Multiple Monitors

When you've finally accumulated enough computer junk, you'll find yourself attaching a second monitor to your computer. ratpoison has functionality to help you get around your new and improved desktop space.

The X Windowing System assigns each monitor a screen number. To switch to another screen use the commands nextscreen and prevscreen. Or, sselect to jump to a specified screen. ratpoison will tell you which frame has focus by drawing the current frame indicator in it.

Many commands operate only on the current screen. This becomes apparent when you have 2 screens each with 1 frame. In each frame you have an xterm. If you try to switch to the other xterm with the command other, for instance, you'll get a message "No other window." ratpoison means there's no other window to switch to in the current screen. If you want to switch to the other xterm you can switch to it by name (use select or C-t '), by number, or you can use nextscreen, prevscreen, and sselect.

nextscreen

Command

This jumps you to the next X11 screen. nextscreen is used for dual-head displays and multiple monitor setups.

prevscreen

Command

This jumps you to the previous X11 screen. prevscreen is used for dual-head displays and multiple monitor setups.

sselect n

Command

This jumps you to the nth X11 screen. Screen numbers start at 0.

sdump

Command

Like fdump, but dump information about each screen instead of each frame.

sfdump

Command

Dump all the screen number and the frames on all screens.

sfrestore

Command

restore a frame configuration created using sfdump.