X11 - Xmessage : display a message in a window

You've seen how to run commands, set of commands and scripts in the terminal.


In X graphical environment  Xmessage can send the output of a command or script in a window.



Xmessage display a message or query in a window (X-based /bin/echo)




Here are some basic examples.

Xmessage display the date and time:

This can be done with a simple script: in a while loop create an output and pass it to Xmessage

sh -c 'while date | xmessage -nearmouse -buttons OK:1 -file - ; do :; done'




Xmessage display the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi weather report:

sh -c 'while metar -d HKJK | xmessage -nearmouse -title JOMO\ KENYATTA\ NAIROBI -buttons OK:1,Another\ Button:\ AGAIN:0 -default OK -file - ; do :; done'




Xmessage can be used to display a test file like this:

This is the script:

sh -c 'while xmessage -nearmouse -title LOREM\ IPSUM -buttons Close:1 -file ~/Lorem.txt ; do :; done' &

But it can also be in this form:

sh -c 'while less ~/Lorem.txt | col -x | xmessage -nearmouse -title LOREM\ IPSUM -buttons Close:1 -file - ; do :; done'

Because -file - reads from standard input.





Xmessage can be used to display the output of a script that collect the exchange rate of Euro, Dollar and Pound to KES:

Note the Another button can repeat the query. You can add more buttons as needed.

Xmessage can be useful for a help file from the menu. 

 or to display the calendar with some notes:

Xmessage shortcuts

The Athena Text widget that is used for this application  allow some shortcuts in the Xmessage window:


Ctrl + R or Ctrl + S to search

Ctrl + Z to scroll down
Alt + S to scroll up

Alt + V to go to Home
Ctrl + V to go to End


Note that you can move the scrollbar with the mouse buttons:

Mouse Left button on the scrollbar: scroll DOWN
Mouse Center button on the scrollbar: HOLD scroll to move UP or DOWN
Mouse Right button on the scrollbar: scroll UP


You can customize an X11 application, mostly graphics, in ~ / .Xdefaults file that is read when an X11 program starts.

Here is what to write in your ~ / .Xdefaults file to have the same graphic effects.

!Lines beginning with ! or includes in  /*string here*/ are comments and are ignored:
!This is a Comment
/*This is a Comment*/
/*-No-white-space-start-or-end-of-any-line-*/ 
!{{{ XMESSAGE

Xmessage*font:                          -xos4-terminus-medium-*-*-*-12-*-*-*-*-*-iso8859-2

Xmessage*geometry:                         +200+200

Xmessage*background:                    gray85
Xmessage*foreground:                    gray15

Xmessage*Scrollbar.thumb:               vlines2
Xmessage*Scrollbar.width:               12
Xmessage*Scrollbar.foreground:          rgb:a/5/5
Xmessage*Scrollbar.borderWidth:         0
Xmessage*Scrollbar.displayList:\
foreground      gray90;\
lines           1,-1,-1,-1,-1,1;\
foreground      gray60;\
lines           -1,0,0,0,0,-1

Xmessage*Text.?.cursorColor:            rgb:d/5/5
Xmessage*Text.borderColor:              gray80
Xmessage*Text*background:               gray96
Xmessage*Text*Scrollbar.background:     gray80
Xmessage*Text.displayList:\
foreground      gray90;\
lines           1,-1,-1,-1,-1,1;\
foreground      gray60;\
lines           -1,0,0,0,0,-1

Xmessage*Command.highlightThickness:    2
Xmessage*Command.internalWidth:         5
Xmessage*Command.internalHeight:        3
Xmessage*Command.borderColor:           gray40
Xmessage*Command.shapeStyle:            Rectangle
Xmessage*Command.background:            gray80
Xmessage*Command.displayList:\
foreground      gray60;\
lines           1,-1,-1,-1,-1,1;\
foreground      gray90;\
lines           -1,0,0,0,0,-1

Xmessage*Form.displayList:\
foreground      gray60;\
lines           1,-1,-1,-1,-1,1;\
foreground      gray90;\
lines           -1,0,0,0,0,-1

!}}}

Save .Xdefaults in your home directory.




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