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Document:	ULTRIX Worksystem Software Guide to the uwm Window Manager
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Pages:	49
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ULTRIX Worksystem Software
Guide to the uwm
Window Manager

Order No. AA-KU50B-TE

ULTRIX Worksystem Software, Version 2.0

Digital Equipment Corporation

Copyright © 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be
construed as a commitment by Digital Equipment Corporation. Digital Equipment Corporation
assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document.
The software described in this document is furnished under a license and may be used or
copied only in accordance with the terms of such license.
No responsibility is assumed for the use or reliability of software on equipment that is not
supplied by DIGITAL or its affiliated companies.

The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation:

DEC
DECnet
DECUS
DECwindows
MicroVAX

ULTRIX
ULTRIX-ll
ULTRIX-32
VAX
VAXstation

VMS
VT
XUI
ULTRIX Worksystem Software

~BmBDmD

UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T in the USA and other countries.
X Window System is a trademark of MIT.
This manual is derived from MIT documentation, which contains the following permission
notice: Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this documentation for any purpose
and without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice appears in all
copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting
documentation, and that the name of MIT or DIGITAL not be used in advertising or
publicity pertaining to distribution of the software without specific, written prior persmission.
MIT and DIGITAL make no representations about the suitability of the software described
herein for any purpose. It is provided "as is," without express or implied warranty.
This manual was written and produced by the ULTRIX
New Hampshire.

Documentation Group in Nashua,

Contents

Guide to the uwm Window Manager
About This Ma nua I
Audience ..........................................................................................................

vii

Organization ....................................................................................................

vii

Conventions .....................................................................................................

vii

Starting uwm
Using Window Operations Commands
Iconifying and Deiconifying Windows ..........................................................

Moving Windows ............................................................................................

Resizing Windows ............... ...... ............ .................. ............................ ...........

Lowering and Raising Windows ...................................................................

Using Extended Window Operations Commands
Creating Windows

Iconifying a Window at a New Position ....................................................

Focusing and Unfocusing the Keyboard on Windows ...............................

Freezing and Unfreezing Windows ..............................................................

Circulating All Windows .......... ......................................................................

Customizing uwm
Variable Specifications

Function Specifications ..................................................................................

Functions ................................................................................................
Keys ........................................................................................................
Contexts .................................................................................................
Mouse Buttons ......................................................................................
Menu Names ..........................................................................................

19
21
21
22
23

Menu Specifications .......................................................................................

Menu and Item Names ........................................................................
Menu Actions .........................................................................................
Function Menu Actions ....................................................................... .
Shell Command Menu Actions ............ .............. ..................................
Text String Menu Actions ...................................................................
Color Menus ..........................................................................................

24
24
24
25
25
26

Rules for Customizing the uwm Startup File ...........................................

A Default Built-In Startup File
B XUI Toolkit Startup File

Figures
1:

Window Operations Menu ......................................................................

Extended Window Operations Menu ....................................................

Iconified Window ............................................................................. ........

iv Contents

Resize Grid ..................................................... ....... ..................................

Rubber-Banded Window Outline ............................................................

A Sample dxterm Window ....................................................................

Icon-Sized Grid ........................................................................................

Contents v

About This Manual

The Guide to the uwm Window Manager describes how to use and
customize the uwm window manager.

Audience
The audience for this manual is the worksystem software user who is
already familiar with using the C or Bourne shell.

Organization
The Guide to the uwm Window Manager contains the following sections:
Starting uwm
Discusses how to start the uwm window manager and describes the
menus through which you execute uwm commands.
Using Window Operations Commands
Discusses those basic tasks that enable you to get started with the
uwm window manager and use commands in the Window Operations
menu.
Using Extended Window Operations Commands
Discusses additional uwm tasks you can perform using commands in
the Extended Window Operations menu.
Customizing uwm
Discusses how to customize the uwm window manager.
Appendixes A and B list the default built-in startup file and the XUI
Toolkit startup file for uwm.

