disable insert key for all but one applications I would like to disable the `insert` key on my keyboard, because I often hit it accidentaly when typing, and it messes up my text. I found I can use `xmodmap` to disable insert key completely: xmodmap -e "keycode 106 =" This works, but there is another problem. Turns out, `midnight commander` uses the `insert` key for entirely different purpose. Not for toggling overtype, as in text editor, but for selecting multiple files. This feature in `mc` is actually useful, and I am using it quite often. Is there any way to disable the `insert` key in text editors in its role as overtype ON/OFF, but to keep it in its second role as "selecting files" in `mc` ?

Make the `Insert` key send a different keysym (the symbolic name of the key that determines what key applications think it is), for example `F25`.


xmodmap -e "keycode 106 = F25"


Configure mc to recognize `f25` as a binding for the `Mark` command: copy `/etc/mc.keymap` (or wherever the keymap you're using is located) to `~/.mc/mc.keymap` and change the line `Mark = insert; ctrl-t` to `Mark = insert; f25; ctrl-t`.