Re: [gentoo-amd64] Shift + Fn Keys Suddenly Don't Work

[Mark Knecht]

On Sun, Oct 9, 2011 at 10:45 AM, Frank Peters <frank.peters@×××××××.net> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> On an ordinary keyboard, the extended function keys, F13 to F24, should
> be accessible as Shift + Fn, where Fn are the keys F1 to F12.
>
> Well, up until a few days ago, the Shift+Fn combination was working as it
> should.  Then suddenly, Shift+Fn stopped working correctly.  I noticed
> it when using the Midnight Commander (MC) file manager where I extensively
> use Shift+F5 and Shift+F6 to conveniently rename and copy files.
> MC is a terminal program but the problem also shows up in some X programs
> that use Shift+Fn combinations.
>
> Because I have no need to closely monitor changes on my system I can't
> actually pinpoint any new install that may be responsible.  My first
> guess would be a new version of xorg-server-1.11.1 that was emerged
> on October 2.
>
> I need to know how I can debug this situation further.  Using xev
> to record key presses gives the following output when using
> Shift+F1:
>
> KeyPress event, serial 40, synthetic NO, window 0xe00001,
>    root 0x121, subw 0x0, time 6919279, (23,152), root:(463,411),
>    state 0x0, keycode 50 (keysym 0xffe1, Shift_L), same_screen YES,
>    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
>    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
>    XFilterEvent returns: False
>
> KeyPress event, serial 40, synthetic NO, window 0xe00001,
>    root 0x121, subw 0x0, time 6921351, (23,152), root:(463,411),
>    state 0x1, keycode 67 (keysym 0xffffff, VoidSymbol), same_screen YES,
>    XKeysymToKeycode returns keycode: 63
>    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
>    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
>    XFilterEvent returns: False
>
> The data for the F1 keypress is not correct.  Compare this output with
> the expected output that is shown in this forum thread:
> http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-524537-start-0.html
>
> It appears that the X server is at fault.
>
> Can anyone using xorg-server-1.11.1 very that the Shift+Fn keys
> are broken?
>
> Frank Peters
>
>
>

Hi Frank,
   I've never used the Shift-Function keys myself. Here is what I'm
seeing here using xev to capture Shift-F1:

KeyPress event, serial 30, synthetic NO, window 0x3e00001,
    root 0x26a, subw 0x0, time 14761403, (323,554), root:(1606,577),
    state 0x0, keycode 50 (keysym 0xffe1, Shift_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyPress event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x3e00001,
    root 0x26a, subw 0x0, time 14762104, (323,554), root:(1606,577),
    state 0x1, keycode 67 (keysym 0xffbe, F1), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x3e00001,
    root 0x26a, subw 0x0, time 14762163, (323,554), root:(1606,577),
    state 0x1, keycode 67 (keysym 0xffbe, F1), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x3e00001,
    root 0x26a, subw 0x0, time 14762733, (323,554), root:(1606,577),
    state 0x1, keycode 50 (keysym 0xffe1, Shift_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False


I didn't read through the link you posted but it's showing left-shift
& F1, both key on and key off, so I assume it's working correctly
here. This is, however xorg-server-1.10.4 so possibly there's a bug in
the testing version? I still show 1.10.4 as stable but haven't updated
in a couple of days on this machine.


mark@c2stable ~ $ eix -I xorg-server
[I] x11-base/xorg-server
     Available versions:  1.9.4 1.9.5 1.10.2 ~1.10.3 1.10.4 ~1.11.0
~1.11.1 {dmx doc ipv6 kdrive minimal nptl static-libs tslib +udev
xnest xorg xvfb}
     Installed versions:  1.10.4(03:34:56 PM 08/30/2011)(nptl udev
xorg -dmx -doc -ipv6 -kdrive -minimal -static-libs -tslib -xnest
-xvfb)
     Homepage:            http://xorg.freedesktop.org/
     Description:         X.Org X servers

mark@c2stable ~ $


Hope this helps,
Mark