According to the old CDE documentation, there are couple of key bindings known under CDE, but that documentation also assumes Motif application bindings and X resource configuration, which is far from universally applicable in today's world. That said, while GTK and Qt applicatios have it's own key bindings, NsCDE tries to combine a bit of CDE legacy with a huge number of new functions, originally not present in CDE. Hence, we have a rich set of keybindings for almost any action in NsCDE.
NsCDE is using 4 modifier keys in single and multi-modifier combinations with other keys to implement key bindings. This modifiers are:
Control
Shift
Meta (often called Super)
Alt
In combinations with escape, function keys, tab, backspace, home, menu, letters, numbers and other keys, NsCDE builds rich set of keyboard shortcuts also called keybindings which tries to achieve some golden middle between ergonomics position on the keyboard for often used ones, and logical grouping for easy memorizing actions.
Keybindings can be partially or complitely overriden by the user's writing
$FVWM_USERDIR/Keybindings.fvwmconf
(override) or
$FVWM_USERDIR/Keybindings.fvwmlocal
(extend, paritally override).
Key bindings which are described with their Mod+Key items on menus
can be extended or overwritten in $FVWM_USERDIR/Keymenu.actions
.
Notice when there is a reference to the "Menu" key this means also "Compose" on some keyboards.
If some unwanted or clashing keybindings needs to be cleared, for example Shift+Tab from the any context, use the following FVWM syntax:
Silent Key Tab A S -
For explanation what is the context, and what modifier, see FVWM documentation (man page).
NsCDE 2.1 and above implements alternative sets of key bindings. Default set named nscde
is applied by default, unless overriden in $FVWM_USERDIR/NsCDE.conf
with InfoStore variable
keybtype
. This mechanism is still experimental, in NsCDE 2.1 and the only implemented set
of keybindings is nscde
. The following section lists and explains key bindings implemented
in that set. In future versions of NsCDE, IBM CUA compliant set is planned as an alternatice choice to default
set of keybindings.
This subsection explains key bindings implemented in default "nscde" set of key bindings.
cursor keys up, down, left and right with ctrl modifier are moving viewport from page to page in any context.
cursor keys up, down, with Alt modifier are cycling window focus and raises or lowers them on the current page in all contexts except icon
cursor keys up, down, left and right, with meta (mod4) are moving viewport by 4% of the screen. (Ctrl moves 100%)
the same cursor keys as above, but with shift modifier moves pointer by 1% of the screen
Meta+Alt+I in any context apart from icon context will move focus and pointer to icons on the currect page (if any). Here, Up and Down keys can be used to browse icons. In the context of icon itself, this keybinding will choose last non-iconified window and move off focus from icons.
Up/Down in the context of a icon focuses first icon above or below of the current selected and focused icon. Key Space will bring main icon menu in the context of the focused icon.
I in the context of the icon deiconifies that icon.
Menu (Compose) key, if pressed twice in a time window of two seconds pops up root menu in any context. On keyboards without Menu (Compose) key, combination Alt+ISO_Level3_Shift does the same thing
Meta+Menu combination pops up root Window Operations Menu On keyboards without Menu (Compose) key, combination Meta+ISO_Level3_Shift does the same thing
Meta+Alt+Menu pressed twice, brings up page menu on the Front Panel and Local Pager in the middle of the screen if enabled. On keyboards without Menu (Compose), combination Meta+Alt+U does the same thing
Meta+Alt+Home will spawn or raise and focus if already active - a Graphical Workspace Manager or GWM.
Meta+Alt+N Cycles window focus between all windows on the current page, raises them, and moves pointer to them
Meta+Alt+B Same as Meta+Alt+N but in backward direction
Meta+Shift+N Cycles window focus between all windows on the current workspace, raises them, and moves pointer to them
Meta+Shift+B Same as Meta+Shift+N but in backward direction
Meta+Alt+J Moves pointer to the focused window if pointer is not already there
Space in the icon frame context pops up icon-specific contextual menu
Key Meta+Alt+Insert will give a focus to the last opened window
Key Meta+Alt+BackSpace will give a focus to the previously focused window
Shift+BackSpace If pressed twice in a time frame of two seconds will call LocalPager in any context. This Pager will disappear soon as it looses a pointer focus, or if keybinding is pressed again once, while pager is still visible.
Shift+TabCalls visual GlobalPager, a stripped down version of GWM (Graphical Workspace Manager) which shows matrix of pages and workspaces. This keybinding works in any context, but it must be called twice to avoid accidental invocation. When Global Pager is visible, calling it second time will replace it's window with full version of standard GWM window tool until it is not closed with a third invocation of this same keybinding. In stripped down semi-transient mode, this pager, if not called as full GWM, disappears shortly after losing mouse focus to free up space on the screen.
