mwm(1X)mwm(1X)NAMEmwm - The Motif Window Manager
SYNOPSISmwm
[ options ]
DESCRIPTIONmwm is an X Window System client that provides window management func‐
tionality and some session management functionality. It provides func‐
tions that facilitate control (by the user and the programmer) of ele‐
ments of window state such as placement, size, icon/normal display, and
input-focus ownership. It also provides session management functions
such as stopping a client.
Options
-display display
This option specifies the display to use; see X(1).
-xrm resourcestring
This option specifies a resource string to use.
-multiscreen
This option causes mwm to manage all screens on the display.
The default is to manage only a single screen.
-name name
This option causes mwm to retrieve its resources using the spec‐
ified name, as in name*resource.
-screens name [name [...]]
This option specifies the resource names to use for the screens
managed by mwm. If mwm is managing a single screen, only the
first name in the list is used. If mwm is managing multiple
screens, the names are assigned to the screens in order, start‐
ing with screen 0. Screen 0 gets the first name, screen 1 the
second name, and so on.
Appearance
The following sections describe the basic default behaviors of windows,
icons, the icon box, input focus, and window stacking. The appearance
and behavior of the window manager can be altered by changing the con‐
figuration of specific resources. Resources are defined under the
heading "X DEFAULTS."
Screens
By default, mwm manages only the single screen specified by the -dis‐
play option or the DISPLAY environment variable (by default, screen 0).
If the -multiscreen option is specified or if the multiScreen resource
is True, mwm tries to manage all the screens on the display.
When mwm is managing multiple screens, the -screens option can be used
to give each screen a unique resource name. The names are separated by
blanks, for example, -screens mwm0 mwm1. If there are more screens
than names, resources for the remaining screens will be retrieved using
the first name. By default, the screen number is used for the screen
name.
Windows
Default mwm window frames have distinct components with associated
functions:
Title Area
In addition to displaying the client's title, the title area is
used to move the window. To move the window, place the pointer
over the title area, press button 1 and drag the window to a new
location. By default, a wire frame is moved during the drag to
indicate the new location. When the button is released, the
window is moved to the new location.
Title Bar
The title bar includes the title area, the minimize button, the
maximize button, and the window menu button. In shaped windows,
such as round windows, the title bar floats above the window.
Minimize Button
To turn the window into an icon, click button 1 on the minimize
button (the frame box with a small square in it).
Maximize Button
To make the window fill the screen (or enlarge to the largest
size allowed by the configuration files), click button 1 on the
maximize button (the frame box with a large square in it).
Window Menu Button
The window menu button is the frame box with a horizontal bar in
it. To pull down the window menu, press button 1. While press‐
ing, drag the pointer on the menu to your selection, then
release the button when your selection is highlighted. Pressing
button 3 in the title bar or resize border handles also posts
the window menu. Alternately, you can click button 1 to pull
down the menu and keep it posted; then position the pointer and
select. You can also post the window menu by pressing <Shift>
<Esc> or <Alt> <Space>. Double-clicking button 1 with the
pointer on the window menu button closes the window. The fol‐
lowing table lists the contents of the window menu.
Default Window Menu
Selection Accelerator Description
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Restore Alt+F5 Restores the window to its size
before minimizing or maximizing
Move Alt+F7 Allows the window to be moved
with keys or mouse
Size Alt+F8 Allows the window to be resized
Minimize Alt+F9 Turns the window into an icon
Maximize Alt+F10 Makes the window fill the screen
Lower Alt+F3 Moves window to bottom of window
stack
Close Alt+F4 Causes client to terminate
Resize Border Handles
To change the size of a window, move the pointer over a resize
border handle (the cursor changes), press button 1, and drag the
window to a new size. When the button is released, the window
is resized. While dragging is being done, a rubber-band outline
is displayed to indicate the new window size.
Matte An optional matte decoration can be added between the client
area and the window frame. A matte is not actually part of the
window frame. There is no functionality associated with a
matte.
Icons
Icons are small graphic representations of windows. A window can be
minimized (iconified) using the minimize button on the window frame.
Icons provide a way to reduce clutter on the screen.
Pressing mouse button 1 when the pointer is over an icon causes the
icon's window menu to pop up. Releasing the button (press + release
without moving mouse = click) causes the menu to stay posted. The menu
contains the following selections:
Icon Window Menu
Selection Accelerator Description
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Restore Alt+F5 Opens the associated window
Move Alt+F7 Allows the icon to be moved with keys
Size Alt+F8 Inactive (not an option for icons)
Minimize Alt+F9 Inactive (not an option for icons)
Maximize Alt+F10 Opens the associated window and makes
it fill the screen
Lower Alt+F3 Moves icon to bottom of icon stack
Close Alt+F4 Removes client from mwm management
Note that pressing button 3 over an icon also causes the icon's window
menu to pop up. To make a menu selection, drag the pointer over the
menu and release button 3 when the desired item is highlighted.
Double-clicking button 1 on an icon invokes the f.restore_and_raise
function and restores the icon's associated window to its previous
state. For example, if a maximized window is iconified, then double-
clicking button 1 restores it to its maximized state. Double-clicking
button 1 on the icon box's icon opens the icon box and allows access to
the contained icons. (In general, double-clicking a mouse button is a
quick way to perform a function.) Pressing <Shift> <Esc> or <Menu>
(the pop-up menu key) causes the icon window menu of the currently
selected icon to pop up.
Icon Box
When icons begin to clutter the screen, they can be packed into an icon
box. (To use an icon box, mwm must be started with the icon box con‐
figuration already set.) The icon box is a mwm window that holds
client icons. It includes one or more scroll bars when there are more
window icons than the icon box can show at the same time.
Icons in the icon box can be manipulated with the mouse. The following
table summarizes the behavior of this interface. Button actions apply
whenever the pointer is on any part of the icon. Note that double-
clicking an icon in the icon box invokes the f.restore_and_raise func‐
tion.
Button Action Description
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Button 1 click Selects the icon
Button 1 double-click Normalizes (opens) the associated win‐
dow
Raises an already open window to the
top of the stack
Button 1 drag Moves the icon
Button 3 press Causes the menu for that icon to pop up
Button 3 drag Highlights items as the pointer moves
across the menu
Pressing mouse button 3 when the pointer is over an icon causes the
menu for that icon to pop up.
Icon Menu for the Icon Box
Selection Accelerator Description
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Restore Alt+F5 Opens the associated window (if not already open)
Move Alt+F7 Allows the icon to be moved with keys
Size\h'|312u'Alt+F8 Inactive
Minimize Alt+F9 Inactive
Maximize Alt+F10 Opens the associated window (if not already open)
and maximizes its size
Lower Alt+F3 Inactive
Close Alt+F4 Removes client from mwm management
To pull down the window menu for the icon box itself, press button 1
with the pointer over the menu button for the icon box. The window
menu of the icon box differs from the window menu of a client window:
The "Close" selection is replaced with the "PackIcons Shift+Alt+F7"
selection. When selected, PackIcons packs the icons in the box to
achieve neat rows with no empty slots.
You can also post the window menu by pressing <Shift> <Esc> or <Alt>
<Space>. Pressing <Menu> (the pop-up menu key) causes the icon window
menu of the currently selected icon to pop up.
Input Focus
mwm supports (by default) a keyboard input focus policy of explicit
selection. This means when a window is selected to get keyboard input,
it continues to get keyboard input until the window is withdrawn from
window management, another window is explicitly selected to get key‐
board input, or the window is iconified. Several resources control the
input focus. The client window with the keyboard input focus has the
active window appearance with a visually distinct window frame.
The following tables summarize the keyboard input focus selection
behavior:
Button Action Object Function Description
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Button 1 press Window / window frame Keyboard focus selection
Button 1 press Icon Keyboard focus selection
Key Action Function Description
───────────────────────────────────────────────
[Alt][Tab] Move input focus to next
window in window stack
(available only in
explicit focus mode)
───────────────────────────────────────────────
[Alt][Shift][Tab] Move input focus to previ‐
ous window in window stack
(available only in
explicit focus mode)
Window Stacking
There are two types of window stacks: global window stacks and an
application's local family window stack.
The global stacking order of windows may be changed as a result of set‐
ting the keyboard input focus, iconifying a window, or performing a
window manager window stacking function. When keyboard focus policy is
explicit the default value of the focusAutoRaise resource is True.
This causes a window to be raised to the top of the stack when it
receives input focus, for example, by pressing button 1 on the title
bar. The key actions defined in the previous table will thus raise the
window receiving focus to the top of the stack.
