NAME

       xcape - use a modifier key as another key

SYNOPSIS

       xcape [-d] [-t timeout] [-e map-expression]

DESCRIPTION

       xcape  allows  a modifier key to be used as another key when it is pressed and released on
       its own. The default behaviour is to generate the Escape key in place of  Control_L  (Left
       Control).

OPTIONS

       -d     Debug mode.  Will run as a foreground process.

       -t timeout
              Give  a timeout in milliseconds.  If you hold a key longer than timeout a key event
              will not be generated.

       -e map-expression
              Use map-expression as the expression(s).

EXPRESSION SYNTAX

       Expression  syntax  is  ´ModKey=Key[|OtherKey]´.   Multiple  expressions  can  be  passed,
       delimited by semi-colons (;).

       A  list  of  keysyms  can  be  found in the header file <X11/keysymdef.h> (without the XK_
       prefix).

       Note that shifted keys must be specified as a shift key followed by the key to be  pressed
       rather  than  the actual name of the character. For example to generate "{" the expression
       ´ModKey=Shift_L|bracketleft´ could be used (assuming that you have a key  with  ´{´  above
       ´[´).

       You  can  also  specify ModKey in decimal (prefix #), octal (#0), or hexadecimal (#0x). It
       will be interpreted as a keycode unless no corresponding key name is found.

EXAMPLES

       Make Left Shift generate Escape when pressed and released on it's own,  and  Left  Control
       generate Ctrl-O combination when pressed and released on it's own:
              xcape -e 'Shift_L=Escape;Control_L=Control_L|O'

       In  conjugation  with  xmodmap  it  is  possible  to  make an ordinary key act as an extra
       modifier. First map the key to the modifier with xmodmap and then the modifier back to the
       key  with  xcape.  As an example, we can make the space bar work as an additional ctrl key
       when held with the following sequence of commands:

       First, map an unused modifier's keysym to the spacebar's keycode and  make  it  a  control
       modifier.  It needs to be an existing key so that emacs won't spazz out when you press it.
       Hyper_L is a good candidate.

              spare_modifier="Hyper_L"
              xmodmap -e "keycode 65 = $spare_modifier"
              xmodmap -e "remove mod4 = $spare_modifier"
              # hyper_l is mod4 by default
              xmodmap -e "add Control = $spare_modifier"

       Next, map space to an unused keycode (to keep it around for xcape to use).

              xmodmap -e "keycode any = space"

       Finally use xcape to cause the space bar to generate a space when tapped.

              xcape -e "$spare_modifier=space"

SEE ALSO

       xmodmap(1), xev(1)

AUTHOR

       xcape was written by Albin Olsson (albin dot olsson at gmail dot com)