Missing meta key with Emacs under X11b3
Missing meta key with Emacs under X11b3
- Subject: Missing meta key with Emacs under X11b3
- From: P T Withington <email@hidden>
- Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 08:48:01 -0400
> From: "Adrian F. Clark" <email@hidden>
> Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 12:26:14 +0100
>
> I'm sorry if this is a FAQ but I can't find an answer to my problem in
> previous threads. I'm having trouble getting the meta key to work in
> an xterm under Apple's X11b3. I have both "Follow system keyboard
> layout" and "Enable key equivalents under X11" unchecked in my
> preferences and the following ~/.xinitrc file:
Below is my .Xmodmap. This is the only way I have found to make
alt/option be the meta key (rather than the default where
clover/command is).
There is an interesting thread on this topic here:
http://list-archive.xemacs.org/xemacs-beta/200012/msg00029.html
The summary is that since X does not define what the Mod1 - Mod4
modifiers mean, X tries to intuit them from the keysym they are bound
to. X will prefer to us the modifier that is bound to a keysym named
meta as it's meta key, but will use the modifier bound to a keysym
named alt if no meta exists.
While on the surface it makes sense that Apple have assigned the keysym
alt to the key labeled alt, I think the error is that they keyboard is
so labeled. It just takes them down the same confusing path that PC's
find themselves in.
The bonus in the arrangement that I use is that you can leave command
key equivalents enabled in X11, because now they only conflict with
uses of the alt modifier, and who needs that? (The caveat is that
three button mouse emulation is reversed.)
If you agree, support the campaign to get Apple to provide this as a
preference in X11.
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