In pointer mode, the default value of focusAutoRaise is False, that is,
the window stacking order is not changed when a window receives key‐
board input focus. The following key actions can be used to cycle
through the global window stack.
Key Action Function Description
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
[Alt][ESC] Place top window on bottom of stack
[Alt][Shift][ESC] Place bottom window on top of stack
By default, a window's icon is placed on the bottom of the stack when
the window is iconified; however, the default can be changed by the
lowerOnIconify resource.
Transient windows (secondary windows such a dialog boxes) stay above
their parent windows by default. However, an application's local fam‐
ily stacking order may be changed to allow a transient window to be
placed below its parent top-level window. The following parameters
show the modification of the stacking order for the f.lower function.
f.lower
Lowers the transient window within the family (staying above the
parent) and lowers the family in the global window stack.
f.lower [within]
Lowers the transient window within the family (staying above the
parent) but does not lower the family in the global window
stack.
f.lower [freeFamily]
Lowers the window free from its family stack (below the parent),
but does not lower the family in the global window stack.
The parameters within and freeFamily can also be used with f.raise and
f.raise_lower.
X Defaults
mwm is configured from its resource database. This database is built
from the following sources. They are listed in order of precedence, low
to high:
/usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/Mwm $HOME/Mwm RESOURCE_MANAGER root window
property or $HOME/.Xdefaults XENVIRONMENT variable or $HOME/.Xde‐
faults-host mwm command line options
The file names /usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/Mwm and $HOME/Mwm represent
customary locations for these files. The actual location of the sys‐
tem-wide class resource file may depend on the XFILESEARCHPATH environ‐
ment variable and the current language environment. The actual loca‐
tion of the user-specific class resource file may depend on the XUSER‐
FILESEARCHPATH and XAPPLRESDIR environment variables and the current
language environment.
Entries in the resource database may refer to other resource files for
specific types of resources. These include files that contain bitmaps,
fonts, and mwm specific resources such as menus and behavior specifica‐
tions (for example, button and key bindings).
Mwm is the resource class name of mwm and mwm is the default resource
name used by mwm to look up resources. the -screens command line
option specifies resource names, such as "mwm_b+w" and "mwm_color".)
In the following discussion of resource specification, "Mwm" and "mwm"
(and the aliased mwm resource names) can be used interchangeably, but
"mwm" takes precedence over "Mwm".
mwm uses the following types of resources:
Component Appearance Resources:
These resources specify appearance attributes of window manager user
interface components. They can be applied to the appearance of window
manager menus, feedback windows (for example, the window reconfigura‐
tion feedback window), client window frames, and icons.
General Appearance and Behavior Resources:
These resources specify mwm appearance and behavior (for example, win‐
dow management policies). They are not set separately for different
mwm user interface components.
Client Specific Resources:
These mwm resources can be set for a particular client window or class
of client windows. They specify client-specific icon and client window
frame appearance and behavior.
Resource identifiers can be either a resource name (for example, fore‐
ground) or a resource class (for example, Foreground). If the value of
a resource is a filename and if the filename is prefixed by " /",
then it is relative to the path contained in the HOME environment vari‐
able (generally the user's home directory).
Component Appearance Resources
The syntax for specifying component appearance resources that apply to
window manager icons, menus, and client window frames is
Mwm*resource_id
For example, Mwm*foreground is used to specify the foreground color for
mwm menus, icons, client window frames, and feedback dialogs.
The syntax for specifying component appearance resources that apply to
a particular mwm component is
Mwm*[menuiconclientfeedback]*resource_id
If menu is specified, the resource is applied only to mwm menus; if
icon is specified, the resource is applied to icons; and if client is
specified, the resource is applied to client window frames. For exam‐
ple, Mwm*icon*foreground is used to specify the foreground color for
mwm icons, Mwm*menu*foreground specifies the foreground color for mwm
menus, and Mwm*client*foreground is used to specify the foreground
color for mwm client window frames.
The appearance of the title area of a client window frame (including
window management buttons) can be separately configured. The syntax
for configuring the title area of a client window frame is
Mwm*client*title*resource_id
For example, Mwm*client*title*foreground specifies the foreground color
for the title area. Defaults for title area resources are based on the
values of the corresponding client window frame resources.
The appearance of menus can be configured based on the name of the
menu. The syntax for specifying menu appearance by name is
Mwm*menu*menu_name*resource_id
For example, Mwm*menu*my_menu*foreground specifies the foreground color
for the menu named my_menu. The user can also specify resources for
window manager menu components, that is, the gadgets which comprise the
menu. These may include for example, a menu title, title separator,
one or more buttons, and separators. If a menu contains more than one
instance of a class, such as multiple PushButtonGadgets, the name of
the first instance is "PushButtonGadget1", the second is "PushButton‐
Gadget2", and so on. The following list identifies the naming conven‐
tion used for window manager menu components:
· Menu Title LabelGadget - "TitleName"
· Menu Title SeparatorGadget - "TitleSeparator"
· CascadeButtonGadget - "CascadeButtonGadget<n>"
· PushButtonGadget - "PushButtonGadget<n>"
· SeparatorGadget - "SeparatorGadget<n>"
Refer to the man page for each class for a list of resources which can
be specified.
The following component appearance resources that apply to all window
manager parts can be specified:
Component Appearance Resources - All Window Manager Parts
Name Class Value Type Default
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
background Background color varies†
backgroundPixmap BackgroundPixmap string†† varies†
bottomShadowColor Foreground color varies†
bottomShadowPixmap BottomShadowPixmap string†† varies†
fontList FontList string††† "fixed"
foreground Foreground color varies†
saveUnder SaveUnder T/F F
topShadowColor Background color varies†
topShadowPixmap TopShadowPixmap string†† varies†
†The default is chosen based on the visual type of the screen. ††Image
name. See XmInstallImage(3X). †††X11 X Logical Font Description
background (class Background)
This resource specifies the background color. Any legal X color
may be specified. The default value is chosen based on the vis‐
ual type of the screen.
backgroundPixmap (class BackgroundPixmap)
This resource specifies the background Pixmap of the mwm decora‐
tion when the window is inactive (does not have the keyboard
focus). The default value is chosen based on the visual type of
the screen.
bottomShadowColor (class Foreground)
This resource specifies the bottom shadow color. This color is
used for the lower and right bevels of the window manager deco‐
ration. Any legal X color may be specified. The default value
is chosen based on the visual type of the screen.
bottomShadowPixmap (class BottomShadowPixmap)
This resource specifies the bottom shadow Pixmap. This Pixmap
is used for the lower and right bevels of the window manager
decoration. The default is chosen based on the visual type of
the screen.
fontList (class FontList)
This resource specifies the font used in the window manager dec‐
oration. The character encoding of the font should match the
character encoding of the strings that are used. The default is
"fixed."
foreground (class Foreground)
This resource specifies the foreground color. The default is
chosen based on the visual type of the screen.
saveUnder (class SaveUnder)
This is used to indicate whether "save unders" are used for mwm
components. For this to have any effect, save unders must be
implemented by the X server. If save unders are implemented,
the X server saves the contents of windows obscured by windows
that have the save under attribute set. If the saveUnder
resource is True, mwm will set the save under attribute on the
window manager frame of any client that has it set. If saveUn‐
der is False, save unders will not be used on any window manager
frames. The default value is False.
topShadowColor (class Background)
This resource specifies the top shadow color. This color is
used for the upper and left bevels of the window manager decora‐
tion. The default is chosen based on the visual type of the
screen.
topShadowPixmap ( class TopShadowPixmap)
This resource specifies the top shadow Pixmap. This Pixmap is
used for the upper and left bevels of the window manager decora‐
tion. The default is chosen based on the visual type of the
screen.
