Wm(3) User Contributed Perl Documentation Wm(3)NAMETk::Wm - Communicate with window manager
SYNOPSIS
$toplevel->method(?args?)
DESCRIPTION
The wm methods are used to interact with window managers in order to
control such things as the title for a window, its geometry, or the
increments in terms of which it may be resized. The wm methods can
take any of a number of different forms, depending on the particular
method argument. All of the forms expect $toplevel, which must be a
top-level window object.
The legal forms for the wm methods are:
$toplevel->aspect(?minNumer minDenom maxNumer maxDenom?)
If minNumer, minDenom, maxNumer, and maxDenom are all specified,
then they will be passed to the window manager and the window man‐
ager should use them to enforce a range of acceptable aspect ratios
for $toplevel. The aspect ratio of $toplevel (width/length) will
be constrained to lie between minNumer/minDenom and maxNumer/maxDe‐
nom. If minNumer etc. are all specified as empty strings, then any
existing aspect ratio restrictions are removed. If minNumer etc.
are specified, then the method returns an empty string. Otherwise,
it returns a array containing four elements, which are the current
values of minNumer, minDenom, maxNumer, and maxDenom (if no aspect
restrictions are in effect, then an empty string is returned).
$widget->attributes( ?args? );
This subcommand returns or sets platform specific attributes
associated with a window.
$widget->attributes;
Returns a list of the platform specific flags and their
values.
$widget->attributes( ?option? );
Returns the value for the specific option.
$widget->attributes( ?option value option value...? );
Sets one or more of the values. The values are as follows:
On Windows, -disabled gets or sets whether the window is in
a disabled state. -toolwindow gets or sets the style of the
window to toolwindow (as defined in the MSDN). -topmost gets
or sets whether this is a topmost window (displays above all
other win- dows).
On Macintosh, there are currently no special attribute values.
On Unix, there are currently no special attribute values.
$toplevel->client(?name?)
If name is specified, this method stores name (which should be the
name of the host on which the application is executing) in
$toplevel's WM_CLIENT_MACHINE property for use by the window man‐
ager or session manager. The method returns an empty string in
this case. If name isn't specified, the method returns the last
name set in a client method for $toplevel. If name is specified as
an empty string, the method deletes the WM_CLIENT_MACHINE property
from $toplevel.
$toplevel->colormapwindows(?windowList?)
This method is used to manipulate the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property,
which provides information to the window managers about windows
that have private colormaps. If windowList isn't specified, the
method returns a list whose elements are the names of the windows
in the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property. If windowList is specified,
it consists of a list of widgets; the method overwrites the WM_COL‐
ORMAP_WINDOWS property with the given windows and returns an empty
string. The WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property should normally contain a
list of the internal windows within $toplevel whose colormaps dif‐
fer from their parents. The order of the windows in the property
indicates a priority order: the window manager will attempt to
install as many colormaps as possible from the head of this list
when $widget gets the colormap focus. If $widget is not included
among the windows in windowList, Tk implicitly adds it at the end
of the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property, so that its colormap is lowest
in priority. If $widget->colormapwindows is not invoked, Tk will
automatically set the property for each top-level window to all the
internal windows whose colormaps differ from their parents, fol‐
lowed by the top-level itself; the order of the internal windows
is undefined. See the ICCCM documentation for more information on
the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property.
$toplevel->command(?value?)
If value is specified, this method stores value in $toplevel's
WM_COMMAND property for use by the window manager or session man‐
ager and returns an empty string. Value must have proper list
structure; the elements should contain the words of the command
used to invoke the application. If value isn't specified then the
method returns the last value set in a command method for
$toplevel. If value is specified as an empty string, the method
deletes the WM_COMMAND property from $toplevel.
$toplevel->deiconify
Arrange for $toplevel to be displayed in normal (non-iconified)
form. This is done by mapping the window. If the window has never
been mapped then this method will not map the window, but it will
ensure that when the window is first mapped it will be displayed in
de-iconified form. Returns an empty string.
$toplevel->focusmodel(?active⎪passive?)
If active or passive is supplied as an optional argument to the
method, then it specifies the focus model for $toplevel. In this
case the method returns an empty string. If no additional argument
is supplied, then the method returns the current focus model for
$toplevel. An active focus model means that $toplevel will claim
the input focus for itself or its descendants, even at times when
the focus is currently in some other application. Passive means
that $toplevel will never claim the focus for itself: the window
manager should give the focus to $toplevel at appropriate times.
