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hbekel

Member

Registered: 2008-10-04

Posts: 311

Wrapper script to keep emacs "up front" in X

This little wrapper script simplifies using emacs(client) from the commandline in X.

#!/bin/sh
# Frontend to emacs/emacsclient 
#
# Use a single emacs per user in server mode for all subsequent calls
# to 'emacs' in a NetWM comliant window manager, bringing emacs up
# front on the current desktop.
#
# requires either xdtotool (http://www.semicomplete.com/projects/xdotool/)
#              or wmctrl (http://www.sweb.cz/tripie/utils/wmctrl/)
#
# Install: 1. Move your emacs binary to 'emacs-bin' and install this
#                    script as 'emacs'
#               2. Add '(server-start)' to your ~/.emacs

function show_emacs {
    
    # if in X11 move emacs window to the current desktop, raise the
    # window, and give it focus.

    if [ "$XAUTHORITY" ]; then
    
    if [ `which xdotool` ]; then
        WID=`xdotool search --class Emacs | head -n1`
        xdotool set_desktop_for_window $WID `xdotool get_desktop`
        xdotool windowraise $WID
        xdotool windowfocus $WID
    
    elif [ `which wmctrl` ]; then
        wmctrl -R emacs
    fi
    fi
}

# check wether an emacs server is around
if [ ! `fuser /tmp/emacs$UID/server 2> /dev/null` ]; then

    # no server around, start with args
    if [ "$XAUTHORITY" ]; then
    emacs-bin $@ > /dev/null 2>&1 &
    else
    emacs-bin $@
    fi
else
    if [ "$@" ]; then
    # pass args to emacsclient
    emacsclient -n "$@" > /dev/null 2>&1
    show_emacs
    else
    # no args, just bring emacs up front
    show_emacs
    fi
fi