The following component appearance resources that apply to frame and
icons can be specified:
Frame and Icon Components
Name Class Value Type Default
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
activeBackground Background color varies†
activeBackgroundPixmap BackgroundPixmap string†† varies†
activeBottomShadowColor Foreground color varies†
activeBottomShadowPixmap BottomShadowPixmap string†† varies†
activeForeground Foreground color varies†
activeTopShadowColor Background color varies†
activeTopShadowPixmap TopShadowPixmap string†† varies†
†The default is chosen based on the visual type of the screen. ††See
XmInstallImage(3X).
activeBackground (class Background)
This resource specifies the background color of the mwm decora‐
tion when the window is active (has the keyboard focus). The
default is chosen based on the visual type of the screen.
activeBackgroundPixmap (class ActiveBackgroundPixmap)
This resource specifies the background Pixmap of the mwm decora‐
tion when the window is active (has the keyboard focus). The
default is chosen based on the visual type of the screen.
activeBottomShadowColor (class Foreground)
This resource specifies the bottom shadow color of the mwm deco‐
ration when the window is active (has the keyboard focus). The
default is chosen based on the visual type of the screen.
activeBottomShadowPixmap (class BottomShadowPixmap)
This resource specifies the bottom shadow Pixmap of the mwm dec‐
oration when the window is active (has the keyboard focus). The
default is chosen based on the visual type of the screen.
activeForeground (class Foreground)
This resource specifies the foreground color of the mwm decora‐
tion when the window is active (has the keyboard focus). The
default is chosen based on the visual type of the screen.
activeTopShadowColor (class Background)
This resource specifies the top shadow color of the mwm decora‐
tion when the window is active (has the keyboard focus). The
default is chosen based on the visual type of the screen.
activeTopShadowPixmap (class TopShadowPixmap)
This resource specifies the top shadow Pixmap of the mwm decora‐
tion when the window is active (has the keyboard focus). The
default is chosen based on the visual type of the screen.
General Appearance and Behavior Resources
The syntax for specifying general appearance and behavior resources is
Mwm*resource_id
For example, Mwm*keyboardFocusPolicy specifies the window manager pol‐
icy for setting the keyboard focus to a particular client window.
The following general appearance and behavior resources can be speci‐
fied:
General Appearance and Behavior Resources
Name Class Value Type Default
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
autoKeyFocus AutoKeyFocus T/F T
autoRaiseDelay AutoRaiseDelay millisec 500
bitmapDirectory BitmapDirectory directory /usr/include/\
X11/bitmaps
buttonBindings ButtonBindings string "DefaultBut\
tonBindings"
cleanText CleanText T/F T
clientAutoPlace ClientAutoPlace T/F T
colormapFocusPolicy ColormapFocusPolicy string keyboard
configFile ConfigFile file .mwmrc
deiconifyKeyFocus DeiconifyKeyFocus T/F T
doubleClickTime DoubleClickTime millisec. multi-click time
enableWarp enableWarp T/F T
enforceKeyFocus EnforceKeyFocus T/F T
fadeNormalIcon FadeNormalIcon T/F F
feedbackGeometry FeedbackGeometry string center on screen
frameBorderWidth FrameBorderWidth pixels varies
iconAutoPlace IconAutoPlace T/F T
iconBoxGeometry IconBoxGeometry string 6x1+0-0
iconBoxName IconBoxName string iconbox
iconBoxSBDisplayPolicy IconBoxSBDisplayPolicy string all
iconBoxTitle IconBoxTitle XmString Icons
iconClick IconClick T/F T
iconDecoration IconDecoration string varies
iconImageMaximum IconImageMaximum wxh 50x50
iconImageMinimum IconImageMinimum wxh 16x16
iconPlacement IconPlacement string left bottom
iconPlacementMargin IconPlacementMargin pixels varies
interactivePlacement InteractivePlacement T/F F
keyBindings KeyBindings string "DefaultKey\
Bindings"
keyboardFocusPolicy KeyboardFocusPolicy string explicit
limitResize LimitResize T/F T
lowerOnIconify LowerOnIconify T/F T
maximumMaximumSize MaximumMaximumSize wxh (pixels) 2X screen w&h
moveThreshold MoveThreshold pixels 4
moveOpaque MoveOpaque T/F F
multiScreen MultiScreen T/F F
passButtons PassButtons T/F F
passSelectButton PassSelectButton T/F T
positionIsFrame PositionIsFrame T/F T
positionOnScreen PositionOnScreen T/F T
quitTimeout QuitTimeout millisec. 1000
raiseKeyFocus RaiseKeyFocus T/F F
resizeBorderWidth ResizeBorderWidth pixels varies
resizeCursors ResizeCursors T/F T
screens Screens string varies
showFeedback ShowFeedback string all
startupKeyFocus StartupKeyFocus T/F T
transientDecoration TransientDecoration string menu title
transientFunctions TransientFunctions string -minimize -maxi‐
mize
useIconBox UseIconBox T/F F
wMenuButtonClick WMenuButtonClick T/F T
wMenuButtonClick2 WMenuButtonClick2 T/F T
autoKeyFocus (class AutoKeyFocus)
This resource is available only when the keyboard input focus
policy is explicit. If autoKeyFocus is given a value of True,
then when a window with the keyboard input focus is withdrawn
from window management or is iconified, the focus is set to the
previous window that had the focus. If the value given is
False, there is no automatic setting of the keyboard input
focus. It is recommended that both autoKeyFocus and startupKey‐
Focus be True to work with tear off menus. The default value is
True.
autoRaiseDelay (class AutoRaiseDelay)
This resource is available only when the focusAutoRaise resource
is True and the keyboard focus policy is pointer. The
autoRaiseDelay resource specifies the amount of time (in mil‐
liseconds) that mwm will wait before raising a window after it
gets the keyboard focus. The default value of this resource is
500 (ms).
bitmapDirectory (class BitmapDirectory)
This resource identifies a directory to be searched for bitmaps
referenced by mwm resources. This directory is searched if a
bitmap is specified without an absolute pathname. The default
value for this resource is /usr/include/X11/bitmaps. The direc‐
tory /usr/include/X11/bitmaps represents the customary locations
for this directory. The actual location of this directory may
vary on some systems. If the bitmap is not found in the speci‐
fied directory, XBMLANGPATH is searched.
buttonBindings (class ButtonBindings)
This resource identifies the set of button bindings for window
management functions. The named set of button bindings is spec‐
ified in the mwm resource description file. These button bind‐
ings are merged with the built-in default bindings. The default
value for this resource is "DefaultButtonBindings".
cleanText (class CleanText)
This resource controls the display of window manager text in the
client title and feedback windows. If the default value of True
is used, the text is drawn with a clear (no stipple) background.
This makes text easier to read on monochrome systems where a
backgroundPixmap is specified. Only the stippling in the area
immediately around the text is cleared. If False, the text is
drawn directly on top of the existing background.
clientAutoPlace (class ClientAutoPlace)
This resource determines the position of a window when the win‐
dow has not been given a program- or user-specified position.
With a value of True, windows are positioned with the top left
corners of the frames offset horizontally and vertically. A
value of False causes the currently configured position of the
window to be used. In either case, mwm will attempt to place
the windows totally on-screen. The default value is True.
colormapFocusPolicy (class ColormapFocusPolicy)
This resource indicates the colormap focus policy that is to be
used. If the resource value is explicit, a colormap selection
action is done on a client window to set the colormap focus to
that window. If the value is pointer, the client window con‐
taining the pointer has the colormap focus. If the value is
keyboard, the client window that has the keyboard input focus
has the colormap focus. The default value for this resource is
keyboard.
configFile (class ConfigFile)
The resource value is the pathname for an mwm resource descrip‐
tion file.
If the pathname begins with " /", mwm considers it to
be relative to the user's home directory (as specified by the HOME
environment variable). If the LANG environment variable is set, mwm
looks for $HOME/$LANG/configFile. If that file does not exist or if
LANG is not set, mwm looks for $HOME/configFile.
If the configFile pathname does not begin with /, mwm
considers it to be relative to the current working directory.
If the configFile resource is not specified or if that file does not
exist, mwm uses several default paths to find a configuration file. If
the LANG environment variable is set, mwm looks for the configuration
file first in $HOME/$LANG/.mwmrc. If that file does not exist or if
LANG is not set, mwm looks for $HOME/.mwmrc. If that file does not
exist and if LANG is set, mwm next looks for the file system.mwmrc in
the $LANG subdirectory of an implementation-dependent directory. (The
default for this directory, if not changed by the implementation, is
/usr/lib/X11.) If that file does not exist or if LANG is not set, mwm
looks for the file system.mwmrc in the same implementation-dependent
directory.
deiconifyKeyFocus (class DeiconifyKeyFocus)
This resource applies only when the keyboard input focus policy
is explicit. If a value of True is used, a window receives the
keyboard input focus when it is normalized (deiconified). True
is the default value.
doubleClickTime (class DoubleClickTime)
This resource is used to set the maximum time (in ms) between
the clicks (button presses) that make up a double-click. The
default value of this resource is the display's multi-click
time.
enableWarp (class EnableWarp)
The default value of this resource, True, causes mwm to warp the
pointer to the center of the selected window during keyboard-
controlled resize and move operations. Setting the value to
False causes mwm to leave the pointer at its original place on
the screen, unless the user explicitly moves it with the cursor
keys or pointing device.
enforceKeyFocus (class EnforceKeyFocus)
If this resource is given a value of True, the keyboard input
focus is always explicitly set to selected windows even if there
is an indication that they are "globally active" input windows.
