{"id":265,"date":"2011-01-25T10:58:24","date_gmt":"2011-01-25T08:58:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de\/blog\/?p=265"},"modified":"2017-02-15T17:29:19","modified_gmt":"2017-02-15T09:29:19","slug":"switch-active-window-via-shortcut-between-two-monitors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de\/blog\/?p=265","title":{"rendered":"Switch active window via shortcut between two monitors on linux"},"content":{"rendered":"

SCRIPT UPDATED: ERROR CORRECTION AND IMPROVEMENTS DEPENDING SOME SPECIAL CONDITIONS 30.1.2011<\/strong><\/p>\n

If I use two monitors in windows environment I use some scrips of the tool active aid\u00a0http:\/\/activaid.telgkamp.de\/<\/a> to have the ability to switch the active window between both monitors with a shortcut. Since I meanly use Linux on my private pc and laptop I missed this feature badly and I did not find some tool or script which fills this gap.<\/div>\n
But like the world works as Linux user, if something does not exist, make it on your own:<\/div>\n
My result is a bash-script which switches the active window between both monitors. This script based on wmiface, a tool which gives you the ability to control windows from a NetWm compatible Window-Manager, so at least KDE and GNOME (I tested it on GNOME). A special requirement for my environment is the ability to switch between to monitors with different resolutions.<\/div>\n
To use my script you need to install wmiface on your distribution, I think you will not find it in your package manager, but you could download install packages for nearly all huge distributions (or the source) from this site:<\/div>\n
http:\/\/kde-apps.org\/content\/show.php\/WMIface?content=40425<\/a><\/div>\n
If you use debian (like my on my workstation) choose the ubuntu packages. On my test-system(debian 64 testing) the ubuntu 64 packages works fine.<\/div>\n
Here is the script, download it or copy it and save it to a file. Give execution rights wiht chmod +x. (I copied it to \/usr\/bin but this it not necessary. You could run it from every directory.) You should test the script in terminal and if everything works fine you could assign this script to a shortcut with\u00a0gnome-keybinding-properties. Do not forget to edit the resolution for the left and right monitor in line 10 and 11. If you have more than two monitors you should be able to write your own script based on my work.<\/div>\n

