How to focus program window instead of spawning new one if it's already open

Question

I am currently using Linux Mint 19.03 Cinnamon.

Issue

I launch gnome-calculator with Cal shortcut button and when I press that button, new gnome-calculator window is spawned. I don't want this behaviour.

Expected result

I am expecting the Cal button launches gnome-calculator but if it is already running, when Cal is pressed again, it will reveal the existing window, and so on and so forth.

Current attempt

I've found, using dconf editor that I can customize the desktop.
So far, I've also found the string to execute the gnome-calculator which is:

org.cinnamon.desktop.default-applications.calculator exec 'gnome-calculator'

I use dconf editor such as this one:

So far, what I need is to change the Custom value with the proper command to check the existing calculator window and reveal it.

The question

What is the command (or script too) to focus on existing gnome-calculator window? And if it doesn't exist, simply spawn one.

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

I've found the answer. This problem turns out not a specific DE problem. It's the behavior of the app itself which is gnome-calculator.

I've found two methods(or workarounds) for doing this:

Using wmctrl

So, the basic command is this:

wmctrl -xa gnome-calculator || gnome-calculator

To make it work in dconf command, warp it in shell command and apply it to dconf using terminal such as this:

gsettings set org.cinnamon.desktop.default-applications.calculator exec "sh -c 'wmctrl -xa gnome-calculator || gnome-calculator'"

Using xdotool

With this one,you need to installxdotool.

The command:

xdotool search --class gnome-calculator windowactivate || gnome-calculator

Dconf setting:

gsettings set org.cinnamon.desktop.default-applications.calculator exec "sh -c 'xdotool search --class gnome-calculator windowactivate || gnome-calculator'"

reference:
mattia-b89's comment
askubuntu question
mtwebster's github comment