Ubuntu Manpages

mkxlax

xlax and xterm startup program

mkxlax [options] sendString [more sendStrings ...]

Mkxlax is an perl script that will start up a number of xterms configured to work together with xlax, and then start up an xlax to communicate with the xterms.

Mkxlax will start an xterm for each argument (send string) provided. Each xterm will have it's name hint (the `-name' option) set to xlax:sendString, where the sendString is the argument provided to mkxlax. The xterms will all be started with send events enabled (required for xlax).

The xterms will be arranged in a cascasde from upper left to lower right. Other arrangements are possible based on the provided options.

An alternate prefix should be used with xlax instead of `xlax:'. This allows multiple groups of xlax windows to be run at the same time without interfering with each other.
Selects a predefined, named layout screen (from your $HOME/.mkxlax file), and uses that layout information (and group name, if given) for the created windows.
The starting x location of the first xterm
The starting y location of the first xterm
The amount to add in x to the position of each additional xterm
The amount to add in y to the position of each additional xterm
If x is greater than this value, x wraps back around to it's starting value.
If y is greater than this value, y wraps back around to it's starting value.
If a wrap occurs, add this value to x. Typically this is used together with `-wrapy', so that when y returns to zero, x is shifted.
If a wrap occurs, add this value to y. Typically this is used together with `-wrapx', so that when x returns to zero, y is shifted.

The width and height (columns and rows) for the xterm that will be started. Note that this is not a full geometry specifcation, as mkxlax handles the window positioning. Default is "80x24"
Additional options to pass on to the xterm. String must be quoted if it contains spaces. Also, you can not use geometry or name options here.
geometry for the xlax window (NOT the xterms). This is a standard format X11 geometry, e.g. WIDTHxHEIGHT+XOFFSET+YOFFSET.

--
Ends option processing (in case a sendString needs to start with a dash).

If no options are given, the defaults are `-x 0 -y 0 -dx 20 -dy 50 -wrapy 750 -wrapdx 200'

It's possible to provide options that probably don't make any sense. The EXAMPLES section shows a few reasonable usages.

Custom layouts can be added by putting them in the configuration file .mkxlax in your home directory. The file contains lines with a layout name followed by a colon, and then command line options to set for that layout. For example:

  tile: -group tilexlax -dx 510 -wrapx 1000 -wrapdy 345 -geometry +740-2
This creates a layout called "tile", with those options set. Once this is in your .mkxlax file, you can then run: 
  mkxlax -layout tile host1 host2 ...
And all of the options associated with "tile" will apply. Note that the config file will override any command-line options which are before the "-layout"; command-line options after the "-layout" will override those in the config file.

You can also list sendStrings after the options in the layout configuration, so a frequently used list of strings can be accessed with a simple layout. Any additional sendStrings provided on the command line will be added to those found in the layout.

This starts up five xterms with the default cascade positioning.

example% mkxlax host1 host2 host3 host4 host5

If you run more than one group of mkxlax windows, you need different group names, otherwise later xlaxes will find windows from earlier mkxlax commands.

example% mkxlax -group foo: host1 host2 host3

To lay out tiled, by row:

example% mkxlax -dx 400 -wrapx 1000 -wrapdy 300 host1 host2 ...

To lay out tiled, by column:

example% mkxlax -dy 300 -wrapy 700 -wrapdx 400 host1 host2 ...

To get default host and display number.

$HOME/.mkxlax
Layout customization information

Probably something, but nothing that comes to mind.

xterm(1), xlax(1)

Copyright 2007, Thomas A. Fine