2770/4103610396_637c002cce_o.png

Should be right?

[nathan726]

Lets try a bit of troubleshooting - run the xev command in the terminal and press AltGr while focus is on the xev "event tester" window. Post your output here. It should look similar to this:


KeyRelease event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x2a00001,
root 0xa9, subw 0x0, time 11950510, (348,470), root:(353,519),
state 0x2080, keycode 108 (keysym 0xfe03, ISO_Level3_Shift), same_screen YES,
XKeysymToKeycode returns keycode: 92
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False

[OliverN]

alright:


KeyPress event, serial 36, synthetic NO, window 0x4e00001,
root 0x65, subw 0x0, time 1238416, (172,-11), root:(828,39),
state 0x10, keycode 108 (keysym 0xff20, Multi_key), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: True

KeyRelease event, serial 36, synthetic NO, window 0x4e00001,
root 0x65, subw 0x0, time 1238510, (172,-11), root:(828,39),
state 0x10, keycode 108 (keysym 0xff20, Multi_key), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False


seems kind of similar.

[nathan726]

That tells me your AltGr is a "Multi_Key". We don't want that, we want is "ISO_Level3_Shift".
To fix it, run this in the terminal:
xmodmap -e 'keycode 108 = ISO_Level3_Shift'

[OliverN]

hey, that solved it instantly. nice one :p

thanks a lot for the help, kind sir.

[koskoz]

That tells me your AltGr is a "Multi_Key". We don't want that, we want is "ISO_Level3_Shift".
To fix it, run this in the terminal:
xmodmap -e 'keycode 108 = ISO_Level3_Shift'

THat solved my problem too but after rebooting, the Alt Gr key didn't work again...

[OliverN]

THat solved my problem too but after rebooting, the Alt Gr key didn't work again...

aw man, I just realized it's the same with me. I guess the question is how to make the changes permanent.

It's very weird, sometimes AltGr seems to be working and sometimes it doesn't...

[nathan726]

I think this should do it:

1) Go to System > Preferences > Startup Applications
2) Click on "Add"
3) Under "Name" enter: AltGr Setup
4) Under "Command" enter: xmodmap -e 'keycode 108 = ISO_Level3_Shift'
5) Click on "OK" (don't press Enter), then "Close"

[OliverN]

I think this should do it:

1) Go to System > Preferences > Sessions
2) Click on "Add"
3) Under "Name" enter: AltGr Setup
4) Under "Command" enter: xmodmap -e 'keycode 108 = ISO_Level3_Shift'
5) Click on "OK" (don't press Enter), then "Close"

simple enough, and it seems to work. Thanks again :p

[nathan726]

Alternatively, the following terminal command should also work:

sudo echo 'keycode 108 = ISO_Level3_Shift' >> /etc/X11/Xmodmap

[koskoz]

Well, I have no "session" menu in System => Preferences, and no Xmodmap file in /etc/X11 :/

[nathan726]

Did I say sessions... oops, I meant "Startup Applications".

As for the /etc/X11/Xmodmap file - the code in post #18 will create that file (or append to it if it already exists) if you run the code in the terminal.

[koskoz]

Thanks a lot.

[opensas]

It worked for me

I had to

Sistema -> Preferencias -> Teclado -> Distribuciones
Opciones de distribución

Tecla para escoger el tercer nivel

and click alt-right

so it seems like the famous "Key to choose 3rd level" applies to alt-gr functionality...

Oh, and I had to restart my x section for this to work...

[knowname]

I'm having this problem again after a fresh install of 9.10 with a Danish keyboard. (I previously had the problem after an upgrade from 9.04 to 9.10, which magically went away on its own.)

The strange thing is it works fine within a terminal, but not in other applications. xev gives the result as if it's working. I've tried toggling every setting I can think of in gnome-keyboard-properties. Any ideas?


KeyPress event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x5000001,
root 0x119, subw 0x0, time 541909, (488,671), root:(494,765),
state 0x0, keycode 108 (keysym 0xfe03, ISO_Level3_Shift), same_screen YES,
XKeysymToKeycode returns keycode: 92
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x5000001,
root 0x119, subw 0x0, time 541980, (488,671), root:(494,765),
state 0xc0, keycode 108 (keysym 0xfe03, ISO_Level3_Shift), same_screen YES,
XKeysymToKeycode returns keycode: 92
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False

[nathan726]

The strange thing is it works fine within a terminal, but not in other applications. xev gives the result as if it's working. I've tried toggling every setting I can think of in gnome-keyboard-properties. Any ideas?


When you modify AltGr, changes don't affect programs that are already running (except for the terminal). So try opening another program (something that isn't already running) and it should work fine.