(CLOSED) Assign the Windows key to open the menu in Zorin

First I would like to say hello. I have been looking at using Zorin for a couple of months now but as my Win XP has finally stop being supported, I have now finally installed Zorin 8 on both of my computers.

I am loving the OS (the look and feel) but I would love to be able to assign the Windows key to the menu. I have looked around on the web and found that this can be done in Ubuntu but I can't to seem to be able to do it in Zorin.

I understand that the Windows key is called the Super key and I can see where keyboard shortcuts are placed but that is all I can find. Does anyone else have the same issue?

May I ask, if you do respond can you please write any instructions in simple steps as I still think in Windows terms and although learning, I still need to learn alot more before I am confident with Linux.

Love the OS and I strongly recommend Windows users to give this OS a try. It is just fantastic.

Hi,

take a look here and I will try and get back to you later with a full answer, this is a tricky(ish) one:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/19556/ho ... r-key?lq=1

Good luck!.

Hi Wolfman and thank you for getting back to me.

I did look at this and it mentions to go to System -> Preferences -> Keyboard Shortcuts but I couldn't find that. I did manage to find Zorin Menu -> System Settings (on the left hand side) -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts (on the top menu). In here I couldn't find 'Show the panel's main menu' so I can not assign a key.

I did launch terminal (by going to Zorin Menu and type in Term and then I click on Terminal) and using cut and paste I used the line:

gconftool-2 --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/panel_main_menu --type string "Super_L"

But this did nothing.

From what I have read, I understand (correct if I am wrong - as only been using Zorin for a couple of days) there is one command line language but many GUI and each GUI has a different method of doing things. What GUI does Zorin use?

I believe Linux is the name given to a kernel and GUI was an after thought and different programmers (and users alike) had their own preference to which GUI they liked (please correct me if I am mistaken). I have not tried any others but I really love Zorin because it feels familiar.

From the line above, gconftool-2 is a program on my system which would change the global_keybindings file with a line so that when I pressed the "Super_L" key, it would run the command panel_main_menu. If my understanding is correct then could I alter the keyshort cut by creating a custom entry:
System Settings -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Custom Shortcuts
Click on the + at the bottom of the screen and then it brings up the dialog:
Name:
Command:

What would happen if I populated it as follows?
Name: Zorin Menu
Command: panel_main_menu

Could I harm my system?

Thank you for reading all this and thank in advance for any help.

Hi,

I tried a few things myself but couldn't get them to work, sit tight and I will get back to you when I hear from the devs, I PM'd them and hopefully they will have a solution!.

Thank you Wolfman. That is excellent and I will sit tight and wait. I know these tech guys sometimes are not the quickest. Look forward to hearing their answer.

Alrighty Wolfgang02,

I will PM you when done!.

Hi Wolfgang02,

I am afraid that they said no!, they will try and incorperate that feature in the next version of Zorin, for now though; it isn't possible!.

That would be a wonderful feature. Old hat Windows users like me, use the windows key a lot more then we realise.

Alright, I will mark this as closed as it isn't solved!.

You can get the Super key to work if you install Cairo-Dock, then install GnoMenu!

See my vimeo.com channel - just search for my username here and you will see the vid with it on!

[Video Link: https://vimeo.com/85050945 ]

Isn't it possible to use an external app, like AutoKey, to open the Zorin App Menu? I could try to write a script, I just don't know what's the command for opening the Zorin Menu.

Hi,

nope, like I said on your thread, the devs will try and incorporate it in the next version of Zorin!.