ion(1)

Usage

ion [options]

Overview

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) 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). 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)

Referred to by

pwm2(1) An X11 window manager