i3 FAQ - Individual question feed

i3 FAQ - Individual question feedhttps://faq.i3wm.org/questions/Frequently asked questions and answers about the i3 window managerenCopyright i3, 2012Fri, 03 Apr 2015 22:59:05 +0000How to set separator in i3bar?https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/I can't seem to figure out how to change the separator symbol from the default of '|'. Docs have a small section on it and give this example: bar { separator_symbol ":|:" } It says you may need to change the `sep_block_width` property, but gives no example of how. (I gather that is a measure of pixels between each setting.) Nothing I've tried has worked. If I use that 'separator_symbol' line to change to anything other than a single bar it gives me 3 tiny dots in place of separator. I'm using v4.10.1. Can someone clue me in on how this is supposed to work? ThanksThu, 02 Apr 2015 21:31:24 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/Comment by hes for I can't seem to figure out how to change the separator symbol from the default of '|'. Docs have a small section on it and give this example: <pre><code>bar { separator_symbol ":|:" } </code></pre> It says you may need to change the <code>sep_block_width</code> property, but gives no example of how. (I gather that is a measure of pixels between each setting.) Nothing I've tried has worked. If I use that 'separator_symbol' line to change to anything other than a single bar it gives me 3 tiny dots in place of separator. I'm using v4.10.1. Can someone clue me in on how this is supposed to work? Thanks https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5736#comment-5736Thanks, I have image but don't see any way to attach it directly and have no site to upload to at the moment. It is just the little ellipsis (which itself is cut off a little bit) and it happens even if I just include line 'separator_symbol "|"', although the bar shows okay if I remove that line.Fri, 03 Apr 2015 21:37:11 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5736#comment-5736Comment by airblader for I can't seem to figure out how to change the separator symbol from the default of '|'. Docs have a small section on it and give this example: <pre><code>bar { separator_symbol ":|:" } </code></pre> It says you may need to change the <code>sep_block_width</code> property, but gives no example of how. (I gather that is a measure of pixels between each setting.) Nothing I've tried has worked. If I use that 'separator_symbol' line to change to anything other than a single bar it gives me 3 tiny dots in place of separator. I'm using v4.10.1. Can someone clue me in on how this is supposed to work? Thanks https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5737#comment-5737I actually don't need the screenshot anymore :) Just increase the sep_block_width, I'm convinced it'll work then.Fri, 03 Apr 2015 21:40:39 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5737#comment-5737Comment by airblader for I can't seem to figure out how to change the separator symbol from the default of '|'. Docs have a small section on it and give this example: <pre><code>bar { separator_symbol ":|:" } </code></pre> It says you may need to change the <code>sep_block_width</code> property, but gives no example of how. (I gather that is a measure of pixels between each setting.) Nothing I've tried has worked. If I use that 'separator_symbol' line to change to anything other than a single bar it gives me 3 tiny dots in place of separator. I'm using v4.10.1. Can someone clue me in on how this is supposed to work? Thanks https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5733#comment-5733by the way, the dots you see are an ellipsis that is used because the separator doesn't have enough space. So I'm really confident that setting `sep_block_width` to a higher value will make it work correctly.Fri, 03 Apr 2015 20:42:21 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5733#comment-5733Comment by airblader for I can't seem to figure out how to change the separator symbol from the default of '|'. Docs have a small section on it and give this example: <pre><code>bar { separator_symbol ":|:" } </code></pre> It says you may need to change the <code>sep_block_width</code> property, but gives no example of how. (I gather that is a measure of pixels between each setting.) Nothing I've tried has worked. If I use that 'separator_symbol' line to change to anything other than a single bar it gives me 3 tiny dots in place of separator. I'm using v4.10.1. Can someone clue me in on how this is supposed to work? Thanks https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5732#comment-5732I implemented this feature and it's quite recent (only available since v4.10). Can you please provide a screenshot of what it looks like when you use that directive?Fri, 03 Apr 2015 20:38:08 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5732#comment-5732Comment by hes for I can't seem to figure out how to change the separator symbol from the default of '|'. Docs have a small section on it and give this example: <pre><code>bar { separator_symbol ":|:" } </code></pre> It says you may need to change the <code>sep_block_width</code> property, but gives no example of how. (I gather that is a measure of pixels between each setting.) Nothing I've tried has worked. If I use that 'separator_symbol' line to change to anything other than a single bar it gives me 3 tiny dots in place of separator. I'm using v4.10.1. Can someone clue me in on how this is supposed to work? Thanks https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5730#comment-5730Thanks. I'm