SCRIPT UPDATED: ERROR CORRECTION AND IMPROVEMENTS DEPENDING SOME SPECIAL CONDITIONS 30.1.2011<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/div><\/td>
#!\/bin\/bash<\/span>
\n#author: Christopher-Eyk Hrabia - http:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de - c.hrabia@gmail.com<\/span>
\n#<\/span>
\n# Dependency: wmiface<\/span>
\n# General: https:\/\/www.linux-apps.com\/content\/show.php\/WMIface?content=40425<\/span>
\n# For Ubuntu: sudo apt install wmiface<\/span>
\nDEBUG<\/span>=""<\/span> # write DEBUG="1" for debugging<\/span>
\n
\n#redirect stdin, stdout and stderr<\/span>
\n[<\/span> !<\/span> "${DEBUG}<\/span>"<\/span> ]<\/span> &&<\/span> exec<\/span>>\/<\/span>dev\/<\/span>null 2<\/span>>&<\/span>1<\/span> <\/<\/span>dev\/<\/span>null
\n
\n#configuration for monitor width resolution of both monitors<\/span>
\nmonitorLeft<\/span>=1680<\/span>
\nmonitorRight<\/span>=1280<\/span>
\n
\n
\n#calculate resizing factor<\/span>
\nif<\/span> [<\/span> $monitorLeft<\/span> -gt<\/span> $monitorRight<\/span> ]<\/span>;then<\/span>
\n    faktorBigToSmall<\/span>=$(<\/span>echo<\/span> "scale=5; ($monitorRight<\/span> \/ $monitorLeft<\/span>)"<\/span> |<\/span> bc<\/span>)<\/span>
\n    faktorSmallToBig<\/span>=$(<\/span>echo<\/span> "scale=5; ($monitorLeft<\/span> \/ $monitorRight<\/span>)"<\/span> |<\/span> bc<\/span>)<\/span>
\n    monitorBigger<\/span>=$monitorLeft<\/span>
\nelse<\/span>
\n    faktorBigToSmall<\/span>=$(<\/span>echo<\/span> "scale=5; ($monitorLeft<\/span> \/ $monitorRight<\/span>)"<\/span> |<\/span> bc<\/span>)<\/span>
\n    faktorSmallToBig<\/span>=$(<\/span>echo<\/span> "scale=5; ($monitorRight<\/span> \/ $monitorLeft<\/span>)"<\/span> |<\/span> bc<\/span>)<\/span>
\n    monitorBigger<\/span>=$monitorRight<\/span>
\nfi<\/span>
\n
\n#get pointer of active window<\/span>
\nwin<\/span>=$(<\/span>wmiface activeWindow)<\/span>
\n
\n
\n#get maximized status<\/span>
\n#0 for not maximized,<\/span>
\n#1 for maximized horizontally,<\/span>
\n#2 for maximized vertically or<\/span>
\n#3 for fully maximized.<\/span>
\nmaximized<\/span>=$(<\/span>wmiface windowMaximized $win<\/span>)<\/span>
\n
\necho<\/span> MaxMin $maximized<\/span>
\n
\n#bring window to normal size avoids some strange effects during window shifting<\/span>
\nif<\/span> [<\/span>[<\/span> $maximized<\/span> -gt<\/span> 0<\/span> ]<\/span>]<\/span>;then<\/span>
\n    wmiface maximize $win<\/span> 0<\/span> 0<\/span>
\nfi<\/span>
\n
\n
\n#get position<\/span>
\n
\nset<\/span> `<\/span>wmiface framePosition $win<\/span> |<\/span> tr<\/span> '+'<\/span> ' '<\/span>`<\/span>
\n
\nx<\/span>=$1<\/span>
\ny<\/span>=$2<\/span>
\n
\necho<\/span> x: $x<\/span>
\necho<\/span> y: $y<\/span>
\n
\n#get framesize<\/span>
\necho<\/span> framesize
\nset<\/span> `<\/span>wmiface frameSize $win<\/span> |<\/span> tr<\/span> 'x'<\/span> ' '<\/span>`<\/span>
\n
\nsizeX<\/span>=$1<\/span>
\nsizeY<\/span>=$2<\/span>
\nif<\/span> [<\/span>[<\/span> $maximized<\/span> -eq<\/span> 0<\/span> ]<\/span>]<\/span> ||<\/span> [<\/span>[<\/span> (<\/span>$maximized<\/span> -eq<\/span> 2<\/span>)<\/span> ]<\/span>]<\/span>;then<\/span>
\nnotHorizontalMax<\/span>=1<\/span> # our window is not horizontally maximzed<\/span>
\nfi<\/span>;
\n
\n
\n# calculate new x position<\/span>
\nif<\/span> [<\/span>[<\/span> $x<\/span> -ge<\/span> $monitorLeft<\/span> ]<\/span>]<\/span>;then<\/span> # we are on the right screen<\/span>
\n
\n    if<\/span> [<\/span>[<\/span> $monitorBigger<\/span> -gt<\/span> $monitorLeft<\/span> ]<\/span>]<\/span>;then<\/span> #the right screen is bigger<\/span>
\n   
\n        if<\/span> [<\/span>[<\/span> $notHorizontalMax<\/span> -eq<\/span> 1<\/span> ]<\/span>]<\/span> &&<\/span> [<\/span>[<\/span> (<\/span>$sizeX<\/span> -gt<\/span> $monitorLeft<\/span>)<\/span> ]<\/span>]<\/span>;then<\/span> #resize window if it does not fit into smaller monitor<\/span>
\n            sizeX<\/span>=$monitorLeft<\/span>
\n        fi<\/span>;
\n   
\n        x<\/span>=$(<\/span>echo<\/span> "($x<\/span> - $monitorLeft<\/span>) * $faktorBigToSmall<\/span>"<\/span> |<\/span> bc<\/span>)<\/span>
\n        echo<\/span> BigToSmall $faktorBigToSmall<\/span>
\n       
\n    else<\/span> # the left screen is bigger<\/span>
\n   
\n        x<\/span>=$(<\/span>echo<\/span> "($x<\/span> - $monitorLeft<\/span>) * $faktorSmallToBig<\/span>"<\/span> |<\/span> bc<\/span>)<\/span>
\n        echo<\/span> SmallToBig $faktorSmallToBig<\/span>
\n       
\n    fi<\/span>
\n   
\n    #round x<\/span>
\n    x<\/span>=$(<\/span>echo<\/span> "($x<\/span>+0.5)\/1"<\/span> |<\/span> bc<\/span>)<\/span>
\n   
\n    xAllInAll<\/span>=$(<\/span>(<\/span> x + sizeX )<\/span>)<\/span>
\n   
\n    if<\/span> [<\/span>[<\/span> $xAllInAll<\/span> -gt<\/span> $monitorLeft<\/span> ]<\/span>]<\/span>;then<\/span>
\n        x<\/span>=0<\/span>
\n    fi<\/span>
\n   
\n   
\nelse<\/span> # we are on the left screen<\/span>
\n
\n    if<\/span> [<\/span>[<\/span> $monitorBigger<\/span> -gt<\/span> $monitorLeft<\/span> ]<\/span>]<\/span>;then<\/span>  #the right screen is bigger<\/span>
\n   
\n        x<\/span>=$(<\/span>echo<\/span> "$monitorLeft<\/span>+ $x<\/span> * $faktorSmallToBig<\/span>"<\/span> |<\/span> bc<\/span>)<\/span>
\n        echo<\/span> BigToSmall2 $faktorBigToSmall<\/span>
\n       
\n    else<\/span> # the left screen is bigger<\/span>
\n   
\n        if<\/span> [<\/span>[<\/span> $notHorizontalMax<\/span> -eq<\/span> 1<\/span> ]<\/span>]<\/span> &&<\/span> [<\/span>[<\/span> (<\/span>$sizeX<\/span> -gt<\/span> $monitorRight<\/span>)<\/span> ]<\/span>]<\/span>;then<\/span> #resize window if it does not fit into smaller monitor<\/span>
\n            sizeX<\/span>=$monitorRight<\/span>
\n        fi<\/span>;
\n       
\n        x<\/span>=$(<\/span>echo<\/span> "$monitorLeft<\/span> + $x<\/span> * $faktorBigToSmall<\/span>"<\/span> |<\/span> bc<\/span>)<\/span>
\n        echo<\/span> SmallToBig2 $faktorSmallToBig<\/span>
\n    fi<\/span>
\n   
\n    #round x<\/span>
\n    x<\/span>=$(<\/span>echo<\/span> "($x<\/span>+0.5)\/1"<\/span> |<\/span> bc<\/span>)<\/span>
\n   
\n    xAllInAll<\/span>=$(<\/span>(<\/span> x + sizeX )<\/span>)<\/span>
\n    echo<\/span> All x $xAllInAll<\/span>
\n   
\n    if<\/span> [<\/span>[<\/span> $xAllInAll<\/span> -gt<\/span> $(<\/span>(<\/span> monitorRight + monitorLeft )<\/span>)<\/span> ]<\/span>]<\/span>;then<\/span>
\n        x<\/span>=$monitorLeft<\/span>
\n    fi<\/span>
\nfi<\/span>
\n
\n
\necho<\/span> x $x<\/span>
\necho<\/span> y $y<\/span>
\n
\n#move window<\/span>
\nwmiface setFrameGeometry $win<\/span> $x<\/span> $y<\/span> $sizeX<\/span> $sizeY<\/span>
\n
\n#if window was maximized bring it to former size<\/span>
\ncase<\/span> $maximized<\/span> in<\/span>
\n1<\/span>)<\/span>
\n   wmiface maximize $win<\/span> 1<\/span> 0<\/span>;;<\/span>
\n2<\/span>)<\/span>
\n   wmiface maximize $win<\/span> 0<\/span> 1<\/span>;;<\/span>
\n3<\/span>)<\/span>
\n   wmiface maximize $win<\/span> 1<\/span> 1<\/span>;;<\/span>
\nesac<\/span><\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n

