How to use the command 'xfce4-screenshooter' (with examples)

The xfce4-screenshooter is a versatile tool included in the XFCE desktop environment, designed to provide users with a convenient way to capture screenshots on their Linux systems. Whether you need a screen capture for documentation, sharing bugs, or simply to save an inspirational quote, this tool equips you with a variety of user-friendly options. From capturing the entire screen to focusing on a specific window or region, the xfce4-screenshooter offers flexibility in how you want your screenshots to be captured and handled.

Use case 1: Launch the screenshooter GUI

Code:

xfce4-screenshooter

Motivation:

You might want to simply take a screenshot and be presented with an easy-to-use GUI where you can decide how to proceed, such as saving to a file, clipboard, or exporting to an image editing program. This method is particularly helpful for users who prefer visual interfaces and don’t want to remember command line options.

Explanation:

• xfce4-screenshooter: This command starts the XFCE4 Screenshooter tool in its GUI mode, allowing the user to interact with the options in a graphical interface, choosing to take screenshots of the entire screen, a window, or a selected region.

Example output:

Upon execution, the XFCE4 Screenshooter GUI opens up, presenting you with options like selecting your screenshot type, adding effects, and deciding on an output method (e.g., saving to a file or clipboard).

Use case 2: Take a screenshot of the entire screen and launch the GUI to ask how to proceed

Code:

xfce4-screenshooter --fullscreen

Motivation:

You may need a quick, full-screen screenshot and want to decide immediately afterward how you wish to use it without delving into the file system. This command provides the efficiency of immediate capture combined with the flexibility of further user decision-making.

Explanation:

• --fullscreen: This flag captures the entire screen immediately but still launches the GUI for you to decide on further actions. This option is fantastic when a real-time snapshot of your entire desktop is necessary for presentations or bug reporting.

Example output:

The screen is captured, and the GUI pops up with your screenshot, offering options like where to save or how to share the image.

Use case 3: Take a screenshot of the entire screen and save it in the specified directory

Code:

xfce4-screenshooter --fullscreen --save path/to/directory

Motivation:

This use case is ideal for users who want to automate the process of saving full-screen captures, especially in batch operations where screenshots need to be saved to a predefined location for documentation or archival purposes.

Explanation:

• --fullscreen: Captures the entire screen.
• --save: Directs the captured screenshot to be automatically saved to the specified directory without additional user intervention, useful for unattended operations.

Example output:

The entire screen is captured and saved automatically to the specified directory you provided, e.g., /home/user/screenshots.

Use case 4: Wait some time before taking the screenshot

Code:

xfce4-screenshooter --delay seconds

Motivation:

Time delay is important when you need to set up a specific screen arrangement before capture or to include drop-down menus and tooltips in your screenshot, allowing the user or system to prepare the displayed elements accurately.

Explanation:

• --delay: Introduces a pause of specified seconds before capturing takes place, which is invaluable for timed screenshots where the user needs a brief moment to set things up precisely on the screen.

Example output:

The tool waits as per the given delay time, e.g., 5 seconds, allowing you to arrange windows or open menus before it takes the screenshot.

Use case 5: Take a screenshot of a region of the screen (select using the mouse)

Code:

xfce4-screenshooter --region

Motivation:

Sometimes, only a specific part of the screen is needed for a presentation or bug report. This feature gives users precision and control, especially when one wants to exclude unnecessary elements from the final image.

Explanation:

• --region: Activates a mode that lets you manually select the precise screen area to capture using your mouse, giving you ultimate control over what is captured.

Example output:

When this is turned on, your mouse pointer changes into a crosshair, allowing you to click and drag over the desired screen region to take a screenshot of that specific area only.

Use case 6: Take a screenshot of the active window, and copy it to the clipboard

Code:

xfce4-screenshooter --window --clipboard

Motivation:

Users often require screenshots for immediate pasting into emails, chat applications, or documents. This option is ergonomic for copy-paste tasks, conserving system resources and user time by eliminating the need for intermediate file storage.

Explanation:

• --window: Restricts the screenshot to only the active window, making it ideal for single application captures.
• --clipboard: Redirects the output to the system clipboard rather than saving to a file, facilitating easy pasting into other applications.

Example output:

The active window screenshot is captured and copied directly to the clipboard, ready for pasting without any additional saving steps.

Use case 7: Take a screenshot of the active window, and open it with a chosen program

Code:

xfce4-screenshooter --window --open gimp

Motivation:

Integrating a screenshot directly into an image editing software is handy for tasks requiring immediate edits, annotations, or enhancements. It streamlines workflow by opening up the file directly in a program like GIMP, saving time.

Explanation:

• --window: Captures only the active window for specificity and focus.
• --open gimp: This opens the captured screenshot in the specified program. In this case, GIMP—a commonly used image editor—enabling users to modify the image immediately after capture.

Example output:

The active window is captured and automatically opened in GIMP, providing you with immediate access to editing tools and capabilities.

Conclusion:

The xfce4-screenshooter is an extremely handy tool for capturing screenshots across various needs and scenarios. By offering both GUI and command-line interface options, it accommodates a wide spectrum of users—from those who prefer straightforward operations to those requiring more power and precision. Whether you’re documenting a process, sharing visuals, or keeping records, the flexibility of xfce4-screenshooter ensures that you have the right tool for every screenshot demand.