Provided by: alttab_1.7.1-4_amd64 
NAME
alttab - the task switcher
SYNOPSIS
alttab [-w N] [-d N] [-sc N] [-mk str] [-kk str] [-bk str] [-pk str] [-nk str] [-ck str] [-dk str] [-mm
N] [-bm N] [-t NxM] [-i NxM] [-vp str] [-p str] [-s N] [-theme name] [-bg color] [-fg color] [-frame
color] [-inact color] [-bc color] [-bw N] [-font name] [-vertical] [-e] [-b N] [-ns] [-v|-vv]
DESCRIPTION
The task switcher designed for minimalistic window managers or standalone X11 session.
Unlike task switchers integrated in most simple WMs, alttab features visual interface and convenient
tactile behaviour, switching windows on releasing Alt key.
Being lightweight and depending only on core X11 libs, it still features customizable look and behaviour.
OPTIONS
Most command line options have corresponding X resource, see doc/alttab.ad for example.
-w NUMBER
resource: alttab.windowmanager
default: autodetect, fallback to 3
Control how to obtain window list and set focus. NUMBER must be between 0 and 3:
0: No WM, raw X.
Set this value manually, as it's not autodetected. Only top-level viewable children of root window
are listed. Running -w 0 under WM is discouraged: hidden windows or windows on another desktops
will not be listed; instead, some strange windows may be included.
1: EWMH compatible.
Compatible WM list is in [SEE ALSO] below. alttab functions in xmonad (EWMH must be allowed,
details in doc/wm-setup.md), i3, evilwm, xfwm4, metacity, jwm, openbox, fluxbox, icewm,
enlightenment, blackbox, aewm, fvwm, sawfish, bspwm. The following WMs support EWMH partially but
work in -w 1 mode too: dwm (issue #9), matchbox (issue #34), windowmaker (issue #9), xpra (issue
#37), cwm (issue #35), ctwm (issue #39), lwm (issue #40), awesome (issue #41).
2: Ratpoison.
Alttab uses ratpoison own remote control capability. Also, alttab registers itself in its
"unmanaged list" automatically.
3: Ancient WM.
Fallback, worse than 0. Search for application windows at random nodes of window tree (WM is
probably reparenting) and select only those with a name, including non-viewable (WM is probably
iconifying). May cause lag. Tested in twm, flwm, wm2.
-d NUMBER
resource: alttab.desktops
default: 0
Show windows belonging to desktops (workspaces, groups). NUMBER must be between 0 and 4:
0: Current desktop.
This is default, although in non EWMH-compatible WM, except ratpoison, it's effectively the same
as 1.
1: All desktops.
2: All desktops, excluding special (-1) one.
In various EWMH WM this desktop may be designed hidden or containing sticky windows. In i3, it's
"scratchpad".
3: All desktops, excluding current and special.
4: Special (-1) desktop only.
-sc NUMBER
resource: alttab.screens
default: 1
Show windows belonging to xrandr/xinerama screens. NUMBER must be 0 or 1:
0: Current screen.
As defined according to -vp pointer or -vp focus.
1: All screens.
This is default.
-mk str
resource: alttab.modifier.keysym
default: Alt_L (i.e. Left Alt)
Keysym of main modifier. String or number accepted. Suitable examples: Control_L, Super_L.
-kk str
resource: alttab.key.keysym
default: Tab
Keysym of main key. For example, grave (aka tilde), Escape.
-bk str
resource: alttab.backscroll.keysym
default: any Shift, according to ShiftMask
Keysym of backward scroll key.
-pk str
resource: alttab.prevkey.keysym
default: no key assigned
Keysym of auxiliary 'previous' key. For example, Left, H.
-nk str
resource: alttab.nextkey.keysym
default: no key assigned
Keysym of auxiliary 'next' key. For example, Right, L.
-ck str
resource: alttab.cancelkey.keysym
default: Escape
Keysym of auxiliary 'cancel' key.
-dk str
resource: alttab.killkey.keysym
default: k
Keysym of key for killing X client to which currently selected window belongs.
-mm NUM
resource: alttab.modifier.mask
OBSOLETED, guessed from -mk instead.
-bm NUM
resource: alttab.backscroll.mask
OBSOLETED, guessed from -bk instead.
-t NNxMM
resource: alttab.tile.geometry
default: 112x128
Size of a single tile (mini-window). If switcher doesn't fit the viewport (-vp), tile may be
thinner.
-i NNxMM
resource: alttab.icon.geometry
default: 32x32
Size of icons.
