. Is it possible to switch desktop with a script (i.e from current to e.g. desktop Nr 4); if so, how? Thanks.[moved from Software by spinynorman]
Full Version: Switching desktop with a script
No luck with searches on this one . Is it possible to switch desktop with a script (i.e from current to e.g. desktop Nr 4); if so, how? Thanks.
[moved from Software by spinynorman]
. Is it possible to switch desktop with a script (i.e from current to e.g. desktop Nr 4); if so, how? Thanks.[moved from Software by spinynorman]
You should be able to do it with DCOP calls. A quick explaination/demo of how DCOP works is here: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-dcop/
There's an app called wmctrl that might do this.
Have tried both of your suggestions and each does the trick. Many thanks. 
Now, with that problem solved, I have just a niggle; when I start an app from a script - e.g. gnumeric - a series of messages appears (errors?) in the konsole running the script, which I would like to suppress. I've tried using '>' but bash ignores that. Any ideas? Thanks.
Now, with that problem solved, I have just a niggle; when I start an app from a script - e.g. gnumeric - a series of messages appears (errors?) in the konsole running the script, which I would like to suppress. I've tried using '>' but bash ignores that. Any ideas? Thanks.
QUOTE (satelliteuser083 @ Jul 28 2008, 04:28 PM) 
Have tried both of your suggestions and each does the trick. Many thanks.
Now, with that problem solved, I have just a niggle; when I start an app from a script - e.g. gnumeric - a series of messages appears (errors?) in the konsole running the script, which I would like to suppress. I've tried using '>' but bash ignores that. Any ideas? Thanks.
Try using the &. Now, with that problem solved, I have just a niggle; when I start an app from a script - e.g. gnumeric - a series of messages appears (errors?) in the konsole running the script, which I would like to suppress. I've tried using '>' but bash ignores that. Any ideas? Thanks.
Was a bit confused, nexus, 'cos substituting '>' with '&' didn't work. However, I found the following site, where all became clear (at least, the bit about stderr did 
)
http://www.cpqlinux.com/redirect.html
Now, using 'gnumeric filename 2>err.txt', there's no error-output. Thanks.
)http://www.cpqlinux.com/redirect.html
Now, using 'gnumeric filename 2>err.txt', there's no error-output. Thanks.
QUOTE (satelliteuser083 @ Jul 28 2008, 07:15 PM)
Was a bit confused, nexus, 'cos substituting '>' with '&' didn't work. However, I found the following site, where all became clear (at least, the bit about stderr did )
http://www.cpqlinux.com/redirect.html
Now, using 'gnumeric filename 2>err.txt', there's no error-output. Thanks.
I just thought backgrounding it would surpress any console output. Glad you've got it sorted. )http://www.cpqlinux.com/redirect.html
Now, using 'gnumeric filename 2>err.txt', there's no error-output. Thanks.
If you don't need the err.txt file would it not be better to pipe the output to /dev/null?
Yes, you're correct, of course; '2>/dev/null' works well. Thanks. 
And, following on with this topic, I've come up against another problem. I want to start two apps in different workspaces but the workspace-selection is completed much faster than the app start-up, the result being that they both end up in the same (second) workspace. My script looks like this:
Does anyone know of a way of delaying the execution of 'wmctrl -s3' until gnumeric has completed start-up (or any other way of ensuring that the script acts as desired)? Thanks.
And, following on with this topic, I've come up against another problem. I want to start two apps in different workspaces but the workspace-selection is completed much faster than the app start-up, the result being that they both end up in the same (second) workspace. My script looks like this:
CODE
wmctrl -s2
gnumeric filename1 &
wmctrl -s3
kpdf filename2 &
gnumeric filename1 &
wmctrl -s3
kpdf filename2 &
Does anyone know of a way of delaying the execution of 'wmctrl -s3' until gnumeric has completed start-up (or any other way of ensuring that the script acts as desired)? Thanks.
