Node: Other Commands, Next: , Previous: Using Other Window Managers, Up: Top


Other Commands

The following is a list of commands that don't fit in any existing chapters.

abort Command
This is a pretty useless command. By default, it is bound to C-t g and its purpose is to abort the current chain of keystrokes (just like C-g in Emacs).

alias name command Command
Allows you to name a ratpoison command something else. For instance, if you frequently open emacs you may want to make an alias called emacs that loads emacs. You would do it like this: 
          alias emacs exec emacs

An alias is treated exactly like a colon command in that you can call it from the colon prompt, bind it to a key, and call it non-interactively with ratpoison -c.

banish Command
Banish the mouse to the lower right corner of the screen.

chdir Command
Change the current directory for ratpoison.

colon command Command
Run a ratpoison command.

compat Command
Install the now obsolete def* commands as aliases to the corresponding set * command.

set padding left top right bottom Command
Set the padding around the edge of the screen.

When called with no arguments, the current setting is returned.

set waitcursor n Command
Set whether the rat cursor should change into a square when waiting for a key. A non-zero number means change the cursor. Zero means don't change the cursor.

When called with no arguments, the current setting is returned.

escape key Command
Set the prefix to key. For example escape C-b sets the prefix key to <C-b>.

exchangedown Command
Exchange the current frame with the one below it.

exchangeleft Command
Exchange the current frame with the one to the left of it.

exchangeright Command
Exchange the current frame with the one to the right of it.

exchangeup Command
Exchange the current frame with the one above it.

exec command Command
Execute a shell command. By default, C-t ! does this.

execa command Command
Execute a shell command but don't record which frame it was executed from. The client's windows will pop up in whatever frame is current.

execf command frame Command
Execute a shell command and choose which frame the client's first window will open in. The client must be netwm compliant for this to work.

getenv env Command
Display the value of the environment variable, env.

getsel Command
Return the contents of the X11 selection.

help Command
Display a help screen that lists all bound keystrokes.

license Command
Display ratpoison's license. By default, this is bound to C-t V.

meta key Command
key is an optional argument. When key is omitted, send a C-t to the current window. Otherwise, send the key described by key to the current window. Note that some applications by default ignore the synthetic key that is sent using this command as it is considered a security hole. xterm is one such application.

For example, if your Emacs window is focused, 

          meta M-x

Would cause emacs to prompt for an extended command.

prompt prompt Command
This command is only useful when called non-interactively. prompt prompts the user for input using prompt and returns the input.

putsel text Command
Make text the X11 selection.

quit Command
Quit ratpoison.

ratrelwarp x y Command
Warp the rat to the specified location relative to the current rat position.

ratwarp x y Command
Warp the rat to the specified absolute location.

ratclick button Command
click the rat. button is either 1, 2, or 3. button defaults to button 1.

rathold state button Command
click the rat button down if state is down or release the button if state is up.

redisplay Command
Extend the current window to the whole size of its current frame and redisplay it. This can be used to:
  • redisplay normal windows or bring transient windows to the full size of the frame as only normal windows are maximized by ratpoison.
  • fix xterms that didn't catch ratpoison's initial maximize event.

restart Command
Restart ratpoison.

set var value Command
Set the value of a ratpoison variable. This command replaces the older def* variable get/set style.

Here is a list of variables that can be set:

  • framesels
  • winliststyle
  • barpadding
  • bgcolor
  • fgcolor
  • winname
  • winfmt
  • waitcursor
  • inputwidth
  • barborder
  • border
  • padding
  • font
  • bargravity
  • maxsizegravity
  • transgravity
  • wingravity
  • maxundos
  • resizeunit

setenv env value Command
Set the environment variable env to value

source file Command
Read a text file containing ratpoison commands.

startup_message state Command
Turn on or off the startup_message. This is most useful in your .ratpoisonrc file. state can be on or off.

When called with no arguments, the current setting is returned.

swap destination-frame source-frame Command
When called interactively prompt for a frame and swap its window with the window in the current frame. An optional second argument allows swapping of windows between arbitrary frames.

time Command
Show current time in the status bar.

unalias name Command
Remove name from the list of defined aliases.

unsetenv env Command
Clear the value of the environment variable, env.

verbexec command Command
Verbosely exec the shell command command. Raptoison displays a message saying command was executed.

version Command
Print ratpoison version. By default, this is bound to C-t v.

warp state Command
Toggle rat warping. By default ratpoison saves the position of the rat when leaving a window and when the user returns to the window the rat's position is restored. This can be counter-intuitive, so you can toggle it with this command. state can be on or off.