To remap the menu key you will need to-do the following.

install prerequisites

Install package xkbset:

sudo apt-get install xkbset

define keyboard layout

Next you need to define what keyboard layout you are using. In my case gb for a british/united kingdom keyboard layout or us for United States

setxkbmap -layout gb

Note: if you run

setxkbmap -query

it will give you the output as follows - if the model and layout is your keyboard then you are using the correct layout

rules:      evdev

model:      pc105

layout:     gb

Next define that we will be next mapping mouse keys:

xkbset m

xkbset exp =m

find Menu key-code

Map the Menu key. To do this we need the Menu key-code. In a terminal run xev, move your mouse inside the square and press the Menu key.

End Result

In my case my Menu key-code is the value 135 and this will be mapped to Mouse Button 2

xmodmap -e "keycode 135 = Pointer_Button2"

Tested as follows:

1. Copy some text in a terminal - Paste action initiated


2. Hover mouse over title bar - Window move to background

Putting this all together:

Ok, once we've worked out the correct keycodes, we can put this together to start from login.

First create a file in your home folder called remapkeys

gedit ~/remapkeys

now copy and paste the following

#!/bin/sh

setxkbmap -layout gb

xkbset m

xkbset exp =m

xmodmap -e "keycode 135 = Pointer_Button2"

Save. Give the file execute rights

chmod +x ~/remapkeys

Then from Dash search for Startup Applications or if using Gnome Classic - Applications - Other - Startup Applications

Add a new Startup Applications entry

The command should be:

bash -c "sleep 5 && ~/remapkeys"

The command sleeps for 5 seconds to allow your desktop to appear before running your new script - if your desktop doesnt appear within 5 seconds (maybe you are using a slow netbook?) then increase this timeout to 10 or 15 seconds.
Logout and login to test.