Xfce Forum

Pheeble

Member

Registered: 2015-06-22

Posts: 27

[SOLVED] Imported custom keyboard shortcuts XML file ignored

I just did a clean install Linux Mint 21.2 XFCE on a different partition. Mint 21.2 XFCE uses XFCE 4.18.

I copied my custom keyboard shortcuts from my previous installation (Linux Mint 21.1 XFCE, which I believe uses XFCE 4.16), replacing the file at ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-keyboard-shortcuts.xml.

I logged out and back in again, but the GUI Keyboard Application Shortcuts still shows the default keyboard shortcuts, and the shortcuts specified in the xml file do not work.

I have a lot of custom shortcuts so I hope I don't have to manually enter all of them again.

How can I import the previous keyboard shortcuts into the new installation?

Update:

Ok, I worked this out. It seems logging out and back in is not sufficient to get XFCE to use the new XML file. I tried rebooting my computer, and when I logged in again the imported keyboard shortcuts were working.

I was under the impression that logging out was enough, and I've seen that repeatedly mentioned to get changed configuration files to be used. Is rebooting now a requirement for XFCE config changes, or have I stumbled on a potential bug?

Last edited by Pheeble (2023-08-02 01:57:02)

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 11,485

Re: [SOLVED] Imported custom keyboard shortcuts XML file ignored

Ideally, you should replace Xfce xml files while not logged into Xfce. So basically from a virtual terminal. The other issue is that on some distros, the xfconfd process persists after logout and it will interfere.

So the sure-fire way to do this is:
- reboot
- before logging in to Xfce, go to a virtual terminal (Ctrl+Alt+F3)
- log in and from here and replace the xml file

It might also work from within Xfce by first killing the xfconfd process, copying the files, then restarting the xfconfd process - but you would need to test this to make sure it works.

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Pheeble

Member

Registered: 2015-06-22

Posts: 27

Re: [SOLVED] Imported custom keyboard shortcuts XML file ignored

Ideally, you should replace Xfce xml files while not logged into Xfce. So basically from a virtual terminal. The other issue is that on some distros, the xfconfd process persists after logout and it will interfere.

Thanks, ToZ. I assumed (incorrectly, obviously) that xfconfd would stop on logout.