screen-info: Check Screen Session Information

Overview

screen-info provides useful metadata such as the current Screen window number, name, hostname, and current time. This command is an essential element for personalizing your terminal environment by leveraging Screen's powerful customization features.

Key Features

Outputs information about the current Screen window
Used for dynamic updates of the Screen status bar
Extracts Screen session information in scripts

Main Options

The `screen-info` command itself does not have separate command-line options. This command outputs information about the active window in the current Screen session in a fixed format. The information is mainly used in conjunction with the `backtick` command in the `.screenrc` file to dynamically update Screen's status bar.

Information Output

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Description:

`screen-info` Executes the command.

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Usage Examples

screen-info is typically executed directly within a Screen session or invoked externally via the `screen -X` command.

Executing within a Screen Session

Ctrl+a : screen-info

Within a Screen session, press `Ctrl+a :` and then type `screen-info` to check the current window information.

Sending Command to Screen Session from External Shell

screen -X screen-info

Send the `screen-info` command to the currently connected Screen session to retrieve information. (If only one session exists)

Usage in .screenrc File

backtick 1 0 1 screen-info
# Add %1` to statusline to display information

Use with the `backtick` command in the `.screenrc` file to dynamically display information on the Screen status bar. The example below executes `screen-info` every second to update the status bar.

Installation

`screen-info` is part of the GNU Screen package, so if Screen is not installed, you must install Screen first. Most Linux distributions have it installed by default or it can be easily installed via a package manager.

Debian/Ubuntu

sudo apt update
sudo apt install screen

CentOS/RHEL/Fedora

sudo yum install screen
# or sudo dnf install screen (Fedora 22+)

Tips & Notes

Here are some tips and notes for effectively using `screen-info`.

Usage Tips

You can use it with the `backtick` command in the `.screenrc` file to display the current window number, name, hostname, etc., in real-time on the Screen status bar.
When using the `screen -X` command, ensure only one Screen session is running, or specify a particular session using the `-S` option.
Unlike `screen -ls`, `screen-info` provides detailed information about the *currently active window* of a specific session.

Notes

`screen-info` is only valid when a Screen session is running. If Screen is not running, the command may fail or return no information.