(An example of a globally active window is a scroll bar that can
be operated without setting the focus to that client.) If the
resource is False, the keyboard input focus is not explicitly
set to globally active windows. The default value is True.
fadeNormalIcon (class FadeNormalIcon)
If this resource is given a value of True, an icon is grayed out
whenever it has been normalized (its window has been opened).
The default value is False.
feedbackGeometry (class FeedbackGeometry)
This resource sets the position of the move and resize feedback
window. If this resource is not specified, the default is to
place the feedback window at the center of the screen. The
value of the resource is a standard window geometry string with
the following syntax:
[=]{+-}xoffset{+-}yoffset]
frameBorderWidth (class FrameBorderWidth)
This resource specifies the width (in pixels) of a client window
frame border without resize handles. The border width includes
the 3-D shadows. The default value is based on the size and
resolution of the screen.
iconAutoPlace (class IconAutoPlace)
This resource indicates whether the window manager arranges
icons in a particular area of the screen or places each icon
where the window was when it was iconified. The value True
indicates that icons are arranged in a particular area of the
screen, determined by the iconPlacement resource. The value
False indicates that an icon is placed at the location of the
window when it is iconified. The default is True.
iconBoxGeometry (class IconBoxGeometry)
This resource indicates the initial position and size of the
icon box. The value of the resource is a standard window geome‐
try string with the following syntax:
[=][widthxheight][{+-}xoffset{+-}yoffset]
If the offsets are not provided, the iconPlacement policy is used to
determine the initial placement. The units for width and height are
columns and rows.
The actual screen size of the icon box window depends on the iconImage‐
Maximum (size) and iconDecoration resources. The default value for
size is (6 * iconWidth + padding) wide by (1 * iconHeight + padding)
high. The default value of the location is +0 -0.
iconBoxName (class IconBoxName)
This resource specifies the name that is used to look up icon
box resources. The default name is "iconbox".
iconBoxSBDisplayPolicy (class IconBoxSBDisplayPolicy)
This resource specifies the scroll bar display policy of the
window manager in the icon box. The resource has three possible
values: all, vertical, and horizontal. The default value,
"all", causes both vertical and horizontal scroll bars always to
appear. The value "vertical" causes a single vertical scroll
bar to appear in the icon box and sets the orientation of the
icon box to horizontal (regardless of the iconBoxGeometry speci‐
fication). The value "horizontal" causes a single horizontal
scroll bar to appear in the icon box and sets the orientation of
the icon box to vertical (regardless of the iconBoxGeometry
specification).
iconBoxTitle (class IconBoxTitle)
This resource specifies the name that is used in the title area
of the icon box frame. The default value is "Icons".
iconClick (class IconClick)
When this resource is given the value of True, the system menu
is posted and left posted when an icon is clicked. The default
value is True.
iconDecoration (class IconDecoration)
This resource specifies the general icon decoration. The
resource value is label (only the label part is displayed) or
image (only the image part is displayed) or label image (both
the label and image parts are displayed). A value of activela‐
bel can also be specified to get a label (not truncated to the
width of the icon) when the icon is selected. The default icon
decoration for icon box icons is that each icon has a label part
and an image part (label image). The default icon decoration
for stand alone icons is that each icon has an active label
part, a label part, and an image part (activelabel label image).
iconImageMaximum (class IconImageMaximum)
This resource specifies the maximum size of the icon image. The
resource value is widthxheight (for example, 64x64). The maxi‐
mum supported size is 128x128. The default value of this
resource is 50x50.
iconImageMinimum (class IconImageMinimum)
This resource specifies the minimum size of the icon image. The
resource value is widthxheight (for example, 32x50). The mini‐
mum supported size is 16x16. The default value of this resource
is 16x16.
iconPlacement (class IconPlacement)
This resource specifies the icon placement scheme to be used.
The resource value has the following syntax:
primary_layout secondary_layout [tight]
The layout values are one of the following:
Value Description
──────────────────────────────────────────
top Lay the icons out top to bottom.
bottom Lay the icons out bottom to top.
left Lay the icons out left to right.
right Lay the icons out right to left.
A horizontal (vertical) layout value should not be used for both the
primary_layout and the secondary_layout (for example, don't use top for
the primary_layout and bottom for the secondary_layout). The pri‐
mary_layout indicates whether, when an icon placement is done, the icon
is placed in a row or a column and the direction of placement. The
secondary_layout indicates where to place new rows or columns. For
example, top right indicates that icons should be placed top to bottom
on the screen and that columns should be added from right to left on
the screen. The default placement is left bottom (icons are placed
left to right on the screen, with the first row on the bottom of the
screen, and new rows added from the bottom of the screen to the top of
the screen). A tight value places icons with zero spacing in between
icons. This value is useful for aesthetic reasons, as well as X-termi‐
nals with small screens.
iconPlacementMargin (class IconPlacementMargin)
This resource sets the distance between the edge of the screen
and the icons that are placed along the edge of the screen. The
value should be greater than or equal to 0. A default value
(see below) is used if the value specified is invalid. The
default value for this resource is equal to the space between
icons as they are placed on the screen (this space is based on
maximizing the number of icons in each row and column).
interactivePlacement (class InteractivePlacement)
This resource controls the initial placement of new windows on
the screen. If the value is True, the pointer shape changes
before a new window is placed on the screen to indicate to the
user that a position should be selected for the upper-left hand
corner of the window. If the value is False, windows are placed
according to the initial window configuration attributes. The
default value of this resource is False.
keyBindings (class KeyBindings)
This resource identifies the set of key bindings for window man‐
agement functions. If specified, these key bindings replace the
built-in default bindings. The named set of key bindings is
specified in mwm resource description file. The default value
for this resource is "DefaultKeyBindings".
keyboardFocusPolicy (class KeyboardFocusPolicy)
If set to pointer, the keyboard focus policy is to have the key‐
board focus set to the client window that contains the pointer
(the pointer could also be in the client window decoration that
mwm adds). If set to explicit, the policy is to have the key‐
board focus set to a client window when the user presses button
1 with the pointer on the client window or any part of the asso‐
ciated mwm decoration. The default value for this resource is
explicit.
limitResize (class LimitResize)
If this resource is True, the user is not allowed to resize a
window to greater than the maximum size. The default value for
this resource is True.
lowerOnIconify (class LowerOnIconify)
If this resource is given the default value of True, a window's
icon appears on the bottom of the window stack when the window
is minimized (iconified). A value of False places the icon in
the stacking order at the same place as its associated window.
The default value of this resource is True.
maximumMaximumSize (class MaximumMaximumSize)
This resource is used to limit the maximum size of a client win‐
dow as set by the user or client. The resource value is widthx‐
height (for example, 1024x1024) where the width and height are
in pixels. The default value of this resource is twice the
screen width and height.
moveOpaque (class MoveOpaque)
This resource controls whether the actual window is moved or a
rectangular outline of the window is moved. A default value of
False displays a rectangular outline on moves.
moveThreshold (class MoveThreshold)
This resource is used to control the sensitivity of dragging
operations that move windows and icons. The value of this
resource is the number of pixels that the locator is moved with
a button down before the move operation is initiated. This is
used to prevent window/icon movement when you click or double-
click and there is unintentional pointer movement with the but‐
ton down. The default value of this resource is 4 (pixels).
multiScreen (class MultiScreen)
This resource, if True, causes mwm to manage all the screens on
the display. If False, mwm manages only a single screen. The
default value is False.
passButtons (class PassButtons)
This resource indicates whether or not button press events are
passed to clients after they are used to do a window manager
function in the client context. If the resource value is False,
the button press is not passed to the client. If the value is
True, the button press is passed to the client window. The win‐
dow manager function is done in either case. The default value
for this resource is False.
passSelectButton (class PassSelectButton)
This resource indicates whether or not to pass the select button
press events to clients after they are used to do a window man‐
ager function in the client context. If the resource value is
False, then the button press will not be passed to the client.
If the value is True, the button press is passed to the client
window. The window manager function is done in either case.
