Windows tiling in Mabox

OpenBox is a stacking window manager, but in Mabox it is set up to make window tiling little easier.
In this post, we will look at the options available by default that will make working with Mabox more enjoyable and effective.

If you are reading this article, I strongly encourage you to practice while reading. Just press Super + Left (to put the browser on the left half of the screen) and Ctrl + t (to fire up a Terminator for something to practice on).
Have fun!

Keyboard shortcuts

There are several keybinds configured to help you arrange windows in a grid.
Super is windows key.

Keys Action
Super + [ Up / Down / Left / Right ] half screen
Super + [ Insert / Delete / PageUp / PageDown ] 1/4 screen

Try also Super + KeyPad keys.

Keys Action
Super + Home, Alt + F6 toggle maximize
F11, Super + Enter toggle fullscreen
Super + d toggle show desktop

Terminator

Terminator is an advanced terminal emulator with many amazing features.
One of them is the ability to split the window, which allows you to do the same thing that tiling window managers does, but limits it to terminals.
To run terminator hit Super + t.

Keys Action
Ctrl + Shift + o split horizontally
Ctrl + Shift + e split vertically
Alt + Arrows move directly between terminals
Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Ctrl + Shift + Arrows change the size of the terminal
Ctrl + Shift + X zoom active terminal (toggle)
Super + R
Super + Shift + R
change the mutual position of the panels (terminals) clockwise
or counterclockwise
Ctrl + Shift + W close active terminal
Ctrl + Shift + Q close window (with all terminals)
CTRL + + increase font size (also ctrl + mouse wheel)
CTRL + - decrease font size (also ctrl + mouse wheel)
CTRL + 0 restore original font size

winfuncs script with gui helper

Another option is a simple shell script called winfuncs, which can be used to tile the openbox stacked windows at any time. Winfuncs is based on wmctrl, an old command line tool that provides access for doing many neat things to many modern Linux window managers.
Winfuncs is available by default in Mabox, accompanied by a handy menu that you can call up with Super + Alt + t.

We have eight functions available:

  • Tile – will tile all not-minimized windows at current desktop
  • Tile two (equal) select windows by clicking inside it
  • Tile two (Left wider)
  • Tile two (Right wider)
  • Tile Three
  • Tile Three vertical
  • Stack two
  • Cascade

Remembering a few keyboard shortcuts may be difficult at first, but they quickly become muscle memory.

It is definitely worth spending some time learning because there is no faster and more effective way to work on a computer than using the keyboard and shortcuts.