i3 won't load layout (parse error: client cancelled parse via callback return value) [closed]

Question

I saved the layout for my workspace and tried to load it following the docs:

i3-save-tree --workspace 1 >   /home/goldenoctopus/custom_system_files/workspace-1.json

and:

i3-msg "workspace 1; append_layout /home/goldenoctopus/custom_system_files/workspace-1.json"

But the command have no effect and just return the following error:

    ERROR: Your command: (null)
    ERROR:               (null)
    ERROR: parse error: client cancelled parse via callback return value
                                   }                             ]
                 (right here) ------^

    [{"success":true},{"success":false,"error":"parse error: client cancelled parse via callback return value\n                                        }                             ]\n                     (right here) ------^\n"}]

Answer 1

There are three things to check and two things to check when you invoke i3-msg append_layout, since there seems to be a server bug here.

In the layout file:

• Check there are no remaining comments (invalid JSON)
• Check there are no commas next to any last element of a sequence (invalid JSON)
• Check there are swallow criteria for the panes (required to set‑up the layout)

Point #2 means you have to check you do not left any extra comment when removing commented lines in the swallow criteria in an file generated by i3-save-tree.

Then, check you invoke i3-msg append_layout <path-to-file> either:

• Using an absolute path for the layout file path
• Invoke i3-msg append_layout <path-to-file> from your home directory

Note I got i3 crash box when loading some layout files, which suggest there are severe bug there (at least with i3 version 4.14).