When I perform the following command in a konsole, it works:
The same thing in a script, in an attempt to assign this value to a variable
fails, with the message
I assume that this is a basic script-syntax problem, but I can't see it. Can anyone help me out? Thanks.
CODE
[lawrence@localhost ~]$ dcop kwin KWinInterface currentDesktop
4
4
The same thing in a script, in an attempt to assign this value to a variable
CODE
curws=dcop kwin KWinInterface currentDesktop
fails, with the message
CODE
kwin: Unexpected argument 'KWinInterface'
. I assume that this is a basic script-syntax problem, but I can't see it. Can anyone help me out? Thanks.
QUOTE
Does anyone know of a way of delaying the execution of 'wmctrl -s3' until gnumeric has completed start-up (or any other way of ensuring that the script acts as desired)? Thanks.
You can use wait or sleep in your script:
http://www.linux.com/articles/113976
QUOTE
I assume that this is a basic script-syntax problem, but I can't see it. Can anyone help me out? Thanks.
Found this on Google, which would suggest that this might work:
CODE
curws=$(dcop kwin KWinInterface currentDesktop)
Thanks, spinynorman, that worked well; just knew it was syntax. 
And, pmpatrick, 'wait' doesn't do quite what I want; I think that it does wait, but right up until gnumeric is terminated and not (as I want) until the latter is up and running, i.e ready to accept input. I'm now playing with 'sleep'; doesn't work just yet but will report when/if it does.
Many thanks to you both.
And, pmpatrick, 'wait' doesn't do quite what I want; I think that it does wait, but right up until gnumeric is terminated and not (as I want) until the latter is up and running, i.e ready to accept input. I'm now playing with 'sleep'; doesn't work just yet but will report when/if it does.
Many thanks to you both.
I'm not at my linux box at the moment, but you might try something similar to this:
CODE
wmctrl -s2
gnumeric filename1 &
while [ $(wmctrl -l | grep gnumeric) -eq '' ]
do
sleep
done
wmctrl -s3
kpdf filename2 &
gnumeric filename1 &
while [ $(wmctrl -l | grep gnumeric) -eq '' ]
do
sleep
done
wmctrl -s3
kpdf filename2 &
I can't find wmctrl. I also can't find it with urpmi, and I can't find it with the package installer in MCC.
It is indeed not available in urpmi, but it is really easy and fast to compile. I suggest you install "checkinstall" first, then install wmctl by replacing the "make install" command with the "checkinstall" command: this will auto-create a RPM for you
Yves.
Yves.
I still have a snag, I'm afraid, Steve. The "while" line produces in the following error-message:
The "(wmctrl -l | grep gnumeric)" part works OK in a konsole, so there seems to be a syntax-problem elsewhere. I've tried a few changes to the line (using '(' instead of '[', for example) but I'm absolutely useless at de-bugging bash-syntax, so I'll have to ask you to look at it for me, please.
Thanks.
CODE
line 14: [: -eq: unary operator expected
The "(wmctrl -l | grep gnumeric)" part works OK in a konsole, so there seems to be a syntax-problem elsewhere. I've tried a few changes to the line (using '(' instead of '[', for example) but I'm absolutely useless at de-bugging bash-syntax, so I'll have to ask you to look at it for me, please.
Thanks.
When I get home today, I will check the syntax. It may be that you left off a space or I just missed a little something.
Well, how about this , Steve? I noticed that the "(wmctrl -l | grep gnumeric)" command didn't work completely correctly in a konsole, so instead of
I tried
and now it works.
Bash didn't like 'sleep' without an argument, so that was easy; also, strangely enough, gnumeric is actually called Gnumeric (with a capital G; you have to use the exact name in the title-bar), which is why the 'while' line jammed up. I'm not sure if I've really solved the syntax-prob, or if it's just sheer coincidence, but I don't much care. Until the next time, that is . What's your opinion?