Conve ntions
The following conventions are used in this manual:
special

In text, each mention of a specific command, option,
partition, pathname, directory, or file is presented in this
type.

name( n)

UPPERCASE

e x amp I e
examp I e

References to ULTRIX commands, system calls, or
subroutines include the section numbers in the ULTRIX
Reference Pages or ULTRIX Worksystem Software
Reference Pages where they are documented.
The ULTRIX system differentiates between lowercase and
uppercase characters. In examples, enter uppercase
characters only where they are specifically indicated by an
example or a syntax line.
In examples, system output is printed in this type.
In examples, user input is printed in this boldface type.

viii About This Manual

Guide to the uwm Window Manager

The uwm window manager lets you manipulate and control the windows on
your screen. To accomplish these tasks, you select commands from one of
the default uwm menus:
•

Window Operations

•
Extended Window Operations
The next three sections explain how to:
•
Start uwm
•
Use Window Operations commands
•
Use Extended Window Operations commands
The last section provides information about customizing uwm. You should
read it before attempting to customize your uwm window manager.

Starting uwm
Note that, before you start uwm, you should halt any other window
managers you may be running. If you run uwm with any other window
manager, you will get unpredictable results.
To start uwm, use the following command:
% uwm &

This command sequence causes uwm to execute in the background. While
uwm executes in background, you then can enter other commands.
To indicate that it has started, uwm beeps. When you hear a beep, you
can display either default menu: Window Operations or Extended Window
Operations.
To display the Window Operations menu (labeled WINDOW OPS), press
and hold down both the Compose Character key and mouse button 1
( MB 1), which is the left mouse button unless you have redefined it.
Figure 1 illustrates the Window Operations menu.

WINDOW OPS
(De)Iconify
~'Iove

Resize
Lower
Raise
Figure 1: Window Operations Menu

To display the Extended Window Operations menu (labeled EXTENDED
WINDOW OPS), press and hold down both the Compose Character key
and MB2. Figure 2 illustrates the Extended Operations menu.
EXTENDED WINDOW OPS
Create \Vindow
Iconify at New Position
Focus Keyboard on WTindow
Freeze All WTindows
Unfreeze All \¥indows
Circulate WTilu{ows UI)
Circulate WTindows Down
Figure 2: Extended Window Operations Menu

Using Window Operations Commands
The Window Operations menu lists these commands:
•

(De) Iconify

•
•

Move
Resize

2 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

•

Lower

•

Raise

The following sections discuss these operations.

Iconifying and Deiconifying Windows
When you iconify a window, you change it to a small graphical
representation that takes up little space on the screen. When you
deiconify an icon, you change the icon back to a window at its original
location and to its original size.
To iconify a window, follow this procedure:
1.
Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB 1.
2.
3.

Drag the mouse pointer to the (De) Iconify command.
Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.

4.
5.

Move the mouse pointer to the appropriate window.
Press both the Compose Character key and MBl.

When you select the window, uwm immediately changes the window to its
appropriate icon. Figure 3 illustrates the resulting icon.

DECterm

Figure 3: Iconified Window

To deiconify a window, follow this procedure:
1.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB 1.

2.
3.

Drag the mouse pointer to the (De) Iconify command.
Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.

Move the mouse pointer to the appropriate window.

Press both the Compose Character key and MBl.

When you select the icon, uwm immediately changes it back to its
appropriate window.

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 3

Moving Windows
Within your default uwm environment, you can move a window or icon to
another screen location by following one of two procedures.
To use the Move command from the Window Operations menu, follow this
procedure:
1.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB 1.

2.
3.

Drag the mouse pointer to the Move command.
Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.

Move the mouse pointer to the appropriate window.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB3.

Move the window with the displayed grid.

To use a mouse button and key combination, follow this procedure:
1.

Move the mouse pointer to the appropriate window.

2.
3.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB3.
Pull the mouse pointer off to the right or left of the displayed menu.

Move the window with the displayed grid.

While continuing to press the mouse button, move the grid by dragging the
mouse pointer to the appropriate screen location. When you have moved
the grid to this screen location, release the mouse button. When you
release the mouse button, uwm removes the window grid and displays the
window at its new location.

Resizing Windows
To enlarge or reduce a window, follow this procedure:
1.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB 1.

Drag the mouse pointer to the Resize command.

Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.

Move the mouse pointer to the appropriate window.

5.
6.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB1.
Resize the window with the displayed grid.

When you select the window, uwm overlays the window with a 9-rectangle
grid and displays the window's size in columns and rows. Figure 4
illustrates a window that has been overlaid with a grid and size display.

4 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

ZK-0055U-HC

Figure 4: Resize Grid

When you select the window, you should place the mouse pointer within
the appropriate grid rectangle. The following table lists each grid rectangle
:md the corresponding resizing action allowed.
Rectangle

Action

Center and corners

Allow you to enlarge or reduce both the width
and length (horizontal and vertical dimensions)
by dragging the mouse diagonally away from or
towards the size display.

