Creating Reliable Keyboard Shortcuts for Copy/Paste and Middle-Click
# Creating Reliable Keyboard Shortcuts for Copy/Paste and Middle-Click
## Problem: The Need for Alternative Shortcuts
I found that relying solely on the mouse for basic text operations was limiting:
1. My **mouse scroll wheel button (Middle-click)**, often used for quickly pasting selected text, was becoming **unreliable**.
2. I frequently **dislike moving my right hand** from the arrow/navigation keys and Enter area to reach $\text{Ctrl}$+$\text{C}$ or $\text{Ctrl}$+$\text{V}$.
This setup requires a more reliable and ergonomic alternative that keeps my right hand near the arrow keys and the left one on the mouse.
### Context
This solution was developed and tested on **Debian 10 (Buster)** using the **LXDE desktop environment** with the **Openbox Window Manager**.
-----
## Solution: Mapping to the Super Key and Arrow Keys
The solution is to create new keybindings using the **Right Super Key ($\text{Super\_R}$)**—a key often conveniently located near the right-hand side of the keyboard—combined with the navigation keys.
The actions are mapped as follows:
| Key Combination | Action | Description |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Super + Left** | Copy ($\text{Ctrl}$+$\text{C}$) | Copies the currently selected text to the standard clipboard. |
| **Super + Right** | Paste ($\text{Ctrl}$+$\text{V}$) | Pastes the contents of the standard clipboard. |
| **Super + Up** | Paste Primary Selection | **Simulates the middle mouse click**, pasting the text that was highlighted (Primary Selection). |
### The Critical Fix: Preventing "Stuck" Keys
A common issue when binding system keys (like $\text{Super}$) to execute external scripts in Openbox is that the $\text{Super}$ key can get "stuck" in a pressed state after the script finishes. This is because the $\text{Key Release}$ event is sometimes missed.
The fix is built directly into the script using the `xdotool keyup` command to explicitly release all modifier keys.
-----
## Actions: Implementation Steps
### 1\. Prerequisite Tools
Ensure the necessary command-line utilities for clipboard management and input simulation are installed:
```bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install xdotool xclip
```
### 2\. Create the Consolidated Bash Script
This single script, which we'll call `shortcut-handler.sh`, handles all three copy/paste actions based on a single argument. It also includes the crucial logic to clear stuck keys.
**File: `/path/to/shortcut-handler.sh`**
```bash
#!/bin/bash
# --- 1. Input Validation ---
ACTION="$1"
if [ -z "$ACTION" ]; then
echo "Error: No action specified." >&2
echo "Usage: $0 {copy|paste|middleclick}" >&2
exit 1
fi
# --- 2. Pre-Execution Key Cleanup ---
# CRITICAL: Virtually release all common modifier keys before proceeding.
# This prevents the next action from failing if a modifier is stuck.
xdotool keyup Super_L Super_R Control_L Control_R Alt_L Alt_R Shift_L Shift_R
# --- 3. Execute Action ---
case "$ACTION" in
# Simulates standard Ctrl+V (Clipboard Selection)
paste)
xdotool key --clearmodifiers Control+v
;;
# Simulates standard Ctrl+C (Clipboard Selection)
copy)
xdotool key --clearmodifiers Control+c
;;
# Pastes the Primary Selection (highlighted text), which is more reliable than a simple 'click 2'
middleclick)
xclip -out -selection primary | xdotool type --clearmodifiers --delay 1 --file -
;;
# Handle invalid arguments
*)
echo "Error: Invalid action '$ACTION'. Use: copy, paste, or middleclick." >&2
exit 1
;;
esac
# --- 4. Post-Execution Key Cleanup ---
# Explicitly release the Super key again to guarantee it's not stuck after execution.
xdotool keyup Super_L keyup Super_R
exit 0
```
**Make the script executable:**
```bash
chmod +x /path/to/shortcut-handler.sh
```
### 3\. Configure Openbox Keybindings
Edit your Openbox configuration file, typically located at `~/.config/openbox/rc.xml`. Add the following keybinds within the `<keyboard>` tags.
**Note:** Openbox uses the letter **`W`** to represent the $\text{Super}$ (Windows) key.
```xml
<keybind key="W-Left">
<action name="Execute">
<command>sh -c '/path/to/shortcut-handler.sh copy'</command>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-Right">
<action name="Execute">
<command>sh -c '/path/to/shortcut-handler.sh paste'</command>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-Up">
<action name="Execute">
<command>sh -c '/path/to/shortcut-handler.sh middleclick'</command>
</action>
</keybind>
```
### 4\. Reload Openbox
Save the `rc.xml` file and run the following command in a terminal to apply the new shortcuts:
```bash
openbox --reconfigure
```
-----
## Key Takeaways
The development process yielded several important lessons for reliable Openbox keybinding configuration:
* **Backup is King:** Always back up your `~/.config/openbox/rc.xml` before making changes.
* **The Shell Wrapper is Essential:** The `<command>` tag in `rc.xml` only accepts a single simple command. To chain commands or pass arguments, you must wrap the entire sequence in an explicit shell call: `sh -c 'command1; command2'`.
* **Preventing Stuck Keys:** The `xdotool keyup Super_L keyup Super_R` command is the reliable remedy for the $\text{Super}$ key getting stuck after executing a script. Placing it *inside* the script, alongside a pre-execution cleanup, makes the overall solution robust.
* **Debugging Scripts:** When testing, use simple logging inside the script to confirm it's being executed and to check for errors:
```bash
# Add to the script for debugging (DISABLE WHEN DONE)
echo "$(date) - Running $ACTION" >> /tmp/openbox-debug.log
```
posted by Ruben }:o) at 13:23
Digo yo, que ya que estas podrias decir algo... :)~
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