Ctrl and PF keys with emacs or Sublime Text

[Alain Maronani]

I am running 2 separate system. One with ubuntu 18.04 lts using emacs 25.3 (and 24.3) and sublime text (registered copy) 3175. The other one Linux lite (most current release)  I can use a combination of keys such as;

For emacs Ctrl-f12 is mapped to ido-switch-buffer-other-frame (opening a buffer on a separate emacs frame).
For emacs Alt-f12 is mapped to ido-switch-buffer-in-another-window (opening a buffer on a separate emacs window)
For sublime text Ctrl-f4 is mapped to to the function close windows (standard key mapping for sublime-text).

With linux lite nothing works. Ctrl-f12 is not linked to a global keyboard mapping (i did a check using dconf) and xev shows the good keys. Ctrl-f4 for sublime-text is not linked to a global keyboard mapping

emacs version are the same, sublime-text version are the same. plugins and emacs packages are the same, configuration are identical.

I a word combination of ctrl key (or Alt) and a function key not mapped globally are not transmitted to the running application (in scope). ctrl-f4 in sublime-text does nothing and emacs mapping such as Ctrl-f12  also. I have other emacs function (browsing emacs buffers) using Ctrl-f7 and Ctrl-f8 and they too are not working also (no response form keyboard pressing).

Linux lite is using gtk-2 and ubuntu gtk-3. Any idea somebody ?

[Alain Maronani]

I am documenting the solution. First look here (a long discussion on xfwm4, xubuntu, xfce).

https://bugpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xfwm4/...90s.launch

Keyboard standard action or combos (pfkey, alt..) are directed with the file .config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-keyboard-shortcuts.xml

Mine is here (before editing).

