Keybindings

Walker provides extensive keyboard control and customization options.

Default Keybindings

Global Navigation

Execution

Search Control

Quick Activation

Provider-Specific Keybindings

Desktop Applications

Files

Calculator

Runner (Commands)

Clipboard

Todo

Bluetooth

Arch Linux Packages

Symbols & Unicode

Web Search

Provider List

Customizing Keybindings

Edit ~/.config/walker/config.toml to customize keybindings.

Global Keybindings

[keybinds]
close = ["Escape", "ctrl q"]              # Multiple bindings allowed
next = ["Down", "ctrl j"]
previous = ["Up", "ctrl k"]
toggle_exact = ["ctrl e"]
resume_last_query = ["ctrl r"]
quick_activate = ["F1", "F2", "F3", "F4", "F5", "F6", "F7", "F8"]

Provider Action Keybindings

[providers.actions]

# Example: Custom calculator bindings
calc = [
  { action = "copy", default = true, bind = "Return" },
  { action = "copy", bind = "ctrl c" },           # Additional binding
  { action = "delete", bind = "ctrl d", after = "AsyncReload" },
  { action = "save", bind = "ctrl s", after = "ClearReload" },
]

# Example: Custom application launcher bindings
desktopapplications = [
  { action = "start", default = true, bind = "Return" },
  { action = "start", bind = "ctrl o" },          # Alternative
  { action = "start:keep", bind = "shift Return", after = "KeepOpen" },
  { action = "pin", bind = "ctrl p", after = "AsyncReload" },
]

Keybinding Format

Valid Modifiers

• ctrl - Control key
• alt - Alt key
• shift - Shift key
• super - Super/Windows/Command key

Combining Modifiers

# Single modifier
bind = "ctrl a"

# Multiple modifiers
bind = "ctrl shift a"
bind = "ctrl alt shift f"

# No modifier (just a key)
bind = "Return"
bind = "F1"

Key Names

Walker uses GDK key names. Common keys:

Special Keys:

• Return (Enter)
• Escape
• BackSpace
• Delete
• Tab
• space

Navigation:

• Up, Down, Left, Right
• Home, End
• Page_Up, Page_Down

Function Keys:

• F1 through F12

Letters and Numbers:

• a through z
• 0 through 9

Symbols:

• semicolon (;)
• colon (:)
• slash (/)
• backslash (\)
• period (.)
• comma (,)
• minus (-)
• plus (+)
• equal (=)
• bracketleft ([)
• bracketright (])
• braceleft ({)
• braceright (})

For a complete list, see GDK key values.

The constant name GDK_KEY_semicolon means the key name is semicolon.

Action Properties

When defining action keybindings:

{ action = "name", bind = "key combo", default = true, global = true, label = "Label", after = "Behavior" }

• action - Action identifier (required)
• bind - Keybinding (optional, if not default)
• default - Use this action for Enter key (optional)
• global - Available regardless of selection (optional)
• label - Display label (optional)
• after - Post-action behavior (optional)
  • Nothing - Stay open, no reload
  • Close - Close Walker
  • KeepOpen - Keep Walker open
  • Reload - Reload results
  • ClearReload - Clear and reload
  • AsyncReload - Async reload
  • AsyncClearReload - Async clear and reload

Examples

Vim-like Navigation

[keybinds]
close = ["Escape", "ctrl c"]
next = ["Down", "ctrl j"]
previous = ["Up", "ctrl k"]

Extended Quick Activation

[keybinds]
quick_activate = [
  "F1", "F2", "F3", "F4", "F5", "F6", "F7", "F8",
  "ctrl 1", "ctrl 2", "ctrl 3", "ctrl 4"
]

Custom Application Actions

[providers.actions]
desktopapplications = [
  { action = "start", default = true, bind = "Return" },
  { action = "start:keep", bind = "ctrl Return", after = "KeepOpen" },
  { action = "start:keep", bind = "shift Return", after = "KeepOpen" },
  { action = "pin", bind = "ctrl p", after = "AsyncReload" },
  { action = "unpin", bind = "ctrl shift p", after = "AsyncReload" },
  { action = "pinup", bind = "alt Up", after = "AsyncReload" },
  { action = "pindown", bind = "alt Down", after = "AsyncReload" },
]

Custom File Manager Actions

[providers.actions]
files = [
  { action = "open", default = true, bind = "Return" },
  { action = "open", bind = "ctrl o" },
  { action = "opendir", label = "open parent", bind = "ctrl shift o" },
  { action = "opendir", bind = "alt Up" },
  { action = "copypath", label = "copy path", bind = "ctrl c" },
  { action = "copyfile", label = "copy file", bind = "ctrl shift c" },
]

Debugging Keybindings

Enable debug mode to see keybinding information:

debug = true

Or run Walker with debug flag:

walker --debug

This will print keybinding events to help troubleshoot issues.

Keybinding Conflicts

If multiple actions have the same keybinding:

1. Provider-specific bindings take precedence
2. The first defined binding wins
3. Global bindings are always available

To avoid conflicts:

• Use unique combinations for different actions
• Use modifiers to distinguish similar actions
• Check default bindings before adding custom ones

Tips

1. Multiple Bindings: You can assign multiple keybindings to the same action:

   close = ["Escape", "ctrl q", "ctrl w"]
   

2. Consistency: Keep similar actions across providers using similar keys:

   # Use Ctrl+D for delete everywhere
   calc: { action = "delete", bind = "ctrl d" }
   clipboard: { action = "remove", bind = "ctrl d" }
   todo: { action = "delete", bind = "ctrl d" }
   

3. Global Actions: Mark frequently used actions as global:

   { action = "clear_all", bind = "ctrl shift d", global = true }
   

4. Testing: After changing keybindings, test immediately to ensure they work as expected.

Next Steps

• Provider Actions - Complete action reference
• Configuration - General configuration
• Providers - Learn about providers