curious what you mean by "doesn't work"? Do you get an error with that in your config, or does it simply not change the separator? Or does it show tiny three dots like mine does?Fri, 03 Apr 2015 19:25:20 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5730#comment-5730Comment by i3convert for I can't seem to figure out how to change the separator symbol from the default of '|'. Docs have a small section on it and give this example: <pre><code>bar { separator_symbol ":|:" } </code></pre> It says you may need to change the <code>sep_block_width</code> property, but gives no example of how. (I gather that is a measure of pixels between each setting.) Nothing I've tried has worked. If I use that 'separator_symbol' line to change to anything other than a single bar it gives me 3 tiny dots in place of separator. I'm using v4.10.1. Can someone clue me in on how this is supposed to work? Thanks https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5728#comment-5728My version of i3 must be too old, because separator_symbol doesn't work here. In any case, I believe that `sep_block_width` must be related to `separator_block_width` in `http://i3wm.org/docs/i3bar-protocol.html` . Fri, 03 Apr 2015 15:14:16 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5728#comment-5728Answer by airblader for I can't seem to figure out how to change the separator symbol from the default of '|'. Docs have a small section on it and give this example: <pre><code>bar { separator_symbol ":|:" } </code></pre> It says you may need to change the <code>sep_block_width</code> property, but gives no example of how. (I gather that is a measure of pixels between each setting.) Nothing I've tried has worked. If I use that 'separator_symbol' line to change to anything other than a single bar it gives me 3 tiny dots in place of separator. I'm using v4.10.1. Can someone clue me in on how this is supposed to work? Thanks https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?answer=5735#post-id-5735As pointed out by i3convert in the comments, `sep_block_width` is a property in the i3bar protocol. If you use i3status, you can put it in the general config there. If you use tools such as i3blocks, i3pystatus and the like, you have to add it there (see the tools' documentation). The reason you are seeing three dots is because the separator is too long for the space it has and thus gets abbreviated to an ellipsis ("…"). Increasing `sep_block_width` will fix this. I've submitted a PR (https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634) to provide a reasonable default right away, then you don't have to go through the awkward process of adjusting `sep_block_width`. If it gets merged, you'd have to wait for the next release, though (which probably won't be very long). In the meantime, just set the property to a higher value.Fri, 03 Apr 2015 20:59:13 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?answer=5735#post-id-5735Comment by airblader for As pointed out by i3convert in the comments, <code>sep_block_width</code> is a property in the i3bar protocol. If you use i3status, you can put it in the general config there. If you use tools such as i3blocks, i3pystatus and the like, you have to add it there (see the tools' documentation). The reason you are seeing three dots is because the separator is too long for the space it has and thus gets abbreviated to an ellipsis ("…"). Increasing <code>sep_block_width</code> will fix this. I've submitted a PR (<a href="https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634">https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634</a>) to provide a reasonable default right away, then you don't have to go through the awkward process of adjusting <code>sep_block_width</code>. If it gets merged, you'd have to wait for the next release, though (which probably won't be very long). In the meantime, just set the property to a higher value. https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5740#comment-5740[…] that is probably going to come rather soon (I don't know his plans). Edit: I've submitted a PR to fix the issue in i3status. If either PR against i3 or i3status gets merged, you could also compile one of them from source to get it to work right away.Fri, 03 Apr 2015 22:11:29 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5740#comment-5740Comment by airblader for As pointed out by i3convert in the comments, <code>sep_block_width</code> is a property in the i3bar protocol. If you use i3status, you can put it in the general config there. If you use tools such as i3blocks, i3pystatus and the like, you have to add it there (see the tools' documentation). The reason you are seeing three dots is because the separator is too long for the space it has and thus gets abbreviated to an ellipsis ("…"). Increasing <code>sep_block_width</code> will fix this. I've submitted a PR (<a href="https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634">https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634</a>) to provide a reasonable default right away, then you don't have to go through the awkward process of adjusting <code>sep_block_width</code>. If it gets merged, you'd have to wait for the next release, though (which probably won't be very long). In the meantime, just set the property to a higher value. https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5741#comment-5741By the way, `sep_block_width` was wrong, that's just the code-internal name. The property is actually called `separator_block_width`. Doesn't change anything though, i3status doesn't support it (yet).Fri, 03 Apr 2015 22:48:25 