Using screenrc, how can I make `C-a c` open a new window at the current window's working directory?

Question

Using screenrc, how can I make C-a c open a new window at the current window's working directory? By default it appears to open the new window at the working directory at the time the original screen session is invoked.

Answer 1

Based on this SO answer, I think this should work:

bind c stuff "screen -X chdir \$PWD; screen^M"

I'll go try it on my remote shell and report back if it works for me.

edit: Yup, it works. The first "bind" command is actually not needed.

Answer 2

By default, screen also binds C-a C-c to create a new window, so you might want to add another line to your .screenrc to handle this case:

bind c stuff "screen -X chdir \$PWD;screen^M"
bind ^c stuff "screen -X chdir \$PWD;screen^M"

---

Clarification about how this command works:

1. stuff puts its argument string directly into the current window:

   Command: stuff string

   Stuff the string string in the input buffer of the current window.

2. screen -X chdir \$PWD tells screen to execute the command chdir, which changes its operational directory (where new screen windows will start) to the environment variable $PWD, which contains the current working directory. This is impossible to do within .screenrc alone; therefore, manipulating the input buffer with stuff is necessary.

3. The screen command within an already running screen creates a new window just like C-a C-c.

4. ^M generates a carriage return, which tells the shell to execute the command which is now in the buffer. Without it, you would have to press enter (or C-m, of course).

Consequently, this bind will leave cruft like this in the window you execute it in:

user@host:~/directory$ screen -X chdir $PWD;screen
user@host:~/directory$