move_previous option does not exist about herbstluftwm

[t-wissmann]

Theoretically we can implement move_previous, but I don't see a need (i.e. an application) for it. So if you need it, just say so and please describe why you need it. (Just saying "use_index has its very best friend move_index, please also give such a friendship experience to use_previous" is not enought ;-))

[gayprogrammer]

Good point. I forgot to mention that I need move_previous because I often use use_previous without memorizing or knowing the tag index that I came from. I may not always have a panel to show me.

My use case for move_previous goes hand-in-hand with my use of use_previous. Which is that I sometimes must move windows between two tags, and sometimes they are not sequential (+1, -1). The use_previous option would make my workflow easier.

[ypnos]

So if I get it correctly, you want to switch to the previous tag and bring your focused window with you.
You can do that easily with a one-liner script. For example fish:

set winid (herbstclient attr clients.focus.winid); and herbstclient use_previous; and herbstclient bring $winid

In bash it would probably look like this:

winid=$(herbstclient attr clients.focus.winid) && herbstclient use_previous && herbstclient bring $winid

Would this be a solution to your problem?

[t-wissmann]

Right, if you want to go to the previous tag and take the focused window with you, then you can do that with this herbstclient command

 herbstclient substitute ID clients.focus.winid chain , use_previous , bring ID 

[gayprogrammer]

No, I don't want to switch to my previous tag. I only want my focused window to move to my previous tag.
Is there a way to get the previous tag index from herbstclient to so that I may use the use_index command? Such as:
herbstclient substitute INDEX tags.focus.previous.index move_index INDEX

[t-wissmann]

Sorry, that's not possible. If you can live with the flickering for the time being, you can do

herbstclient substitute ID clients.focus.winid chain , lock , use_previous , bring ID , use_previous , unlock

[ypnos]

You can also take the more complicated route and have a script running alongside herbstluftwm. It can either store the previous tag or the previously focused client. I would do it with the tag if I were you.

Several examples exist on how to listen for hooks (in this case tag_changed and move_previous); you can then bind a key to emit_hook more_previous and in your script do the deed.

For inspiration, here is a perl script of mine that listens to hooks and performs stuff: https://github.com/ypnos/hlwm/blob/master/redecorate.pl

[gayprogrammer]

Thank you for your help. I will use the chain command.