When programming the keys you need to hit the key to assign then assign a button action. When you bring the programming console up you will click on the key you want to program then you will have a box popup where you type the keyboard command. Then you must click on the menu and assign a function (key down or something like that). After that you need to click the menu again and choose (on release or something like that) where it will then open a second textbox under the first one. here you need to type your command again and then go back to the menu and choose (key up).

Basically you need to tell xkeys exactly what to do. If I push the button I want it to send A. I also want the button to be able to be released and then I want the button to un-push. This is automatic on a regular keyboard and a lot of gaming pads but not with xkeys.