CODE
gnumeric filename1 &
while [ $(wmctrl -l | grep gnumeric) -eq '' ]
do
sleep
done
while [ $(wmctrl -l | grep gnumeric) -eq '' ]
do
sleep
done
I tried
CODE
gnumeric filename1 &
while [ "$(wmctrl -l | grep Gnumeric)" = "" ]
do
sleep 2
done
while [ "$(wmctrl -l | grep Gnumeric)" = "" ]
do
sleep 2
done
and now it works.
Bash didn't like 'sleep' without an argument, so that was easy; also, strangely enough, gnumeric is actually called Gnumeric (with a capital G; you have to use the exact name in the title-bar), which is why the 'while' line jammed up. I'm not sure if I've really solved the syntax-prob, or if it's just sheer coincidence, but I don't much care. Until the next time, that is
. What's your opinion?
Possibly...it could be your use of double quotes instead of single quotes, using the = instead of -eq, etc.
Sorry, I forgot to look yesterday. Not sure you need the "" around the "$(wmctrl...". I think the case problem and the = sign did the trick...you might, though. What we really should do is grep -i gnumeric which makes the grep case-insensitive, in case they change it. Then I think you're good. Let me know if you do need the "" around "$(wmctrl..." and let me know if you need double instead of single quotes and all that. I guess my bash is rusty.
Sorry, I forgot to look yesterday. Not sure you need the "" around the "$(wmctrl...". I think the case problem and the = sign did the trick...you might, though. What we really should do is grep -i gnumeric which makes the grep case-insensitive, in case they change it. Then I think you're good. Let me know if you do need the "" around "$(wmctrl..." and let me know if you need double instead of single quotes and all that. I guess my bash is rusty.
Yes, Steve, the -i with grep is the answer to the name problem. And, I assume that the "s are necessary, because the script failed without them.
Anyway, here is my finished script; hope it helps someone out there (please excuse the comments if they are too obvious, but they won't be to me in, say, 6 months
)
Many thanks
And, I assume that the "s are necessary, because the script failed without them.Anyway, here is my finished script; hope it helps someone out there (please excuse the comments if they are too obvious, but they won't be to me in, say, 6 months
)CODE
#!/bin/sh
#
# the following 4 variables are necessary because:
# unfortunately dcop Desktop-Nrs go from 1 to n for Desktops 1 to n, whereas
# wmctrl uses values 0 to n-1 for Desktops 1 to n; therefore, to get the correct
# value (for wmctrl) it is necessary to use a value exactly 1 LESS than that
# used by dcop
#.
dcop_gnu_WS=5
wmctrl_gnu_WS=" 4 "
dcop_kpdf_WS=6
wmctrl_kpdf_WS=" 5 "
error_flag=0
#
# First, check if either of the two programs is already running IN THE INTENDED WS; if
# either is, this script will fail, so it simply terminates immediately.
#
# So, for example, test (using 'wmctrl -l') whether or not gnumeric is running IN WS 5;
# if it is, set the error-flag
if [ "$(wmctrl -l | grep -i gnumeric)" != "" ] &&
[ "$(wmctrl -l | grep -i $wmctrl_gnu_WS)" != "" ]; then
echo "error, gnumeric already running in WS $dcop_gnu_WS, please remove gnumeric from that WS" &&
error_flag=1;
fi
if [ "$(wmctrl -l | grep -i kpdf)" != "" ] &&
[ "$(wmctrl -l | grep -i $wmctrl_kpdf_WS)" != "" ]; then
echo "error, kpdf already running in WS $dcop_kpdf_WS, please remove kpdf from that WS" &&
error_flag=1;
fi
#echo "error_flag="$error_flag
if [ "$error_flag" = "1" ]; then
# either gnumeric or kpdf is running (or both), error; terminate.
echo "terminating... goodbye :(";
else
#
# run the following commands (i.e. start gnumeric and kpdf), using '(' bla bla bla ...')'
# start with '(' on a new line, finish with ');', also on its own new line.
#
(
curws=$(dcop kwin KWinInterface currentDesktop)
dcop kwin KWinInterface setCurrentDesktop $dcop_kpdf_WS
# start kpdf as a background-task (the terminating '&'), then wait until it is ready
# to accept input
kpdf output.pdf &
while [ "$(wmctrl -l | grep -i kpdf)" = "" ]
do
sleep 2
done
echo "kpdf started in ws"$(dcop kwin KWinInterface currentDesktop)
#
echo "kpdf started, starting gnumeric..."
dcop kwin KWinInterface setCurrentDesktop $dcop_gnu_WS
echo "starting gnumeric..."
