HHKB:How to set the muhenkan(the diamond key) key as leader?

[shuokay]

I am using hhkb pro2 on HHKB mode. I want to set the muhenkan(diamond) key instead of M-m as the spacemacs leader key? How to config the .spacemacs file?

[sooheon]

Check what key emacs registers the diamond key as, maybe try C-h k (for describe-key, which describes next key pressed) then the diamond key. You can set that as the dotspacemacs-leader-key variable in the dotspacemacs/init fn in your .spacemacs.

[shuokay]

@sooheon It seems C-h k can't describe a leader key or not registered key. Nothing output after C-h k diamond or C-h k Ctrl

[StreakyCobra]

I don't know at all this muhenkan key, but if it is a modifier like Ctrl or Alt, https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Modifier-Keys.html says:

Although only the Control and META modifier keys are commonly used, Emacs supports three other modifier keys. These are called Super, Hyper and Alt.

It doesn't seems Emacs can support it.

If it is a normal key that is recognized, then it should display the … is undefined when you press it after C-h k. For instance I can do C-h k à and it displays à is undefined.

[shuokay]

@StreakyCobra According to your reply, I think the diamond key is META modifier. spacemacs have take Alt as META, then how can I make use of the real META key as spacemacs' SPC leader? Now I have make S-SPC as the leader, however it still need press 2 key.

[StreakyCobra]

You can try to press C-h k diamond-a to see if really emacs sees it as a modifier. If it says M-a it's meta, C-a it's control, S-a it's shift, if it says s-a it's Super, H-a it's meta, A-a its alt.

On the other side, if your diamond is really a modifier, I'm not really sure you can bind it as a normal key to use it as a leader.

[shuokay]

@StreakyCobra emacs does not see it as a modifier or any other key. when I press C-h diamond-a the emacs report it as only a single a.

[StreakyCobra]

So I'm afraid you can't do anything on Emacs/Spacemacs side. It's probably possible to tweak this key at operating system level to make it recognised as another one that can by used within Spacemacs, but this will apply to all applications then. So if you need it in other applications as diamond it's probably not an option.

[shuokay]

@StreakyCobra agree with you. But here is the output of xev command

KeyRelease event, serial 37, synthetic NO, window 0x5600001,
    root 0x1ea, subw 0x0, time 116953461, (402,599), root:(508,703),
    state 0x0, keycode 102 (keysym 0xff22, Muhenkan), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
    XFilterEvent returns: False

As we can see, the keycode is 102, does this make any sense?

[StreakyCobra]

From the operating system point of view, yes it makes sense. My understanding is that Emacs don't support this key. Maybe it's possible to make it supported, but that would be a solution I'm not aware of.

[shuokay]

@StreakyCobra When I press diamond key in visual emacs, the result is

<muhenkan> is undefined

[StreakyCobra]

You was on terminal??

[shuokay]

@StreakyCobra When start emacs on terminal, nothing outputed, when start emacs with graphical interface, the minibuffer output is <muhenkan> is undefined

[StreakyCobra]

Why didn't you tell me you was using terminal mode before :stuck_out_tongue: The way in which keys are passed to emacs through the terminal is really oldish. Even the TAB key is not send as TAB but as C-i, so I'm not surprised the muhenkan is not supported. Glad to hear that it is actually supported by the GUI version though.

So in short you'll have to use the GUI version of emacs if you want a full support of your keyboard keys.

[shuokay]

@StreakyCobra so how can I define <muhenkan> as leader key? I am used to emacs in terminal. Maybe the <muhenkan> leader key wouldn't work for me, but I still want to learn the method to define a undefined key as the leader. PS, I am using S-SPC as the leader key. It need press 2 key, but I think it just fine to me before finding a better way.

[StreakyCobra]

@shuokay Try setting dotspacemacs-leader-key to <muhenkan> in your .spacemacs.

[shuokay]

@StreakyCobra this config work for visual emacs

dotspacemacs-emacs-leader-key "<muhenkan>"

Since I used to emacs in terminal mode, I still set S-SPC as my emacs leader key. I put this method here in case someone will need. Thank you very much @StreakyCobra

[hthaneunt]

I am using an hhkb with regular emacs and ran into the same problem. Turning dip SW1 "ON" allows linux to register <muhenkan> as <super>. Was able to change <super> to <meta> by these settings here.

You can also remap <muhenkan> as <meta> by following these instructions here. Just change the config so that the keycode will register as a <meta> event. I haven't tried it, but am assuming this would allow the key to be used in terminals.

Note: The <muhenkan> key is used to switch between two syllabic Japanese scripts. Described here and here.