How to save workspace configurations?

[Ernie Pantuso]

Is there ANY way to save which windows are open in which workspace when I reboot?

I wrote a script (using Zenity and wmctrl) that helps me manage and switch between several different workspaces (each of which has its own name and purpose). It's a real lifesaver for me but every time I reboot and launch Chrome, every window launches in the current workspace and I spend 10 minutes sending each window to the appropriate workspace! If there's no way to do this in Xfce, what about Cinnamon or Mate? (I understand that KDE will do this but I can't stand KDE so that's not really an option for me.) I also read that elementary OS does this but I'm not eager to switch distros. Help? Suggestions?

[HaveaMint]

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Will this do what your wanting. Use the save session on exit.

xfce.png

[ajgringo619]

I had the same problem. I use this script to start/configure my desktop:

Code: Select all

#!/bin/bash
# This script moves my preferred programs to their proper desktops

# Define program windows that we want to move
window=( Chromium Evolution Console VirtualBox HomeBank LibreOffice )

# Move programs
for i in "${!window[@]}"
do

  # Wait till we get at least one matching window
  until [ -n "$(wmctrl -l | grep "${window[$i]}" 2>&1)" ]
  do
    sleep 1
  done

  # Send it to the appropriate desktop
  wmctrl -r "${window[$i]}" -t $i

done

The window= variable uses a keyword in the title of the program you're trying to manage.

[Ernie Pantuso]

@HaveaMint - The first time I tried that, it worked. The second time, not only did it NOT work, but things went kinda haywire and I couldn't even shut down. I finally had to sudo su, then shutdown -r now just to shut the system down. It gave me a weird message about validation matching or something like that. (I know, I should have written it down.)

Thanks for that, @ajgringo619! I'm no bash expert (had a heckuva time writing my script for managing workspaces!) but it looks like you're just looking for any Chromium window and moving it to a particular workspace? Maybe I can find a way to adapt that but my issue is that I have maybe a couple dozen Google Chrome Windows and they need to be moved to one of 9 or 10 workspaces.

I guess if nothing else, I have something that loops through all the open windows, prompting me for which workspace to move it to. That would save me a little time.

[ajgringo619]

You should be able to be more specific in what you're looking for with the window title. Since I only use tabs and not separate windows for Chromium, a simple tag of "Chromium" works every time.

[Ernie Pantuso]

The window titles & tabs are going to change all the time. I could maybe look for certain keywords but it’d be very tough to hard code it.

[Eclipsenow+]

Sorry, I'm not sure if it's rude to bump a topic up after a year, but this topic interests me.

I've been locked into iMac's way of doing things and never really bothered to learn about workspaces.
Once I switch it's something I'm keen to get into, but only if what I want to setup can be saved.
I assume workspaces can save:-
Files on desktops you're working on for different things? I've got work, hobbies, and blogging workspaces and files I'll probably set up.
Backgrounds for each workspace? My greenie blogging one can have a rainforest shot, my business space an image of a steampunk desk that gets me in the mood to do paper work, etc?
Software - what software opens on each workspace?

Does all this stuff save?