How to pass commands to 'screen'

Basher52 · 08-27-2012, 07:43 PM

Howdy.

I wonder how do I create 4 'screens' at bootup and start the things I want in each "screen".
I think I can start one with a script but how do a create more 'screens' and in those start
more stuff that I want?
Don't know how to "pass" the 'CRTL-N'to create a new screen.

I've been googling for weeks now and still haven't got things that work, but I've heard that
it is possible... or?

//B52

evo2 · 08-27-2012, 08:38 PM

Hi,

I'm not sure if this is possible with screen (at least I never worked out how to do it).

I highly recommend that you look into tmux which can be considered a modern replacement of screen. I switched from screen to tmux about two years ago.

In particular you would probably find the ability to control it via a script to be just what you need. There is a nice example at:

http://blog.hawkhost.com/2010/07/02/...hell-scripting

For a more general introduction, for a screen user, try putting "screen vs tmux" into your favourite search engine.

HTH,

Evo2.

Basher52 · 08-27-2012, 10:12 PM

I'll have a look at that, but it seems it ain't that stable though

evo2 · 08-27-2012, 10:21 PM

Hi,

what stability issues are you referring to?

I've found it to be *very* stable. I don't recall ever having problems with it.

Evo2.

Basher52 · 08-27-2012, 11:54 PM

still gonna look into it

tnxs y'all

Roken · 08-28-2012, 02:26 AM

You can interract with a screen sessions by using:

Code:

screen -r SCREENNAME -X log on

which will enable logging. All screen commands are supported. To issue a command to a process running in screen using STDIN:

Code:

screen -r SCREENNAME -X stuff "command ^M"

where the ^M character is typed as Ctrl V Ctrl M, and sends a carriage return.

mjolnir · 08-28-2012, 06:26 AM

I just tried this and it seems to work well. Paraphrased from here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...19&postcount=3

"Re: GNU screen in startup screen: multiple commands
I think the OP wanted to run a single screen program with multiple internal "screens", each running a different program.

Here's one way to do it. screen(1) has a "-c" option to provide a startup file instead of $HOME/.screenrc. And that startup file can start new internal screens.

Example input file:"

Code:

# Screen startup file to start multiple commands under multiple screens.
# Start with "screen -c thisfilename"

# Screen 0: Start 'top'
# Screen 1: Start 'tail -F /var/log/syslog'

screen -t top    0 top
screen -t syslog 1 tail -F /var/log/syslog

"Save the above to a file, say "fancy.screenrc". Then start screen with:
Code:"

Code:

screen -c fancy.screenrc

I added elinks in my own iteration and it works like a charm on 12.04. I am still trying to learn a little command line and I've been switching between screen, tmux, and byobu. Byobu seems to be a little more user friendly.