The default value for this resource is True.
positionIsFrame (class PositionIsFrame)
This resource indicates how client window position information
(from the WM_NORMAL_HINTS property and from configuration
requests) is to be interpreted. If the resource value is True,
the information is interpreted as the position of the MWM client
window frame. If the value is False, it is interpreted as being
the position of the client area of the window. The default
value of this resource is True.
positionOnScreen (class PositionOnScreen)
This resource is used to indicate that windows should initially
be placed (if possible) so that they are not clipped by the edge
of the screen (if the resource value is True). If a window is
larger than the size of the screen, at least the upper-left cor‐
ner of the window is on-screen. If the resource value is False,
windows are placed in the requested position even if totally
off-screen. The default value of this resource is True.
quitTimeout (class QuitTimeout)
This resource specifies the amount of time (in milliseconds)
that mwm will wait for a client to update the WM_COMMAND prop‐
erty after mwm has sent the WM_SAVE_YOURSELF message. The
default value of this resource is 1000 (ms). (Refer to the
f.kill function description for additional information.)
raiseKeyFocus (class RaiseKeyFocus)
This resource is available only when the keyboard input focus
policy is explicit. When set to True, this resource specifies
that a window raised by means of the f.normalize_and_raise func‐
tion also receives the input focus. The default value of this
resource is False.
resizeBorderWidth (class ResizeBorderWidth)
This resource specifies the width (in pixels) of a client window
frame border with resize handles. The specified border width
includes the 3-D shadows. The default value is based on the
size and resolution of the screen.
resizeCursors (class ResizeCursors)
This is used to indicate whether the resize cursors are always
displayed when the pointer is in the window size border. If
True, the cursors are shown, otherwise the window manager cursor
is shown. The default value is True.
screens (class Screens)
This resource specifies the resource names to use for the
screens managed by mwm. If mwm is managing a single screen,
only the first name in the list is used. If mwm is managing
multiple screens, the names are assigned to the screens in
order, starting with screen 0. Screen 0 gets the first name,
screen 1 the second name, and so on. The default screen names
are 0, 1, and so on.
showFeedback (class ShowFeedback)
This resource controls whether or not feedback windows or con‐
firmation dialogs are displayed. A feedback window shows a
client window's initial placement and shows position and size
during move and resize operations. Confirmation dialogs can be
displayed for certain operations.
The value for this resource is a list of names of the feedback options
to be enabled or disabled; the names must be separated by a space. If
an option is preceded by a minus sign, that option is excluded from the
list. The sign of the first item in the list determines the initial
set of options. If the sign of the first option is minus, mwm assumes
all options are present and starts subtracting from that set. If the
sign of the first decoration is plus (or not specified), mwm starts
with no options and builds up a list from the resource.
The names of the feedback options are shown below:
Name Description
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
all Show all feedback (Default value)
behavior Confirm behavior switch
kill Confirm on receipt of KILL signal
move Show position during move
none Show no feedback
placement Show position and size during initial placement
quit Confirm quitting mwm
resize Show size during resize
restart Confirm mwm restart
The following command line illustrates the syntax for showFeedback:
Mwm*showFeedback: placement resize behavior restart
This resource specification provides feedback for initial client place‐
ment and resize, and enables the dialog boxes to confirm the restart
and set behavior functions. It disables feedback for the move func‐
tion. The default value for this resource is all.
startupKeyFocus (class StartupKeyFocus)
This resource is available only when the keyboard input focus
policy is explicit. When given the default value of True, a
window gets the keyboard input focus when the window is mapped
(that is, initially managed by the window manager). It is rec‐
ommended that both autoKeyFocus and startupKeyFocus be True to
work with tear off menus. The default value is True.
transientDecoration (class TransientDecoration)
This controls the amount of decoration that mwm puts on tran‐
sient windows. The decoration specification is exactly the same
as for the clientDecoration (client specific) resource. Tran‐
sient windows are identified by the WM_TRANSIENT_FOR property,
which is added by the client to indicate a relatively temporary
window. The default value for this resource is menu title (that
is, transient windows have frame borders and a titlebar with a
window menu button).
An application can also specify which decorations mwm should apply to
its windows. If it does so, mwm applies only those decorations indi‐
cated by both the application and the transientDecoration resource.
Otherwise, mwm applies the decorations indicated by the transientDeco‐
ration resource. For more information see the description of XmN‐
mwmDecorations on the VendorShell(3X) reference page.
transientFunctions (class TransientFunctions)
This resource is used to indicate which window management func‐
tions are applicable (or not applicable) to transient windows.
The function specification is exactly the same as for the
clientFunctions (client specific) resource. The default value
for this resource is -minimize -maximize.
An application can also specify which functions mwm should apply to its
windows. If it does so, mwm applies only those functions indicated by
both the application and the transientFunctions resource. Otherwise,
mwm applies the functions indicated by the transientFunctions resource.
For more information see the description of XmNmwmFunctions on the Ven‐
dorShell(3X) reference page.
useIconBox (class UseIconBox)
If this resource is given a value of True, icons are placed in
an icon box. When an icon box is not used, the icons are placed
on the root window (default value).
wMenuButtonClick (class WMenuButtonClick)
This resource indicates whether a click of the mouse when the
pointer is over the window menu button posts and leaves posted
the window menu. If the value given this resource is True, the
menu remains posted. True is the default value for this
resource.
wMenuButtonClick2 (class WMenuButtonClick2)
When this resource is given the default value of True, a double-
click action on the window menu button does an f.kill function.
Client Specific Resources
The syntax for specifying client specific resources is
Mwm*client_name_or_class*resource_id
For example, Mwm*mterm*windowMenu is used to specify the window menu to
be used with mterm clients. The syntax for specifying client specific
resources for all classes of clients is
Mwm*resource_id
Specific client specifications take precedence over the specifications
for all clients. For example, Mwm*windowMenu is used to specify the
window menu to be used for all classes of clients that don't have a
window menu specified.
The syntax for specifying resource values for windows that have an
unknown name and class (that is, windows that do not have a WM_CLASS
property associated with them) is
Mwm*defaults*resource_id
For example, Mwm*defaults*iconImage is used to specify the icon image
to be used for windows that have an unknown name and class.
The following client specific resources can be specified:
Client Specific Resources
Name Class Value Type Default
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
clientDecoration ClientDecoration string all
clientFunctions ClientFunctions string all
focusAutoRaise FocusAutoRaise T/F varies
iconImage IconImage pathname (image)
iconImageBackground Background color icon background
iconImageBottomShadowColor Foreground color icon bottom
shadow
iconImageBottomShadowPixmap BottomShadow- color icon bottom
Pixmap shadow pixmap
iconImageForeground Foreground color varies
iconImageTopShadowColor Background color icon top shadow
color
iconImageTopShadowPixmap TopShadow- Pixmap color icon top shadow
pixmap
matteBackground Background color background
matteBottomShadowColor Foreground color bottom shadow
color
matteBottomShadowPixmap BottomShadow- color bottom shadow
Pixmap pixmap
matteForeground Foreground color foreground
matteTopShadowColor Background color top shadow color
matteTopShadowPixmap TopShadow- Pixmap color top shadow
pixmap
matteWidth MatteWidth pixels 0
maximumClientSize MaximumClientSize wxh vertical fill the screen
horizontal
useClientIcon UseClientIcon T/F F
usePPosition UsePPosition string nonzero
windowMenu WindowMenu string "Default- Win‐
dow- Menu"
clientDecoration (class ClientDecoration)
This resource controls the amount of window frame decoration.
The resource is specified as a list of decorations to specify
their inclusion in the frame. If a decoration is preceded by a
minus sign, that decoration is excluded from the frame. The
sign of the first item in the list determines the initial amount
of decoration. If the sign of the first decoration is minus,
mwm assumes all decorations are present and starts subtracting
from that set. If the sign of the first decoration is plus (or
not specified), then mwm starts with no decoration and builds up
a list from the resource.
An application can also specify which decorations mwm should apply to
its windows. If it does so, mwm applies only those decorations indi‐
cated by both the application and the clientDecoration resource. Oth‐
erwise, mwm applies the decorations indicated by the clientDecoration
resource. For more information see the description of XmNmwmDecora‐
tions on the VendorShell(3X) reference page.
center; lb lb l l. Name Description _
all Include all decorations (default value) bor‐
der Window border maximize Maximize but‐
ton (includes title bar) minimize Minimize button (includes
title bar) none No decorations
resizeh Border resize handles (includes border)
menu Window menu button (includes title bar)
title Title bar (includes border)
Examples:
Mwm*XClock.clientDecoration: -resizeh -maximize
This removes the resize handles and maximize button from XClock win‐
dows.
Mwm*XClock.clientDecoration: menu minimize border
This does the same thing as above. Note that either menu or minimize
implies title.
clientFunctions (class ClientFunctions)
This resource is used to indicate which mwm functions are appli‐
cable (or not applicable) to the client window. The value for
the resource is a list of functions. If the first function in
the list has a minus sign in front of it, then mwm starts with
all functions and subtracts from that set. If the first func‐
tion in the list has a plus sign in front of it, then mwm starts
with no functions and builds up a list. Each function in the
list must be preceded by the appropriate plus or minus sign and
separated from the next function by a space.
