modify function keys 'fn'

[UK2]

Hello

Fedora 14
xfce
HP Mini 210

I have just bought a HP Min and installed xfce Fedora 14.

However, I would like to modify the way the function keys are pressed. Currently I have to press the 'fn' key down and then press a function key.

The function keys also have a second action. For example, Brightness up and down, volume control, play, fast forward, mute, wifi, etc.

However, those secondary actions only requires a single click.

As I use my HP for doing a lot of programming using emacs. I need the function keys for compiling, book marking, cleaning, uncommenting, etc. Is slows me down having to click on an extra 'fn' key.

I am wondering if it is possible to change the actual function keys to be a single click instead of having to click on the 'fn' all the time. And change the secondary action volumen, brightness, etc, to using the 'fn'?

Many thanks for any advice,

[DavidMcCann]

Sorry, but you're out of luck on reconfiguring the Fn key. It doesn't send a scan-code to the computer, but gets the keyboard's controller to alter the scan-code of another key.

You should be able to get your function keys back, though. If one is generating XF86AudioMute and you want it to produce F3, you can re-assign the code it generates (use xev to find it) with xmodmap or by directly editing /etc/X11/xkb/keycodes/evdev. If you want any of the things currently assigned to them, you can always set up shortcuts with the Super key.

[zeland]

My Dell Studio 1555 has the same issue. Check your BIOS settings. In my BIOS, I have the option of setting the functions keys as "Media Keys First" or "Function Keys First".

[george_toolan]

If everything else fails you might be able to use an external/different keyboard ;-)

[HMSS013]

this is a problem also found when using Apple keyboards in Linux

it was solved by simply editing (or creating) /etc/rc.local

and adding:

echo 2 > /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode

then save and restart...err... but the module will probably be named something else for you.

[UK2]

Thanks that solved my problem. There was a way to modify this in my BIOS. Thanks.

[Mariusz W]

Sorry, but you're out of luck on reconfiguring the Fn key. It doesn't send a scan-code to the computer, but gets the keyboard's controller to alter the scan-code of another key.

It will be very helpful if somebody expands on the underlined part by providing more details or a good set of online references.

Is it possible to control from Fedora (maybe with some kernel module) behavior of that "keyboard controller"?

My interest in this question stems from the following fact: using Fn + <key> combinations, it is possible to produce single keycodes that X server can process. Unfortunately, on many laptop, and to an even greater degree, on netbook keybooards, even with help of the Fn + <key> mechanism, it is not possible to send to X certain keycodes.

Just a simple example: on a Toshiba NB205 netbook, of all the 'Audio' keycodes only XF86AudioMute can be generated.

On the other hand, there are so many 'idle', by which I mean, not utilized combinations Fn + <key>, which either do not send any keycode, or they send the same keycode as <key> without Fn.

I know little about these issues. I only remember that when I was a Thinkpad user there were some packages supporting so called "Thinkpad keys". I never encountered anything on how to extend the capabilities of the Fn key.

[David Batson]

It will be very helpful if somebody expands on the underlined part by providing more details or a good set of online references.

See if this is any help: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to...ad_acpi_events

[Mariusz W]

See if this is any help: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to...ad_acpi_events

Thank you! I have already visited that page before, it seems to be more-or-less devoted to the thinkpad_acpi kernel module. because of that I haven't subjected it to detailed reading. I am hoping somebody will come along and inform us about the situation re. what can we do with the Fn key, in general -- that will be useful not just for Thinkpad users.

[JohnnyB]

Sorry about the old thread but I came across this with Asahi on my M2 MacBook and this fix did work for me on Intel Macs but does not yet have an effect on my M2. Hoping for a patch in the future.

[smr54]

I know this seems to be the only thread on here about this, but you'd be better off starting a new thread. Everything here is around 12 years old. It's better if you start a new thread, mentioning the problem, and you could put a link to this old thread while describing it.
I'm going to close this thread. But there's no reason for you not to post your issue, or even mention that it worked on an Intel Mac though not an M2.