Right and left middle

Allow you to enlarge or reduce only the width
(horizontal dimension), regardless of the
direction in which you drag the mouse.

Upper and lower middle

Allow you to enlarge or reduce only the length
(vertical dimension), regardless of the direction
in which you drag the mouse.

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 5

Lowering and Raising Windows
When you have multiple windows on the screen, some may overlap and
obscure others. You can rearrange these windows, like sheets of paper in
a stack, by lowering or raising any window. Lowering a window puts it
out of view by moving it to the bottom of the stack. Raising a window
brings it into full view by moving it to the top of the stack.
To lower a window, follow this procedure:
1.
Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB 1.
2.
Drag the mouse pointer to the Lower command.
3.
Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.
4.
Move the mouse pointer to the appropriate window.
5.
Press both the Compose Character key and MB1.
When you select the window, uwm immediately lowers the selected window
to the bottom of the window stack.
To raise a window, follow this procedure:
1.
Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Drag the mouse pointer to the Raise command.
Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.
Move the mouse pointer to the appropriate window.
Press both the Compose Character key and MB1.

When you select the window, uwm immediately raises the selected window
to the top of the window stack.

Using Extended Window Operations Commands
The Extended Window Operations menu lists these commands:
Create Window
•
Iconify at New Position
•

•
•
•
•
•

Focus Keyboard on Window
Freeze All Windows
Unfreeze All Windows
Circulate Windows Up
Circulate Windows Down

The following sections discuss these operations.

6 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

Creating Windows
When you create a window from uwm, you actually create a window with
the dxterm(1 X) command. This dxterm window provides DECwindows
DECterm terminal emulation.
To create a window, follow this procedure:
1.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB2.

Drag the mouse pointer to the Create Window command.

Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.

Position and size the window with the mouse.

When you select the Create Window command, uwm overlays the pointer
with a temporary rubber-banded window outline and displays the window
size in the upper left corner of the screen. Figure 5 illustrates the
temporary rubber-banded window outline and size display.

Figure 5: Rubber-Banded Window Outline

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 7

To position the rubber-banded window, move the mouse pointer to the
appropriate screen location. To size the rubber-banded window, press one
of the three mouse buttons:
MB 1

Sizes a window with standard width (80 columns) and length (24
rows) .

MB2

Sizes a window whose width and length are determined by mouse
movement.

MB3

Sizes a window with a standard width (80 columns) but a length
equal to the length of the screen.

When you press and hold MB2 to size the rubber-banded window, you can
drag the mouse pointer in any direction on the screen. The following table
lists the direction, its corresponding mouse movement, and the sizing action
allowed.
Direction

Mouse Movement

Action

Diagonally

Away from
stationary corner

Sizes both the width and the
length (horizontal and vertical
dimensions, respectively).

Horizontally

Left or right from
stationary corner

Sizes only the width (horizontal
dimension) .

Vertically

Up or down from
stationary corner

Sizes only the length (vertical
dimension) .

When you release the appropriate mouse button, the dxterm window is
displayed. Figure 6 illustrates a sample dxterm window.

8 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

[;;II Dxterm
Commands

~'"

Ib!JI6JJ
Edit

Help

Customize

lSZ
~

ZK-OOS7U-HC

Figure 6: A Sample dxterm Window

Iconifying a Window at a New Position
To iconify a window at another screen location, follow this procedure:
2.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB2.
Drag the mouse pointer to the Iconify at New Position command.

3.
4.

Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.
Move the mouse pointer to the appropriate window.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB2.

Move the grid to another screen location.

When uwm overlays the selected window with an icon-size, 9-rectangle grid,
continue to press the mouse button. Next, move the icon grid to the new
screen location and release the mouse button. Figure 7 illustrates a
window with an icon-size grid overlaid.

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 9

Commands

Edit

Customize

Help

...

IZS

7, •

00
~
ZK-0058U-HC

Figure 7: Icon-Sized Grid

To deiconify this icon, you can follow one of two procedures. To use the
( De) Iconify command, follow this procedure:
1.
Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB1.
2.
Drag the mouse pointer to the (De) Iconify command.
3.
4.

Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.
Move the mouse pointer to the appropriate icon.

Press the Compose Character key and MB1.

