Keycodes

This page should be used to collect keyboard data from various laptop keyboards. The priority goes to laptop keyboards from the following manufacturers: IBM, Toshiba, Dell, and HP/Compaq.

Keyboard configuration for Linux and X11 is over-complicated, so collecting keyboard data may need to be done in three places: X11, the Linux kernel, and the BIOS.

Gathering X keycodes

In order to get the X keycode for a key, open up a terminal and run xev. Put the cursor in the window that appears, and press the key. The terminal should output information like this:

KeyRelease event, serial 28, synthetic NO, window 0x2800001,
    root 0x46, subw 0x0, time 2178948, (142,22), root:(148,117),
    state 0x0, keycode 164 (keysym 0x0, NoSymbol), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:

If no information is displayed, it might be an X11 bug, a mis-configuration in the Linux kernel, or BIOS problem.

Gathering Linux keycodes and scancodes

If xev doesn't output anything when the key is pressed, check that the Linux kernel is getting the keycodes.

To check the kernel keycodes, you will need to switch to the console. To switch back to X, you will press <Alt> and <F7> at the same time. To switch to the first Linux console, press <Ctrl>, <Alt> and <F1> at the same time. Now run showkey and press the key you want to get info about. showkey will exit after no key has been pressed for a couple of seconds. If you get a result here, there is probably a bug in the X11 keycode conversion. If you do not, there may be a kernel configuration problem.

To check if the kernel is ignoring this key, check the kernel log. The easiest way to do this is from an X terminal. Run tail -f /var/log/kern.log and press the key. You may see information like this:

May 21 11:18:59 localhost kernel: atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0x93 on isa0060/serio0).
May 21 11:18:59 localhost kernel: atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e013 <keycode>' to make it known.
May 21 11:18:59 localhost kernel: atkbd.c: Unknown key released (translated set 2, code 0x93 on isa0060/serio0).
May 21 11:18:59 localhost kernel: atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e013 <keycode>' to make it known.

This means that the console keymap is not configured to recognize this key. If you don't see anything, it could be because:

The key only generates an ACPI event.
The BIOS won't let the key emit any information until a "knock sequence" is intiated.

Modern BIOSes and keyboards

Some modern laptop BIOSes requires a "knock sequence" to allow the special keys to start generating any keycodes. HP Omnibooks and some Toshiba laptops require this. See the omke, FreeZeeButtons, and fnfx projects.

If a key is pressed, but no information is displayed in /var/log/kern.log, showkey, or xev, your laptop probably requires a "knock sequence."

If some of your keys only generate an ACPI event, then one possibility is to use acpi-keys. This small utility, if integrated with acpid, can generate X events.

Common laptop keys

Laptop keys
Key	Full functionality	"Rad" functionality	Possible X keysym name (from XF86keysym.h or keysymdef.h)
Music/CD/MP3	Launch music player	If the music player isn't running, start it. If it is started and it isn't the top window (minimized or hiding), bring it to the front. If it is the front window, minimize it.
Mail	Launch mail application	Similar to Music key
Info	Launch web browser	Similar ot Music key
Play/Pause	Stop or restart music		XF86AudioPlay or XF86AudioPause
Stop	Stop music		XF86AudioStop or XF86Eject
Next track	Skip to the next track		XF86AudioNext
Previous track	Skip to the previous track		XF86AudioPrev
Mute	Mute or unmute audio		XF86AudioMute
Screen lock	Lock screen	Should blank screen, then (if password set) go to lock screen with Ubuntu countdown on mouse or keyboard activity. Othewise, unblank screen.
Power profile selector	Change CPU power consumption	Should select power consumption profile. (A suggested list is Full Power, High Power, Normal, DVD Playback, Presentation, and Long Life.)
Standby mode (suspend to RAM)	Suspend to RAM
Hibernate mode (suspend to disk)	Suspend to disk
Display modes	Cycle the display modes. (A suggested list of combinations: built-in only, built-in and VGA-out, VGA-out only, built-in and TV-out, TV-out only.)
Brightness down	Reduce the brightness of the built-in display.
Brightness up	Increase the brightness of the built-in display.
Wireless antenna toggle	Enable or disable the wireless antenna.
Trackpad toggle key	Enable or disable the trackpad.
Cursor overlay toggle key	Enable or disable the Cursor overlay (enabling the use of the main keyboard for KP_Left).
Numeric overlay toggle	Enable or disable the Numeric overlay (enabling the use of the main keyboard for KP_4).
Scroll lock	Enable or disable Scroll Lock.

Specific laptop model info

Gericom Blockbuster
Key	Known X keycodes	kern.log output
Mail	236
Info	178
Music/CD/MP3 (hardware music player requires special FAT32 partition	237
Loop	160
Play/Pause	162
Stop	164
Next track	153
Previous track	144

Known owners: ZygmuntKrynicki, VedranMiletic

Asus m6800N
Key	Known X keycodes	/var/log/acpid ouput
Numlock	77
Scrollock	78
Mail		completed event "hotkey ATKD 00000050 00000000"
Web		completed event "hotkey ATKD 00000051 00000000"
Mail		completed event "hotkey ATKD 0000005d 00000002"
Touchpad		completed event "hotkey ATKD 0000006a 00000002"
Power profile selector		completed event "hotkey ATKD 0000005c 00000002"
Play/Pause		completed event "hotkey ATKD 00000045 00000001"
Stop		completed event "hotkey ATKD 00000043 00000001"
Next track		completed event "hotkey ATKD 00000041 00000003"
Previous track		completed event "hotkey ATKD 00000040 00000003"

