Why can't I use Alt+PrtSc as a screenshot shortcut in KDE?

anton_k · October 15, 2023, 1:54am

I’m used to taking active window screenshots with Alt+PrtSc. Why can’t I assign this combination in KDE?

Fedora 38 accepts it as a strange two-step “Alt, Alt+SysReq”, Debian trixie as this:
Screenshot_20231015_035256

Still, in both distros, Alt+PrtSc doesn’t do anything.

In Xfce it works, so I guess it’s not an X limitation. Looks KDE-specific.

johnandmegh · October 15, 2023, 2:15am

Hi - check out here for some background:

https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=386253

And here for some possibly helpful / related workarounds from folks using Mint/Cinnamon:

github.com/linuxmint/cinnamon

Can't set Alt + Printscreen key binding in keyboard shortcuts setting

opened 06:32AM - 06 Dec 17 UTC

anjari

BUG

``` * Cinnamon version: 3.6.1-1 * Distribution - Antergos (Arc Linux) 64 bit… ``` **Issue** Can't capture `Alt + Printscreen` key in keyboard binding. The result is always `Alt_L` key captured: https://i.imgur.com/eI7KYBt.png **Steps to reproduce** 1) Start Menu -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts 2) Try assign `Alt + Printscreen` keybinding for any command. 3) The result is always `Alt_L` when pressed `Alt + Printscreen`. **Expected behaviour** Alt + Printscreen keybinding should be captured or registered successfully. **Other information** The workaround is by using dconf editor to modify the shortcut key directly. For example, to set `Alt + Printscreen` shortcut for "Copy a screenshot of a window to clipboard" command: 1) Go to `/org/cinnamon/desktop/keybindings/media-keys/window-screenshot-clip` from dconf editor. 2) Set the value to `['<Alt>Print']`.

anton_k · October 15, 2023, 8:54pm

Thanks for your input. I’ve tried experimenting with SysRq settings… not sure that’s the correct way to go.

I compare the behavior of two machines (both X, no Wayland):

Debian with KDE;
Xubuntu with Xfce.

On both machines kernels react to SysRq; I test using specifically PrtSc key and “h” command that appends a help message into dmesg.

In KDE on Debian, Alt+PrtSc forms the garbage on assignment (see screenshot above) and is ignored on usage.

In Xubuntu, with kernel hearing the Alt+PrtSc+commands (even from the Xfce session), Xfce still perfectly handles Alt+PrtSc for the screenshots A live example of SysRq commands co-existing with screenshots.

This makes me think the issue is indeed KDE-related.

artytux · October 16, 2023, 12:49am

I use the I guess standard shortcuts part of the KDE package shortcuts prefer not to change too much the defaults plus others my own added

They all work !

johnandmegh · October 16, 2023, 1:58am

The only thing I might add is, it threw me off the first few times I used that screen because I was accustomed to seeing “Meta” mean the Alt key and “Super” mean the don’t-call-it-Windows key, so the usage of Meta to mean “Super” here is something I’m still adjusting to.