# Improvement for Lock Keys Indicator?

**URL:** <https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745>\
**Category:** Budgie Applets\
**Created:** [April 8, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745 "2019-04-08T21:03:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/1 "2019-04-08T21:03:25Z")

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Hello,

As is, the Lock Key Indicator is a very nice applet for people with no built-in LED indicators.

But that applet could also get very friendly for people accessing Budgie desktops remotely ( vnc, anydesk, teamviewer and so on… ) **if** it was « click-able » to set on/off caps or num ( on the remotely controlled desktop ).

It reminds me that wonderful Unity Indicator [https://github.com/adrianiainlam/indicator-keyboard-led](https://github.com/adrianiainlam/indicator-keyboard-led) maybe there is some idea to borrow from ?

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 9:23pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/2 "2019-04-08T21:23:30Z")

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seems like a reasonable enhancement.

The lock-keys applet is an upstream effort [https://github.com/solus-project/budgie-desktop/blob/master/src/applets/lock-keys/LockKeysApplet.vala](https://github.com/solus-project/budgie-desktop/blob/master/src/applets/lock-keys/LockKeysApplet.vala)

So such a request needs to be made upstream. Even better if a patch could be produced to implement this and a PR made.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 8:51am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/3 "2019-04-09T08:51:27Z")

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Still don’t know how to do that myself…

> <https://github.com/solus-project/budgie-desktop/issues/1791>

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/4 "2019-04-17T20:32:26Z")

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To provide a kind of workaround : is there a way to use an Unity-indicator « as is » into Budgie ?

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/5 "2019-04-17T20:35:12Z")

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If whatever the unity-indicator package is - and it is available as an appindicator then yes it will display correctly in budgie as long as you have the appindicator applet added to your panel.

I’m not familiar though what this “unity indicator” is and what package it is.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 10:06am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/6 "2019-04-18T10:06:12Z")

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Ok… it works.

Well it sort of works 😉

- icon is too big,
- it’s « in the opposite way » ( looks on while it’s off )
- but enabling Caps or Num on click works !  
 ![Capture%20du%202019-04-18%2012-00-30](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/uploads/ubuntubudgie/original/2X/c/ca6184ae5b8f719b885979b78ca9abe698778ac8.png)

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 10:08am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/7 "2019-04-18T10:08:16Z")

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From where did you install that?

It’s highly likely the icon is a .png file - it should be 22x22px in size so resizing it will fix your issue.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 10:12am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/8 "2019-04-18T10:12:32Z")

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Link is in the first post : [https://github.com/adrianiainlam/indicator-keyboard-led](https://github.com/adrianiainlam/indicator-keyboard-led)

There is a ppa for it : [https://launchpad.net/~adrianiainlam/+archive/ubuntu/indicator-keyboard-led](https://launchpad.net/~adrianiainlam/+archive/ubuntu/indicator-keyboard-led)

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 10:16am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/9 "2019-04-18T10:16:24Z")

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the icon is a .svg … of size 48x48px … I would resize that down.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 10:21am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/10 "2019-04-18T10:21:19Z")

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I’ll try to have a look… meanwhile [https://github.com/adrianiainlam/indicator-keyboard-led/issues/4](https://github.com/adrianiainlam/indicator-keyboard-led/issues/4)

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 10:28pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/11 "2019-04-18T22:28:44Z")

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Well… big thanks to Adrian here it is :  
 ![Capture%20du%202019-04-19%2000-18-36](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/uploads/ubuntubudgie/original/2X/8/8fdabc6552fe85aa3ae9bf95efab7cc927bf2e39.png)  
See the full ( but short ) story in the issue linked above.

Now to be honest, a mix of Budgie’s Keylock icons with keyboards-led’s pop-menu might look prettier.