When you select the (De) Iconify command, uwm immediately places the
window back at its original location.
To use the Iconify at New Position command, follow this procedure:
1.
Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB2.
2.
Drag the mouse pointer to the Iconify at New Position command.
3.
4.
5.

Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.
Move the mouse pointer to the appropriate icon.
Press both the Compose Character key and MB2.

10 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

When you select the Iconify at New Position command, uwm displays a
9-rectangle window grid with which you can move the window to a new
screen location. When you move the grid and release the mouse button,
uwm changes the icon back to a window.

Focusing and Unfocusing the Keyboard on Windows
If you have created several windows but expect to do your work mostly in
one, you can focus all of your keyboard input to that one window. Then,
regardless of where your mouse pointer is located on the screen, all
keyboard input is interpreted by the selected window only.

To focus all keyboard input to a window, follow this procedure:
1.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB2.

Drag the mouse pointer to the Focus Keyboard on Window command.

Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.

4.
5.

Move the mouse pointer to the appropriate window.
Press both the Compose Character key and MB2.

When you release the Compose Character key and the mouse button, uwm
immediately focuses all keyboard input to the selected window, regardless of
the pointer's position.
To unfocus the keyboard, follow this procedure:
1.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB2.

2.
3.

Drag the mouse pointer to the Focus Keyboard on Window command.
Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.

Move the mouse pointer off all windows.

Press both the Compose Character key and MB2.

When you release the Compose Character key and the mouse button, uwm
immediately unfocuses all keyboard input from the selected window.

Freezing and Unfreezing Windows
If you execute a large process that takes much of your system's resources,
you may want to freeze all windows. When you freeze all windows, the
window server does not update any windows and can dedicate its resources
to other processing. Then, when you unfreeze all windows, the window
server automatically updates each window with any output that was
buffered while the window was frozen.

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 11

To freeze all windows, follow this procedure:
1.
Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB2.
2.
3.

Drag the mouse pointer to the Freeze All Windows command.
Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.

Move the mouse pointer off the menu.

Press both the Compose Character key and MB2.

When you release the Compose Character key and the mouse button, uwm
immediately freezes all windows.
To unfreeze all windows, follow this procedure:
1.
2.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB2.
Drag the mouse pointer to the Unfreeze All Windows command.

Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.

Move the mouse pointer off the menu.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB2.

When you release the Compose Character key and the mouse button, uwm
immediately unfreezes all windows.

Circulating All Windows
When you have multiple windows on the screen, some may overlap and
obscure others. You can rearrange these windows by lowering or raising
any window, as if they were sheets of paper on a stack. By circulating all
windows up, you raise the bottom window to the top of the stack, thereby
bringing it into full view. By circulating all windows down, you lower the
top window to the bottom of the stack, thereby putting it out of view.
Within your default uwm environment, you can circulate all windows up by
following one of two procedures.
To use the Circulate Windows Up command from the Extended Window
Operations menu, follow this procedure:
1.
Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB2.
2.

Drag the mouse pointer to the Circulate Windows Up command.

Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.

Move the mouse pointer off all windows.

Press both the Compose Character key and MB2.

12 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

To use a mouse button and key combination, follow this procedure:
1.

Move the mouse pointer off all windows.

Press both the Compose Character key and MB3.

When you release the Compose Character key and mouse button, uwm
immediately circulates the last window up to the top of the stack.
To circulate all windows down, follow this procedure:
1.
Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB2.
2.

Drag the mouse pointer to the Circulate Windows Down command.

Release the Compose Character key and the mouse button.

Move the mouse pointer off all windows.

Press and hold down both the Compose Character key and MB2.

When you release the Compose Character key and mouse button, uwm
immediately circulates the first window down to the bottom of the stack.

Customizing uwm
You can customize your uwm environment by modifying the .uwmrc file
located in your home directory. If your directory does not contain this
file, first copy /usr/lib/X11/uwm/default.uwmrc to .uwmrc in your home
directory. Then, you can modify this uwm startup file to suit your own
preferences.
When you start uwm, it establishes your window manager environment by
taking the following actions, in order:
1.

Using its built-in, default specifications (from
/usrllib/X11/uwm/default.uwmrc)

Reading the system-level specifications from
/usrllib/X11/uwm/system.uwmrc, if it exists

Reading specifications from .uwmrc in your home directory, if it
exists

Reading specifications from your alternate startup file specified with
the - f option, if it exists
As it reads these specifications, uwm uses the last definition it encounters
for each specification when the defined values for that specification differ.
Therefore, because it reads the information from your startup file last, uwm
always uses the values that you define there.

