HP NC6120: Using the multimedia buttons in linux

By psichron (http://psichron.za.net)

(With help from http://ale.freeshell.org/articles/hotkeys/hotkeys.html)

Requirements: xmodmap, amixer

This guide demonstrates how to bind some of the multimedia keys on the HP NC6120 to act as function keys (F13,F14,etc). At the end there is a short section on implementing them in KDE. Volume buttons and volume led are implemented.

Get the keycodes:

First of all, you have to know the keycodes these keys generate. Run xev in console and watch its output as you press the multimedia buttons. For my nc6120 I get:

Key	keycode:
i	187
windows	115
FN+F3	223
presentation	148
mute	160
volume up	176
volume down	174

Bind to function keys:

The following script binds the keycodes to corresponding function key values. Create a file called keymap.sh and enter the following:


#!/bin/bash

xmodmap -e 'keycode 223=F17' # FN + F3

xmodmap -e 'keycode 148=F18' # presentation button

xmodmap -e 'keycode 187=F19' # i button

xmodmap -e 'keycode 115=F20' # windows button

xmodmap -e 'keycode 174=F21' # lower volume

xmodmap -e 'keycode 176=F22' # raise volume

xmodmap -e 'keycode 160=F23' # mute

exit 0

Next, make the script executable: chmod 755 keymap.sh and put it somewhere it will run when your window manager starts. For KDE, I put mine in: /home/USER/.kde/Autostart

Execute the script. Your multimedia keys will now act as additional function keys.

Volume scripts:

Create these three scripts in a suitable directory (Mine is in /home/USER/bin)

mute


#!/bin/bash

## This script toggles the Master volume using amixer.

## (Toggles mute LED on HP nc6120)

## Carel van Wyk

amixer set Master toggle

exit 0

(Next two from http://ale.freeshell.org/articles/hotkeys/hotkeys.html)
louder


#!/bin/bash

     
###########################################

      # Copyright (C) 2005 Patrick A. Read

      #

      # louder - this shell script increases

      # the volume
of the Master playback control

      # in
alsamixer.  Usage: louder [number]

      # where
(optional) number is the number of

      # clicks
you wish to increase the volume.

      # Example: 
louder 4 cranks up the volume

      # four
steps.  If you do not specify a

      # number,
then louder will raise the

      # volume one
step.  NOTE:  Alsamixer uses

      # 32 steps
(0-31) in its volume controls.

     
###########################################

      if [ "$1"
!= "" ]

      then

      
VOLADJ=${1}+

      else

       VOLADJ="1+"

      fi

      amixer set
Master ${VOLADJ}

      exit 0

     
###########################################

      # end of
louder script

     
###########################################

softer


#!/bin/bash

     
###########################################

      # Copyright
(C) 2005 Patrick A. Read

      #

      # softer -
this shell script decreases

      # the volume
of the Master playback control

      # in
alsamixer.  Usage: softer [number]

      # where
(optional) number is the number of

      # "clicks"
you wish to decrease the volume.

      # Example: 
softer 3 softens the volume

      # three
steps.  If you do not specify a

      # number,
then softer will lower the

      # volume one
step.   NOTE: Alsamixer uses

      # 32 steps
(0-31) in its volume controls.

     
###########################################

      if [ "$1"
!= "" ]

      then

      
VOLADJ=${1}-

      else

       VOLADJ="1-"

      fi

      amixer set
Master ${VOLADJ}

      exit 0

     
###########################################

      # end of
softer script

     
###########################################

Now make these scripts executable. chmod 755 mute louder softer

Implementing in KDE:

Access “System Settings” on the K Menu. Click on “Regional & Accessibility” -- “KHotKeys” (left) -- “New Group” (bottom) -- enter “Action Group name”. (Mine is “hotkeys” without the quotes).
Highlight the newly created action group, click “New Action” (bottom) and enter action name (e.g. mute).
Select “Action type:” - “Keyboard Shortcut -> Command/URL (simple)”
Click the “Keyboard Shortcut” tab (top), click on the button and press the appropriate key. (e.g. the mute button)
Click on the Command/URL Settings tab and enter the appropriate command (e.g. /home/USERNAME/bin/mute)
Click apply and repeat for other keys.

-----------------------

http://psichron.za.net/
System setup:
HP nc6120
kubuntu 5.10