I have a script that opens six xterm windows. Each window serves a different task for the research I perform. After each window opens I need to go to that window and do some amount of set-up (get to correct directory, open specific files, and load software). I would like to have these tasks initiated through script(s). I thought if I could identify the window (named during creation) then I could install a script file that runs from the .profile.

I have spent most of the day trying to find out how to get the window title. So far with no luck. I have found several ways to change the title, but not extract what is there.

Any ideas on how to extract the window title example (I/O Report) or another way to accomplish the goal

Try:
Update: On re-reading, I think what you want is a method of getting the window title for the terminal window that the script is running in. If so, you can do something like this:

Macemoneta

Thanks for the reply, however I received this error.

ksh: wmctrl: not found.
usage: grep [-r] [-R] [-H] [-L] [-E|-F] [-c|-l|-q] [-insvxbhwyu] [-p[parasep]] -e pattern_list...
[-f pattern_file...] [file...]
usage: grep [-E|-F] [-c|-l|-q] [-insvxbhwyu] [-p[parasep]] [-e pattern_list...]

xprop is more likely to be found - the WM_NAME property would have the information.

xprop wants a window-id. xterm's would have that as $WINDOWID in your environment.

By the way, aixterm isn't xterm. Check its manpage for $WINDOWID (the workarounds are less portable if it doesn't set that).

If you don't have a given software package, you need to use your distribution's package management software to install it.

For deb based systems:

apt-get update
apt-get install wmctrl

For rpm based systems:

yum install wmctrl

When I echo the $WINDOWID I get a seven digit number (whatever that means).

I appreciate the attempts to help. Maybe it is just beyond me or can't be done. I still think it would be a time saver for me if I could figure it out.
Thanks again

As a shell script, for instance

#!/bin/sh
if test -n "$WINDOWID"
then
xprop -id $WINDOWID |fgrep 'WM_NAME(STRING)'|sed -e 's/^[^=]*= //'
else
echo "? WINDOWID is not set"
fi

Thank you very much. I didn't understand until I played with it today but I have it now.
Thanks again