Xfce Forum

mustbeit

Member

Registered: 2024-08-05

Posts: 18

script to tile desktop in 1/4 + 3/4 windows - keyboard shortcut

Hello,

using settings > window manager(gestionnaire de fenêtres) > tab: keyboard
it's easy to vertically split the desktop screen in 2 windows having each half the screen-width.

Now, having a monitor of 28 inches, I wish to unevenly title the windows
I whish to vertically split the desktop in 2, but

• 1/4 screen-width to the left, which is my view/read window
  I wish for instance shortcut SUPER + (numeric pad) divide

• 3/4 screen-width to the righ, which is my working window(edit mode)
  I wish for instance shortcut SUPER + (numeric pad) minus

With mouse drag, of course I can do it, but how could I do it with 2 direct keyboard shortcut ?

Thanks

Copilot SOLVED it:

1/ install: wmctrl xdotool xorg-xdpyinfo
2/ Step 2 — Create two scripts
3/ Bind them, using settings > keyboard: keyboard shortcuts

2.1/ create script1

nano ~/.local/bin/window_left_quarter.sh

2.1.1 paste:

#!/bin/bash

# Get screen size
SCREEN_W=$(xdpyinfo | awk '/dimensions/{print $2}' | cut -d'x' -f1)
SCREEN_H=$(xdpyinfo | awk '/dimensions/{print $2}' | cut -d'x' -f2)

# Compute sizes
W=$((SCREEN_W / 4))
H=$SCREEN_H
X=0
Y=0

# Apply to active window
wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -e 0,$X,$Y,$W,$H

2.1.2 Make executable:

chmod +x ~/.local/bin/window_left_quarter.sh

2.2 Create script2

nano ~/.local/bin/window_right_threequarters.sh

2.2.1. paste:

#!/bin/bash

# Get screen size
SCREEN_W=$(xdpyinfo | awk '/dimensions/{print $2}' | cut -d'x' -f1)
SCREEN_H=$(xdpyinfo | awk '/dimensions/{print $2}' | cut -d'x' -f2)

# Compute sizes
W=$((SCREEN_W * 3 / 4))
H=$SCREEN_H
X=$((SCREEN_W / 4))
Y=0

# Apply to active window
wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -e 0,$X,$Y,$W,$H

2.2.2 Make executable:

chmod +x ~/.local/bin/window_right_threequarters.sh

3. Bind the shortcuts in Xfce

Open:

Settings → Window Manager → Keyboard

Add Script:

~/.local/bin/window_left_quarter.sh

~/.local/bin/window_right_threequarters.sh

Last edited by mustbeit (2026-01-26 11:46:00)