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5741#comment-5741Comment by hes for As pointed out by i3convert in the comments, <code>sep_block_width</code> is a property in the i3bar protocol. If you use i3status, you can put it in the general config there. If you use tools such as i3blocks, i3pystatus and the like, you have to add it there (see the tools' documentation). The reason you are seeing three dots is because the separator is too long for the space it has and thus gets abbreviated to an ellipsis ("…"). Increasing <code>sep_block_width</code> will fix this. I've submitted a PR (<a href="https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634">https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634</a>) to provide a reasonable default right away, then you don't have to go through the awkward process of adjusting <code>sep_block_width</code>. If it gets merged, you'd have to wait for the next release, though (which probably won't be very long). In the meantime, just set the property to a higher value. https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5742#comment-5742Thanks for all the info. No big rush needed for me, the default works fine, was just trying to make things a little prettier/more my taste.Fri, 03 Apr 2015 22:53:10 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5742#comment-5742Comment by airblader for As pointed out by i3convert in the comments, <code>sep_block_width</code> is a property in the i3bar protocol. If you use i3status, you can put it in the general config there. If you use tools such as i3blocks, i3pystatus and the like, you have to add it there (see the tools' documentation). The reason you are seeing three dots is because the separator is too long for the space it has and thus gets abbreviated to an ellipsis ("…"). Increasing <code>sep_block_width</code> will fix this. I've submitted a PR (<a href="https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634">https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634</a>) to provide a reasonable default right away, then you don't have to go through the awkward process of adjusting <code>sep_block_width</code>. If it gets merged, you'd have to wait for the next release, though (which probably won't be very long). In the meantime, just set the property to a higher value. https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5739#comment-5739@hes I just looked, it seems like i3status doesn't actually support changing that property. I'll open an issue for this at i3status. This puts you in a bit of an awkward position though. I'd recommend waiting on my PR to be merged. I'll ask Michael to backport it so it can make it into the bugfix[…]Fri, 03 Apr 2015 22:11:05 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5739#comment-5739Comment by hes for As pointed out by i3convert in the comments, <code>sep_block_width</code> is a property in the i3bar protocol. If you use i3status, you can put it in the general config there. If you use tools such as i3blocks, i3pystatus and the like, you have to add it there (see the tools' documentation). The reason you are seeing three dots is because the separator is too long for the space it has and thus gets abbreviated to an ellipsis ("…"). Increasing <code>sep_block_width</code> will fix this. I've submitted a PR (<a href="https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634">https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634</a>) to provide a reasonable default right away, then you don't have to go through the awkward process of adjusting <code>sep_block_width</code>. If it gets merged, you'd have to wait for the next release, though (which probably won't be very long). In the meantime, just set the property to a higher value. https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5738#comment-5738Thanks. I"ve tried to edit my i3status config directly but can't get it to worked. Bombs with message that sep_block_width is unknown. I've tried to add, eg., ' sep_block_width = 15' line in general block, outside of any block, and in the indvidual blocks, same error. This is with i3status v.2.9Fri, 03 Apr 2015 21:47:43 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5738#comment-5738Comment by airblader for As pointed out by i3convert in the comments, <code>sep_block_width</code> is a property in the i3bar protocol. If you use i3status, you can put it in the general config there. If you use tools such as i3blocks, i3pystatus and the like, you have to add it there (see the tools' documentation). The reason you are seeing three dots is because the separator is too long for the space it has and thus gets abbreviated to an ellipsis ("…"). Increasing <code>sep_block_width</code> will fix this. I've submitted a PR (<a href="https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634">https://github.com/i3/i3/pull/1634</a>) to provide a reasonable default right away, then you don't have to go through the awkward process of adjusting <code>sep_block_width</code>. If it gets merged, you'd have to wait for the next release, though (which probably won't be very long). In the meantime, just set the property to a higher value. https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5743#comment-5743Yeah, that's what the custom separator was supposed to be for, so it's sort of disappointing that it came to this situation. I actually think this is a perfect example of why a separate i3bar config would be beneficial. I opened a ticket for this as well. Fri, 03 Apr 2015 22:59:05 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5727/how-to-set-separator-in-i3bar/?comment=5743#comment-5743