#160 switch ALT and Windows key

[alessandro rimoldi]

nowadays, all the keyboards have a "windows" (or "apple") key.

on the other side most graphics programs (gimp, inkscape, scribus, ...) and some games use alt + mouse for some features.

for this reason, there should be an easy way to switch between the alt key and the windows key as a modifier for moving and resizing windows.

if possible, the default should be to use the windows key (almost only advanced users currently use the alt key to move the windows: they will find the new key or find how to switch back; beginners won't understand why the alt key does not work as it does on other setups).

thanks for caring
a.l.e

[Martin Bagge / brother]

this is all controlled in the openbox configuration file. it doesn't exactly fit the scope of LXDE because it introduces a dependency. MAYBE the feature should be added to some kind of openbox plugin thing like LXAppearance has.

The syntax for the config file (usually in ~/.config/openbox/SESSIONNAME-rc.xml) is:
<context name="Frame">
<mousebind button="A-Left" action="Drag">
<action name="Move"/>
</mousebind>
</context>

To use the flag key instead you change A-Left to W (I think, haven't tested really...).

[alessandro rimoldi]

as i said, the goal is to have the alt key free for the applications.

if you don't want (or can't) provide a way to manage that key, please switch the default in the config file (i've tried it and it works!)

wmii -- despite being a window manager for geeks who should be able to modify a config file -- has the best solution i've seen: it asks on the first start which key you want to use.

lxde is a very good desktop environment for workshops and i'm not the only one using it to show graphics applications to new people and i'm installing in on old machines i give away for tests...
i will be documenting how to switch the keys by editing the config file, but for many people this is a bit too hard core.