However, once the focus has been given to $toplevel or one of its
descendants, the application may re-assign the focus among
$toplevel's descendants. The focus model defaults to passive, and
Tk's focus method assumes a passive model of focusing.
$toplevel->frame
If $widget has been reparented by the window manager into a decora‐
tive frame, the method returns the platform specific window identi‐
fier for the outermost frame that contains $toplevel (the window
whose parent is the root or virtual root). If $toplevel hasn't
been reparented by the window manager then the method returns the
platform specific window identifier for $toplevel.
$toplevel->geometry(?newGeometry?)
If newGeometry is specified, then the geometry of $toplevel is
changed and an empty string is returned. Otherwise the current
geometry for $toplevel is returned (this is the most recent geome‐
try specified either by manual resizing or in a geometry method).
NewGeometry has the form =widthxheight+-x+-y, where any of =,
widthxheight, or +-x+-y may be omitted. Width and height are posi‐
tive integers specifying the desired dimensions of $toplevel. If
$toplevel is gridded (see "GRIDDED GEOMETRY MANAGEMENT" below) then
the dimensions are specified in grid units; otherwise they are
specified in pixel units. X and y specify the desired location of
$toplevel on the screen, in pixels. If x is preceded by +, it
specifies the number of pixels between the left edge of the screen
and the left edge of $toplevel's border; if preceded by - then x
specifies the number of pixels between the right edge of the screen
and the right edge of $toplevel's border. If y is preceded by +
then it specifies the number of pixels between the top of the
screen and the top of $toplevel's border; if y is preceded by -
then it specifies the number of pixels between the bottom of
$toplevel's border and the bottom of the screen. If newGeometry is
specified as an empty string then any existing user-specified geom‐
etry for $toplevel is cancelled, and the window will revert to the
size requested internally by its widgets.
$toplevel->wmGrid(?baseWidth,baseHeight,widthInc,heightInc?)
This method indicates that $toplevel is to be managed as a gridded
window. It also specifies the relationship between grid units and
pixel units. BaseWidth and baseHeight specify the number of grid
units corresponding to the pixel dimensions requested internally by
$toplevel using Tk_GeometryRequest. WidthInc and heightInc specify
the number of pixels in each horizontal and vertical grid unit.
These four values determine a range of acceptable sizes for
$toplevel, corresponding to grid-based widths and heights that are
non-negative integers. Tk will pass this information to the window
manager; during manual resizing, the window manager will restrict
the window's size to one of these acceptable sizes. Furthermore,
during manual resizing the window manager will display the window's
current size in terms of grid units rather than pixels. If
baseWidth etc. are all specified as empty strings, then $toplevel
will no longer be managed as a gridded window. If baseWidth etc.
are specified then the return value is an empty string. Otherwise
the return value is a array containing four elements corresponding
to the current baseWidth, baseHeight, widthInc, and heightInc; if
$toplevel is not currently gridded, then an empty string is
returned. Note: this command should not be needed very often,
since the Tk_SetGrid library procedure and the -setgrid option pro‐
vide easier access to the same functionality.
$toplevel->group(?$widget?)
If $widget is specified, it is the the leader of a group of related
windows. The window manager may use this information, for example,
to unmap all of the windows in a group when the group's leader is
iconified. $widget may be specified as an empty string to remove
$toplevel from any group association. If $widget is specified then
the method returns an empty string; otherwise it returns the
$toplevel's current group leader, or an empty string if $toplevel
isn't part of any group.
$toplevel->iconbitmap(?bitmap?)
If bitmap is specified, then it names a bitmap in the standard
forms accepted by Tk (see the Tk_GetBitmap documentation for
details). This black and white bitmap is passed to the window man‐
ager to be displayed in $toplevel's icon, and the method returns an
empty string. If an empty string is specified for bitmap, then any
current icon bitmap or image is cancelled for $toplevel. If bitmap
is specified then the method returns an empty string. Otherwise it
returns the name of the current icon bitmap associated with
$toplevel, or an empty string if $toplevel has no icon bitmap.
$toplevel->iconify
Arrange for $toplevel to be iconified. It $toplevel hasn't yet
been mapped for the first time, this method will arrange for it to
appear in the iconified state when it is eventually mapped.
$toplevel->iconimage(?image?)
If image is specified, then it names a normal Tk image. This image
is rendered into a private coloured bitmap which is passed to the
window manager to be displayed in $toplevel's icon, and the method
returns an empty string. If an empty string is specified for image,
then any current icon bitmap or image is cancelled for $toplevel.
