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 : Set up shortcuts in X to go to specific programs :
 : by Emanuel Berg, July 2015                       :
 :                                                  :
 :                        moasenwood AT zoho DOT eu :
 :                   http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573 :
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This tutorial shows how to setup a shortcut in X, that
will bring up a specific program window. This reduces
or eliminates "iteration" between windows at each
switch - simply put, this it is a faster, and more
pleasant way to do it.

All civilized window managers (WMs) can be interacted
with using the program wmctrl(1). It should be in your
repositories, so get it.

It works like this:

1) Go to your X terminal (e.g., xterm(1)) and type

       $ xman &; xcalc &

   xman(1) and xcalc(1) should appear as two neat
   windows. Here, we use them for display purposes -
   there are better ways to do calculation and browse
   the man pages!

2) Type

       $ wmctrl -l

   If it works you should see something like this:

       0x00a00013 0 nl106-137-147 Calculator
       0x0080000e 0 nl106-137-147 xman

If it doesn't work, it means your WM is incompatible
with wmctrl - then this whole method won't work!
But I don't think that will happen too often.

By the way, here is a useful alias to be put in your
shell's rc file:

    alias wins='wmctrl -l'

3) Type

       $ wmctrl -a xman

   The window of xman should now be put on
   top, focused!

   Now, try to get to xcalc the same way. But not
   exactly the same way! Remember the output of 'wins'
   - xcalc wasn't refered to as "xcalc" but as
   "Calculator", i.e. wmctrl acts on what appears in
   the *title bar* of the window of the program.
   Other than that it is the same as with xman.

4) Now install xbindkeys(1), and start it with

       $ xbindkeys

   Confirm that it runs with

       $ ps -e | grep xbindkeys

   Note: Later, to make it run each time you start X, put

       xbindkeys &

   in

       ~/.xinitrc

5) Last, in

       ~/.xbindkeysrc

   set up the shortcuts:

       "wmctrl -a Calculator" alt+k

       "wmctrl -a xman" alt+w

6) Perhaps one can refresh xbindkeys somehow - if you
   find out, tell me. If not, type

       $ pkill xbindkeys

   Confirm it doesn't run, then run it again.

7) Now hit Alt+k for xcalc, and Alt+w for xman!

                       - fin -


Examples of the files mentioned:

    http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/conf/.xbindkeysrc
    http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/conf/.xinitrc