Command Line – How to Set Cursor Position with Script Using xdotool

command linecursorscreenscriptsxdotool

I have a script which resets some things, and at the end of it I need it to set the cursor to certain coordinates, either to a custom set or to the centre of the screen (where it is reset to by default when restarting gnome-shell for instance).

How can this be achieved? The solution would have to work for all display sizes and be able to automatically get the data and do all the maths etc involved.

I am running Ubuntu GNOME 16.04 with GNOME 3.20.

Best Answer

Moving the mouse to a defined (absolute) position

..is simply done by the command (e.g.):

xdotool mousemove 200 200

To move the mouse to the centre of the screen however is a relative command, for which we need to read the screen's information and do some calculations. This is done in the two small scripts below.

Straightforward version (move cursor to the center of the left screen)

To move the mouse to the center of the (leftmost) screen, use the script below:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import subprocess

xr = [s for s in subprocess.check_output("xrandr").decode("utf-8").split() if "+0+" in s]
scr = [int(n)/2 for n in xr[0].split("+")[0].split("x")]
subprocess.Popen(["xdotool", "mousemove", str(scr[0]), str(scr[1])])

install xdotool
```
sudo apt-get install xdotool
```
Copy the script into an empty file, save it as center_screen.py
Run it:
```
python3 /path/to/center_screen.py
```

Extended version (optional arguments x, y)

If arbitrary coordinates are optional, use:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import subprocess
import sys

if sys.argv[1:]:
    scr = [sys.argv[1], sys.argv[2]]
else:
    xr = [s for s in subprocess.check_output("xrandr").decode("utf-8").split() if "+0+" in s]
    scr = [str(int(n)/2) for n in xr[0].split("+")[0].split("x")]

subprocess.Popen(["xdotool", "mousemove", scr[0], scr[1]])

This version will move the cursor to the center of the screen, when run without arguments, or to an arbitrary position, when run with arguments, e.g.:

python3 /path/to/center_screen.py 200 200

Explanation

In the output of the command: xrandr, all we need to find is the string like:

1680x1050+0+0

...which contains the data on the leftmost screen (+0+). both figures in 1680x1050 are then to be divided by two, to be used in:

xdotool mousemove <x> <y>

The line:

if sys.argv[1:]:

is then to decide wether the given arguments should be used or the calculated ones.

EDIT

In the original answer, further below, the countdown window appeared after an arbitrary idle time. Re- reading your question, you might want it permanently. The permanent version is below (which is simpler), the original answer further down.

1a. Version, permanently showing countdown time

The solution is a background script, showing a semi- transparent countdown window. The window behaves like a notification: it is always visible on top, but (of course) you can work in your other windows as usual:

The initial time is the idle- time before suspend should be activated. The time is reset on mouse- keyboard events.

As the image shows, the script comes with different pre- set color options (see further below).

How to setup

The script needs xprintidle:
```
sudo apt-get install xprintidle
```
Copy the script below into an empty file, save it as countdown.py

Run it with the idle time as argument:

python3 /path/to/countdown.py <idle_time>

e.g.

python3 /path/to/countdown.py 300

to enter suspend after 5 minutes.

If all works fine, add it to startup applications: Dash > Startup Applications > Add. Add the command:
```
 /path/to/runner.py <idle_time>
```

The script

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import gi
gi.require_version('Gtk', '3.0')
from gi.repository import Gtk, Gdk, GObject, Pango
from threading import Thread
import subprocess
import time
import signal
import sys
import os

