---
name: "ion"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ion"
version: "0.0.20020207-1"
release: "Debian 3.0 (Woody)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ion"
---

# ion(1)

an X11 window manager

## NAME

Ion - an X11 window manager

## SYNOPSIS

**ion** *\[options\]*

## DESCRIPTION

Ion is an X11 window manager with text-editorish and keyboard friendly feel.

## OPTIONS

- **-display host:display.screen**

  X display to manage

- **-cfgfile configfile**

  Config file to use instead of default

- **-onescreen**

  On X servers with multiple screens, manage only default screen, not all.

- **-help**

  Show help on command line options

- **-version**

  Show version

- **-about**

  Show about text

## KEYS

These are the default keybindings. **Mod1** depends on your system. On PC:s with XFree86 it is probably bound to the left alt key (**Alt\_L**). On Suns it is usually bound to the diamond keys (**Meta\_L**, **Meta\_R**). Use *[xmodmap(1x)](/xmodmap/1x.md)* to find out.

### F-keys

- **F1**

  Show manual page (query, uses ion-man).

- **Mod1+F1**

  Show Ion manual page.

- **F2**

  Run an x-terminal-emulator.

- **F3**

  Run a program (query). Precede the program name with a colon (:) to run in xterm (ion-runinxterm).

- **Mod1+F3**

  Call a function (query).

- **F4**

  Start new SSH session (query, uses ion-ssh).

- **F5**

  Open a file for editing (query). Uses ion-edit which by default uses run-mailcap.

- **F6**

  Open a file for viewing (query). Uses ion-view which by default uses run-mailcap.

- **F9**

  Goto existing workspace or create new (query).

- **Mod1+F9**

  Create new workspace with active client.

- **F11**

  Restart Ion (query)

- **F12**

  Exit Ion (query)

### Navigation

- **Mod1+N**

  Goto below frame

- **Mod1+P**

  Goto above frame

- **Mod1+Tab**

  Goto right frame

- **Mod1+K Tab**

  Goto left frame

- **Mod1+n**

  Goto n:th workspace (n=1..9, 0)

- **Mod1+K N**

  Goto next client within frame

- **Mod1+K P**

  Goto previous client within frame

- **Mod1+K n**

  Goto n:th client within frame (n=1..9, 0)

- **Mod1+K K**

  Goto previously active client

- **Mod1+A**

  Attach client in current frame (query)

- **Mod1+G**

  Goto client (query)

### Resize and split

- **Mod1+V**

  Resize vertically. In resize-mode, use **S** to shrink, **V** to grow and **Enter** to finish before timeout (1.5s by default).

- **Mod1+H**

  Resize horizontally

- **Mod1+K V**

  Maximize vertically

- **Mod1+K H**

  Maximize horizontally

- **Mod1+S**

  Split vertically

- **Mod1+K S**

  Split horizontally

### Close and all

- **Mod1+C**

  Close client or destroy empty frame

- **Mod1+K C**

  Kill client

- **Mod1+K X**

  Destroy frame

## LINE-EDITING KEYS

These keys can be used in the line editor (queries). They are similar to those of *[joe(1)](/joe/1.md)*. Selection works differently, though, while the keys are equivalent.

### Movement

- **Control+F, Right arrow**

  Go forward character

- **Control+B, Left arrow**

  Go backward character

- **Control+E, End**

  Go to end of line

- **Control+A, Home**

  Go to beginning of line

- **Control+Z**

  Backward skip word

- **Control+X**

  Forward skip word

### Delete

- **Control+D, Delete**

  Delete next character

- **Control+H, Backspace**

  Delete previous character

- **Control+J**

  Delete to end of line

- **Control+Y**

  Delete whole line

- **Control+W**

  Delete word

- **Control+O**

  Backward delete word

### Selections

- **Control+K B**

  Set mark (begin selection)

- **Control+K K**

  Copy selection

- **Control+K Y**

  Cut selection

- **Control+K C**

  Paste

### Completion and history

- **Tab**

  Complete or list possible completions (if available)

- **Control+U, Page up**

  Scroll completions up

- **Control+V, Page down**

  Scroll completions down

- **Control+P, Up arrow**

  Previous history entry

- **Control+N, Down arrow**

  Next history entry

### Cancel, accept

- **Control+C, Escape**

  Cancel

- **Control+M, Enter**

  Accept

## BUTTONS

- **Button1 (left)**

  Click on tab: switch client. Drag tab: move clients between frames.

- **Button3 (right)**

  Drag border: resize.

## FILES

- **/etc/X11/ion/ion.conf**

  System default configuration file

- **/etc/X11/ion/look-\*.conf**

  Color scheme configuration files

- **/etc/X11/ion/bindings-\*.conf**

  Keyboard and pointer binding configuration files

- **~/.ion/ion.conf**

  User default configuration file (overrides system default)

## SEE ALSO

The Ion home page, *http://www.students.tut.fi/~tuomov/ion/*

*/usr/share/doc/ion/*

*[X(1x)](/X/1x.md)*

## AUTHOR

Ion was written by Tuomo Valkonen \<tuomov@cc.tut.fi\>.