i3 FAQ - Individual question feed

How do I get i3 to switch to a workspace properly when loading Firefox from a script from i3 config?

Sun, 17 Nov 2013 04:57:40 +0000

i3config:
bindsym Control+Mod4+s exec ~/script.sh
~/script.sh
i3-msg workspace windowname
exec firefox # (or midori) When I press the shortcut keys, it'll create a new workspace, but then it'll execute the program in the workspace where I pressed the keys instead of in the new workspace (it does the same thing if I run the script directly from dmenu). I can get the script to work fine by running the script directly from the cli or from xbindkeys.

Comment by paramnesioid for
i3config:
bindsym Control+Mod4+s exec ~/script.sh

~/script.sh
i3-msg workspace windowname
exec firefox # (or midori)

When I press the shortcut keys, it'll create a new workspace, but then it'll execute the program in the workspace where I pressed the keys instead of in the new workspace (it does the same thing if I run the script directly from dmenu).

I can get the script to work fine by running the script directly from the cli or from xbindkeys.

Mon, 18 Nov 2013 01:55:44 +0000

I copied the line directly from i3config to .xbindkeysrc, and it functions perfectly under xbindkeys. The script will work properly in i3 if I make it so a terminal runs the script, but I'd rather not run a terminal. I am using a script because I want to check whether a process is already open.

Comment by Adaephon for
i3config:
bindsym Control+Mod4+s exec ~/script.sh

~/script.sh
i3-msg workspace windowname
exec firefox # (or midori)

When I press the shortcut keys, it'll create a new workspace, but then it'll execute the program in the workspace where I pressed the keys instead of in the new workspace (it does the same thing if I run the script directly from dmenu).

I can get the script to work fine by running the script directly from the cli or from xbindkeys.

Sun, 17 Nov 2013 15:26:01 +0000

I agree with this being a duplicate. I also just added a scriptless answer to the other question, that should work for you.

Comment by mschaefer for
i3config:
bindsym Control+Mod4+s exec ~/script.sh

~/script.sh
i3-msg workspace windowname
exec firefox # (or midori)

When I press the shortcut keys, it'll create a new workspace, but then it'll execute the program in the workspace where I pressed the keys instead of in the new workspace (it does the same thing if I run the script directly from dmenu).

I can get the script to work fine by running the script directly from the cli or from xbindkeys.

Sun, 17 Nov 2013 11:10:42 +0000

Possible dublicate of: https://faq.i3wm.org/question/2135/open-new-window-in-specific-workspace-and-focus/

Comment by paramnesioid for
i3config:
bindsym Control+Mod4+s exec ~/script.sh

~/script.sh
i3-msg workspace windowname
exec firefox # (or midori)

When I press the shortcut keys, it'll create a new workspace, but then it'll execute the program in the workspace where I pressed the keys instead of in the new workspace (it does the same thing if I run the script directly from dmenu).

I can get the script to work fine by running the script directly from the cli or from xbindkeys.

Mon, 18 Nov 2013 01:37:07 +0000

Well I'm also interested to know why exec in i3config doesn't function like a normal exec in this case.