An application can also specify which functions mwm should apply to its
windows. If it does so, mwm applies only those functions indicated by
both the application and the clientFunctions resource. Otherwise, mwm
applies the functions indicated by the clientFunctions resource. For
more information see the description of XmNmwmFunctions on the Vendor‐
Shell(3X) reference page.
The table below lists the functions available for this resource:
Name Description
─────────────────────────────────────────────────
all Include all functions (default value)
none No functions
resize f.resize
move f.move
minimize f.minimize
maximize f.maximize
close f.kill
focusAutoRaise (class FocusAutoRaise)
When the value of this resource is True, clients are raised when
they get the keyboard input focus. If the value is False, the
stacking of windows on the display is not changed when a window
gets the keyboard input focus. The default value is True when
the keyboardFocusPolicy is explicit and False when the keyboard‐
FocusPolicy is pointer.
iconImage (class IconImage)
This resource can be used to specify an icon image for a client
(for example, "Mwm*myclock*iconImage"). The resource value is a
pathname for a bitmap file. The value of the (client specific)
useClientIcon resource is used to determine whether or not user
supplied icon images are used instead of client supplied icon
images. The default value is to display a built-in window man‐
ager icon image.
iconImageBackground (class Background)
This resource specifies the background color of the icon image
that is displayed in the image part of an icon. The default
value of this resource is the icon background color (that is,
specified by "Mwm*background or Mwm*icon*background).
iconImageBottomShadowColor (class Foreground)
This resource specifies the bottom shadow color of the icon
image that is displayed in the image part of an icon. The
default value of this resource is the icon bottom shadow color
(that is, specified by Mwm*icon*bottomShadowColor).
iconImageBottomShadowPixmap (class BottomShadowPixmap)
This resource specifies the bottom shadow Pixmap of the icon
image that is displayed in the image part of an icon. The
default value of this resource is the icon bottom shadow Pixmap
(that is, specified by Mwm*icon*bottomShadowPixmap).
iconImageForeground (class Foreground)
This resource specifies the foreground color of the icon image
that is displayed in the image part of an icon. The default
value of this resource varies depending on the icon background.
iconImageTopShadowColor (class Background)
This resource specifies the top shadow color of the icon image
that is displayed in the image part of an icon. The default
value of this resource is the icon top shadow color (that is,
specified by Mwm*icon*topShadowColor).
iconImageTopShadowPixmap (class TopShadowPixmap)
This resource specifies the top shadow Pixmap of the icon image
that is displayed in the image part of an icon. The default
value of this resource is the icon top shadow pixmap (that is,
specified by Mwm*icon*topShadowPixmap).
matteBackground (class Background)
This resource specifies the background color of the matte, when
matteWidth is positive. The default value of this resource is
the client background color (that is, specified by "Mwm*back‐
ground or Mwm*client*background).
matteBottomShadowColor (class Foreground)
This resource specifies the bottom shadow color of the matte,
when matteWidth is positive. The default value of this resource
is the client bottom shadow color (that is, specified by
"Mwm*bottomShadowColor or Mwm*client*bottomShadowColor).
matteBottomShadowPixmap (class BottomShadowPixmap)
This resource specifies the bottom shadow Pixmap of the matte,
when matteWidth is positive. The default value of this resource
is the client bottom shadow pixmap (that is, specified by
"Mwm*bottomShadowPixmap or Mwm*client*bottomShadowPixmap).
matteForeground (class Foreground)
This resource specifies the foreground color of the matte, when
matteWidth is positive. The default value of this resource is
the client foreground color (that is, specified by "Mwm*fore‐
ground or Mwm*client*foreground).
matteTopShadowColor (class Background)
This resource specifies the top shadow color of the matte, when
matteWidth is positive. The default value of this resource is
the client top shadow color (that is, specified by "Mwm*topShad‐
owColor or Mwm*client*topShadowColor).
matteTopShadowPixmap (class TopShadowPixmap)
This resource specifies the top shadow pixmap of the matte, when
matteWidth is positive. The default value of this resource is
the client top shadow pixmap (that is, specified by "Mwm*top‐
ShadowPixmap or Mwm*client*topShadowPixmap).
matteWidth (class MatteWidth)
This resource specifies the width of the optional matte. The
default value is 0, which effectively disables the matte.
maximumClientSize (class MaximumClientSize)
This resource is either a size specification or a direction that
indicates how a client window is to be maximized. The resource
value can be specified as a size specification widthxheight.
The width and height are interpreted in the units that the
client uses (for example, for terminal emulators this is gener‐
ally characters). Alternately, "vertical" or "horizontal" can
be specified to indicate the direction in which the client maxi‐
mizes.
If this resource is not specified, the maximum size from the WM_NOR‐
MAL_HINTS property is used if set. Otherwise the default value is the
size where the client window with window management borders fills the
screen. When the maximum client size is not determined by the maximum‐
ClientSize resource, the maximumMaximumSize resource value is used as a
constraint on the maximum size.
useClientIcon (class UseClientIcon)
If the value given for this resource is True, a client-supplied
icon image takes precedence over a user-supplied icon image.
The default value is False, giving the user-supplied icon image
higher precedence than the client-supplied icon image.
usePPosition (class UsePPosition)
This resource specifies whether Mwm honors program specified
position PPosition specified in the WM_NORMAL_HINTS property in
the absence of an user specified position. Setting this
resource to on, causes mwm to always honor program specified
position. Setting this resource to off, causes mwm to always
ignore program specified position. Setting this resource to the
default value of nonzero cause mwm to honor program specified
position other than (0,0).
windowMenu (class WindowMenu)
This resource indicates the name of the menu pane that is posted
when the window menu is popped up (usually by pressing button 1
on the window menu button on the client window frame). Menu
panes are specified in the MWM resource description file. Win‐
dow menus can be customized on a client class basis by specify‐
ing resources of the form Mwm*client_name_or_class*windowMenu
(see "Mwm Resource Description File Syntax"). The default value
of this resource is "DefaultWindowMenu".
Resource Description File
The MWM resource description file is a supplementary resource file that
contains resource descriptions that are referred to by entries in the
defaults files (.Xdefaults, app-defaults/Mwm). It contains descrip‐
tions of resources that are to be used by mwm, and that cannot be eas‐
ily encoded in the defaults files (a bitmap file is an analogous type
of resource description file). A particular mwm resource description‐
file can be selected using the configFile resource.
The following types of resources can be described in the mwm resource
description file:
Buttons
Window manager functions can be bound (associated) with button
events.
Keys Window manager functions can be bound (associated) with key
press events.
Menus Menu panes can be used for the window menu and other menus
posted with key bindings and button bindings.
mwm Resource Description File Syntax
The mwm resource description file is a standard text file that contains
items of information separated by blanks, tabs, and newline characters.
Blank lines are ignored. Items or characters can be quoted to avoid
special interpretation (for example, the comment character can be
quoted to prevent it from being interpreted as the comment character).
A quoted item can be contained in double quotes ("). Single characters
can be quoted by preceding them by the backslash character (\). All
text from an unquoted # to the end of the line is regarded as a comment
and is not interpreted as part of a resource description. If ! is the
first character in a line, the line is regarded as a comment. If a
line ends in a backslash character (\), the next line is considered a
continuation of that line. Window manager functions can be accessed
with button and key bindings, and with window manager menus. Functions
are indicated as part of the specifications for button and key binding
sets, and menu panes. The function specification has the following
syntax:
function = function_name [function_args]
function_name = window manager function
function_args = {quoted_item unquoted_item}
The following functions are supported. If a function is specified that
isn't one of the supported functions, then it is interpreted by mwm as
f.nop.
f.beep This function causes a beep.
f.circle_down [icon window]
This function causes the window or icon that is on the top of
the window stack to be put on the bottom of the window stack (so
that it no longer obscures any other window or icon). This
function affects only those windows and icons that obscure other
windows and icons, or that are obscured by other windows and
icons. Secondary windows (that is, transient windows) are
restacked with their associated primary window. Secondary win‐
dows always stay on top of the associated primary window and
there can be no other primary windows between the secondary win‐
dows and their primary window. If an icon function argument is
specified, the function applies only to icons. If a window
function argument is specified, the function applies only to
windows.
f.circle_up [icon window]
This function raises the window or icon on the bottom of the
window stack (so that it is not obscured by any other windows).
