Using Modifier Keys

Some modifier keys can only be used as part of key combinations - you cannot assign a shortcut to the Ctrl/Cmd key by itself, for example. This table lists the special keys available, the text strings to use for them in Shortcuts.conf, and whether the key can be used on its own.

Key	Text string in file	Can be used by itself?
Ctrl/Cmd	Ctrl	No
Shift	Shift	No
Alt (not Alt Gr)	Alt	No
Escape	Esc	Yes
Caps Lock	CapsLock	Yes
Space	Space	Yes
F1 – F12	F1 – F12	Yes
Scroll Lock	ScrollLock	Yes
Pause	Pause	Yes
Insert	Ins	Yes
Left Arrow	Left	Yes
Right Arrow	Right	Yes
Up Arrow	Up	Yes
Down Arrow	Down	Yes
Home	Home	Yes
End	End	Yes
Page Up	PgUp	Yes
Page Down	PgDown	Yes
Number Lock	NumLock	Yes
Backslash	\\	Yes

Tip:  You can use \ (backslash) as a shortcut, but as it is used as a directory separator in the action part of the line, you must use a double backslash to make it clear that you are actually assigning the key rather than indicating a directory.