Comment 71 for bug 201887

Hi

I came up against this issue back in April when upgrading from Gutsy to Hardy - function keys no longer worked as they did in Gutsy. I ended up a bit lost and just wound up using my laptop keyboard for the missing functions, so it's good to finally find a discussion like this.

For what it's worth, as a user with a technical background, rather than an Ubuntu developer, here is my take on the issue:

* I have a full size Apple wired USB keyboard (http://images.apple.com/keyboard/images/gallery/wired_1_20070813.jpg), with number pad. I use it because it's very easy on my fingers, it's light - i can chuck it my backpack easily plus it is very well made and designed.
* I don't use it with an Apple PC, although I could in the future. I use it primarily with a Dell XPS 1330 laptop.
* The function keys not working look to be due to the keycode not being mapped to a specific key symbol. You can set this up as an Xmodmap file by grabbing the keycodes from xev and (in KDE) add that as a script to the ~/.kde/Autostart directory. I'm sure there is another solution.

keycode 101 = F1
keycode 212 = F2
keycode 166 = F3
! F4 keycode not found...
keycode 71 = F5
keycode 72 = F6
keycode 234 = F7
keycode 162 = F8
keycode 233 = F9
keycode 160 = F10
keycode 174 = F11
keycode 176 = F12
keycode 182 = F13
keycode 183 = F14
keycode 184 = F15
keycode 93 = F16
keycode 131 = F17
keycode 247 = F18
keycode 132 = F19

e.g
xmodmap /path/to/mymodmap.file

* The F4 key was never detected, even with getscancodes from keytouch.sf.net. I have two of these keyboard and neither emitted a keycode or scancode, so it isn't a faulty keyboard.

* The only other key not detected on the keyboard is the "fn" key, which neither emits a keycode in xev or a scancode in "getscancodes". This is a bit annoying as it would be the perfect modifier key for multimedia function fn+F12 for "Volume Up", for instance.

* One other thing to watch our for is that (on my dell laptop at least), the dedicated Dell media keys for Mute, Volume Up and Volume Down emit the same keycodes as F10, F11 and F12 on the Apple keyboard.

What I'd expect this keyboard to do in *ubuntu running on non Apple hardware. (I can't speak for what should, and probably does, happen on Apple hardware as I haven't used it)
* the function keys should just emit the F1-F19 keycodes that are mapped to the respective key symbols. hitting the F2 key on it's own should not increase brightness.
* the fn key should be detected and be used as a modifier key, like on a non apple laptop. For instance on the Dell, Fn + UpArrow increases screen brightness.
* the fn key together with the various media keys (F7 to F12) should carry out the generic XF86Audio* actions. For instance, hitting fn+F8 should Play/Pause, fn+F2 should increase brightness.
* the "clear" key should not be a numlock key, there is no need for it as a numlock on a fullsize keyboard. As someone else suggested, it should clear a calculation or maybe emulate "esc" key.
* the number pad should be enabled by default.
* the command key should be the same as the meta/windows key on a non apple laptop.

I hope that info helps out with any decisions made on this. While I am on the topic, if anyone has any ideas about the following questions, they'd be welcome

* non working F4 key - how to get this working ?
* fn key - how to get this working if possible ?
* Alt+F2 on KDE 4 opens Krunner. This works ok on the laptop keyboard but Alt+F2 (with mapped function keys and Alt keys) on the Apple keyboard doesn't open krunner. If anyone has a solution for that it'd be great.

Many thanks.