If image is specified then the method returns an empty string.
Otherwise it returns the name of the current icon image associated
with $toplevel, or an empty string if $toplevel has no icon image.
The private pixmap is not pre-cleared so images which are partly
"transparent" display rubbish in their transparent parts.
The sizes of images that can be used as icons in this manner are
platform dependant. On Win32 this sets the "large" icon, which
should be 32x32, it will automatically be scaled down to 16x16 for
use as a small icon.
$toplevel->iconmask(?bitmap?)
If bitmap is specified, then it names a bitmap in the standard
forms accepted by Tk (see the Tk_GetBitmap documentation for
details). This bitmap is passed to the window manager to be used
as a mask in conjunction with the iconbitmap option: where the
mask has zeroes no icon will be displayed; where it has ones, the
bits from the icon bitmap will be displayed. If an empty string is
specified for bitmap then any current icon mask is cancelled for
$toplevel (this is equivalent to specifying a bitmap of all ones).
If bitmap is specified then the method returns an empty string.
Otherwise it returns the name of the current icon mask associated
with $toplevel, or an empty string if no mask is in effect.
$toplevel->iconname(?newName?)
If newName is specified, then it is passed to the window manager;
the window manager should display newName inside the icon associ‐
ated with $toplevel. In this case an empty string is returned as
result. If newName isn't specified then the method returns the
current icon name for $toplevel, or an empty string if no icon name
has been specified (in this case the window manager will normally
display the window's title, as specified with the title method).
$toplevel->iconposition(?x y?)
If x and y are specified, they are passed to the window manager as
a hint about where to position the icon for $toplevel. In this
case an empty string is returned. If x and y are specified as
empty strings then any existing icon position hint is cancelled.
If neither x nor y is specified, then the method returns a array
containing two values, which are the current icon position hints
(if no hints are in effect then an empty string is returned).
$toplevel->iconwindow(?$widget?)
If $widget is specified, it is a window to use as icon for
$toplevel: when $toplevel is iconified then $widget will be mapped
to serve as icon, and when $toplevel is de-iconified then $widget
will be unmapped again. If $widget is specified as an empty string
then any existing icon window association for $toplevel will be
cancelled. If the $widget argument is specified then an empty
string is returned. Otherwise the method returns the current icon
window for $toplevel, or an empty string if there is no icon window
currently specified for $toplevel. Button press events are dis‐
abled for $toplevel as long as it is an icon window; this is
needed in order to allow window managers to ``own'' those events.
Note: not all window managers support the notion of an icon window.
$toplevel->maxsize(?width,height?)
If width and height are specified, they give the maximum permissi‐
ble dimensions for $toplevel. For gridded windows the dimensions
are specified in grid units; otherwise they are specified in pixel
units. The window manager will restrict the window's dimensions to
be less than or equal to width and height. If width and height are
specified, then the method returns an empty string. Otherwise it
returns a array with two elements, which are the maximum width and
height currently in effect. The maximum size defaults to the size
of the screen. If resizing has been disabled with the resizable
method, then this method has no effect. See the sections on geome‐
try management below for more information.
$toplevel->minsize(?width,height?)
If width and height are specified, they give the minimum permissi‐
ble dimensions for $toplevel. For gridded windows the dimensions
are specified in grid units; otherwise they are specified in pixel
units. The window manager will restrict the window's dimensions to
be greater than or equal to width and height. If width and height
are specified, then the method returns an empty string. Otherwise
it returns a array with two elements, which are the minimum width
and height currently in effect. The minimum size defaults to one
pixel in each dimension. If resizing has been disabled with the
resizable method, then this method has no effect. See the sections
on geometry management below for more information.
$toplevel->overrideredirect(?boolean?)
If boolean is specified, it must have a proper boolean form and the
override-redirect flag for $toplevel is set to that value. If
boolean is not specified then 1 or 0 is returned to indicate
whether or not the override-redirect flag is currently set for
$toplevel. Setting the override-redirect flag for a window causes
it to be ignored by the window manager; among other things, this
means that the window will not be reparented from the root window
into a decorative frame and the user will not be able to manipulate
the window using the normal window manager mechanisms.
$toplevel->positionfrom(?who?)
