How to split window vertically in GNU Screen?

Question

I saw some body split their window to 2x2, I just want to know how to do that? I know the 'split' command in Screen can only split the window horizontally.

This is not possible in some (all?) versions of gnu screen, a custom patch was developed to do this and has been applied in many distributions. I believe this patch is supposed to have made it into upstream, but may not have been released yet. Consider using tmux instead. — xenoterracide, Dec 13 '11 at 06:44
@math - what do you expect on this Q&A? The A w/ 9 UV's is the right A. — slm, Jan 30 '14 at 08:10
Yes, I though I could promote it to accepted then. As the first with (currently 6) votes is outdated. — math, Jan 30 '14 at 08:42

score 168 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 05 '17 at 04:14

168

The latest version of GNU screen allows you split the window vertically without any external patches. Here is one way to get it and use it:

Checkout/clone/download the source
Build it in an easy sequence of ./autogen.sh, ./configure, make and install. I didn't have any problems with dependencies on Mountain Lion.

To get a vertical split use:

C-a |     // Create a split
C-a <Tab> // Move to the split
C-a c     // Create a new window within the split

I don't think this is a reason to switch to tmux any more like others have been suggesting.

edited Mar 05 '17 at 04:14

A.D.

950

answered Mar 21 '13 at 07:18

gkb0986

2,181
2
14
6

3

Is it possible to preconfigure screen to autostart with multiple splits ? – Fedir RYKHTIK Apr 03 '13 at 13:41
@Fedir Sorry about the late response. But I'm not sure. – gkb0986 May 05 '13 at 21:16
5

Sure! You have to add split, split -v and focus commands in the screenrc file. Even you can place screen inside another screen to make complex configurations. – Kondybas May 27 '14 at 01:28
5

@Kellen: When you say "The latest version ..." which version do you mean? I have Screen version 4.00.03 (FAU) 23-Oct-06, but neither C-a | nor split -v work. For example, when I execute the split -v command the error message is split: no arguments required – John Prior Jan 21 '15 at 19:30
@JohnPrior "From macports (Mac OS X): Screen version 4.02.01 (GNU) 28-Apr-14" has the ability to vertically split. As does "From apt-get (Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS): Screen version 4.01.00devel (GNU) 2-May-06" – Dave Albert Apr 25 '15 at 08:35
4

To unsplit a window again, you can continue reading here: Unix: How to unsplit in screen – hakre Jul 15 '15 at 07:23
@DaveAlbert, I installed Screen 4.06.02 via Brew on my Mac. Could not do a vertical split still. :( – rrrocky Feb 22 '18 at 07:24

score 47 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 11 '22 at 11:15

47

Check out the video tutorial on Split Screen with Screen in Linux - BASH . At time 2:00 minute, there would be a solution.

Ctrl+A, Shift+S # Create another window

Ctrl+A, Tab # Moving from another window

Ctrl+A, c # Create new session

Ctrl+A, | # Splitting vertical (pipe symbol)

Ctrl+A, Shift+S # Splitting horizontal

Ctrl+A, Shift+X # Close a window

edited Nov 11 '22 at 11:15

mwfearnley

1,126

answered Jan 15 '14 at 12:03

user197292

571

2

Note that to close a region it's capital X meaning ctrl-a shift-x. If we do ctrl-a x (small x) it actually causes the screen to lock. – Daniel Nov 18 '21 at 11:43

score 24 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 12 '17 at 23:16

24

GNU Screen <4.01 may not support vertical split without a patch.
GNU Screen >4.01 supports vertical splitting.

The Patch is licensed under GPLv2. Some people say that the vertical split in GNU screen makes the application slow but I haven't tested. I use tmux (terminal multiplexer)

edited Dec 12 '17 at 23:16

jholland

3

answered Dec 14 '11 at 00:23

pferor

1,405

24

Note: This is no longer true. Vertical splits are part of the official source and Ubuntu packages ship with the functionality built in. – JaredMcAteer Feb 20 '13 at 15:49
1

@JaredMcAteer, it may be part of the official packages Ubuntu ships with, but the newest release of screen available through the GNU screen project page is 4.00.03, released in 2006. They may have the functionality in their git repo, but it's not part of a release yet as far as I've found. – Brian Vandenberg Oct 14 '13 at 20:58
9

I hate answers where it's suggested to use another software. +1 for [tag:tmux] nonetheless. – pfnuesel Jan 30 '14 at 01:58
1

I think stack should take an accepted answer, once ANOTHER answer surpasses it in points, turn the accepted check-mark yellow, then add the green check-mark to the highest voted.
This is totally based upon the simple fact, that the GREEN check-mark is supposed to the more realistic figure. However that is not the case. The REALISTIC figure is the one with the HIGHEST VOTES, almost always.

I.E. this green check is not the answer, see the highest voted..
– Brian Thomas Mar 18 '16 at 23:16
Yay, another project that has moved off Sourceforge! edited link. – naught101 May 19 '16 at 00:20
@BrianVandenberg the official sources are in git. The latest version there does support vertical splits. – Ruslan Jul 23 '17 at 15:53
This answer tells that screen supports vertical splitting as the OP asked and is not even telling how. This answer should be hidden due to too many downvotes. – ohcibi Nov 30 '18 at 22:15
@BrianThomas that is a great idea – mancini0 Apr 01 '22 at 20:57

score 9 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 13 '11 at 04:31

9

Use the -v option to split command in screen. From the manpage:

   Split  the current region into two new ones. All regions on the display
   are resized to make room for the new region. The blank window  is  dis‐
   played  on  the  new  region. Splits are made horizontally unless -v is
   used. Use the "remove" or the "only" command  to  delete  regions.  Use
   "focus" to toggle between regions.

answered Dec 13 '11 at 04:31

Arcege

22,536

Which split command are you referring to? – xiaohan2012 Dec 13 '11 at 04:54
As mentioned, the command in screen. – Arcege Dec 13 '11 at 06:10
it does not accept arguments. :( – Rocky Dec 13 '11 at 07:41
google says we need a patch for vertical split. – Rocky Dec 13 '11 at 08:04
4

It works here (Ubuntu 11.10), also with shortcur C-a |. – enzotib Dec 13 '11 at 08:35
8

So, in order to input commands in screen, one needs to do C-a : (control a, colon). There you can do split or split -v. C-a | is a shortcut for a vertical split, though. – droope Jul 07 '14 at 05:00

twjmy · Answer 5 · 2022-10-21T18:35:19.887

A WITHOUT using bind-key open way

Since I google out many of videos are telling us to use bind-keys, I tidy up some steps that we can open GNU screen by code...

save the following context to ~/.screenrc or /etc/screenrc or any text file

screen 1 top
split -v
focus right
screen 2 python3 -m http.server 0
split -v
focus right
screen 3 nano .bashrc

Note: change the command top, python3 -m http.server 0, nano .bashrc as you want

run the following command

screen

or

screen -c ~/.screenrc

Note: If your file DID NOT save to ~/.screenrc or /etc/screenrc , the first command would become NOT WORKING.

enjoy your split windows

Note: If the command terminated, the split window will become blank. To solve this problem, you can run exec echo "hello world" instead.

close GNU-screen by Ctrl+A, \

Reference:

Vertically way

screen 1 top
split
focus down
screen 2 python3 -m http.server 0
split
focus down
screen 3 nano .bashrc

How to split window vertically in GNU Screen?

5 Answers5

A WITHOUT using bind-key open way

Vertically way

Linked