How can I convert a C-key code into a 'normal' key code?

Question

Background

With jumping packages like Ace and Avy, you can start a function, provide a query char, and then jump to somewhere based on further input. (Lately I've preferred Avy, but that's irrelevant here.)

I have had both bound to C-' C-; (with other jumping functions bound to the home row) so that I can just hold control and fire off the sequence. It's very distracting though to have to lift my finger off control to input a 'plain' character for read-char to read.

Question

How can I strip all modifier keys off a read-char-returned key code?

Answer 1

I think you want event-basic-type. E.g. (event-basic-type ?\C-;) returns ?;.

If you want to only stop the control modifier but keep the other modifiers (e.g. the shift modifier), then you can try something like:

(require 'cl-lib)
(defun my-strip-control (event)
  (event-convert-list
   (append (cl-set-difference (event-modifiers event)
                              '(control click))
           (list (event-basic-type event)))))