How to hide or minimize X11 window from console?

Question

Window is full-screen and grabs everything. New windows are appearing behind it.

I cannot just kill that application.

I'm logged in as root remotely through the SSH.

Expecting something like that:

$ xcontrol
> ls
window id: PID:   Window class:    Window name:    ...
111       1122   Vncviewer ..
222       1133    .. .            google-chrome ...
> minimize 111
> restore 111
> hide 222
> unhide 222
> move 111 by (10,-20)
> q
$

Answer 1

You can use wmctrl to control windows and the desktop from the command line. (If you are logging in via SSH or virtual console, you probably have to set DISPLAY to :0 first.) For instance:

## List windows
wmctrl -l
## Put the window (find window id in above list) below other windows:
wmctrl -i -r 0x04800004 -b add,below
## Remove maximization:
wmctrl -i -r 0x04800004 -b remove,maximized_horz,maximized_vert

I haven't found out how to minimize one window with wmctrl, but you can show the desktop (i.e., minimize all windows) with

wmctrl -k on

Answer 2

Maybe xdotool can help you.