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Fire Crow
Asked: 2009-07-18 16:34:11 +0800 CST

stdout to gnu screen copy buffer

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Is there a command in GNU Screen to direct standard output to the copy buffer

I've been doing alot of work with files, it's great to copy and past the filenames I want into commands

e.g.

ls | grep proc

$ ls | grep cal
calendar.inc-gen.php

// enter copy mode
$^a y 
// backward search for gen_chg
? cal
// start region
SPC
//goto to end of file by forward search php
php
// done 
ENT
// type command line
$ git rm ^p
// creates
$ git rm calendar.inc-gen.php

I'm aware there are easier ways to do this with a bash script, but often I find myself needed a specialized piece of information from the terminal screen and it would be great to just type

ls | grep cal > To_GNU_SREEN_COPY_:) or something

dennis's solution below works

you may need to set the bufferfile in your .screenrc bufferfile /tmp/screen-exchange

linux terminal-server bash gnu-screen console

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Here's one way:

    echo -n cal* > /tmp/screen-exchange
screen -X readbuf    # or press Ctrl-a <
git rm ^a]           # type "git rm" then press Ctrl-a ]
    • 3

  2. The gnu-screen Copy / Scrollback Buffer is located at register .

    To send a string to the Copy / Scrollback buffer from a shell within the screen session you can use the register command like so:

    screen -X register . 'Hello World'

    However, if this command is running from a script, as is likely the case then you will need to specify the screen server name.

    screen -S "1234.pts-1.localhost" -X register . 'Hello World'

    This command will also pull the value from a shell variable without the need for echo:

    x='Hello World'
screen -S "1234.pts-1.localhost" -X register . $x

    Specifying the window is not required, however this is how you would do it.

    y='Goodbye World'
screen -S "1234.pts-1.localhost" -p 2 -X register . $y
# Walk into the ocean.... fade to black....  roll credits
    • 2