-vp str
resource: alttab.viewport
default: focus
Limit viewport for the switcher. The switcher always has variable size and position, but tries to
never break out of -vp container, while -p specifies position relative to this container. Together
these options allow for WM-independent multi-monitor support. Possible values for -vp:
focus: in multihead configuration: the monitor which shows largest part of currently focused
window. If this part is shared with other monitors, then the smallest of these monitors is chosen.
In single head configuration: the geometry of default root window.
pointer: the monitor which has mouse pointer, otherwise the same as focus.
The "multihead" above means more than one active XRANDR output. They are detected at runtime, so
hopefully monitors may be attached/detached without restarting alttab.
total: the geometry of default root window.
If you specify this in tiling multihead configuration, then the switcher will be drawn relative to
the entire combined screen, crossing monitors' borders.
WxH+X+Y: Specific position relative to default root window.
This allows for static manual bounding if XRANDR detection fails. Suppose X root window spans over
two 2560х1440 monitors, resulting in combined screen of 5120x1440 size. Then the switcher may be
positioned at the center of the right monitor with -vp 2560x1440+2560+0 -p center.
-p str resource: alttab.position
default: center
Position of switcher: "center", "none" or specific position relative to upper left corner of
viewport, in the form +X+Y.
-s NUMBER
resource: alttab.icon.source
default: 2
Source of icons. NUMBER must be between 0 and 4:
0: Use icons from X11 window attributes only.
1: Load icon from file if not found in window attributes.
Alttab searches for PNG and XPM icons in $XDG_DATA_DIRS and also under:
/usr/share/icons
/usr/local/share/icons
~/.icons
~/.local/share/icons
Directory structure should obey freedesktop standard, but desktop files are ignored, instead file
name is expected to be equal to application class. That is, if alttab doesn't recognize an icon
for window of class foo, as obtained by 'xprop WM_CLASS', then just drop a 32x32 icon into
/usr/local/share/icons/hicolor/32x32/apps/foo.png.
Also, alttab scans for icons in legacy directories without freedesktop directory structure:
/usr/share/pixmaps
~/.local/share/pixmaps
2: Prefer icon from file when it matches requested size better (see -i option).
3: Use icons from files only.
4: Don't draw icons.
-theme name
resource: alttab.theme
default: hicolor
Desktop theme for application icons. Used when -s is 1, 2 or 3.
The following five options accept color names or #rrggbb. Special value _rnd_low or _rnd_high produce
random color from lower or upper RGB space respectively.
-bg color
resource: alttab.background
default: black
Tile background color.
-fg color
resource: alttab.foreground
default: grey
Foreground color.
-frame color
resource: alttab.framecolor
default: #a0abab
Color of frame around selected tile.
-inact color
resource: alttab.inactcolor
default: foreground color
Color of frame around non-selected tiles.
-bc color
resource: alttab.bordercolor
default: black
Color of extra border around the entire switcher. This border may look redundant. Do not confuse
with -frame.
-bw N resource: alttab.borderwidth
default: 0 (no extra border)
Width of extra border above.
-font name
resource: alttab.font
default: xft:sans-10
Label font name in format: xft:fontconfig_pattern, like in emacs and rxvt. See [SEE ALSO] for
fontconfig pattern. It's neither GTK font pattern nor legacy XLFD.
Your Xresources database probably already has *background, *foreground or *font wildcard definitions,
which alttab will obey. Precedence order (preferred first):
alttab.font resource,
-font option,
wildcard resource like *font in xfd: format.
-vertical
resource: alttab.vertical
default: no
Vertical layout.
-e resource: alttab.keep
default: no
On release of Alt, don't switch, keep showing the switcher. This allows for external call: xdotool
key alt+Tab . See doc/mobile.md for possible usage.
-b NUMBER
resource: alttab.bottomline
default: 0 in single-desktop mode, 1 otherwise
Content of auxiliary line at the bottom of each tile. NUMBER must be between 0 and 2:
0: Empty.
1: Desktop to which the window belongs.
2: User name. Requires _NET_WM_PID freedesktop property and /proc file system.
-ns resource: alttab.noskiptaskbar
default: no
Ignore application request of not including a window on a taskbar.
-v, -vv
resource: no
default: silent
Verbosity.
-h short help
##CAVEATS
Run alttab after WM, or autodetection will fail.
##AUTHOR
Copyright 2017-2023 Alexander Kulak <sa-dev AT odd POINT systems>.
##REPORTING BUGS
Please report issues on github https://github.com/sagb/alttab/issues.
##SEE ALSO
EWMH compatible WM list
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Window_Manager_Hints#List_of_window_managers_that_support_Extended_Window_Manager_Hints.
Description of fontconfig pattern https://www.freedesktop.org/software/fontconfig/fontconfig-user.html.
February 2025 ALTTAB(1)