How can I automate window tiling with a custom width? (Cinnamon)

Question

I am running Linux Mint 17 Cinnamon 2.4.8.

I really like xdotool, but it conflicts with Cinnamon's awesome snapping/tiling feature.

If I run the following command, it does NOT work if the current window is snapped to a corner/side/fullscreen.

xdotool getactivewindow windowsize 500 1080 windowmove 1420 0

I would like to keep it snapped, but with a custom width. If it is NOT snapped, it works.

Main goal: Snap a window to the right side, with 500 width (via a command)

However, it's probably impossible with xdotool.

I would prefer not to install anything else, and do it all with cinnamon, but if anyone thinks I can achieve my goal with wmctrl, then I'll give it a shot.

Desired output vs. current output

http://s115.photobucket.com/user/ericrazy2000/media/snapped.png.html

http://s115.photobucket.com/user/ericrazy2000/media/NOTsnapped.png.html

Answer 1

Does this command work for you (uses wmctrl):

dist500fromright=$((`xrandr | grep \* | awk '{print $1}' | sed 's/x.*$//'`-500));y=`xrandr | grep \* | awk '{print $1}' | sed 's/^.*x//'`;wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -b add,maximized_vert && wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -e 0,$dist500fromright,0,500,$y

---

Breakdown

xrandr outputs a list of geometries and the * shows the current mode. For example:

$ xrandr | grep \*
   1920x1200      60.0*+

We use awk to capture the first column of output, and sed to grab the dimensions delimited by the x character.

$ xrandr | grep \* | awk '{print $1}' 
1920x1200

$ xrandr | grep \* | awk '{print $1}' | sed 's/x.*$//'
1920

Bash allows us to do math on command output by wrapping it in $((...)):

$ echo 5+2
5+2

$ echo $((5+2))
7

So above, we wrap the command in $((...)) and subtract 500 to get the x-coordinate position 500 pixels from the right edge of the screen:

$ echo  $((`xrandr | grep \* | awk '{print $1}' | sed 's/x.*$//'`-500))
1420

Note, in order to subtract 500 from 1920, we had to put the command that produces 1920 in backticks first.

We set the output above to the variable dist500fromright, and do something similar to store the y-dimensions of the screen in the y variable:

$ dist500fromright=$((`xrandr | grep \* | awk '{print $1}' | sed 's/x.*$//'`-500))

$ y=`xrandr | grep \* | awk '{print $1}' | sed 's/^.*x//'`;

We are now ready to run the wmctrl command

$ wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -b add,maximized_vert

$ wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -e 0,$dist500fromright,0,500,$y

where the latter command resizes and moves the active window while the former allows the resize/move on snapped windows.

Answer 2

You might need to remove some maximization flags first:

wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -b remove,maximized_vert,maximized_horz;\
xdotool getactivewindow windowsize 500 1080 windowmove 1420 0;\
wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -b add,maximized_vert

Answer 3

You can use wmctrl for this,

as example from the old linux mint mate forum, I think you also can use it in cinnamon:

wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -e 0,0,0,width,height

This should work.

If your screen is fullscreen you should use:

wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -b remove,maximized_horz,maximized_vert
wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -e 0,0,0,width,height

source:

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=109020

or use ctrl + numpad to get the desired location

source:

http://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/tbqky/window_snapping_pseudotiling_wm/