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 13

The startup information used to establish your uwm environment contains
three specification groupings:
Variables
Modify how uwm executes a specified action.
Assign the action that is executed when either a mouse
Functions
button or a character key is pressed, or when the pointer is
moved to a specified screen location.
Define each menu that you can display and from which you
Menus
can select defined items.
The next three sections explain the specifications that you can include in
your startup files. After reading these sections, you can modify your
startup file to customize uwm to your preferences. The fourth section lists
guidelines for customizing uwm.
For a complete listing of the lusr/lib/X11/uwm/default. uwm rc file, see
Appendix A. For a complete listing of the lusr/lib/X111uwm/system.uwmrc
file, see Appendix B.

Variable Specifications
Each of the variables you can specify modifies a certain aspect of a
specific uwm function. If you want to use only the variables listed in the
current startup file, specify resetvariables at the beginning of the variable
list.
When modifying variables, either you can list each variable on a separate
line, or you can list more than one variable on the same line by separating
each with a semicolon (;).
The variables section in lusr/lib/X11/uwm/system.uwmrc lists the following
specifications:
#
# Global
#

variables

resetbindings;resetvariables; resetmenus
autoselect
delta=25
freeze
gr i d
hiconpad=5
hmenupad=6
iconfont=times_bold14
menufont=times_bold14
no rma I i
resizefont=6x13
viconpad=5
vmenupad=3
volume=7

14 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

You can specify the following variables in the startup file:
Variable

Description

autoselect,
noautoselect

The autoselect variable specifies that uwm is to place
the mouse pointer on the first menu item when a menu
is initially displayed. The noautoselect variable specifies
that uwm is to place the mouse pointer on the menu
header (title). The default is autoselect.

delta= n

The delta variable specifies that you must move the
mouse pointer n screen pixels before uwm invokes those
functions that subsequently are defined with delta mouse
action. The default is 1.

freeze,
nofreeze

The freeze variable specifies that uwm is to freeze the
screen (not allow screen updates) while executing certain
functions, for example, f.move or f.resize. In addition,
the freeze variable prevents the window grid or window
box from flickering. The nofreeze variable specifies that
uwm is to allow screen updates while executing all
functions. The default is freeze.

grid, nogrid

The grid variable specifies that uwm is to display a
resize or move window grid when you invoke the f. resize
and f.move functions. The nogrid variable specifies that
uwm is to display a window box (outline) in place of
the grid. The default is grid.

hiconpad =n

The hiconpad variable specifies that uwm is to pad the
width of a text icon's sides with n pixels. The default
is 5 pixels.

hmenupad =n

The hmenupad variable specifies that uwm is to pad the
width of a menu's sides with n pixels. The default is 5
pixels.

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 15

Va ria ble

Description

iconfont = font

The iconfont variable specifies that uwm is to use the
indicated text font for those icons that it creates. See
the lusr/lib/dwfl* directories for a list of the available
fonts. The system default is "times_bold14". The
built-in default is "fixed".

maxcolors = n

The maxcolors variable specifies that uwm is to use a
maximum of n colors at anyone time (for color
displays only). If maxcolors is specified and if the
indicated number of colors is exceeded, uwm uses the
colors set for the root window (screen background). If
maxcolors is not specified, however, uwm uses as many
colors as it can. There is no default limit.

menufont = font

The menufont variable specifies that uwm is to use the
indicated font for all menu text. The lusrllib/dwfl*
directories contains all the available fonts. The default
is "times_bold14".

normali,
nonormali

The normali variable specifies that uwm is to let an icon
be placed only within the root window (screen
background) when it is invoking the f.newiconify
function. The nonormali variable specifies that uwm is
to let an icon be placed partially off screen when it is
invoking the f.newiconify function. The default is
normali.

normalw,
nonormalw

The normalw variable specifies that uwm is to let a
window be placed only within the root window when it
is invoking the f.newiconify function. The nonormalw
variable specifies that uwm is to let a window be placed
partially off screen when it is invoking the f.newiconify
function. The default is normalw.

push=n

The push variable specifies the indicated distance that
uwm is to use when invoking the f.pushup, f.pushdown,
f.pushright, and f.pushleft functions. The pushabsolute
and pushrelative variables determine the unit of distance.
The default is 5.

