CrunchBang Linux

amirman

Member

From: EastKY

Registered: 2009-10-16

Posts: 20

media keys in openbox

okeydoke-a-roni!

do you have fancy buttons on your laptop or keyboard that are supposed to control the volume? are they working for you?
these keys are actually (probably) recognized by CrunchBang's core system but Openbox just isn't sure what to do with them.
all you need to do is tell openbox what those buttons are supposed to do.

Step 1: open up your openbox config file. it's located at ~/.config/openbox/rc.xml
If you have no idea what you're doing or you plan on being sloppy go ahead and back it up before you make any changes.

Step2: open rc.xml with a text editor and locate the section for keybindings.  there will be other keybindings in this section.

Step 3: paste the following code in the appropriate* section:

<!-- Keybindings for Media Keys -->
    <keybind key="XF86AudioMute">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>amixer set Master toggle</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>
    <keybind key="XF86AudioLowerVolume">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>amixer set Master 2dB- unmute</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>
    <keybind key="XF86AudioRaiseVolume">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>amixer set Master 2dB+ unmute</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>
<!-- These are optional keybindings which need to be tailored for whichever
application you choose to use them with
#    <keybind key="XF86AudioPlay">
#      <action name="Execute">
#        <command>command to play/pause</command>
#      </action>
#    </keybind>
#    <keybind key="XF86AudioPrev">
#      <action name="Execute">
#        <command>command to skip to previous track</command>
#      </action>
#    </keybind>
#    <keybind key="XF86AudioNext">
#      <action name="Execute">
#        <command>command to skip to next track</command>
#      </action>
#    </keybind>
#    <keybind key="XF86AudioStop">
#      <action name="Execute">
#        <command>command to play/pause</command>
#      </action>
#    </keybind>
-->

*keybindings can be anywhere within the <keyboard> tags. be careful not to paste them before the closing of another keybinding or right after the beginning of another one.  to be safe you can paste it right after the last </keybind> tag and right before the </keyboard> tag.

I've included keybindings for pauseplay/prev/next/stop buttons if you have them and have a media player that you want to use them with.  just make sure you uncomment them and paste them in the appropriate place too. you'll need to find out what commands to use for your particular application.

it's possible that you have media keys that don't go by these key names.  If thats the case then these keybindings won't do diddly for you although i'm pretty sure these key names are the standard.

have fun.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, once you've made your changes, you'll need to reconfigure openbox to see them work. luckily that's pretty darn easy to do. you just go to the menu then go to Preferences > openbox config > reconfigure. then try your buttons out. good luck.

Last edited by amirman (2009-10-18 08:04:35)

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jinnstar

#! CrunchBanger

From: Philadelphia, Pa

Registered: 2009-07-19

Posts: 211

Re: media keys in openbox

This has been covered.

Here are the keybindings for MOC, Audacious, Banshee and Exaile. These are aimed at those of us with multimedia led keys on laptops. http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/post/34208/#p34208

amirman

Member

From: EastKY

Registered: 2009-10-16

Posts: 20

Re: media keys in openbox

i couldn't find it when i searched.

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FREE SOFTWARE; FREE SOCIETY

cbrunos

#! Member

From: Strasbourg, France

Registered: 2009-09-22

Posts: 73

Website

Re: media keys in openbox

Dude this rocks! Thanks!

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Xmonad is the best way to get things done, fast.
My french linux blog: http://cbrunos.wordpress.com

loudo

Member

From: California, US

Registered: 2011-03-14

Posts: 21

Re: media keys in openbox

Ahh thanks for this. I had almost everything set up but I over looked reconfiguring.

Edit. Stupid grammar.

Last edited by loudo (2011-03-16 20:48:49)

CPTN

New Member

Registered: 2011-07-27

Posts: 3

Re: media keys in openbox

thanks man. works good on a thinkpad edge 13.