Some hint for google chrome\/chromium users, the script does only work if you set the setting in chrome for using the system frame and not the special one from chrome.<\/p>\n

Here is a screenshot of the correct setting in german environment:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Script as Download:
\nSCRIPT UPDATED: ERROR CORRECTION AND IMPROVEMENTS DEPENDING SOME SPECIAL CONDITIONS 30.1.2011<\/strong>
\nmonitorSwitch.run<\/a><\/p>\n

If you study my script you see the power of wmiface. If you download the source package from the mentioned site you found a list of all available commands in the Readme. For example you could also switch windows between virtual desktops…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCRIPT UPDATED: ERROR CORRECTION AND IMPROVEMENTS DEPENDING SOME SPECIAL CONDITIONS 30.1.2011 If I use two monitors in windows environment I use some scrips of the tool active aid\u00a0http:\/\/activaid.telgkamp.de\/ to have the ability to switch the active window between both monitors with a shortcut. Since I meanly use Linux on my private pc and laptop I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,46],"tags":[39,63,64,40,41,57,65],"class_list":["post-265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-it","category-linux-it-2","tag-bash","tag-gnome","tag-kde","tag-linux","tag-shell","tag-ubuntu","tag-wmiface"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=265"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":950,"href":"https:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265\/revisions\/950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ceh-photo.de\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}