/commands/custom/<Alt>F1                  xfce4-popup-applicationsmenu
/commands/custom/<Alt>F2                  xfce4-appfinder --collapsed
/commands/custom/<Alt>F2/startup-notify    true
/commands/custom/<Alt>F3                  xfce4-appfinder
/commands/custom/<Alt>F3/startup-notify    true
/commands/custom/override                  true
/commands/custom/<Primary><Alt>Delete      xfce4-session-logout
/commands/custom/<Primary><Alt>t          x-terminal-emulator -t "Command Line"
/commands/custom/<Primary>Escape          xfdesktop --menu
/commands/custom/<Primary><Shift>Escape    xfce4-taskmanager
/commands/custom/Print                    xfce4-screenshooter
/commands/custom/<Super>h                  exo-open --launch FileManager
/commands/custom/<Super>l                  light-locker-command -l
/commands/custom/Super_L                  xfce4-popup-whiskermenu
/commands/custom/<Super>p                  xfce4-display-settings --minimal
/commands/custom/XF86Display              xfce4-display-settings --minimal
/commands/custom/XF86Mail                  exo-open --launch MailReader
/commands/custom/XF86WWW                  exo-open --launch WebBrowser
/commands/default/<Alt>F1                  xfce4-popup-applicationsmenu
/commands/default/<Alt>F2                  xfce4-appfinder --collapsed
/commands/default/<Alt>F2/startup-notify  true
/commands/default/<Alt>F3                  xfce4-appfinder
/commands/default/<Alt>F3/startup-notify  true
/commands/default/<Primary><Alt>Delete    xflock4
/commands/default/<Primary><Alt>l          xflock4
/commands/default/<Primary>Escape          xfdesktop --menu
/commands/default/<Super>p                xfce4-display-settings --minimal
/commands/default/XF86Display              xfce4-display-settings --minimal
/commands/default/XF86Mail                exo-open --launch MailReader
/commands/default/XF86WWW                  exo-open --launch WebBrowser
/providers                                <<UNSUPPORTED>>
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt>Delete                  del_workspace_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt>F10                    maximize_window_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt>F11                    fullscreen_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt>F12                    above_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt>F4                      close_window_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt>F6                      stick_window_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt>F7                      move_window_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt>F8                      resize_window_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt>F9                      hide_window_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt>Insert                  add_workspace_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt><Shift>Tab              cycle_reverse_windows_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt>space                  popup_menu_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Alt>Tab                    cycle_windows_key
/xfwm4/custom/Down                        down_key
/xfwm4/custom/Escape                      cancel_key
/xfwm4/custom/Left                        left_key
/xfwm4/custom/override                    true
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>d              show_desktop_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>Down          down_workspace_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>End            move_window_next_workspace_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>Home          move_window_prev_workspace_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>KP_1          move_window_workspace_1_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>KP_2          move_window_workspace_2_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>KP_3          move_window_workspace_3_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>KP_4          move_window_workspace_4_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>KP_5          move_window_workspace_5_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>KP_6          move_window_workspace_6_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>KP_7          move_window_workspace_7_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>KP_8          move_window_workspace_8_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>KP_9          move_window_workspace_9_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>Left          left_workspace_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>Right          right_workspace_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Alt>Up            up_workspace_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary>F1                  workspace_1_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary>F10                workspace_10_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary>F11                workspace_11_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary>F12                workspace_12_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary>F2                  workspace_2_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary>F3                  workspace_3_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary>F4                  workspace_4_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary>F5                  workspace_5_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary>F6                  workspace_6_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary>F7                  workspace_7_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary>F8                  workspace_8_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary>F9                  workspace_9_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Shift><Alt>Left    move_window_left_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Shift><Alt>Right  move_window_right_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Primary><Shift><Alt>Up      move_window_up_key
/xfwm4/custom/Right                        right_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Shift><Alt>Page_Down        lower_window_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Shift><Alt>Page_Up          raise_window_key
/xfwm4/custom/<Super>Tab                  switch_window_key
/xfwm4/custom/Up                          up_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt>Delete                del_workspace_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt>F10                    maximize_window_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt>F11                    fullscreen_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt>F12                    above_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt>F4                    close_window_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt>F6                    stick_window_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt>F7                    move_window_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt>F8                    resize_window_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt>F9                    hide_window_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt>Insert                add_workspace_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt><Shift>Tab            cycle_reverse_windows_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt>space                  popup_menu_key
/xfwm4/default/<Alt>Tab                    cycle_windows_key
/xfwm4/default/Down                        down_key
/xfwm4/default/Escape                      cancel_key
/xfwm4/default/Left                        left_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>d            show_desktop_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>Down          down_workspace_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>End          move_window_next_workspace_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>Home          move_window_prev_workspace_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>KP_1          move_window_workspace_1_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>KP_2          move_window_workspace_2_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>KP_3          move_window_workspace_3_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>KP_4          move_window_workspace_4_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>KP_5          move_window_workspace_5_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>KP_6          move_window_workspace_6_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>KP_7          move_window_workspace_7_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>KP_8          move_window_workspace_8_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>KP_9          move_window_workspace_9_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>Left          left_workspace_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>Right        right_workspace_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Alt>Up            up_workspace_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary>F1                workspace_1_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary>F10                workspace_10_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary>F11                workspace_11_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary>F12                workspace_12_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary>F2                workspace_2_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary>F3                workspace_3_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary>F4                workspace_4_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary>F5                workspace_5_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary>F6                workspace_6_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary>F7                workspace_7_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary>F8                workspace_8_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary>F9                workspace_9_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Shift><Alt>Left  move_window_left_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Shift><Alt>Right  move_window_right_key
/xfwm4/default/<Primary><Shift><Alt>Up    move_window_up_key
/xfwm4/default/Right                      right_key
/xfwm4/default/<Shift><Alt>Page_Down      lower_window_key
/xfwm4/default/<Shift><Alt>Page_Up        raise_window_key
/xfwm4/default/<Super>Tab                  switch_window_key
/xfwm4/default/Up                          up_key

File is created from standard template located at /etc/xdg/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml when you define a new user.

By default keys combo such as default (Control key) + pf12 or Alt key + pf12 are already assigned to xfwm4 or something else (please look at custom action also).  Not ALL Key combos are displayed by xfce4-keyboard-settings (from menu or from the shell). The only way to change custom action is by editing (xml file) your file located at  .config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-keyboard-shortcuts.xml. You can also edit the standard template located at /etc/xdg/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml (not recommanded...) as a standard before creating new users or before resetting your keyboard configuration using xfce4-keyboard-settings.

If you reset your keyboard settings using xfce4-keyboard-settings it also reset ALL custom action to the default.  I have difficulty to understand the usefulness of having ctrl key + pf12 mapped to a switch to the twelve workspace...by default. It should be not assigned or at least should be documented. Same as using Alt+Insert (adding workspace) or Alt+Delete (deleting workspace)

In a word if you are experiencing difficulty with mapping for some applications look here FIRST.