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, 2012Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:47:54 +0000Spawn placeholderhttps://faq.i3wm.org/question/6357/spawn-placeholder/ Is it possible to spawn a (specific) placeholder exactly at the position at which a new window would spawn? Currently, I used i3-msg append_layout file with ````file```` being { "name": "aa", "swallows": [ { "class": "bb", "instance": "cc" } ], "type": "con" } However, this window spawns at the top-node of the workspace (i.e. on the very right/bottom). Maybe there is another possibilty to create those handy placeholder windows?Mon, 27 Jul 2015 20:35:27 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6357/spawn-placeholder/Answer by gerw for Is it possible to spawn a (specific) placeholder exactly at the position at which a new window would spawn? Currently, I used <pre><code>i3-msg append_layout file </code></pre> with <code>file</code> being <pre><code>{ "name": "aa", "swallows": [ { "class": "bb", "instance": "cc" } ], "type": "con" } </code></pre> However, this window spawns at the top-node of the workspace (i.e. on the very right/bottom). Maybe there is another possibilty to create those handy placeholder windows? https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6357/spawn-placeholder/?answer=6361#post-id-6361One can simply use i3-msg "workspace dummy; append_layout file; focus child; move window to workspace back_and_forth; workspace back_and_forth" Here, ````dummy```` is a workspace which is not used elsewhere. The only drawback seems to be that this command changes `back_and_forth`.Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:24:55 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6357/spawn-placeholder/?answer=6361#post-id-6361Comment by i3convert for One can simply use <pre><code>i3-msg "workspace dummy; append_layout file; focus child; move window to workspace back_and_forth; workspace back_and_forth" </code></pre> Here, <code>dummy</code> is a workspace which is not used elsewhere. The only drawback seems to be that this command changes <code>back_and_forth</code>. https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6357/spawn-placeholder/?comment=6362#comment-6362Nice idea. You can of course fix the drawback by moving to the previous workspace first and saving its name.Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:47:54 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6357/spawn-placeholder/?comment=6362#comment-6362Answer by i3convert for Is it possible to spawn a (specific) placeholder exactly at the position at which a new window would spawn? Currently, I used <pre><code>i3-msg append_layout file </code></pre> with <code>file</code> being <pre><code>{ "name": "aa", "swallows": [ { "class": "bb", "instance": "cc" } ], "type": "con" } </code></pre> However, this window spawns at the top-node of the workspace (i.e. on the very right/bottom). Maybe there is another possibilty to create those handy placeholder windows? https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6357/spawn-placeholder/?answer=6359#post-id-6359Let me sketch a possible solution (assuming that “aa” is a unique name). First, move the layout window to the scratchpad automatically by adding the following line to the config file: for_window [title="^aa$"] move scratchpad Next write a script that places the placeholder as follows. First it should issue the `append_layout` command. Then it should wait for the layout window to be opened (you can subscribe to i3 events, which I won't go into, or use an ugly solution that waits in loop and checks every, say, 0.01s whether the window has been opened). When it has been opened, it should issue two commands: - `[title="^aa$"] scratchpad show` to show the layout window. - `floating disable` to make it tiling in the current position.Tue, 28 Jul 2015 04:45:48 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6357/spawn-placeholder/?answer=6359#post-id-6359Comment by gerw for Let me sketch a possible solution (assuming that “aa” is a unique name). First, move the layout window to the scratchpad automatically by adding the following line to the config file: <pre><code>for_window [title="^aa$"] move scratchpad </code></pre> Next write a script that places the placeholder as follows. First it should issue the <code>append_layout</code> command. Then it should wait for the layout window to be opened (you can subscribe to i3 events, which I won't go into, or use an ugly solution that waits in loop and checks every, say, 0.01s whether the window has been opened). When it has been opened, it should issue two commands: <ul> <li><code>[title="^aa$"] scratchpad show</code> to show the layout window.</li> <li><code>floating disable</code> to make it tiling in the current position.</li> </ul> https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6357/spawn-placeholder/?comment=6360#comment-6360Thank you for your valuable input. By playing around with your suggestion, I have found an easier solution.Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:22:38 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/6357/spawn-placeholder/?comment=6360#comment-6360