# start gnumeric as a background-task (the terminating '&'), then wait until it is ready
# to accept input
gnumericfilename1.xls 2>/dev/null &
while [ "$(wmctrl -l | grep -i gnumeric)" = "" ]
do
sleep 2
done
echo "gnumeric started in ws"$(dcop kwin KWinInterface currentDesktop)
#
echo "gnumeric started, returning to original desktop..."
dcop kwin KWinInterface setCurrentDesktop $curws
);
fi
#
# the following 4 variables are necessary because:
# unfortunately dcop Desktop-Nrs go from 1 to n for Desktops 1 to n, whereas
# wmctrl uses values 0 to n-1 for Desktops 1 to n; therefore, to get the correct
# value (for wmctrl) it is necessary to use a value exactly 1 LESS than that
# used by dcop
#.
dcop_gnu_WS=5
wmctrl_gnu_WS=" 4 "
dcop_kpdf_WS=6
wmctrl_kpdf_WS=" 5 "
error_flag=0
#
# First, check if either of the two programs is already running IN THE INTENDED WS; if
# either is, this script will fail, so it simply terminates immediately.
#
# So, for example, test (using 'wmctrl -l') whether or not gnumeric is running IN WS 5;
# if it is, set the error-flag
if [ "$(wmctrl -l | grep -i gnumeric)" != "" ] &&
[ "$(wmctrl -l | grep -i $wmctrl_gnu_WS)" != "" ]; then
echo "error, gnumeric already running in WS $dcop_gnu_WS, please remove gnumeric from that WS" &&
error_flag=1;
fi
if [ "$(wmctrl -l | grep -i kpdf)" != "" ] &&
[ "$(wmctrl -l | grep -i $wmctrl_kpdf_WS)" != "" ]; then
echo "error, kpdf already running in WS $dcop_kpdf_WS, please remove kpdf from that WS" &&
error_flag=1;
fi
#echo "error_flag="$error_flag
if [ "$error_flag" = "1" ]; then
# either gnumeric or kpdf is running (or both), error; terminate.
echo "terminating... goodbye :(";
else
#
# run the following commands (i.e. start gnumeric and kpdf), using '(' bla bla bla ...')'
# start with '(' on a new line, finish with ');', also on its own new line.
#
(
curws=$(dcop kwin KWinInterface currentDesktop)
dcop kwin KWinInterface setCurrentDesktop $dcop_kpdf_WS
# start kpdf as a background-task (the terminating '&'), then wait until it is ready
# to accept input
kpdf output.pdf &
while [ "$(wmctrl -l | grep -i kpdf)" = "" ]
do
sleep 2
done
echo "kpdf started in ws"$(dcop kwin KWinInterface currentDesktop)
#
echo "kpdf started, starting gnumeric..."
dcop kwin KWinInterface setCurrentDesktop $dcop_gnu_WS
echo "starting gnumeric..."
# start gnumeric as a background-task (the terminating '&'), then wait until it is ready
# to accept input
gnumericfilename1.xls 2>/dev/null &
while [ "$(wmctrl -l | grep -i gnumeric)" = "" ]
do
sleep 2
done
echo "gnumeric started in ws"$(dcop kwin KWinInterface currentDesktop)
#
echo "gnumeric started, returning to original desktop..."
dcop kwin KWinInterface setCurrentDesktop $curws
);
fi
Many thanks
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