# --- set the color (index) below (1 is the first)
color = 1
# ---
textcolors = ["grey", "orange", "green", "blue", "white"]
# --- don't change anything below
txtcolor = textcolors[color-1]

countdown = int(sys.argv[1])
susp = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))+"/susp.sh"

class CountDown(Gtk.Window):

    def __init__(self):
        Gtk.Window.__init__(self)
        maingrid = Gtk.Grid()
        self.add(maingrid)
        maingrid.set_border_width(40)
        # set initial text for the spash window
        self.label = Gtk.Label(convert_seconds(countdown))
        self.label.modify_font(Pango.FontDescription('Ubuntu 22'))
        self.label.set_width_chars(10) 
        maingrid.attach(self.label, 0, 0, 1, 1)
        self.update = Thread(target=self.start_countdown, args=[countdown])
        # daemonize the thread
        self.update.setDaemon(True)
        self.update.start()

    def start_countdown(self, countdown):
        idle1 = idletime()
        t = countdown
        while True:
            time.sleep(1)
            idle2 = idletime()
            if idle2 < idle1:
                t = countdown
            else:
                t -= 1
            if t <= 0:
                subprocess.Popen(["systemctl", "suspend"])
            GObject.idle_add(self.label.set_text, convert_seconds(t),
                priority=GObject.PRIORITY_DEFAULT)
            idle1 = idle2

    def stop(self):
        Gtk.main_quit()

def get_screen():
    scr = [s.split("x") for s in subprocess.check_output([
        "xrandr"]).decode("utf-8").split() if "+0+0" in s][0]
    return int(scr[0]) - 300

def convert_seconds(sec):
    timedisplay = [
        str(int(sec/3600)),
        str(int((sec % 3600)/60)),
        str(int(sec % 60)),
        ]
    for i, n in enumerate(timedisplay):
        if len(n) == 1:
            timedisplay[i] = "0"+n
    return ":".join(timedisplay)

def idletime():
    return int(subprocess.check_output(
        "xprintidle"
        ).decode("utf-8").strip())/1000

def splashwindow():
    window = CountDown()
    window.set_decorated(False)
    window.set_resizable(False)
    window.override_background_color(Gtk.StateType.NORMAL, Gdk.RGBA(0,0,0,1))
    window.modify_fg(Gtk.StateFlags.NORMAL, Gdk.color_parse(txtcolor))
    window.set_opacity(0.6)
    window.move(get_screen(), 80)
    window.set_keep_above(True)
    window.show_all()
    Gtk.main()

GObject.threads_init()
splashwindow()

Note

The text color can be changed, as explained at the very bottom of the second version of the answer.

1b. As requested in a comment: luxury version of the same script: text color changes to yellow if half the time passed, to red 30 seconds before suspend.

> >

Use it exactly as 1a.

The script

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import gi
gi.require_version('Gtk', '3.0')
from gi.repository import Gtk, Gdk, GObject, Pango
from threading import Thread
import subprocess
import time
import signal
import sys
import os

# --- set the color (index) below (1 is the first)
color = 1
# ---
textcolors = ["grey", "orange", "green", "blue", "white", "yellow", "red"]
# --- don't change anything below

txtcolor = textcolors[color-1]
al_cl1 = textcolors[5]; al_cl2 = textcolors[6]
countdown = int(sys.argv[1])
alarm1 = int(countdown/2)
alarm2 = 30

class CountDown(Gtk.Window):

    def __init__(self):
        Gtk.Window.__init__(self)
        maingrid = Gtk.Grid()
        self.add(maingrid)
        maingrid.set_border_width(40)
        # set initial text for the spash window
        self.label = Gtk.Label(convert_seconds(countdown))
        self.label.modify_font(Pango.FontDescription('Ubuntu 22'))
        self.label.modify_fg(Gtk.StateFlags.NORMAL, Gdk.color_parse(txtcolor))
        self.label.set_width_chars(10) 
        maingrid.attach(self.label, 0, 0, 1, 1)
        self.update = Thread(target=self.start_countdown, args=[countdown])
        # daemonize the thread
        self.update.setDaemon(True)
        self.update.start()

    def mod_color(self, color):
        self.label.modify_fg(Gtk.StateFlags.NORMAL, Gdk.color_parse(color))

