Provided by: pqiv_2.6-1_amd64 
NAME
pqiv - quick image viewer
SYNOPSIS
pqiv [options] [filename(s)...]
DESCRIPTION
pqiv is a simple command line image viewer inspired by qiv. It is highly customizable and supports a
variety of formats.
OPTIONS
-c, --transparent-background
Draw pqiv's window borderless and transparent. In window mode, a mouse click activates and
deactivates window decorations.
-d, --slideshow-interval=SECONDS
In slideshow mode (Activated by --slideshow or key s by default), cycle through images at this
rate. Floating point values are supported, e.g. use 0.5 to move through the images at a rate of
two images per second.
-f, --fullscreen
Start in fullscreen mode. Fullscreen can be toggled by pressing f at runtime by default.
-F, --fade
Fade between images. See also --fade-duration.
-i, --hide-info-box
Initially hide the info box. Whether the box is visible can be toggled by pressing i at runtime by
default.
-l, --lazy-load
pqiv normally processes all command line arguments before displaying its main window. With this
option, the window is shown as soon as the first image has been found and loaded.
-n, --sort
Instead of storing images in the order they are given on the command line and found within
directories, sort them. The default order is by name (natural order). See --sort-key to change the
order.
-P, --window-position=POSITION
Set the initial window position. POSITION may either be
x,y screen coordinates, or
off to not position the window at all.
-r, --additional-from-stdin
Read additional filenames/folders from the standard input. This option conflicts with
--commands-from-stdin.
-s, --slideshow
Start in slideshow mode. Slideshow mode can be toggled at runtime by pressing s by default.
-t, --scale-images-up
Scale images up to fill the whole screen. This can be toggled at runtime by pressing t by default.
See also --disable-scaling.
-T, --window-title=TITLE
Set the title of the window. pqiv substitutes several variables into TITLE:
$BASEFILENAME The base file name of the current file (e.g. `image.png'),
$FILENAME The file name of the current file (e.g. `/home/user/image.png'),
$WIDTH The width of the current image in pixels,
$HEIGHT The height of the current image in pixels,
$ZOOM The current zoom level,
$IMAGE_NUMBER The index of the current image,
$IMAGE_COUNT The total number of images.
The default is `pqiv: $FILENAME ($WIDTHx$HEIGHT) $ZOOM% [$IMAGE_NUMBER/$IMAGE_COUNT]'.
-z, --zoom-level=FLOAT
Set the initial zoom level as a floating point value, i.e., 1.0 is 100%. This only applies to the
first image, other images are scaled according to the scale mode (see --scale-images-up and
--disable-scaling) and window size.
-1, --command-1=COMMAND
Bind the external COMMAND to key 1. You can use 2..9 to bind further commands. The ACTIONS feature
(see below) allows to bind further keys to other commands. COMMAND is executed using the default
shell processor. `$1' is substituted with the current file name.
If COMMAND begins with `>', its standard output is displayed in a popup window.
If COMMAND begins with `|', the current image is piped to its standard input, and its standard
output is loaded as an image. This can be used to e.g. process images.
--action=ACTION
Execute a specific ACTION when starting pqiv. The syntax is
command(parameter); command(parameter);
See the ACTIONS section below for available commands.
--actions-from-stdin
Like --action, but read actions from the standard input. See the ACTIONS section below for syntax
and available commands. This option conflicts with --additional-from-stdin.
--bind-key=KEYBINDING
Rebind a key to an action. The syntax is
key sequence { command(parameter); command(parameter); }
A key sequence may be one or more characters, or special characters supplied as `<name>', where
name is a GDK key specifier or a mouse button (`Mouse-1') or a scrolling direction (`Mouse-
Scroll-1'). If you e.g. use `a<Control>b', then a user must hit `a' followed by control + `b' to
trigger the command. It is possible to bind `a' and `ab' as well. The action bound to `a' will
then be slightly delayed to allow a user to hit `b'. The semicolon separating commands is
optional. See ACTIONS below for available commands.
If you need to know the name of a key specifier, you can run xev and press the desired key. The
name of the keysym will be printed in parentheses, preceded by `keysym' and a hexadecimal
representation. An alternative is to run xmodmap -pk. The command outputs the symbolic names in
parentheses. Or use the list at https://git.gnome.org/browse/gtk+/plain/gdk/gdkkeysyms.h.
--browse
For each command line argument, additionally load all images from the image's directory. pqiv will
still start at the image that was given as the first parameter.
--disable-scaling
Completely disable scaling. This can be toggled at runtime by pressing t by default. See also
--scale-images-up.
--end-of-files-action=ACTION
If all files have been viewed and the next image is to be viewed, either by the user's request or
because a slideshow is active, pqiv by default cycles and restarts at the first image. This
parameter can be used to modify this behaviour. Valid choices for ACTION are:
quit Quit pqiv,
wait Wait until a new image becomes available. This only makes sense if used with
e.g. --watch-directories,
wrap (default) Restart at the first image. In shuffle mode, choose a new random order,
wrap-no-reshuffle As wrap, but do not reshuffle in random mode.
