Written by octathlon the 8 May 08 at 15:34.
Category: System.
Related project:
Nothing/Others.
Status: New
Rationale
The Keyboard Shortcuts dialog has a very limited set of options. To assign a shortcut key to an application or command of your choice, you need to use the non-intuitive and difficult-to-find keybindings options in gconf-editor (nothing against gconf-editor).
Two possible ways to make this easier would be:
- Adding a shortcut key field to the Properties dialog of menu items and launchers. If the user attempts to enter a key combination already in use, an error message would appear.
- Adding a function to "Keyboard Shortcuts" with Add/Remove buttons for additional items. Perhaps add a new category "Custom" for these to separate them from the existing Sound, Desktop, and Windows Management categories.
While searching Brainstorm I found several requests for keyboard shortcuts for specific cases, but I think this idea would encompass all those by allowing the user to easily define shortcuts for any application or command.
From homepage of the project:
"New feature? Yes. One new feature is added, that’s “Shortcuts” settings.
At daily work, You must have some often used applications, why not start them by just press one key(single or combination). Through Ubuntu Tweak 0.3.0, it’s very easy to set a shortcut.
BTW,
I think Ubuntu Tweak functionality should be merged with the Preferences and Administration menu to bring better solution for managing the system.
I haven't tried Ubuntu Tweak. Looking at the screen shot for it, and at gconf-editor, it looks like Gnome must have 12 placeholders for custom shortcuts, Command1 through Command12. So maybe the easiest way to implement this idea is to just show the lines for Command1 through Command12 in their own group under Preferences|Keyboard Shortcuts, dispensing with the need for Add/Remove buttons, but having to make the Action field editable for that group.