how to disable the INSERT key? it kills Firefox [SOLVED]

[Shep]

Often when I'm typing text into a box in Firefox I accidently tap the Insert key when I intend to hit backspace when correcting a typing mistake. Pressing the Inset key kills Firefox and I have to start it up afresh. This gets to be very tiresome.

I would like to permanently disable that key. (There is another Ins key on the numeric keypad, should I ever want that function.)

Ideally, the key need only be disabled when I'm in Firefox, but that is probably difficult to arrange, and I don't use the key much at other times, anyway. So a permanent solution is okay.

So, how to neuter the pesky Insert key

[bigpup]

What version of Puppy?
The easy way. Physically remove the key from the keyboard.

[Shep]

It's not a new problem, and has happened with every puppy I've ever used, AFAIR. Discovered some older posts that indicate this bug has characterised the Mozilla browsers since 2008, at least. http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=65675

I'm currently using Wary 5.1.2

Q) How to emasculate the Insert key?

[Dougal]

Try this:

Code: Select all

xmodmap -e "clear Insert"

If it works, you can put the expression (clear Insert) into /root/.Xmodmap (hidden file).

[Bruce B]

If memory serves me well, Pizzasgood isolated the problem and came up with a fix.

~

[Shep]

Try this:

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xmodmap -e "clear Insert"

If it works, you can put the expression (clear Insert) into /root/.Xmodmap (hidden file).

Code: Select all

#  xmodmap -e "clear Insert"
xmodmap:  commandline:1:  bad clear modifier name 'insert'
xmodmap:  1 error encountered, aborting.

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#  xmodmap -grammar         
xmodmap accepts the following input expressions:

    pointer = default              reset pointer buttons to default
    pointer = NUMBER ...           set pointer button codes
    keycode NUMBER = [KEYSYM ...]  map keycode to given keysyms
    keysym KEYSYM = [KEYSYM ...]   look up keysym and do a keycode operation
    clear MODIFIER                 remove all keys for this modifier
    add MODIFIER = KEYSYM ...      add the keysyms to the modifier
    remove MODIFIER = KEYSYM ...   remove the keysyms from the modifier

where NUMBER is a decimal, octal, or hex constant; KEYSYM is a valid
Key Symbol name; and MODIFIER is one of the eight modifier names:  Shift,
Lock, Control, Mod1, Mod2, Mod3, Mod4, or Mod5.  Lines beginning with
an exclamation mark (!) are taken as comments.  Case is significant except
for MODIFIER names.

Keysyms on the left hand side of the = sign are looked up before any changes
are made; keysyms on the right are looked up after all of those on the left
have been resolved.  This makes it possible to swap modifier keys.

Thanks. If not feasible to disable it, i'd be perfectly happy for it to function identically to the Backspace key, as it's always when I'm trying to jab the Backspace key that I miss the mark and hit Insert.

[Shep]

This looks like it's going to work:

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  xmodmap -e "keysym Insert = BackSpace"

The Insert key becomes a second Backspace key.

[Dougal]

This looks like it's going to work:

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  xmodmap -e "keysym Insert = BackSpace"

The Insert key becomes a second Backspace key.

Even easier (I just tried it and it works):

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xmodmap -e "keysym Insert ="

You can check if it worked with

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 xmodmap -pk | grep Insert

[Bruce B]

1) I hated it when the insert killed the browser because it happened when an edit window was open and all the editing gets lost. Also, even without losing text, it is down right annoying.

2) Pizzasgood made a fix and I looked for it and didn't find it. He hasn't been posting lately. However, it wouldn't hurt if someone sent him a PM asking about it.

3) Lupu 5.20 doesn't have the problem.

~

[bigpup]

What version of Firefox?
I have Firefox 5.0 and the insert key seems to have no effect on Firefox for me.

Got Firefox 5 from here:
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 013#526013

[Shep]

What version of Firefox?
I have Firefox 5.0 and the insert key seems to have no effect on Firefox for me.

Yes, but do you recognize the precise problem? It reveals itself at the most inconvenient time. Some people have never encountered it; I guess it's only us clumsy typists who keep tripping over that particular stumbling block. I'm still using old faithful 3.6.9

Got Firefox 5 from here:
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 013#526013

I'm a bit hesitant to do anything that risks introducing a new set of bugs.

Remember a few puppies back when closing a window that contained the flash player would often crash the browser? - and cleanup involved having to kill a residual mozilla process before the browser could even be started up again?

I think I'll play it safe for now; might wait for version 7 before risking an upgrade

[Shep]

Even easier (I just tried it and it works):

Code: Select all

xmodmap -e "keysym Insert ="

You can check if it worked with

Code: Select all

 xmodmap -pk | grep Insert

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# xmodmap -e "keysym Insert ="
xmodmap:  commandline:1:  bad keysym target keysym 'Insert', no corresponding keycodes
xmodmap:  1 error encountered, aborting.

It's still as I set it, emulating Backspace

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# xmodmap -pk | grep Insert
     90    	0xff9e (KP_Insert)	0xffb0 (KP_0)

[Shep]

Even easier (I just tried it and it works):

Code: Select all

xmodmap -e "keysym Insert ="

You can check if it worked with

Code: Select all

 xmodmap -pk | grep Insert

While that didn't work for me--apparently xmodmap knows of no "Insert" key here (strange)--the equivalent using keycode does work to silence that key:

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 xmodmap -e "keycode 106 =" 

The 'strictly correct' way to do this appears to be:

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 xmodmap -e "keycode 106 = NoSymbol" 

Thanks for your help.

[Béèm]

Pizzasgood solution
But only made and tested for 4.x.x as far as I can see.

[Dougal]

Even easier (I just tried it and it works):

Code: Select all

xmodmap -e "keysym Insert ="

You can check if it worked with

Code: Select all

 xmodmap -pk | grep Insert

While that didn't work for me--apparently xmodmap knows of no "Insert" key here (strange)--the equivalent using keycode does work to silence that key:

Code: Select all

 xmodmap -e "keycode 106 =" 

The 'strictly correct' way to do this appears to be:

Code: Select all

 xmodmap -e "keycode 106 = NoSymbol" 

Strange that you don't see Insert...

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# xmodmap -pk | grep Insert
     90         0xff9e (KP_Insert)      0xffb0 (KP_0)   
    106         0xff63 (Insert) 

Maybe you run it after already unsetting it somehow?

[Shep]

Strange that you don't see Insert...

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# xmodmap -pk | grep Insert
     90         0xff9e (KP_Insert)      0xffb0 (KP_0)   
    106         0xff63 (Insert) 

Maybe you run it after already unsetting it somehow?

I checked for this on a pristine copy by booting with pfix=ram and sure enough, it's there,

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    104    	0xff54 (Down)	
    105    	0xff56 (Next)	
    106    	0xff63 (Insert)	
    107    	0xffff (Delete)	
    108    	0xff8d (KP_Enter)	
    109    	0xffe4 (Control_R)	
    110    	0xff13 (Pause)	0xff6b (Break)	
    111    	0xff61 (Print)	0xff15 (Sys_Req)	

So you surmised correctly.

This still gets us no nearer to discovering why tapping the <Insert> key during text entry in the mozilla browsers kills them. But I've tested this repeatedly since reassigning that key, and Firefox has stood steadfast.