--enforce-window-aspect-ratio
Tell the window manager to enforce the aspect ratio of the window. If this flag is set, then a
compliant window manager will not allow users to resize pqiv's window to a different aspect ratio.
This used to be the default behaviour, but window managers tend to have bugs in the code handling
forced aspect ratios. If the flag is not set and the aspect ratios of the window and image do not
match, then the image will be still be drawn with the correct aspect ratio, with black borders
added at the sides.
--fade-duration=SECONDS
With --fade, make each fade this long. Floating point values are accepted, e.g. 0.5 makes each
fade take half a second.
--low-memory
Try to keep memory usage to a minimum. pqiv by default e.g. preloads the next and previous image
to speed up navigation and caches scaled images to speed up redraws. This flag disables such
optimizations.
--max-depth=LEVELS
For parameters that are directories, pqiv searches recursively for images. Use this parameter to
limit the depth at which pqiv searches. A level of 0 disables recursion completely, i.e. if you
call pqiv with a directory as a parameter, it will not search it at all.
--recreate-window
Workaround for window managers that do not handle resize requests correctly: Instead of resizing,
recreate the window whenever the image is changed. This does not redraw images upon changes in
zoom alone.
--shuffle
Display files in random order. This option conflicts with --sort. Files are reshuffled after all
images have been shown, but within one cycle, the order is stable. The reshuffling can be disabled
using --end-of-files-action. At runtime, you can use Control + R by default to toggle shuffle
mode; this retains the shuffled order, i.e., you can disable shuffle mode, view a few images, then
enable it again and continue after the last image you viewed earlier in shuffle mode.
--show-bindings
Display the keyboard and mouse bindings and exit. This displays the key bindings in the format
accepted by --bind-key. See there, and the ACTIONS section for details on available actions.
--sort-key=PROPERTY
Key to use for sorting. Supported values for PROPERTY are:
NAME To sort by filename in natural order, e.g. abc32d before abc112d, but b1 after both,
MTIME To sort by file modification date.
--watch-directories
Watch all directories supplied as parameters to pqiv for new files and add them as they appear. In
--sort mode, files are sorted into the correct position, else, they are appended to the end of the
list. See also --watch-files, which handles how changes to the image that is currently being
viewed are handled.
--watch-files=VALUE
Watch files for changes on disk. Valid choices for VALUE are:
on (default) Watch files for changes, reload upon a change, and skip to the next file if a file
is removed,
changes-only Watch files for changes, reload upon a change, but do nothing if a file is removed,
off Do not watch files for changes at all.
Note that a file that has been removed will still be removed from pqiv's image list when it has
been unloaded, i.e. if a user moves more than one image away from it. (See also --low-memory.)
ACTIONS
Actions are the building blocks for controlling pqiv. The syntax for entering an action is
COMMAND(PARAMETER)
where COMMAND is one of the commands described in the following and PARAMETER is the command's parameter.
Strings are not quoted. Instead, the closing parenthesis must be escaped by a backslash if it is used in
a string. E.g., `command(echo \))' will output a single `)'. The available commands are:
add_file(STRING)
Add a file or directory.
bind_key(STRING)
Override a key binding. Remember to quote closing parenthesis inside the new definition by
prepending a backslash. Useful in conjunction with send_keys(STRING) to set up cyclic bindings.
command(STRING)
Execute the given command.
flip_horizontally()
Flip the current image horizontally.
flip_vertically()
Flip the current image vertically.
goto_directory_relative(INT)
Jump to the n'th next or previous directory.
goto_file_byindex(INT)
Jump to a file given by its number.
goto_file_byname(STRING)
Jump to a file given by its displayed name.
goto_file_relative(INT)
Jump to the n'th next or previous file.
hardlink_current_image()
Hardlink the current image to ./.pqiv-select/, or copy it if hardlinking is not possible.
jump_dialog()
Display the jump dialog.
nop() Do nothing. Can be used to clear an existing binding.
numeric_command(INT)
Execute the n'th command defined via --command-1 etc.
output_file_list()
Output a list of all loaded files to the standard output.
quit() Quit pqiv.
reload()
Reload the current image from disk.
remove_file_byindex(INT)
Remove a file given by its number.
remove_file_byname(STRING)
Remove a file given by its displayed name.
reset_scale_level()
Reset the scale level to the default value.
rotate_left()
Rotate the current image left by 90°.
rotate_right()
Rotate the current image right by 90°.
send_keys(STRING)
Emulate pressing a sequence of keys. This action currently does not support special keys that do
not have an ASCII representation. Useful in conjunction with bind_key(STRING) to set up cyclic key
bindings.
set_cursor_visibility(INT)
Set the visibility of the cursor; 0 disables, other values enable visibility.
set_scale_level_absolute(DOUBLE)
Set the scale level to the parameter value. 1.0 is 100%. See also --zoom-level.
set_scale_level_relative(DOUBLE)
Adjust the scale level multiplicatively by the parameter value.
