The xecho command, just like the echo command, outputs <text> to your display. Normally text you output with xecho always appears, even if you are suppressing the display. Options are available to give you more control over how and where <text> will appear.
| -current | Output to current server's current window. This is different from the current window (option -visible). |
| -level <level> | Use the given <level> to hunt for a window, overriding the current level being used. This option CANCELS the current target, so you must use it before -target. |
| -target | Use the given <target> to hunt for a window, overriding the current target being used. The -level option cancels this option, so you must use this option after -level. |
| -line <number> | When used after -win, overwrite a particular line in that window. |
| -visible | Output to a visible window. Usually the current window or the top window on the main screen. |
| -window <windesc> | Output to the specified window. |
| -all | Output to all windows. |
| -as | Output to all windows on the server. |
| -banner | Prefix the <text> with the current banner |
| -raw | Output the <text> as a raw string to the underlying tty. This is used to send control characters to the terminal emulator. |
| -nolog | Do not save the <text> to any log files that might apply. |
| -say | Do not output if display is being suppressed. |
| -x | Overrule set mangle_display and pretend it was set to NORMALIZE instead. |
| -f | Do not notify (%F) if the window is hidden |
| -e <seconds> | After specified number of seconds, echoed line is erased. |
| -- | End option processing. <text> begins immediately after this option. |
To echo text to the current window:
xecho -v This text will appear in the current window
To send only crap and server notices to a window called `misc'
xecho -l snotice,crap -w misc This appears in the misc window
To send the message to ALL windows:
xecho -a This appears in all windows
To send a message with a banner prefixed to the message:
xecho -b This will give a banner too
To change the titlebar of an xterm:
eval xecho -r $chr(27)]2\;Your titlebar has been changed.$chr(7)
To output a temporary message:
xecho -e 5 This message will self destruct in 5 seconds!
To output text beginning with a hyphen:
xecho -- -= This text is treated literal =-
outputs:
-= This text is treated literal =-