16 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

Variable

Description

pushabsolute,
pushrelative

The pushabsolute variable specifies that uwm is to use
the pixel as the unit of measure for the push variable.
The pushrelative variable specifies that uwm is to use as
the unit of measure 1Inth of the window size, where n
is set by the push variable. For example, if the
pushrelative variable is listed and if the push variable is
specified as 2, uwm moves the window one half (112)
its width when invoking the f.pushleft function. The
default is pushrelative.

resetbindings

The resetbindings variable specifies that uwm is to reset
the key, mouse, and context bindings. Bindings that
are subsequently specified in the startup file will
supersede the reset value.

resetmenus

The resetmenus variable specifies that uwm is to reset
the menu definitions. Definitions that are subsequently
specified in the startup file will supersede the reset
value.

resetvariables

The resetvariables variable specifies that uwm is to reset
the variables. Variables that are subsequently specified
in the startup file will supersede the reset value.

resizefont = font

The resizefont variable specifies that uwm is to use the
specified font for the window size display when invoking
the f.resize function. See the lusrllib/dwfl* directories
for a list of available fonts. The system default is
16x13". The built-in default is fixed.

reverse,
noreverse

The reverse variable specifies that uwm interchange the
foreground and background colors when default colors
are used for window manager windows and icons. The
noreverse variable specifies that no interchanging occurs.
The default is reverse.

viconpad = n

The viconpad variable specifies that uwm is to pad n
pixels above and below an icon name. The default is 5.

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 17

Variable

Description

vmenupad =n

The vmenupad variable specifies that uwm is to pad n
pixels above and below a menu name and each menu
item. The default is 5.

volume =n

The volume variable specifies that uwm is to set the
keyboard bell volume to the indicated intensity (n)
when invoking the f. beep function. The intensity can
be 0 (softest) through 7 (loudest). The default is 4.

zap, nozap

The zap variable specifies that uwm is to display ghost
lines when invoking the f. move or f. resize function. The
nozap variable specifies that uwm is not to display
ghost lines. The default is nozap.

Function Specifications
Each function specification has the following format:

function

key : context : button [ : menu-name

function

Specifies the name of the mapped function that is to perform
the task.
Specifies the name of the mapped key.

key

]

context

Specifies the screen location the mouse pointer must be in
before uwm invokes this function.

button

Specifies the name of the mapped mouse button and its
corresponding action.

menu-name Specifies, if applicable, the name of the menu that is to be
used.
The default functions section in lusr/lib/X11/uwm/system.uwmrc lists the
following specifications:

18 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

#
# Mouse button/key
#
# FUNCTION
KEYS
# ========

f . menu
f.menu =
f .move =
f.circleup

meta
meta
meta
meta

maps
CONTEXT
=======
:wl i
:root

BUTTON
======
MBl down
MB2 down
MB3 down
MB3 down

MENU ( if any)
============

: "WINDOW OPS"
: "EXTENDED WINDOW OPS"

You can map one function to several key, context, and mouse button
combinations, or you can map several functions to a single key, context,
and mouse button combination.
When mapping a function, take into consideration the possible conflict
between the uwm mappings and mappings for other programs that may be
running in a window. For example, a window created with dxterm uses the
Shift key and mouse movement for cutting and pasting text. If you
mapped a uwm function to the Shift key and invoked that function within
a dxterm window, uwm would interpret the Shift key and dxterm would not
receive the instruction.
To use only those mappings specified in your current .uwmrc startup file,
include resetbindings at the beginning of the file.
Functions

You can modify existing mappings or add new mappings for any of the
following functions:
Function

Description

f,beep

Emits a beep (intensity set by the volume variable)
from the keyboard.
Lowers the top window to the bottom of the window
stack.
Raises the bottom window to the top of the window
stack.
Unfreezes all windows, that is, allows them to be
updated. This function should always be used in
conjunction with f.pause.
Exits from the current uwm session.
Directs all keyboard input to the specified window. To
reset the focus to follow the mouse cursor, invoke the
f.focus function from the root window.
Changes a window to an icon or an icon to a window.

