How to create shortcuts using the terminal

Question

I know the easy way using the unity but is there a way to make a shortcut for chrome for example using the terminal.

Answer 1

One way of doing it is to use xbindkeys:

1. Install xbindkeys

   sudo apt-get install xbindkeys
   

2. Create the default settings file:

   xbindkeys --defaults > ~/.xbindkeysrc
   

3. Add the relevant lines to ~/.xbindkeysrc:

   printf '"google-chrome"\nControl+Shift+Mod2 + c\n' >> .xbindkeysrc 
   

   The keycodes above make Crtl Shift C launch google-chrome.

   You might need to get the right keycodes for your keys. Run xbindkeys -k and press your desired shortcut. That will print the relevant key sequence.

4. Run xbindkeys. To make this permanent, add a line containing xbindkeys to your ~/.Xsession:

   echo xbindkeys >> ~/.Xsession
   

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Now, once you have all that set up, and xbindkeys is running automatically every time you log in (because of step 4 above), you will be able to add new shortcut keys with this command:

printf '"ApplicationName"\n+Shortcut+Key\n' >> ~/.xbindkeysrc &&  
    killall xbindkeys ; xbindkyes

For example, this will make Ctrl+Shift+X launch xclock:

printf '"xclock"\nControl+Shift+Mod2 + x\n' >> ~/.xbindkeysrc && 
    killall xbindkeys ; xbindkyes

You could then create a little script that does it for you. Save the following lines as ~/bin/keyb.sh:

#!/bin/bash
printf '"$1"\n$2\n' >>  ~/.xbindkeysrc && 
killall xbindkeys ; xbindkyes

Make the script executable with chmod a+x ~/bin/keyb.sh. You can now add a new shortcut with

keyb.sh firefox 'Control+Shift+Mod2 + x'