set_scale_mode_fit_px(INT, INT)
Always adjust the scale level such that each image fits the given dimensions.
set_shift_align_corner(STRING)
Align the image to the window/screen border. Possible parameter values are the cardinal
directions, e.g. NE will align the image to the north east, i.e. top right, corner. You can
prepend the parameter by an additional C to perform the adjustment only if the image dimensions
exceed the available space, and to center the image elsewise.
set_shift_x(INT)
Set the shift in horizontal direction to a fixed value.
set_shift_y(INT)
Set the shift in vertical direction to a fixed value.
set_slideshow_interval_absolute(DOUBLE)
Set the slideshow interval to the parameter value, in seconds.
set_slideshow_interval_relative(DOUBLE)
Adjust the slideshow interval additively by the parameter value. See also --slideshow-interval.
set_status_output(INT)
Set this to non-zero to make pqiv print status information for scripts to stdout, once upon
activation and then whenever the user moves between images. The format is compatible with shell
variable definitions. Variables currently implemented are CURRENT_FILE_NAME and
CURRENT_FILE_INDEX. An output sweep always ends with an empty line.
shift_x(INT)
Shift the current image in x direction.
shift_y(INT)
Shift the current image in y direction.
toggle_fullscreen()
Toggle fullscreen mode.
toggle_info_box()
Toggle the visibility of the info box.
toggle_scale_mode(INT)
Change the scale mode: Use 1 to disable scaling, 2 for automated scaledown (default), 3 to always
scale images up, and 4 to maintain the user-set zoom level. 0 cycles through modes 1-3.
toggle_shuffle_mode(INT)
Toggle shuffle mode. Use 0 to cycle through the possible values, 1 to enable shuffle, and any
other value to disable it.
toggle_slideshow()
Toggle slideshow mode.
DEFAULT KEY BINDINGS
Space Next file.
Backspace Previous file.
a Link the current image to ./.pqiv-select/, or copy it if hardlinking is not possible.
f Toggle fullscreen mode.
h/v Flip the image horizontally or vertically.
k/l Rotate the image right or left.
i Toggle visibility of the info box.
j Show a dialog with a list of all files for quick selection.
q Quit pqiv
r Reload the current image.
s Toggle slideshow mode.
t Toggle the scale mode; cycle between scaling all images up, scaling large images down
and no scaling at all.
Plus/minus Zoom.
Mouse buttons (fullscreen)
Goto the next and previous files.
Mouse drag (fullscreen)
Move the image.
Mouse drag with right button (fullscreen)
Zoom.
Arrow keys Move the image.
This list omitted some advanced default bindings. Run `pqiv --show-bindings' to display a complete list.
CONFIGURATION FILE
Upon startup, pqiv parses the file ~/.pqivrc. It should be a INI-style key/value file with an options
section. All long form parameters are valid keys. To set a boolean flag, set the value to 1. A set flag
inverts the meaning of the associated parameter. E.g., if you set `fullscreen=1', then pqiv will start in
fullscreen mode unless you supply -f upon startup.
As an example,
[options]
fullscreen=1
sort=1
command-1=|convert - -blur 20 -
will make pqiv start in fullscreen by default, sort the file list and bind a blur filter to key 1. The -f
flag on the command line will make pqiv not start in fullscreen, and -n will make it not sort the list.
You can place key bindings in the format of the --bind-key parameter in a special [keybindings] section.
E.g.,
[keybindings]
q { goto_file_relative(-1); }
w { goto_file_relative(1); }
x { send_keys(#1); }
<numbersign>1 { set_scale_level_absolute(1.); bind_key(x { send_keys(#2\); }); }
<numbersign>2 { set_scale_level_absolute(.5); bind_key(x { send_keys(#3\); }); }
<numbersign>3 { set_scale_level_absolute(0.25); bind_key(x { send_keys(#1\); }); }
will remap q and w to move between images, and set up x to cycle through 100%, 50% and 25% zoom levels.
For backwards compatibility with old versions of pqiv, if the file does not start with a section
definition, the first line will be parsed as command line parameters.
You may place comments into the file by beginning a line with `;' or `#'. Comments at the end of a line
are not supported.
EXAMPLES
pqiv --bind-key="a { goto_file_byindex(0) }" --sort foo bar.pdf
Rebinds a to go back to the first image, and loads all files from the foo folder and bar.pdf,
sorted.
pqiv --slideshow --watch-directories --end-of-files-action=wait --slideshow-interval=0.001 test
Load all files from the test folder in a slideshow progressing very fast, and in the end wait
until new files become available. This effectively displays new images as they appear in a
directory and is useful e.g. if you output images from a script that you later intent to combine
into a movie and wish to monitor progress.
echo "output_file_list(); quit()" | pqiv --actions-from-stdin test
Output a list of all files from the test folder that pqiv can handle and quit.
BUGS
Please report any bugs on github, on https://github.com/phillipberndt/pqiv
AUTHOR
Phillip Berndt (phillip dot berndt at googlemail dot com)