f.circledown
f.circleup
f.continue

f.exit
f.focus

f.iconify

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 19

Function

Description

f.lower

Lowers the specified window to the bottom of the
window stack.
Displays the specified defined pop-up menu.
Moves the specified window to a new default screen
location.
Moves the specified window with the mouse pointer,
instead of first moving the window grid and then
moving the window.
Iconifies and positions a window or icon at the specified
screen location.
Freezes all windows, that is, does not allow them to be
updated. This function should always be used in
conjunction with f.continue.
Moves a window down the amount specified by the push
variable.
Moves a window to the left the amount specified by the
push variable.
Moves a window to the right the amount specified by
the push variable.
Moves a window up the amount specified by the push
variable.
Raises the specified window to the top of the window
stack.
Updates the entire screen.
Resizes the specified window. Note that some clients,
particularly editors, may react unpredictably if you resize
the window while the client is running.
Restarts uwm and causes it to reread all the uwm
startup files and initialize variables.

f.menu
f.move
f.moveopaque

f.newiconify
f.pause

f.pushdown
f.pushleft
f.pushright
f.pushup
f.raise
f.refresh
f.resize

f.restart

Most functions require a window argument. That is, after selecting the
function from a menu, you need to select the window or icon that is to be
affected. To make the selection, place the mouse pointer in the window or
icon and click the specified mouse button.

20 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

Keys

You can specify one or more of the following keys:
Abbreviation

Key

ctrl

lock

meta (Compose Character)

shift

To specify that two keys be pressed to invoke the named function,
separate the key names with a vertical bar ( I) . You cannot specify more
than two keys.
To specify no key (just mouse button and context used), leave this field
blank.
Using the Shift key alone is not recommended, because client applications
other than the window manager use the Shift key as a control key. If
you bind the Shift key to a window manager function, you cannot use
other client applications that require this key.
Contexts

The context is the screen location that must contain the mouse pointer
when you invoke the specified command. You can specify one or more of
the following contexts:
Location

Abbreviation

Meaning

icon

Action is invoked when the pointer is placed on
an icon.

window

Action is invoked when the pointer is placed in
a window.

root

Action is invoked when the pointer is placed
within the root window (screen background).

To specify more than one context, separate the context names with a
vertical bar ( I).

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 21

To specify no context (just key and mouse button used), leave this field
blank. Essentially, this specifies that all contexts are valid. This allows a
function to be invoked from any screen location.
Mouse Buttons

When you map a mouse button to a named function, you must map the
button name and the action of the specified button.
You can specify one of the following mouse buttons:
Button

Abbreviation

left

1 or MBI

middle

m or MB2

right

r or MB3

You can assign the following actions to each mouse button:
Action

Meaning

down

Action is invoked when the button is pressed.

up /

Action is invoked when the button is released.

delta

Action is invoked when the mouse button is
pressed and the pointer is moved the number of
pixels specified by the delta variable.

Because additional mouse movement is required to complete their operation,
you can bind the following functions only to the button down action:

f.iconify
f.move
f.moveopaque
f.newiconify
f.resize

22 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

Menu Names

This entry specifies the name of a defined menu that is to be displayed
when uwm invokes the corresponding f.menu function. If the menu name
contains spaces, tabs, parentheses, or other special characters, place the
name in quotation marks. This name is listed in the displayed menu
header.

Menu Specifications
For each f.menu function you map, you must define the corresponding
menu. Each menu specification has the following format:
menu = menu name {
ite m name : actio n ite m name

actio n

}

menu name
item name
action

Specifies the name of the menu.
Specifies the text that is to be displayed for that item.
Specifies the action that is to be invoked when that item is
selected.

The default menus section in lusr/lib/X11/uwm/system.uwmrc lists the
following specifications:
#
#
#

Menu specifications

menu = "WINDOW OPS" {
"(De)Iconify":
f.iconify
Move:
f.move
Resize:
f.resize
Lowe r :
f . lowe r
Raise:
f.raise
}

menu = "EXTENDED WINDOW OPS"
Create Window:
Iconify at New Position:
Focus Keyboard on Window:
Freeze AI I Windows:
Unfreeze All Windows:
Circulate Windows Up:
Circulate Windows Down:

! "dxterm &"
f.newiconify
f.focus
f.pause
f.continue
f.circleup
f.ci rcledown

}

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 23

The width of the menu is determined by the longest specified menu or
item name. To pad the width with extra spacing, use the hmenupad
variable.
The length of the menu is determined by the number of menu items.
pad the length with extra spacing, use the vmenupad variable.

