[Solved] i3 workspace output woes

elken · 2014-02-05 17:48:23

Semi-recently switched to i3, loving everything about it so far other than one fairly large issue that is stopping me using it like a true WM.

Basically, I'm trying to set 4 workspaces on each monitor (of which I have 2), and it just straight up doesn't work. Both outputs have at least 8 (I only have 1-8 switch keys bound) workspaces that are independent, and if I launch applications before switching, they get ignored and other workspaces get created.

My .i3 config
My xorg.conf
Output of xrandr
An example of what I mean about it ignoring the preset workspaces.

Happy to post anything else needed, thanks!

Last edited by elken (2014-02-07 08:24:40)

redstar · 2014-02-05 19:36:07

What do you mean by "set 4 workspaces on each monitor"? Are you trying to bind workspaces to specific outputs?

Last edited by redstar (2014-02-05 20:32:57)

elken · 2014-02-05 19:36:54

Correct. 1-4 on primary, 5-8 on secondary, as in the config.

redstar · 2014-02-05 19:48:03

I tried binding a workspace to a certain output, but it didn't work. Then I bound all workspaces to specific monitor and it did work. I think you might have to bind every workspace to an output, or at least that's what happened on my system. Although you want only four per monitor, you can just bind the remaining two workspaces to either monitor but never use them and it will essentially be the same. I'm not sure if it's possible to bind only some workspaces to certain outputs, but binding them all does work.

Gadileth · 2014-02-05 20:35:39

Yes, i think if you want to bind ANY workspace to an output you have to bind all the others too.

I binded all 10 workspaces to one of my outputs/monitors and it works flawless. A never had any problems.

elken · 2014-02-07 08:24:28

I took a break from i3 for a day as this was really bugging me, had a sleep, woke up this morning and I've sorted it. It's a very hacked solution, but it does the job. Instead of having

bindsym $mod4+<num> workspace <num>

I now have

bindsym $mod4+<num> exec "i3-msg focus output <monitor>; i3-msg workspace <num>"

Which I know will probably cause problems later, but it does the job for now. Marking as solved.

Arch Linux

#1 2014-02-05 17:48:23

[Solved] i3 workspace output woes

#2 2014-02-05 19:36:07

Re: [Solved] i3 workspace output woes

#3 2014-02-05 19:36:54

Re: [Solved] i3 workspace output woes

#4 2014-02-05 19:48:03

Re: [Solved] i3 workspace output woes

#5 2014-02-05 20:35:39

Re: [Solved] i3 workspace output woes

#6 2014-02-07 08:24:28

Re: [Solved] i3 workspace output woes

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