Execute a command after tmux split pane

Question

When we do C+a or whatever key binding is and followed by " or % then tmux split this pane into horizontally or vertically.

What I want is whenever I press C+a+% or C+a+" then it should execute some command.

e.g. C+a+% should split the pane and execute command ls and C+a+" should split the pane and execute the command ls in the same pane.

You can assume always I want to execute the same command e.g ls.

How to achieve this in tmux using tmux.conf file?

Do you want the command to be run as if you typed it in the new terminal/pane, or do you want to capture output in copy mode and then discard it once the command has run? — the_velour_fog, Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 10:14
I don't want to capture o/p of command, I want to run another command which doesn't produce any output. — sonus21, Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 10:33

the_velour_fog · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-01 12:58:49Z

4

To split the widow horizontally and make the command ls -al run as if you typed it in the new terminal/pane

bind-key '"' split-window \; send-keys "ls -al" Enter

for a vertical split

bind-key % split-window -h \; send-keys "ls -al" Enter

To split horizontal and run the command in the background then capture the output in copy mode

bind-key " split-window \; run-shell "ls -al"

The \; is used to quote the " intended for the split-window command from the bind-key command.

answered Aug 1, 2016 at 10:24

the_velour_fog

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This seems not to be working, specially for ".
– sonus21
Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 10:42
For the doublequote version you need to singlequote the character, i.e. it begins bind-key '"' split-window....
– meuh
Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 11:52
@meuh ,thanks, I tested the command on my computer by binding , (I didn't want to break my " binding) the command worked for me, so I assumed it would be good to post!
– the_velour_fog
Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 12:03
Interestingly after adding bind-key '"' split-window \; send-keys "ls -al" Enter and bind-key % split-window \; send-keys "ls -al" Enter both splits horizontally pane instead of splitting horizontally and vertically.
– sonus21
Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 12:53
@sonukumar: for horizontal split its missing the -h argument: have a look into man tmux, for the split-window -h: -h does a horizontal split and -v a vertical split; if neither is specified, -v is assumed
– zipizap
Commented Dec 26, 2017 at 23:31

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