Alt+Tab is cycling trough pages of the active page of the current workspace from up to down and then right up to down
Meta+Tab is cycling trough the all workspaces (desks)
Meta+Shift+Tab is reverse cycling trough the all workspaces (desks)
Meta+Alt+L activates screensaver, that is, locks the screen
Meta+Alt+X Executes "xrandr --auto"
Meta+Alt+W will call f_CleanRestoreWorkspace function. This will iconify and put into invisible group all iconified windows on the active page. Repeating this action once again, restores all iconified windows back in place quickly and without animation. Windows which were iconified before calling this action or from windows started and iconified after this action are not affected by this function. This is NsCDE smart version of the "show desktop" functionality. Individual windows from the group can be deiconified too, which will sign off this windows from the group.
Key Meta+Alt+Min the context of the window, frame corners, frame sides and a title bar pops up Window Options context menu. In the context of an icon, it brings Icon Operations Menu, similar to Window Operations Menu.
Key Meta+Alt+O - same as Meta+Space if called in the window context.
Key Meta+Alt+R - Vertically tiles windows of the current page in a grid, making them "grow" maximized state (See Alt+F7 and Alt+F8).
Key Meta+Alt+H - Horizontally tiles windows of the current page in a grid, making them "grow" maximized state (See Alt+F7 and Alt+F8).
Meta+Alt+E Again executes last selected item from the last used subpanel. From the Sun keyboard, this can also be accomplished with Meta+Sun Again (Redo).
Meta+Escape Will cycle trough focus-accepting windows on the current page of the current desk, avoiding CirculateSkip windows and the FrontPanel.
Alt+Escape Will open WindowList in the middle of the screen for the current workspace (desk) if pressed twice, local WindowList will be replaced with global WindowList
XF86PowerOff on Sun keyboards (most upper right) calls System Action Dialog with system suspend (S3) option selected. For this to work, ACPI action needs to be configured on the system. Otherwise, this will likely initiate direct system shutdown.
Ctrl+XF86PowerOff on Sun keyboards (most upper right) calls System Action Dialog with system shutdown option selected. For this to work, ACPI action needs to be configured on the system. Otherwise, this will likely initiate direct system shutdown.
Alt+XF86PowerOff on Sun keyboards (most upper right) calls System Action Dialog with system reboot option selected. For this to work, ACPI action needs to be configured on the system. Otherwise, this will likely initiate direct system shutdown.
Meta+XF86PowerOff on Sun keyboards (most upper right) calls System Action Dialog with X Session logout option selected. For this to work, ACPI action needs to be configured on the system. Otherwise, this will likely initiate direct system shutdown.
Help key on Sun keyboards if pressed twice in a second, in the context of the root window will call PDF viewer (if any) with complete (this) NsCDE documentation.
Sun Front key on Sun keyboards acts as a Alt+F6 - Raise or Lower the window.
Sun Find key on Sun keyboards calls f_Find NsCDE FVWM function which has to be user defined to be usefull.
Sun Props key on Sun keyboards will call Style Manager window when pointer is on the root window.
Sun Meta+Props key on Sun keyboards will call Style Manager window.
Sun Open same as Alt+F12 invokes Exec dialog or Rofi launcher
if configured with nscde_use_rofi infostore variable in the $FVWM_USERDIR/NsCDE.conf
XF86AudioLowerVolume and XF86AudioRaiseVolume on Sun type 6 or 7 keyboards will lower and raise sound volume by 1 percent, or by 10 percent if combined with Ctrl modifier. This works by default on systems on which pactl(1) PulseAudio tool is installed. On other systems, f_Mixer function has to be redefined. See $NSCDE_DATADIR/fvwm/Keybindings.<keybtype>
for f_Mixer options and interaction.
XF86AudioMute key on Sun keyboards will mute the sound. Function f_Mixer expects PulseAudio system. See previous item for possible alternatives.
Shift+BackSpace if pressed twice in a short time frame will spawn Local Pager under the pointer. Pressend second time just once, it will dismiss Local Pager
Key Meta+Space in the context of the window, frame corners, frame sides, title bar and icon (ovoids root window context!) calls Occupy Workspace dialog for window moving between the desks.
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Key Alt+Space in the context of the window, frame corners, frame sides, title bar and icon (ovoids root window context!) calls Occupy Page dialog for window moving between the desks.
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Key Meta+Alt+Space in the context of the window, frame corners, frame sides, title bar and icon (ovoids root window context!) calls Occupy Monitor dialog for window moving between the monitors. This key binding is available only when multiple monitors are detected by NsCDE and FVWM.