This function affects only those windows and icons that obscure
other windows and icons, or that are obscured by other windows
and icons. Secondary windows (that is, transient windows) are
restacked with their associated primary window. If an icon
function argument is specified, the function applies only to
icons. If a window function argument is specified, the function
applies only to windows.
f.exec or !
This function causes command to be executed (using the value of
the MWMSHELL environment variable if it is set, otherwise the
value of the SHELL environment variable if it is set, otherwise
/bin/sh). The ! notation can be used in place of the f.exec
function name.
f.focus_color
This function sets the colormap focus to a client window. If
this function is done in a root context, the default colormap
(set up by the X Window System for the screen where MWM is run‐
ning) is installed and there is no specific client window col‐
ormap focus. This function is treated as f.nop if colormapFo‐
cusPolicy is not explicit.
f.focus_key
This function sets the keyboard input focus to a client window
or icon. This function is treated as f.nop if keyboardFocusPol‐
icy is not explicit or the function is executed in a root con‐
text.
f.kill This function is used to terminate a client. If the
WM_DELETE_WINDOW protocol is set up, the client is sent a client
message event, indicating that the client window should be
deleted. If the WM_SAVE_YOURSELF protocol is set up, the client
is sent a client message event, indicating that the client needs
to prepare to be terminated. If the client does not have the
WM_DELETE_WINDOW or WM_SAVE_YOURSELF protocol set up, this func‐
tion causes a client's X connection to be terminated (usually
resulting in termination of the client). Refer to the descrip‐
tion of the quitTimeout resource and the WM_PROTOCOLS property.
f.lower [-client within freeFamily]
This function lowers a primary window to the bottom of the
global window stack (where it obscures no other window) and low‐
ers the secondary window (transient window or dialog box) within
the client family. The arguments to this function are mutually
exclusive.
The client argument indicates the name or class of a client to lower.
If the client argument is not specified, the context that the function
was invoked in indicates the window or icon to lower.
Specifying within lowers the secondary window within the family (stay‐
ing above the parent) but does not lower the client family in the
global window stack.
Specifying freeFamily lowers the window to the bottom of the global
windows stack from its local family stack.
f.maximize
This function causes a client window to be displayed with its
maximum size.
f.menu This function associates a cascading (pull-right) menu with a
menu pane entry or a menu with a button or key binding. The
menu_name function argument identifies the menu to be used.
f.minimize
This function causes a client window to be minimized (iconi‐
fied). When a window is minimized when no icon box is used, its
icon is placed on the bottom of the window stack (so that it
obscures no other window). If an icon box is used, the client's
icon changes to its iconified form inside the icon box. Sec‐
ondary windows (that is, transient windows) are minimized with
their associated primary window. There is only one icon for a
primary window and all its secondary windows.
f.move This function causes a client window to be interactively moved.
f.next_cmap
This function installs the next colormap in the list of col‐
ormaps for the window with the colormap focus.
f.next_key [icon window transient]
This function sets the keyboard input focus to the next win‐
dow/icon in the set of windows/icons managed by the window man‐
ager (the ordering of this set is based on the stacking of win‐
dows on the screen). This function is treated as f.nop if key‐
boardFocusPolicy is not explicit. The keyboard input focus is
moved only to windows that do not have an associated secondary
window that is application modal. If the transient argument is
specified, transient (secondary) windows are traversed (other‐
wise, if only window is specified, traversal is done only to the
last focused window in a transient group). If an icon function
argument is specified, the function applies only to icons. If a
window function argument is specified, the function applies only
to windows.
f.nop This function does nothing.
f.normalize
This function causes a client window to be displayed with its
normal size. Secondary windows (that is, transient windows) are
placed in their normal state along with their associated primary
window.
f.normalize_and_raise
This function causes the corresponding client window to be dis‐
played with its normal size and raised to the top of the window
stack. Secondary windows (that is, transient windows) are
placed in their normal state along with their associated primary
window.
f.pack_icons
This function is used to relayout icons (based on the layout
policy being used) on the root window or in the icon box. In
general this causes icons to be "packed" into the icon grid.
f.pass_keys
This function is used to enable/disable (toggle) processing of
key bindings for window manager functions. When it disables key
binding processing, all keys are passed on to the window with
the keyboard input focus and no window manager functions are
invoked. If the f.pass_keys function is invoked with a key
binding to disable key-binding processing, the same key binding
can be used to enable key-binding processing.
f.post_wmenu
This function is used to post the window menu. If a key is used
to post the window menu and a window menu button is present, the
window menu is automatically placed with its top-left corner at
the bottom-left corner of the window menu button for the client
window. If no window menu button is present, the window menu
is placed at the top-left corner of the client window.
f.prev_cmap
This function installs the previous colormap in the list of col‐
ormaps for the window with the colormap focus.
f.prev_key [icon window transient]
This function sets the keyboard input focus to the previous win‐
dow/icon in the set of windows/icons managed by the window man‐
ager (the ordering of this set is based on the stacking of win‐
dows on the screen). This function is treated as f.nop if key‐
boardFocusPolicy is not explicit. The keyboard input focus is
moved only to windows that do not have an associated secondary
window that is application modal. If the transient argument is
specified, transient (secondary) windows are traversed (other‐
wise, if only window is specified, traversal is done only to the
last focused window in a transient group). If an icon function
argument is specified, the function applies only to icons. If
an window function argument is specified, the function applies
only to windows.
f.quit_mwm
This function terminates mwm (but NOT the X window system).
f.raise [-client within freeFamily]
This function raises a primary window to the top of the global
window stack (where it is obscured by no other window) and
raises the secondary window (transient window or dialog box)
within the client family. The arguments to this function are
mutually exclusive.
The client argument indicates the name or class of a client to lower.
If the client is not specified, the context that the function was
invoked in indicates the window or icon to lower.
Specifying within raises the secondary window within the family but
does not raise the client family in the global window stack.
Specifying freeFamily raises the window to the top of its local family
stack and raises the family to the top of the global window stack.
f.raise_lower [within freeFamily]
This function raises a primary window to the top of the global
window stack if it is partially obscured by another window; oth‐
erwise, it lowers the window to the bottom of the window stack.
The arguments to this function are mutually exclusive.
Specifying within raises a secondary window within the family (staying
above the parent window), if it is partially obscured by another window
in the application's family; otherwise, it lowers the window to the
bottom of the family stack. It has no effect on the global window
stacking order.
Specifying freeFamily raises the window to the top of its local family
stack, if obscured by another window, and raises the family to the top
of the global window stack; otherwise, it lowers the window to the bot‐
tom of its local family stack and lowers the family to the bottom of
the global window stack.
f.refresh
This function causes all windows to be redrawn.
f.refresh_win
This function causes a client window to be redrawn.
f.resize
This function causes a client window to be interactively
resized.
f.restore
This function restores the previous state of an icon's associ‐
ated window. If a maximized window is iconified, then f.restore
restores it to its maximized state. If a normal window is
iconified, then f.restore restores it to its normalized state.
f.restore_and_raise
This function restores the previous state of an icon's associ‐
ated window and raises the window to the top of the window
stack. If a maximized window is iconified, then
f.restore_and_raise restores it to its maximized state and
raises it to the top of the window stack. If a normal window is
iconified, then f.restore_and_raise restores it to its normal‐
ized state and raises it to the top of the window stack.
f.restart
This function causes mwm to be restarted (effectively terminated
and re-executed).
f.screen [next prev back
screen_number]" This function causes the pointer to be warp to a
specific screen number or to the next, previous, or last visited
(back) screen. The arguments to this function are mutually
exclusive.
The screen_number argument indicates the screen number that the pointer
is to be warped. Screens are numbered starting from screen 0.
Specifying next cause the pointer to warp to the next managed screen
(skipping over any unmanaged screens).
Specifying prev cause the pointer to warp to the previous managed
screen (skipping over any unmanaged screens).
Specifying back cause the pointer to warp to the last visited screen.
f.send_msg message_number
This function sends a client message of the type _MOTIF_WM_MES‐
SAGES with the message_type indicated by the message_number
function argument. The client message is sent only if mes‐
sage_number is included in the client's _MOTIF_WM_MESSAGES prop‐
erty. A menu item label is grayed out if the menu item is used
to do f.send_msg of a message that is not included in the
client's _MOTIF_WM_MESSAGES property.
f.separator
This function causes a menu separator to be put in the menu pane
at the specified location (the label is ignored).
f.set_behavior
This function causes the window manager to restart with the
default behavior (if a custom behavior is configured) or revert
to the custom behavior. By default this is bound to
Shift Ctrl Meta <Key>!.
f.title
This function inserts a title in the menu pane at the specified
location.