    def start_countdown(self, countdown):
        idle1 = idletime()
        t1 = countdown
        t2 = countdown
        while True:
            time.sleep(1)
            idle2 = idletime()
            if idle2 < idle1:
                t2 = countdown
                if t1 <= alarm1:
                    # print("change textcolor default")
                    GObject.idle_add(self.mod_color, txtcolor,
                        priority=GObject.PRIORITY_DEFAULT)
            else:
                t2 -= 1
            if all([t2 <= alarm2, t1 > alarm2]):
                # print("change textcolor red")
                GObject.idle_add(self.mod_color, al_cl2,          
                    priority=GObject.PRIORITY_DEFAULT)
            elif all([t2 <= alarm1, t1 > alarm1]):
                # print("change textcolor yellow")
                GObject.idle_add(self.mod_color, al_cl1,          
                    priority=GObject.PRIORITY_DEFAULT) 
            if t2 <= 0:
                subprocess.Popen(["systemctl", "suspend"])
            GObject.idle_add(self.label.set_text, convert_seconds(t2),
                priority=GObject.PRIORITY_DEFAULT)
            idle1 = idle2
            t1 = t2

    def stop(self):
        Gtk.main_quit()

def get_screen():
    scr = [s.split("x") for s in subprocess.check_output([
        "xrandr"]).decode("utf-8").split() if "+0+0" in s][0]
    return int(scr[0]) - 300

def convert_seconds(sec):
    timedisplay = [
        str(int(sec/3600)),
        str(int((sec % 3600)/60)),
        str(int(sec % 60)),
        ]
    for i, n in enumerate(timedisplay):
        if len(n) == 1:
            timedisplay[i] = "0"+n
    return ":".join(timedisplay)

def idletime():
    return int(subprocess.check_output(
        "xprintidle"
        ).decode("utf-8").strip())/1000

def splashwindow():
    window = CountDown()
    window.set_decorated(False)
    window.set_resizable(False)
    window.override_background_color(Gtk.StateType.NORMAL, Gdk.RGBA(0,0,0,1))
    window.set_opacity(0.6)
    window.move(get_screen(), 80)
    window.set_keep_above(True)
    window.show_all()
    Gtk.main()

GObject.threads_init()
splashwindow()

2. Original answer: version, showing countdown time after x idle time

The setup below will show a countdown (during an arbitrary time length) to the next suspend:

The window is always on top of all other windows, exactly like the notification bubbles.

The setup replaces the "normal" suspend settings, which means you need to disable suspend from system settings.

About the solution

The command to suspend in the script is:

 systemctl suspend

which doesn't require sudo. The consequence is that you will need at least 15.04 to use this solution.
The script was written and tested on Ubuntu (Unity) 15.10, but there is no specific code in it that should be Unity specific. I assume it works fine on all default Ubuntu versions > 15.04

How it works

To setup (detailed version further below), simply copy the three scripts involved into one and the same directory, exactly named as indicated. To run, simply run the main script (running the time- check).

If the idle time exceeds a certain limit, the countdown window is called.
If during countdown the computer becomes un- idle (mouse- or keyboard event) the window is closed (its pid is killed).
If the timer has ended its count down, it runs a simple script to suspend

How to setup

The script needs xprintidle:
```
sudo apt-get install xprintidle
```

Copy the three scripts below into separate empty files, save the in one and the same directory, exactly named as indicated:

A. save (exactly) as win.py:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import gi
gi.require_version('Gtk', '3.0')
from gi.repository import Gtk, Gdk, GObject, Pango
from threading import Thread
import subprocess
import time
import signal
import sys
import os

# --- set the color (index) below (1 is the first)
color = 1
# ---
textcolors = ["grey", "orange", "green", "blue", "white"]
# --- don't change anything below
txtcolor = textcolors[color-1]

countdown = int(sys.argv[1])
susp = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))+"/susp.sh"

class CountDown(Gtk.Window):

    def __init__(self):
        Gtk.Window.__init__(self)
        maingrid = Gtk.Grid()
        self.add(maingrid)
        maingrid.set_border_width(40)
        # set initial text for the spash window
        self.label = Gtk.Label(convert_seconds(countdown))
        self.label.modify_font(Pango.FontDescription('Ubuntu 22'))
        self.label.set_width_chars(10) 
        maingrid.attach(self.label, 0, 0, 1, 1)
        self.update = Thread(target=self.start_countdown, args=[countdown])
        # daemonize the thread
        self.update.setDaemon(True)
        self.update.start()

