Custom hot key programming with acpid
Hooking the Script to acpid
Getting acpid to use your script is really just a matter of editing the /etc/acpi/event/ibm-videobtn file and replacing the action= line with a pointer to your script. On my system, the script is /usr/local/sbin/video-switch, so my ibm-videobtn file looks like this:
event=ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 00001007 action=/usr/local/sbin/video-switch
When you modify the files under /etc/acpi/events, you'll need to restart acpid to get it to pick up the changes.
Additionally, you'll want to get acpid out of debug mode, so hit Ctrl+C in the window in which acpid is currently running then enter /etc/init.d/acpid start as root to fire up the daemon normally. At this point, hitting Fn+F7 on the laptop should cycle it through the three display settings programmed in the script. Because this very simple hack works as advertised, I've gotten tons of "geek cred" at various Linux User Group meetings.
Summary
Programming your own hot key hacks is equally simple. First, run acpid in debug mode to figure out exactly which event is triggered by your key presses. Then check the /etc/acpi/event directory to see whether a configuration file related to this event already exists. If not, feel free to create one from scratch – you really only need the event= and action= lines for most simple events. From there, it's just a matter of scripting what you want to happen. In many cases, you might be able to find example scripts on the web to use as a starting point.
Infos
- Advanced Configuration and Power Interface: http://www.acpi.info/
- acpid: http://sourceforge.net/projects/acpid/
- ThinkWiki sample script: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Sample_Fn-F7_script
« Previous 1 2
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora 41 Beta Available with Some Interesting Additions
If you're a Fedora fan, you'll be excited to hear the beta version of the latest release is now available for testing and includes plenty of updates.
-
AlmaLinux Unveils New Hardware Certification Process
The AlmaLinux Hardware Certification Program run by the Certification Special Interest Group (SIG) aims to ensure seamless compatibility between AlmaLinux and a wide range of hardware configurations.
-
Wind River Introduces eLxr Pro Linux Solution
eLxr Pro offers an end-to-end Linux solution backed by expert commercial support.
-
Juno Tab 3 Launches with Ubuntu 24.04
Anyone looking for a full-blown Linux tablet need look no further. Juno has released the Tab 3.
-
New KDE Slimbook Plasma Available for Preorder
Powered by an AMD Ryzen CPU, the latest KDE Slimbook laptop is powerful enough for local AI tasks.
-
Rhino Linux Announces Latest "Quick Update"
If you prefer your Linux distribution to be of the rolling type, Rhino Linux delivers a beautiful and reliable experience.
-
Plasma Desktop Will Soon Ask for Donations
The next iteration of Plasma has reached the soft feature freeze for the 6.2 version and includes a feature that could be divisive.
-
Linux Market Share Hits New High
For the first time, the Linux market share has reached a new high for desktops, and the trend looks like it will continue.
-
LibreOffice 24.8 Delivers New Features
LibreOffice is often considered the de facto standard office suite for the Linux operating system.
-
Deepin 23 Offers Wayland Support and New AI Tool
Deepin has been considered one of the most beautiful desktop operating systems for a long time and the arrival of version 23 has bolstered that reputation.