If who is specified, it must be either program or user, or an
abbreviation of one of these two. It indicates whether $toplevel's
current position was requested by the program or by the user. Many
window managers ignore program-requested initial positions and ask
the user to manually position the window; if user is specified
then the window manager should position the window at the given
place without asking the user for assistance. If who is specified
as an empty string, then the current position source is cancelled.
If who is specified, then the method returns an empty string. Oth‐
erwise it returns user or $widget to indicate the source of the
window's current position, or an empty string if no source has been
specified yet. Most window managers interpret ``no source'' as
equivalent to program. Tk will automatically set the position
source to user when a geometry method is invoked, unless the source
has been set explicitly to program.
$toplevel->protocol(?name?,?callback?)
This method is used to manage window manager protocols such as
WM_DELETE_WINDOW. Name is the name of an atom corresponding to a
window manager protocol, such as WM_DELETE_WINDOW or WM_SAVE_YOUR‐
SELF or WM_TAKE_FOCUS. If both name and callback are specified,
then callback is associated with the protocol specified by name.
Name will be added to $toplevel's WM_PROTOCOLS property to tell the
window manager that the application has a protocol handler for
name, and callback will be invoked in the future whenever the win‐
dow manager sends a message to the client for that protocol. In
this case the method returns an empty string. If name is specified
but callback isn't, then the current callback for name is returned,
or an empty string if there is no handler defined for name. If
callback is specified as an empty string then the current handler
for name is deleted and it is removed from the WM_PROTOCOLS prop‐
erty on $toplevel; an empty string is returned. Lastly, if nei‐
ther name nor callback is specified, the method returns a list of
all the protocols for which handlers are currently defined for
$toplevel.
Tk always defines a protocol handler for WM_DELETE_WINDOW,
even if you haven't asked for one with protocol. If a
WM_DELETE_WINDOW message arrives when you haven't defined a
handler, then Tk handles the message by destroying the win‐
dow for which it was received.
$toplevel->resizable(?width,height?)
This method controls whether or not the user may interactively
resize a top-level window. If width and height are specified, they
are boolean values that determine whether the width and height of
$toplevel may be modified by the user. In this case the method
returns an empty string. If width and height are omitted then the
method returns a list with two 0/1 elements that indicate whether
the width and height of $toplevel are currently resizable. By
default, windows are resizable in both dimensions. If resizing is
disabled, then the window's size will be the size from the most
recent interactive resize or geometry method. If there has been no
such operation then the window's natural size will be used.
$toplevel->sizefrom(?who?)
If who is specified, it must be either program or user, or an
abbreviation of one of these two. It indicates whether $toplevel's
current size was requested by the program or by the user. Some
window managers ignore program-requested sizes and ask the user to
manually size the window; if user is specified then the window
manager should give the window its specified size without asking
the user for assistance. If who is specified as an empty string,
then the current size source is cancelled. If who is specified,
then the method returns an empty string. Otherwise it returns user
or $widget to indicate the source of the window's current size, or
an empty string if no source has been specified yet. Most window
managers interpret ``no source'' as equivalent to program.
$toplevel->stackorder( ?isabove⎪isbelow $toplevel? );
The stackorder command returns a list of toplevel windows in
stacking order, from lowest to highest. When a single toplevel
window is passed, the returned list recursively includes all of
the window's children that are toplevels. Only those toplevels
that are currently mapped to the screen are returned. The
stackorder command can also be used to determine if one toplevel is
positioned above or below a second toplevel. When two window argu‐
ments separated by either isabove or isbelow are passed, a bool‐
ean result indicates whether or not the first window is currently
above or below the second window in the stacking order.
$toplevel->state(?newstate?)
If newstate is specified, the window will be set to the new state,
otherwise it returns the current state of $toplevel: either normal,
iconic, withdrawn, icon, or (Windows only) zoomed. The difference
between iconic and icon is that iconic refers to a window that has
been iconified (e.g., with the iconify method) while icon refers to
a window whose only purpose is to serve as the icon for some other
window (via the iconwindow method). The icon state cannot be set.
$toplevel->title(?string?)
If string is specified, then it will be passed to the window man‐
ager for use as the title for $toplevel (the window manager should
display this string in $toplevel's title bar). In this case the
method returns an empty string. If string isn't specified then the
method returns the current title for the $toplevel. The title for
a window defaults to its name.
$toplevel->transient(?master?)
If master is specified, then the window manager is informed that
$toplevel is a transient window (e.g. pull-down menu) working on
behalf of master (where master is a top-level window). Some window
managers will use this information to manage $toplevel specially.
