---
name: "9menu"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "9menu"
version: "1.11-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/9menu"
---

# 9menu(1)

create a menu to run commands

## NAME

9menu - create a menu to run commands

## SYNOPSIS

**9menu** \[ **-bg** *background-color* \] \[ **-display** *displayname* \] \[ **-file** *name* \] \[ **-fg** *foreground-color* \] \[ **-font** *fname* \] \[ **-geometry** *geom* \] \[ **-iconic** \] \[ **-label** *name* \] \[ **-path** \] \[ **-popdown** \] \[ **-popup** \] \[ **-shell** *prog* \] \[ **-teleport** \] \[ **-version** \] \[ **-warp** \] *menuitem*\[:*command*\] ...

## DESCRIPTION

*9menu* is a simple program that accepts a list of menu item and command pairs on the command line. It creates a window that consists of nothing but a menu. When a particular item is selected, the corresponding command is executed.

Either **Button1** or **Button3** may be used to select an item. Alternatively, the UP-ARROW and DOWN-ARROW cursor keys may be used to highlight different items, with ENTER used to select the highlighted item.

Menu items and commands are separated by a colon.  The colon and command are optional. If they are missing, then the menu item is assumed to be a command that can be executed directly.

A menu item consisting of the word **exit** causes *9menu* to exit when it is selected. Otherwise, to stop *9menu*, delete it using the window manager. The **exit** menu item can be anywhere in the list, although by convention it is last. If a command is supplied along with the **exit** item, that command is executed before *9menu* exits.

If a menu item's command starts with the word **exec**, *9menu* ceases operating after launching it.

*9menu* accepts the following command line options, listed alphabetically:

- **-bg** *background-color*

  Set the background color to *background-color*. By default, the background color is white.

- **-display** *displayname*

  Use the X display *displayname*, instead of the default display.

- **-file** *filename*

  Read items to display from *filename*, in addition to any other command line arguments.  This is intended for use with **#!** in scripts. If the filename is "-" read from stdin. A *filename* of **-** causes *9menu* to read items from standard input.

- **-fg** *foreground-color*

  Set the foreground color to *foreground-color*. By default, the foreground color is black.

- **-font** *fname*

  Use the font *fname*, instead of one of the default fonts built into *9wm*.

- **-geometry** *geom*

  Use *geom* (a geometry in standard X format) as the geometry of the menu. This is most useful for specifying the initial location of the menu. Note that *9menu* overrides the size part of the geometry specification. The window is always just large enough to hold the menu.

- **-iconic**

  Start up in the iconified state.

- **-label** *name*

  Change both the window and icon labels of the window to *name*. The default label is the last component of the path used to run *9menu*, typically, **9menu**.

- **-path**

  Append the current directory to the command search path.

- **-popdown**

  Once an item is selected, automatically iconify the menu window.

- **-popup**

  Act like a pop-up menu. Once a menu item is selected, *9menu* exits. This option overrides **-popdown**.

- **-shell** *prog*

  Use *prog* as the shell to run commands, instead of **/bin/sh**. A popular alternative shell is [*rc*(1)](/rc/1.md). If the shell cannot be executed, *9menu* then *silently* falls back to using **/bin/sh**.

- **-teleport**

  Move the menu to where the mouse is when the menu is uniconified. This option is particularly useful when combined with **-popdown**.

- **-version**

  Print the version of *9menu* on the standard output, and then exit with an exit value of zero.

- **-warp**

  Warp the mouse to the menu when the menu is uniconified. After the selection is made, restore the mouse to where it was. This option is particularly useful when combined with **-popdown**.

*9menu* grabs the focus so that the UP and DOWN arrow keys will work.

## EXAMPLES

```
9menu -label Remotes xterm 'acme:ssh acme xterm' 'herman:ssh herman 9term' &

9menu -label 'X progs' gv xdvi xeyes xneko exit &
```

## SEE ALSO

[*sam*(1)](/sam/1.md), *9term*(1), *9wm*(1), [*rc*(1)](/rc/1.md).

*The Plan 9 Programmer's Manual*.

## VERSION

This man page documents *9menu* version 1.11.

Source code is available from **ftp://ftp.freefriends.org/arnold/Source/9menu.shar.gz**.

The code with full history is also available via Git from **http://github.com/arnoldrobbins/9menu**.

## BUGS

This program has grown to have too many options.

## AUTHORS

The initial idea for this program was by Arnold Robbins, after having worked with John Mackin's GWM Blit emulation. Matty Farrow wrote a version using libXg, from which some ideas were borrowed. This code was written by David Hogan and Arnold Robbins. Rich Salz motivated the **-shell** option. Christopher Platt motivated the **-teleport** option. John O'Donnell supplied the basic code for the **-fg** and **-bg** options. Peter Seebach provided the base code for the **-file** and **-path** options. Matthias Bauer made it work with the keyboard.