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Keyboard Preferences
Use the Keyboard preference tool to modify the autorepeat preferences for
your keyboard, and to configure typing break settings.
To open the Keyboard Accessibility preference tool, click the Accessibility button.
Use the Keyboard tabbed section to set general
keyboard preferences. To start the Keyboard accessibility preference tool, that is, AccessX,
click on the Accessibility button.
Table 8.8, “Keyboard Preferences” lists the keyboard preferences
that you can modify.
Table 8.8. Keyboard Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
Key presses
repeat when key is held down
|
Select this option to enable keyboard repeat. If keyboard
repeat is enabled, when you press-and-hold a key, the action associated with
the key is performed repeatedly. For example, if you press-and-hold a character
key, the character is typed repeatedly. |
Delay
|
Select the delay from the time you press a key to the time
that the action repeats. |
Speed
|
Select the speed at which the action is repeated. |
Cursor blinks in text boxes and fields
|
Select this option to enable the
cursor to blink in fields and text boxes. |
Speed
|
Use the slider to specify the speed at which the cursor
blinks in fields and text boxes. |
Type
to test settings
|
The test area is an interactive interface so you can see
how the keyboard settings affect the display as you type. Type text in the
test area to test the effect of your settings. |
Keyboard Layouts Preferences
Use the Layouts tabbed section to set your keyboard's language, and also the make and model of keyboard you are using.
This will allow GNOME to make use of special media keys on your keyboard, and to show the correct characters for your keyboard's language.
- Keyboard model
Use the browse button (labelled with an ellipsis, ...) to choose another keyboard make and model. - Selected Layouts
-
You can switch between selected layouts to change the characters your keyboard produces when you type. To add a layout, click Add. You can have up to four layouts. To remove a layout, select it and press Remove.
To switch between keyboard layouts, use the Keyboard Indicator panel applet.
- Separate group for each window
-
When this option is selected, each window has its own keyboard layout. Changing to a different layout will only affect the current window.
This allows you to to type with a Russian keyboard layout in a word processor, then switch to your web browser and type with an English keyboard layout, for example.
Click Reset to Defaults to restore all keyboard layout settings to their initial state for your system and locale.
The Layout Options tabbed section has options for the behaviour of keyboard modifier keys and certain shortcut options.
Expand each group label to show the available options. A label in boldface indicates that the options in the group have been changed from the default setting.
 | Note |
|---|
The options shown in this tabbed section depend on the X windowing system you are using. Not all the following options might be listed on your system, and not all the options shown might work on your system. |
- Adding the EuroSign to certain keys
Use these options to add the Euro currency symbol to a key as a third-level character. To access this symbol, you must assign a third level chooser. - Alt/Win key behavior
This group of options allows you to assign the behaviour of Unix modifier keys Super, Meta, and Hyper to the Alt and Windows keys on your keyboard.
- CapsLock key behavior
This group has several options for the Caps Lock key.
- Compose key position
The Compose key allows you to combine two keypresses to make a single character. This is used to create an accented character that might not be on your keyboard layout. For example, press the Compose key, then ', then e to obtain e-acute character. - Control key position
Use this group of options to set the location of the Ctrl key to match the layout on older keyboards.
- Group Shift/Lock behavior
Select keys or key combinations to switch your keyboard layout when pressed.
- Miscellaneous compatibility options
- Shift with numpad keys works as in MS Windows.
-
With this option selected, using Shift with keys on the numerical pad when NumLock is off extends the current selection.
With this option unselected, use Shift with keys on the numerical pad to obtain the reverse of the current behaviour for that key. For example, when NumLock is off, the 8 key acts as an up-arrow. Press Shift+8 to type an '8'.
- Special keys (Ctrl+Alt+<key>) handled in a server.
Select this option to have certain keyboard shortcuts passed to the X windowing system instead of being handled by GNOME. - Third level choosers
-
A third level key allows you to obtain a third character from a key, in the same way that pressing Shift with a key produces a different character to pressing the key alone.
Use this group to select a key you want to act as a third level modifier key.
Pressing the third-level key and Shift produces a fourth character from a key.
The third and fourth level characters for your keyboard layout are shown in the Keyboard Indicator Layout View Window.
- Use keyboard LED to show alternative group.
-
Use this option to specify that one of the light indicators on your keyboard should indicate when an alternative keyboard layout is in use.
| Note |
|---|
The selected keyboard light will no longer indicate its standard function. For example, the Caps Lock light will not react to the Caps Lock key. |
Configure the Typing Break Preferences to make GNOME remind you to rest after you have been using the keyboard and mouse for a long time. During a Typing Break, the screen will be locked.
Table 8.9, “Typing Break Preferences” lists the typing break preferences
that you can modify.
Table 8.9. Typing Break Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
Lock screen to enforce typing break
|
Select this option to
lock the screen when you are due a typing break. |
Work interval lasts
|
Use the spin box to specify how long you can work
before a typing break occurs. |
Break interval lasts
|
Use the spin box to specify the length of your typing
breaks. |
Allow postponing of breaks
|
Select this option if you want to be able to postpone
typing breaks. |
| Note |
|---|
If you stop using the keyboard and mouse for a length of time equal to the Break interval setting, the current work interval will be reset.
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