Link to svg icon → [https://gist.githubusercontent.com/Coeur-Noir/ad376f63b77cf3bfe10ad90608e4df25/raw/152958eb9554a60dfdace97020211a8a7149f8fd/indicator-keyboard-led.svg](https://gist.githubusercontent.com/Coeur-Noir/ad376f63b77cf3bfe10ad90608e4df25/raw/152958eb9554a60dfdace97020211a8a7149f8fd/indicator-keyboard-led.svg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/12 "2021-01-27T17:50:24Z")

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Stirring up dust, sorry.

What would be my best chance to « turn » that unity app-indicator into a Budgie applet of its own ?

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**Author:** ![samlane](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/samlane/32/3046_2.png) [@samlane](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/samlane)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/13 "2021-01-27T19:12:21Z")

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![SS](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/uploads/ubuntubudgie/original/2X/6/6442e17dfb70a89807a7e3b6afb26fc21da18830.png) ?

I was playing around with this several months ago. Problem is that it uses xdotool to make it work, which is included with UB but not part of the Solus default install. So a PR wouldn’t make much sense to them I am guessing.

It is not translated, but I remade it python as well as vala so its easy to change anything. Python version isn’t currently side-panel friendly though.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 8:10pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/14 "2021-01-27T20:10:54Z")

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You are a treasure @samlane !

How did you guess I put that applet in my left vertical panel ?

I’d go for any solution that enables « mouse click » even in horizontal panel only !

Trying to remote control a desktop which is caps-locked is sometimes a nightmare that such a feature solves.

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**Author:** ![samlane](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/samlane/32/3046_2.png) [@samlane](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/samlane)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/15 "2021-01-27T21:27:21Z")

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It should work on a side panel too now, its really an easy change.

I think you know the drill…  
Create a folder in /usr/lib/budgie-desktop/plugins/ and move the .plugin and .py files to that folder. (or use the install.sh)

Since it isn’t translated, first you might want to change the name and description lines in ToggleLockKeys.plugin. Also, in togglelockkeys.py, you can change the variables at the top. (I tried, I don’t speak French so it’s my best guess lol)

> **[samlane-ma/toggle-lock-keys](https://github.com/samlane-ma/toggle-lock-keys)**
>
> Contribute to samlane-ma/toggle-lock-keys development by creating an account on GitHub.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 10:44pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/16 "2021-01-27T22:44:11Z")

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My hero ! Works like a charm, locally. I need testing on remote, asap.  
 ![toggle_lock_keys](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/uploads/ubuntubudgie/original/2X/4/4724da9f2ae5049fd267e2e8f64243f536c89acd.png)

@fossfreedom what do you think ? As it’s bit ubuntu specific could it be hosted by UbuntuBudgie ?

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 11:17pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/17 "2021-01-27T23:17:03Z")

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umm - whilst I appreciate the rather nice applet I still think approaching upstream with a pull-request for the existing lock keys indicator is the way to go here.

Such a patch could craft itself to check if xdotool is available - if it is then make the lock key indicators “buttons” clickable and invoke the xdotool commands. That way such a patch isn’t forcing another dependency on budgie-desktop.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/18 "2021-01-28T00:25:43Z")

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> [@fossfreedom](#):
>
> Such a patch could craft itself to check if xdotool is available

I think it does :  
 ![Screenshot_2021-01-28 samlane-ma toggle-lock-keys](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/uploads/ubuntubudgie/original/2X/9/9c55705938059905c146c229498bc21f969082ba.png)

( maybe I should learn diplomacy - enthusiasm of mine is not an excuse )

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![samlane](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/samlane/32/3046_2.png) [@samlane](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/samlane)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 12:53am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/19 "2021-01-28T00:53:50Z")

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Well it DOES, yes. In a kinda… hacky… way. 😆 That “except:” statement certainly should be improved on at the very least! But its almost a complete rewrite of a vala applet into python which is the opposite direction Solus and UB are moving.

Either way, I am glad you find it useful.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 12:56am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745/20 "2021-01-28T00:56:03Z")

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Very useful ! Thanks a lot !

[Next page](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/improvement-for-lock-keys-indicator/1745.md?page=2)