Known owners: Alex Thomsen Leth megetspam@stofanet.dk

Toshiba Satellite M35X-S149 keys
Key	Known X keycodes	kern.log output
Music/CD/MP3	none	atkbd.c: code 0x93. Use 'setkeycodes e013 <keycode>'
Play/Pause	162
Stop	164
Next track	153
Previous track	144
Mute (<Fn> + <Esc>)	160
Screen lock (<Fn> + <F1>)	none	atkbd.c: code 0xee. Use 'setkeycodes e06e <keycode>'
Power profile selector (<Fn> + <F2>)	none	none
Standby mode (suspend to RAM) (<Fn> + <F3>)	none	none
Hibernate mode (suspend to disk) (<Fn> + <F4>)	none	none
Display modes (<Fn> + <F5>)	none (works once then requires a reboot)	none
Brightness down (<Fn> + <F6>)	239 (and dims LCD)
Brightness up (<Fn> + <F7>)	none (works without generating keycodes)	atkbd.c: code 0xd9. Use 'setkeycodes e059 <keycode>'
Wireless antenna toggle (<Fn> + <F8>)	none (may work; untested)	none
TouchPad toggle key (<Fn> + <F9>)	none (disables TouchPad)	off: kern.log: atkbd.c: code 0x9f. Use 'setkeycodes e01f <keycode>'
TouchPad toggle key (<Fn> + <F9>)	none (disables TouchPad)	on: kern.log: atkbd.c: code 0x9e. Use 'setkeycodes e01e <keycode>'
Cursor overlay toggle key (<Fn> + <F10>)	none (works without generating keycodes)	none
Numeric overlay toggle (<Fn> + <F11>)	77 (Num_Lock, but seems to only work once.)
Scroll lock (<Fn> + <F11>)	78 (Scroll_Lock)

Known owners: FrankMurphy

Requires FreeZeeButton to activate keys. (It has a Phoenix BIOS, instead of a Toshiba BIOS, so fnfx won't work.) omke might also work.

Acer Aspire 1684WLMi keys
Key	Known X keycodes	kern.log output
Play/Pause	162
Stop	164
Next track	153
Previous track	144
Volume up	176
Volume down	174
Hot key help (<Fn> + <F1>	none	Use 'setkeycodes e025 <keycode>' to make it known.
Acer eSetting (<Fn> + <F2>)	none	none
Acer ePowerManagement (<Fn> + <F3>)	none	Use 'setkeycodes e027 <keycode>' to make it known.
Sleep (Zzzz) (<Fn> + <F4>)	none	none
Display modes (<Fn> + <F5>) (untested)	none	Use 'setkeycodes e029 <keycode>' to make it known.
Display on/off toggle (<Fn> + <F6>)	none, but works fine	none
Touchpad toggle (<Fn> + <F7>)	none, but works	Use 'setkeycodes e072 <keycode>' to make it known. when turning touchpad off
Touchpad toggle (<Fn> + <F7>)	none, but works	Use 'setkeycodes e071 <keycode>' to make it known. when turning it on
Mute (<Fn> + <F8>)	160
Wireless antenna toggle (front of laptop)	none, but works ()	Use 'setkeycodes e056 <keycode>' to make it known.
Bluetooth toggle (untested, module not installed, next to wireless button)	none	Use 'setkeycodes e058 <keycode>' to make it known.
Euro sign key	none	Use 'setkeycodes e033 <keycode>' to make it known.
Dollar sign key	none	Use 'setkeycodes e034 <keycode>' to make it known.
Brightness down (<Fn> + <Arrow left>)	239, dims LCD)
Brightness up (<Fn> + <Arrow right>)	none, brightens LCD	Use 'setkeycodes e06e <keycode>' to make it known.
Email key	236
Web browser key	178
"Acer E-Manager" (user-programmable) (name from manual)	none	Use 'setkeycodes e074 <keycode>' to make it known.
"P" (user-programmable) (name from manual)	none	Use 'setkeycodes e073 <keycode>' to make it known.

Known Owner: Martijn van de Streek

Above values are the same for the Acer Extensa 1522wmli. Known owner: Koert van der Veer

Acer Aspire 1350 keys
Key	Known X keycodes
Lower volume	174
Raise volume	176
Audio mute	160
P1	243
P2	244
WWW	178
E-Mail	236

Known Owner: Marvin Raaijmakers

Notes: The "known X keycodes" listed above are detected on a 2.4 kernel. Some keys of these keys might not have a keycode in kernel 2.6. This keyboard is also supported by keyTouch: http://keytouch.sf.net

HP/Compaq tc1100 tablet keys
Key	Purpose	Known X keycodes	kern.log output
External monitor	Enable/disable external monitor	none	Use 'setkeycodes e002 <keycode>' to make it known.
Q menu	Pop up a menu (helpful in tablet mode)	none	Use 'setkeycodes e003 <keycode>' to make it known.
tab	Tab key; map with `setkeycodes e004 15`	none	Use 'setkeycodes e004 <keycode>' to make it known.
ESC	ESC key; map with `setkeycodes e005 1`	none	Use 'setkeycodes e005 <keycode>' to make it known.
Jog up/left	General purpose; useful as PGUP or scroll wheel up	none	Use 'setkeycodes e006 <keycode>' to make it known.
Jog down/right	General purpose; useful as PGDN or scroll wheel down	none	Use 'setkeycodes e007 <keycode>' to make it known.

CategoryLaptop

LaptopTesting/Keycodes (last edited 2008-08-06 16:23:32 by localhost)