i3 FAQ - Individual question feed

alias in keybind doesn't work

Fri, 10 May 2013 20:16:05 +0000

In the terminal I use the alias "lo" for "libreoffice4.0", but assigning this alias to a keybinding shortcut doesn't work:

# keybind libreoffice4.0

assign [class="libreoffice-startcenter"] 5: kantoor
bindsym $mod+Ctrl+o exec lo; workspace 5: kantoor

(I assigned it to open on workspace "5: kantoor") Replacing "lo" with "libreoffice4.0" here does very nicely, though. Doesn't i3wm read the aliases at all, or how can I make it to do so?

Answer by badboy_ for
In the terminal I use the alias "lo" for "libreoffice4.0", but assigning this alias to a keybinding shortcut doesn't work:

`# keybind libreoffice4.0`
`assign [class="libreoffice-startcenter"] 5: kantoor bindsym $mod+Ctrl+o exec lo; workspace 5: kantoor`

(I assigned it to open on workspace "5: kantoor") Replacing "lo" with "libreoffice4.0" here does very nicely, though.

Doesn't i3wm read the aliases at all, or how can I make it to do so?

Fri, 10 May 2013 20:19:04 +0000

aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Comment by joepd for
aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Fri, 10 May 2013 22:05:17 +0000

If you are so inclined, put the alias before the test in `.${SHELL}rc` whether it is an interactive terminal.

Comment by Maestraccio for
aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Sun, 12 May 2013 15:18:46 +0000

I know, but I get the latest version directly from the site (now @ 4.0) and not from the repo (still @ 3.6), so that doesn't work for me. Thanks anyway.

Comment by badboy_ for
aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Sun, 12 May 2013 11:45:56 +0000

On my system `libreoffice` or `loffice` always points to the latest installed version, check your system, I'm sure there is a file like this. If not file a ticket on the package for your distribution.

Comment by Maestraccio for
aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Fri, 10 May 2013 20:21:24 +0000

Thanks Badboy, You're sort of right about the uselessness of using a shortcut in the config, but I thought that, when libreoffice4.1 or libreoffice5.0 should appear, I would just have to change the alias, and not retype the whole name into config. That would certainly save me some seconds ;-)

Comment by badboy_ for
aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Sun, 12 May 2013 17:40:19 +0000

Then create your own symlink

Comment by Maestraccio for
aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Sat, 11 May 2013 06:34:35 +0000

Thank you, but that is out of my league. I am just a piano player...

i3 FAQ - Individual question feed

alias in keybind doesn't work

Comment by joepd for aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, exec does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Comment by Maestraccio for aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, exec does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Comment by badboy_ for aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, exec does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Comment by Maestraccio for aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, exec does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Comment by badboy_ for aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, exec does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Comment by Maestraccio for aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, exec does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Comment by joepd for
aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Comment by Maestraccio for
aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Comment by badboy_ for
aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Comment by Maestraccio for
aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Comment by badboy_ for
aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)

Comment by Maestraccio for
aliases are only evaluated in an interactive shell, `exec` does not use such a shell. Just keep the long name in the config (you don't have to retype, so why shorten it?)