Linux @lemmy.ml mexicancartel @lemmy.dbzer0.com 5d ago

Help: Right alt is detecting as ISO_Level3_Shift. Fedora KDE

The xev output for both left alt and right alt is given below. I could not use right alt for any purpose due to this. What could be the problem? Thanks in advance.

KeyPress event, serial 39, synthetic NO, window 0x1400001,
    root 0x409, subw 0x0, time 14963499, (139,64), root:(818,407),
    state 0x10, keycode 64 (keysym 0xffe9, Alt_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyPress event, serial 39, synthetic NO, window 0x1400001,
    root 0x409, subw 0x0, time 14964219, (139,64), root:(818,407),
    state 0x18, keycode 108 (keysym 0xfe03, ISO_Level3_Shift), same_screen YES,
    XKeysymToKeycode returns keycode: 92
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False

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10 comments

Open System Settings, Keyboard, Key Bindings (top right button), turn off “Key to choose the 3rd level -> Right Alt”

it was all disabled for me. So now i i=enabled it and choose the option "Right alt never chooses the third level" and now it works. What actually is the third, second and fifth levels? And why is it enabled even if the entire setting to choose 3rd level key is disabled?

Anyway this solved my issue but still curious on what thoose levels in keyboard are

What keyboard layout are you using? It might be set as default there. Those extra levels change the keys on your keyboard to produce extra symbols, like shift+a produces A, shift3+a might produce å (as it does on my keyboard layout).

OOOOh so thats what it is for.. How could i see different levels and assigned keys?

Also I dont exactly know what keyboard layout i am using. It's my laptop's keyboard, with two hp specific keys, numpad, and no menu button or pause break button; if that helps

In keyboard settings, you can look at a preview of the layout you have configured. It's in the menu on the right of each keyboard entry in the list.

By default there was no layout enabled in that option but can add new ones. Anyway thanks for the tips

Yes, it depends on the layout. For example, I use the “English (Macintosh)” variant of the US layout. It has bindings for level 3 shift on all keys pretty much.

I also now set it to macintosh variant. But can I assign it to right shift instead of alt? I need the alt but there seems to be no option for using shift

As far as I understand those selectors work, using shift as the level 3 modifier is a bad idea since ....

level	combination
1	key
2	`SHIFT` + key
3	`L3` + key
4	`SHIFT` + `L3` + key
5	`L5` + key
6	`L5` + `SHIFT` + key

I suppose customizing the keyboard layout such that SHIFT can be used as L3 modifier can be done. Otherwise, you might want to refer to /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/evdev.lst.

Here's the relevant part(s):

option group:option	description
lv2	Key to choose the 2nd level
lv2:lsgt_switch	The "< >" key
lv3	Key to choose the 3rd level
lv3:switch	Right Ctrl
lv3:menu_switch	Menu
lv3:win_switch	Any Win
lv3:lwin_switch	Left Win
lv3:rwin_switch	Right Win
lv3:alt_switch	Any Alt
lv3:lalt_switch	Left Alt
lv3:ralt_switch	Right Alt
lv3:ralt_switch_multikey	Right Alt; Shift+Right Alt as Compose
lv3:ralt_alt	Right Alt never chooses 3rd level
lv3:enter_switch	Enter on keypad
lv3:caps_switch	Caps Lock
lv3:caps_switch_capslock_with_ctrl	Caps Lock; Ctrl+Caps Lock for original Caps Lock action
lv3:bksl_switch	Backslash
lv3:lsgt_switch	The "< >" key
lv3:caps_switch_latch	Caps Lock; acts as onetime lock when pressed together with another 3rd-level chooser
lv3:bksl_switch_latch	Backslash; acts as onetime lock when pressed together with another 3rd level chooser
lv3:lsgt_switch_latch	The "< >" key; acts as onetime lock when pressed together with another 3rd level chooser

lv5	Key to choose the 5th level
lv5:caps_switch	Caps Lock chooses 5th level
lv5:lsgt_switch	The "< >" key chooses 5th level
lv5:ralt_switch	Right Alt chooses 5th level
lv5:menu_switch	Menu chooses 5th level
lv5:rctrl_switch	Right Ctrl chooses 5th level
lv5:lsgt_switch_lock	The "< >" key chooses 5th level and acts as a one-time lock if pressed with another 5th level chooser
lv5:ralt_switch_lock	Right Alt chooses 5th level and acts as a one-time lock if pressed with another 5th level chooser
lv5:lwin_switch_lock	Left Win chooses 5th level and acts as a one-time lock if pressed with another 5th level chooser
lv5:rwin_switch_lock	Right Win chooses 5th level and acts as a one-time lock if pressed with another 5th level chooser

It doesn't seem to be available as part of the standard modifiers. You can probably have it as part of a custom layout, but I have no idea about how to do that.

10 comments