[RP] scripting with rpws and split.sh

[TBlittlefoot]

I run a script like this:

----------
rpws 3 

ratpoison -c "exec rxvt +sb"  
#... (creating 16 xterms)
/usr/doc/ratpoison/split.sh
------------

And the upper left xterm (3-rxvt) is always blank (root window) until 
I change the focus there and do Ctrl-t-t. Then the 
The xterm appears.

What am I doing wrong here, please?

I want to write a script that will create 3 workspaces from my ratpoisonrc and
configure them in various ways, with applications running in the various 
windows/frames.

At this point, I'm studying the manual intensely and doing a lot experimenting.

Thanks,

Tom