If master is specified as an empty string then $toplevel is marked
as not being a transient window any more. If master is specified,
then the method returns an empty string. Otherwise the method
returns the path name of $toplevel's current master, or an empty
string if $toplevel isn't currently a transient window.
$toplevel->withdraw
Arranges for $toplevel to be withdrawn from the screen. This
causes the window to be unmapped and forgotten about by the window
manager. If the window has never been mapped, then this method
causes the window to be mapped in the withdrawn state. Not all
window managers appear to know how to handle windows that are
mapped in the withdrawn state. Note: it sometimes seems to be nec‐
essary to withdraw a window and then re-map it (e.g. with
deiconify) to get some window managers to pay attention to changes
in window attributes such as group.
$toplevel->wrapper
Returns the window id of the wrapper window in which Tk has placed
$toplevel. This is the id by which window manager will know
$toplevel, and so is appropriate place to add X properties.
ICON SIZES
The sizes of bitmaps/images that can be used as icons in this manner
are platform and window manager dependant. Unix window managers are
typically more tolerant than Win32. It is possible that coloured "icon‐
image" icons may cause problems on some X window managers.
* Win32
"iconimage" and "iconbitmap" set the "large" icon, which should be
32x32, it will automatically be scaled down to 16x16 for use as a
small icon. Win32 ignores "iconwin" requests.
* KDE's "kwm"
Accepts coloured "iconimage" and black and white "iconbitmap" but
will scale either to a small (14x14?) icon. Kwm ignores "iconwin".
* Sun's "olwm" or "olvwm"
Honours "iconwin" which will override "iconimage" or "iconbitmap".
Coloured images work.
* Sun's CDE window manager
Coloured images work. ...
GEOMETRY MANAGEMENT
By default a top-level window appears on the screen in its natural
size, which is the one determined internally by its widgets and geome‐
try managers. If the natural size of a top-level window changes, then
the window's size changes to match. A top-level window can be given a
size other than its natural size in two ways. First, the user can
resize the window manually using the facilities of the window manager,
such as resize handles. Second, the application can request a particu‐
lar size for a top-level window using the geometry method. These two
cases are handled identically by Tk; in either case, the requested
size overrides the natural size. You can return the window to its nat‐
ural by invoking geometry with an empty geometry string.
Normally a top-level window can have any size from one pixel in each
dimension up to the size of its screen. However, you can use the min‐
size and maxsize methods to limit the range of allowable sizes. The
range set by minsize and maxsize applies to all forms of resizing,
including the window's natural size as well as manual resizes and the
geometry method. You can also use the method resizable to completely
disable interactive resizing in one or both dimensions.
GRIDDED GEOMETRY MANAGEMENT
Gridded geometry management occurs when one of the widgets of an appli‐
cation supports a range of useful sizes. This occurs, for example, in
a text editor where the scrollbars, menus, and other adornments are
fixed in size but the edit widget can support any number of lines of
text or characters per line. In this case, it is usually desirable to
let the user specify the number of lines or characters-per-line, either
with the geometry method or by interactively resizing the window. In
the case of text, and in other interesting cases also, only discrete
sizes of the window make sense, such as integral numbers of lines and
characters-per-line; arbitrary pixel sizes are not useful.
Gridded geometry management provides support for this kind of applica‐
tion. Tk (and the window manager) assume that there is a grid of some
sort within the application and that the application should be resized
in terms of grid units rather than pixels. Gridded geometry management
is typically invoked by turning on the setGrid option for a widget; it
can also be invoked with the wmGrid method or by calling Tk_SetGrid.
In each of these approaches the particular widget (or sometimes code in
the application as a whole) specifies the relationship between integral
grid sizes for the window and pixel sizes. To return to non-gridded
geometry management, invoke grid with empty argument strings.
When gridded geometry management is enabled then all the dimensions
specified in minsize, maxsize, and geometry methods are treated as grid
units rather than pixel units. Interactive resizing is also carried
out in even numbers of grid units rather than pixels.
BUGS
Most existing window managers appear to have bugs that affect the oper‐
ation of the wm methods. For example, some changes won't take effect
if the window is already active: the window will have to be withdrawn
and de-iconified in order to make the change happen.
SEE ALSO
Tk::Widget Tk::tixWm Tk::Mwm
KEYWORDS
aspect ratio, deiconify, focus model, geometry, grid, group, icon,
iconify, increments, position, size, title, top-level window, units,
window manager
perl v5.8.8 2004-02-28 Wm(3)