Each function may be constrained as to which resource types can specify
the function (for example, menu pane) and also what context the func‐
tion can be used in (for example, the function is done to the selected
client window). Function contexts are
root No client window or icon has been selected as an object for the
function.
window A client window has been selected as an object for the function.
This includes the window's title bar and frame. Some functions
are applied only when the window is in its normalized state (for
example, f.maximize) or its maximized state (for example, f.nor‐
malize).
icon An icon has been selected as an object for the function.
If a function's context has been specified as iconwindow and the func‐
tion is invoked in an icon box, the function applies to the icon box,
not to the icons inside.
If a function is specified in a type of resource where it is not sup‐
ported or is invoked in a context that does not apply, the function is
treated as f.nop. The following table indicates the resource types and
function contexts in which window manager functions apply.
Function Contexts Resources
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
f.beep root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.circle_down root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.circle_up root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.exec root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.focus_color root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.focus_key root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.kill icon, window button, key, menu
f.lower icon, window button, key, menu
f.maximize icon, window(normal) button, key, menu
f.menu root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.minimize window button, key, menu
f.move icon, window button, key, menu
f.next_cmap root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.next_key root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.nop root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.normalize icon, window(maximized) button, key, menu
f.normalize_and_raise icon, window button, key, menu
f.pack_icons root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.pass_keys root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.post_wmenu root, icon, window button, key
f.prev_cmap root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.prev_key root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.quit_mwm root, icon, window button, key, menu (root only)
f.raise icon, window button, key, menu
f.raise_lower icon, window button, key, menu
f.refresh root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.refresh_win window button, key, menu
f.resize window button, key, menu
f.restore icon, window button, key, menu
f.restore_and_raise icon, window button, key, menu
f.restart root, icon, window button, key, menu (root only)
f.screen root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.send_msg icon, window button, key, menu
f.separator root, icon, window menu
f.set_behavior root, icon, window button, key, menu
f.title root, icon, window menu
Window Manager Event Specification
Events are indicated as part of the specifications for button and key-
binding sets, and menu panes.
Button events have the following syntax:
button = [modifier_list]<button_event_name>
modifier_list = modifier_name {modifier_name}
All modifiers specified are interpreted as being exclusive (this means
that only the specified modifiers can be present when the button event
occurs). The following table indicates the values that can be used for
modifier_name. The [Alt] key is frequently labeled [Extend] or [Meta].
Alt and Meta can be used interchangeably in event specification.
Modifier Description
────────────────────────
Ctrl Control Key
Shift Shift Key
Alt Alt/Meta Key
Meta Meta/Alt Key
Lock Lock Key
Mod1 Modifier1
Mod2 Modifier2
Mod3 Modifier3
Mod4 Modifier4
Mod5 Modifier5
The following table indicates the values that can be used for but‐
ton_event_name.
Button Description
────────────────────────────────────────
Btn1Down Button 1 Press
Btn1Up Button 1 Release
Btn1Click Button 1 Press and Release
Btn1Click2 Button 1 Double-Click
Btn2Down Button 2 Press
Btn2Up Button 2 Release
Btn2Click Button 2 Press and Release
Btn2Click2 Button 2 Double-Click
Btn3Down Button 3 Press
Btn3Up Button 3 Release
Btn3Click Button 3 Press and Release
Btn3Click2 Button 3 Double-Click
Btn4Down Button 4 Press
Btn4Up Button 4 Release
Btn4Click Button 4 Press and Release
Btn4Click2 Button 4 Double-Click
Btn5Down Button 5 Press
Btn5Up Button 5 Release
Btn5Click Button 5 Press and Release
Btn5Click2 Button 5 Double-Click
Key events that are used by the window manager for menu mnemonics and
for binding to window manager functions are single key presses; key
releases are ignored. Key events have the following syntax:
key = [modifier_list]<Key>key_name
modifier_list = modifier_name {modifier_name}
All modifiers specified are interpreted as being exclusive (this means
that only the specified modifiers can be present when the key event
occurs). Modifiers for keys are the same as those that apply to but‐
tons. The key_name is an X11 keysym name. Keysym names can be found
in the keysymdef.h file (remove the XK_ prefix).
Button Bindings
The buttonBindings resource value is the name of a set of button bind‐
ings that are used to configure window manager behavior. A window man‐
ager function can be done when a button press occurs with the pointer
over a framed client window, an icon, or the root window. The context
for indicating where the button press applies is also the context for
invoking the window manager function when the button press is done
(significant for functions that are context sensitive).
The button binding syntax is
Buttons bindings_set_name {
button context function
button context function
.
.
button context function }
The syntax for the context specification is
context = object[ context]
object = root icon window title frame border app
The context specification indicates where the pointer must be for the
button binding to be effective. For example, a context of window indi‐
cates that the pointer must be over a client window or window manage‐
ment frame for the button binding to be effective. The frame context
is for the window management frame around a client window (including
the border and titlebar), the border context is for the border part of
the window management frame (not including the titlebar), the title
context is for the title area of the window management frame, and the
app context is for the application window (not including the window
management frame).
If an f.nop function is specified for a button binding, the button
binding is not done.
Key Bindings
The keyBindings resource value is the name of a set of key bindings
that are used to configure window manager behavior. A window manager
function can be done when a particular key is pressed. The context in
which the key binding applies is indicated in the key binding specifi‐
cation. The valid contexts are the same as those that apply to button
bindings.
The key binding syntax is
Keys bindings_set_name {
key context function
key context function
.
.
key context function }
If an f.nop function is specified for a key binding, the key binding is
not done. If an f.post_wmenu or f.menu function is bound to a key, mwm
will automatically use the same key for removing the menu from the
screen after it has been popped up.
The context specification syntax is the same as for button bindings.
For key bindings, the frame, title, border, and app contexts are equiv‐
alent to the window context. The context for a key event is the window
or icon that has the keyboard input focus (root if no window or icon
has the keyboard input focus).
Menu Panes
Menus can be popped up using the f.post_wmenu and f.menu window manager
functions. The context for window manager functions that are done from
a menu is root, icon or window depending on how the menu was popped up.
In the case of the window menu or menus popped up with a key binding,
the location of the keyboard input focus indicates the context. For
menus popped up using a button binding, the context of the button bind‐
ing is the context of the menu.
The menu pane specification syntax is
Menu menu_name {
label [mnemonic] [accelerator] function
label [mnemonic] [accelerator] function
.
.
label [mnemonic] [accelerator] function }
Each line in the Menu specification identifies the label for a menu
item and the function to be done if the menu item is selected. Option‐
ally a menu button mnemonic and a menu button keyboard accelerator may
be specified. Mnemonics are functional only when the menu is posted
and keyboard traversal applies.
The label may be a string or a bitmap file. The label specification
has the following syntax:
label = text bitmap_file
bitmap_file = @file_name
text = quoted_item unquoted_item
The string encoding for labels must be compatible with the menu font
that is used. Labels are greyed out for menu items that do the f.nop
function or an invalid function or a function that doesn't apply in the
current context.
A mnemonic specification has the following syntax
mnemonic = _character
The first matching character in the label is underlined. If there is
no matching character in the label, no mnemonic is registered with the
window manager for that label. Although the character must exactly
match a character in the label, the mnemonic does not execute if any
modifier (such as Shift) is pressed with the character key.
The accelerator specification is a key event specification with the
same syntax as is used for key bindings to window manager functions.
Environment
mwm uses the environment variable HOME specifying the user's home
directory.
mwm uses the environment variable LANG specifying the user's choice of
language for the mwm message catalog and the mwm resource description
file.
mwm uses the environment variables XFILESEARCHPATH, XUSERFILESEARCH‐
PATH, XAPPLRESDIR, XENVIRONMENT, LANG, and HOME in determining search
paths for resource defaults files. mwm may also use XBMLANGPATH to
search for bitmap files.
mwm reads the $HOME/.motifbind file if it exists to install a virtual
key bindings property on the root window. For more information on the
content of the .motifbind file, see VirtualBindings(3X).
mwm uses the environment variable MWMSHELL (or SHELL, if MWMSHELL is
not set), specifying the shell to use when executing commands via the
f.exec function.
Files
/usr/lib/X11/$LANG/system.mwmrc /usr/lib/X11/system.mwmrc
/usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/Mwm $HOME/Mwm $HOME/.Xdefaults
$HOME/$LANG/.mwmrc $HOME/.mwmrc $HOME/.motifbind
RELATED INFORMATIONVendorShell(3X), VirtualBindings(3X), X(1), and XmInstallImage(3X).
mwm(1X)
