---
name: "xwit"
section: "1x"
platform: "linux"
package: "xwit"
version: "3.4-6"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xwit/1x"
---

# xwit(1x)

window interface tool: pop or iconify this xterm window or named windows

## NAME

xwit - window interface tool: pop or iconify this xterm window or named windows

## SYNOPSIS

**xwit** \[**-display** *display*\] \[**-sync**\] \[**-pop**\] \[**-focus**\] \[**-iconify**\] \[**-unmap**\]\
 \[**-resize** *w h*\] \[**-rows** *r*\] \[**-columns** *c*\] \[**-**\[**r**\]**move** *x y*\]\
 \[**-**\[**r**\]**warp** *x y*\] \[**-colormap** *colormapid*\] \[**-**\[**no**\]**save**\]\
 \[**-name** *name*\] \[**-iconname** *name*\]\
 \[**-bitmap** *file*\] \[**-mask** *file*\] \[**-**\[**r**\]**iconmove** *x y*\]\
 \[**-**\[**no**\]**backingstore**\] \[**-**\[**no**\]**saveunder**\]\
 \[**-**\[**no**\]**keyrepeat** *keycode ... keycode - keycode ...*\]\
 \[**-id** *windowid*\] \[**-root**\] \[**-current**\] \[**-select**\] \[**-names** *initialsubstring...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**xwit** is an X window interface tool. By default when used with no arguments in an xterm it de-iconifies and raises the window. You can specify a different function to do, such as iconifying the window, and apply it to several windows whose name begins with one of the given strings, or a particular window id given, or the window id found in the environment variable **WINDOWID** (which is set by xterm for the program it runs).

## OPTIONS

- \-display

  is followed by the display to open.

- \-sync

  causes all X requests to be performed synchronously.

- \-pop

  is the default action. It need only be given if it is wanted as well as some other function.

- \-focus

  will give the input focus to the specified window.

- \-iconify

  will iconify the windows instead of popping them.

- \-unmap

  will iconify windows by unmapping with a non ICCCM compliant window manager. (Beware, this option is not usually what you want).

- \-resize w h

  resize windows to the given pixel size.

- \-rows r

  resize windows to the given number of rows.

- \-columns c

  resize windows to the given number of columns.

- \-move x y

  move windows to the given absolute position relative to its parent. (If the x or y value is negative it is taken relative to the right or bottom edge of the parent.)

- \-rmove x y

  move windows by the given relative amount.

- \-warp x y

  move the cursor to the given position relative to the specified window. Add -root to warp to an absolute position.

- \-rwarp x y

  move the cursor by the given relative amount.

- \-colormap colormapid

  install the given colormap into the given window. -save -nosave immediately enable or disable the screen saver.

- \-name name

  set the WM\_NAME property to the given string.

- \-iconname name

  set the WM\_ICON\_NAME property to the given string.

- \-bitmap file

  use the given bitmap file as the icon bitmap for the window.

- \-mask file

  use the given bitmap file as the icon mask for the window.

- \-iconmove x y

  move icons to the given absolute position.  (Will not work with some window managers.)

- \-riconmove x y

  move icons by the given relative amount.  (Will not work with some window managers.)

- \-backingstore -bs -nobackingstore -nobs

  enable or disable backing store for the window.

- \-saveunder -su -nosaveunder -nosu

  enable or disable saveunders for the window.

- \-keyrepeat -nokeyrepeat

  is followed by a list of keycodes (decimal numbers, see [xmodmap(1)](/xmodmap/1.md)). A range can be specified as a lower number, \`\`-'', and upper number as three separate arguments. The individual setting of auto-repeat for those keycodes is set on or off. The global setting of auto-repeat can be set with [xset(1)](/xset/1.md). When off, no keys will repeat.

- Window Selection

  If no window is specified, $WINDOWID will be used if set; otherwise the window under the cursor will be selected.

- \-id

  is followed by a single window number, in decimal; or, if it begins with 0x, in hexadecimal.

- \-root

  selects the root window.

- \-current

  selects the window under the cursor (default if no window specified and $WINDOWID not set).

- \-select

  allows the user to interactively select a window with the mouse.

- \-names

  if given must be the last option and is followed by a list of strings. All windows that have a name that begins exactly like one of the strings will be acted upon. By using a null string (-names ''), all names will be matched.

## EXAMPLES

To de-iconify and pop \`\`this'' xterm and warp the cursor into it:

	xwit -pop -warp 50 50

To interactively select an xterm, and resize it to 34 rows and 80 columns:

	xwit -select -rows 34 -columns 80

To gently agitate your oclock on the screen:

 	while   xwit -rmove 0 10 -name oclock\
  	do      xwit -rmove 0 -10 -name oclock\
  	done

## DIAGNOSTICS

Exit status is 0 if any action is taken, 1 if no window matches the list supplied to -names, 2 if an error occurs.

## LIMITATIONS

Since each application is supposed to request these functions of the window manager, some of them may not like other clients mapping and unmapping them behind their backs. Iconification is requested of the window manager using the ICCCM. Non ICCCM compliant window managers may not react correctly.

## AUTHORS

Mark M Martin, CETIA France, mmm@cetia.fr\
 David DiGiacomo, david@slack.com

## ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Andre Delafontaine, Norman R. McBride, Keith Thompson, and Glen R. Walker for bug reports and suggestions.