Linux Mint xfce: swap Super_L and Control_L to mimic the Mac keyboard's Cmd key placement

linux_ctrl_cmd.md

First, unbind the left key from the Whisker menu 1, 4.

Open the file:

/usr/share/mint-configuration-xfce/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-keyboard-shortcuts.xml

and comment out the string:

<property name="Super_L" type="string" value="xfce4-popup-whiskermenu"/>

Next create or modify the file ~/.Xmodmap: 2, 3

! -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
! http://xahlee.info/linux/linux_swap_control_and_alt_xmodmap.html

! swap Ctrl and Super keys

! here's the default setting on special keys
!  xmodmap -pke | grep -P '(Control|Super|Alt|Menu)'

! keycode  37 = Control_L NoSymbol Control_L
! keycode  64 = Alt_L Meta_L Alt_L Meta_L
! keycode 105 = Control_R NoSymbol Control_R
! keycode 108 = Alt_R Meta_R Alt_R Meta_R
! keycode 133 = Super_L NoSymbol Super_L
! keycode 134 = Super_R NoSymbol Super_R
! keycode 135 = Menu NoSymbol Menu
! keycode 147 = XF86MenuKB NoSymbol XF86MenuKB
! keycode 204 = NoSymbol Alt_L NoSymbol Alt_L
! keycode 206 = NoSymbol Super_L NoSymbol Super_L

! Erase existing bindings
clear control
clear mod4
! Map key 37 (left ctrl) to Super_L (i.e. 'cmd')
keycode  37 = Super_L
! Map key 133 (left cmd) to Control_L (i.e. 'ctrl)
keycode 133 = Control_L
! And update modifier settings
add control = Control_L
add mod4    = Super_L

This worked for Mint 16 but I have not tested it since. Apologies for not specifying version compatibility. You should restart although that may not fix this if xfce4-keyboard-shortcuts.xml or ~/.Xmodmap settings have changed.

xfce4-keyboard-shortcuts.xml didn't exist on my install. I don't think I have the whisker menu?

I was able to figure out how to make it happen though; under Menu > Keyboard Preferences > Layouts > Options > there were a bunch of toggles for swapping alt, ctrl and windows keys around. My thumb is right where it wants to be now!