    def start_countdown(self, countdown):
        t = countdown
        while t > 0:
            time.sleep(1)
            t -= 1
            GObject.idle_add(self.label.set_text, convert_seconds(t),
                priority=GObject.PRIORITY_DEFAULT)
            print(t)
        subprocess.Popen(["/bin/bash", susp])
        self.stop()

    def stop(self):
        Gtk.main_quit()

def get_screen():
    scr = [s.split("x") for s in subprocess.check_output([
        "xrandr"]).decode("utf-8").split() if "+0+0" in s][0]
    return int(scr[0]) - 300

def convert_seconds(sec):
    timedisplay = [
        str(int(sec/3600)),
        str(int((sec % 3600)/60)),
        str(int(sec % 60)),
        ]
    for i, n in enumerate(timedisplay):
        if len(n) == 1:
            timedisplay[i] = "0"+n
    return ":".join(timedisplay)

def splashwindow():
    window = CountDown()
    window.set_decorated(False)
    window.set_resizable(False)
    window.override_background_color(Gtk.StateType.NORMAL, Gdk.RGBA(0,0,0,1))
    window.modify_fg(Gtk.StateFlags.NORMAL, Gdk.color_parse(txtcolor))
    window.set_opacity(0.6)
    window.move(get_screen(), 80)
    window.set_keep_above(True)
    window.show_all()
    Gtk.main()

GObject.threads_init()
splashwindow()

B. Save exactly as runner.py:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import subprocess
import time
import os
import sys

window_mod = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))+"/win.py" 

suspend = int(sys.argv[1])
countdown = int(sys.argv[2])

w = False
while True:  
    time.sleep(1)
    idletime = int(subprocess.check_output(
        "xprintidle"
        ).decode("utf-8").strip())/1000
    if all([idletime > suspend-countdown, w == False]):
        subprocess.Popen(["python3", window_mod, str(countdown)])
        w = True
    elif all([idletime < suspend-countdown, w == True]):
        try:
            procdata = subprocess.check_output([
                "pgrep", "-f", window_mod
                ]).decode("utf-8").strip()
            procs = procdata.splitlines()
        except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
            pass
        else:
            for p in procs:
                subprocess.Popen(["kill", p])
        w = False

C. Save (exactly) as susp.sh:

#!/bin/bash

sleep 3
systemctl suspend

Make all three scripts executable, and again, make sure they are in one and the same directory.
You're practically done.
- Disable your "usual" suspend settings
- Test- run the script the suspend time (idle time before suspend should be applied), and the count down time (in seconds) as arguments, e.g.:
```
/path/to/runner.py 600 300
```
  to set idle time to 10 minutes, counter starts 5 minutes before suspend.
If all works fine, add it to startup applications: Dash > Startup Applications > Add. Add the command:
```
 /path/to/runner.py <idle_time> <countdown_time>
```

Notes

In the head section of the win.py, you can set different colors for the displayed text:

# --- set the color (index) below (1 is the first)
color = 1
# ---
textcolors = ["grey", "orange", "green", "blue", "white"]

Playing with the values in the lines:
```
maingrid.set_border_width(10)
```
and
```
return int(scr[0]) - 200 
```
(from the function get_screen, where 200 is the distance of the left side of the window to the right side of the screen), and
```
window.move(get_screen(), 35)
```
(where 35 is the distance between the window and the top of the screen), you can easily change the geometry of the window, e.g.:

Have fun :)

Best Answer

Moving the mouse to a defined (absolute) position

Straightforward version (move cursor to the center of the left screen)

Extended version (optional arguments x, y)

Explanation

Related Solutions

How to Show Countdown Window Until Next Suspend on Ubuntu

EDIT

1a. Version, permanently showing countdown time

How to setup

The script

Note

1b. As requested in a comment: luxury version of the same script: text color changes to yellow if half the time passed, to red 30 seconds before suspend.

The script

2. Original answer: version, showing countdown time after x idle time

About the solution

How it works

How to setup

Notes

Related Question