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Alt+F1 regenerates and refreshes the window
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+F1 Calls xrefresh(1) command to refresh the X11 display
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Alt+F2 iconifies (deiconifies if in icon context)
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+F2 "shades" or rolls up the window to titlebar only view
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Alt+F3 Repositions the window according to saved geometry
(see Geometry Manager), or if there
is no record for a window in GeoDB.ini
, places again
window with FVWM PlaceAgain command
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+F3 Centers the window in the middle of the screen where mouse pointer currently resides, together with frame
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Alt+F4 enters resize mode which can be finished with cursors keys and enter
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+F4 will resize and enlarge any resizable focused window by 25 pixels in all directions and place it again on page
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+Shift+F4 will resize and shrink any resizable focused window by 25 pixels in all directions and place it again on page
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Alt+F5 enters move mode which can be finished with cursors keys and enter
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+F5 In the context of the window and it's frames places that window in a full sticky state. That is, it occupies all workspaces and pages. Pressing this key combination again, or pressing Meta+Alt+F5 plus Meta+Shift+F5 combinations will put window back from sticky state
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+Alt+F5 In the context of the window and it's frames places that window in a state sticky across workspaces. That is, it occupies all workspaces, but not pages Pressing again the same combination toggles this state back
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+Shift+F5 In the context of the window and it's frames places that window in a state sticky across pages. That is, it occupies all pages, but not workspaces Pressing again the same combination toggles this state back
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Alt+F6 raises or lowers the window
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Alt+F7 maximizes window 100% (whole screen + decorations); when pressed again it maximizes to 86% (stretch), third press will put window in the grow state (Maximized on page up to the first obstacle), while third press will put window into normal state. We can say how window is cycling between maximized, stretched, grow and maximized states. This is a cyclic keybinding in a "shrink" direction.
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+F7 Works like Alt+F7, but selects every second operation. In practice, from restored state goes to stretched and back, and from grow state goes to fully maximized and back.
Alt+F8 grows window up to the first obstacle on page, when pressed again, it maximizes window ~ 86% - avoids Front Panel; when pressed further, it maximizes to 100% (whole screen + decorations); third call to Alt+F8 restores window into normal state. We can say how window is cycling between normal, grow, stretched and maximized state. This is a cyclic keybinding in a "grow" direction.
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+F8 is the same as Meta+F7. This variant is presented on Window Operations menu for actions when going towards bigger maximized state, while Meta+F7 is presented for actions which are shrinking back.
Alt+F9 is empty
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+F9 in the context of the known terminal application windows scratches the window to some 75%x72% of the screen, which is also a menu option in this windows called Wide Terminal
Alt+F10 deletes a window (see fvwm(1))
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+F10 closes a window
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+Alt+F10 forcefully destroys a window
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Alt+F11 is empty
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+F11 is empty
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Alt+F12 invokes Exec dialog or Rofi launcher if configured with nscde_use_rofi infostore
variable in the $FVWM_USERDIR/NsCDE.conf
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+F12 invokes default terminal app ($[infostore.terminal])
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+Alt+G Calls Window Geometry Manager dialog which saves geometry information for a current window in the GeoDB.ini
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+Alt+F in the context of a window, frame, or corner, puts a current window into a real fullscreen mode. Calling this keybinding again, restores a window.
Meta+Alt+DIn the context of a window calls FVWM Ident module which presents dialog with various X11 and window manager attributes on the screen
Meta+Shift+Print takes a screenshot of the root window with 3 seconds delay.
Screenshots in PNG format are saved in XDG_PICTURES_DIR
or
$HOME
if XDG_PICTURES_DIR
is not defined.
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Meta+Control+Print pops cross cursor to pick selected screen area for screenshot.
Screenshots in PNG format are saved in XDG_PICTURES_DIR
or
$HOME
if XDG_PICTURES_DIR
is not defined.
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Shift+Print takes a screenshot of the root window with 3 seconds delay. Screenshots in PNG format are saved into clipboard for pasting into compatible X11 applications.
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Control+Print pops cross cursor to pick selected screen area for screenshot. Screenshots in PNG format are saved into clipboard for pasting into compatible X11 applications.
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Shift+Escape will do the same as Ctrl+Escape, but Front Panel is after repositioning shaded to bottom border of the screen. Invoking this key sequence again will unshade the Front Panel. Middle mouse button on the borders of the frame has the same effect
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
Ctrl+Escape will raise Front Panel and reposition it to it's default place on the screen. If key combination is pressed for the second time, focus and pointer focus will be transferred to the Front Panel, enabling Meta+[0-9] keys to function on subpanels and Ctrl+Return on icons of the Front Panel itself.
Dynamic: defined in $NSCDE_DATADIR/defaults/Keymenu-nscde.actions
for automatic description on menus.
In the context of the Front Panel, Meta+ 1-10 will pop up subpanels 1 to 10 and warp pointer to it
In the context of the any subpanel, Meta + 1-10 will pop down this subpanel and warp pointer to Front Panel
In the context of the Front Panel and any subpanel, Meta+Return will activate button under the pointer and execute FvwmButton action defined in configuration of that button.
In the context of the Front Panel and any Subpanel, Sun Help key will display Front Panel or Subpanels documentation.