To indicate where uwm is to position the mouse pointer when the menu
initially is displayed, use either the autoselect or the noautoselect variable.
To use only the menus defined in your current .uwmrc file, include the
resetmenus variable at the beginning of the file.
Menu and Item Names

The menu name should be the same name specified in the corresponding
function specification. If a menu or menu item name contains spaces,
tabs, parentheses, or other special characters, enclose the name in quotation
marks.
Me nu Actions

A menu action can be any of the following:
•
A function
•
A shell command
•
Text with a newline character
•
Text without a newline character
A single menu can contain all of the menu action types.
Function Menu Actions

You can specify a uwm function as a menu action. If a menu contains
more menu items than can be displayed on the screen, you may want to
specify another menu as a menu item, nesting another menu function
inside a menu.
To specify a menu as a menu action specification, include the f.menu
function, a colon, and the menu name as a single entry. For example, the
following defined menu contains the nested Move Commands menu:

24 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

menu = "Handy Commands" {
Ref resh:
f. ref resh
Restart:
f.restart
Move Windows:
f .menu : "Move Commands"
}

The following Move Commands menu then would contain its corresponding
menu action specifications:
menu
Move
Move
Move
Move

= "Move Commands"

{
f.pushdown
f.pushleft
f.pushright
f.pushup

Down:
Left:
Right:
Up:

}

Shell Command Menu Actions

You can use any shell command as a menu action specification. To
specify a shell command as a menu action, put an exclamation point (!)
escape character in front of the command. For example, in the default
Extended Window Operations Menu, the Create Window command actually
executes the dxterm command from the menu. The menu action
specification for this item is:
Create Window:

! "dxterm &"

You cannot include a newline character within a shell command.
Text String Menu Actions

You can use a string of text as a menu action. When a text string menu
action is chosen, the text string is placed in a cut buffer. You then can
paste this buffered text to a window.
You can specify a text string that ends with a newline character or you
can specify a text string only.
When you use a text string with a new line, you can paste the text string
to a dxterm window for immediate execution. To specify that a new line
is to be appended to the text string, begin the string with a circumflex
character ("). For example, to execute the date command and a newline
character, list the following as a menu action specification:
Date:

~date

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 25

When you use a text string only, you can append text to the string once
it is pasted to a window. To use a text string without a new line, begin
the string with a vertical bar character (\). For example, to execute a
command which compiles a source file that is to be specified on the
command line, list the following as a menu action specification:
Comp i Ie:

cc -0 -s

Color Menus
If you have a color display, you can specify different colors for the menu

header, each menu item, and for menu highlighting.
The color menu specification has the following format:
menu = menu name (colorl :color2:color3:color4) {
item name: (color5:color6): action
item name: (color5:color6): action

}

Specifies the foreground color (text) for the menu header.
Specifies the background color for the menu header.
color3
Specifies the foreground color for menu highlighting.
Specifies the background color for menu highlighting.
color4
Specifies the foreground color (text) for a menu item.
color5
color6
Specifies the background color for a menu item.
For a list of available colors, see the lusr/lib/X11/rgb.txt file. To specify the
color, include the color's name in the appropriate menu definition field.
The maximum number of colors that you can display is set by the
maxcolors variable. However, uwm uses the colors of the root
( background) window if you do one of the following:
•
Run out of color map entries, either before or after invoking uwm
•
Specify a foreground or background color that does not exist in the
RGB database, lusr/lib/X111rgb.txt
colorl
color2

•
•

Omit a foreground or background color
Exceed the maximum number of colors specified by the maxcolors
variable in your uwm startup file

26 Guide to the uwm Window Manager

•
Specify no colors in your startup file
•
Specify colors but have a monochrome system
When a color is displayed in a uwm menu, it cannot be changed by any
other application.

Rules for Customizing the uwm Startup File
When customizing the window manager startup file, observe these rules:
•
Group all like specifications together in your startup file, and list
each grouping in the following order: variable specifications, then
function specifications, then menu specifications.
•

List resetbindings, resetmenus, and resetvariables, if you use them, as
the first entries in the variables grouping.

•

Use semicolons to separate variables when specifying more than one
on a line.

•

Enclose all character strings that contain two or more consecutive
spaces or any number of tabs in double quotation marks.

•
•

Do not embed quotation marks within quotation marks.
Enclose all shell meta characters (; : { } # = ") in double quotation
marks.

•

Enclose all character strings containing parentheses in double
quotation marks.

Guide to the uwm Window Manager 27

Oefa ult Built-In Sta rtup File

This appendix contains a listing of the default built-in uwm startup file
lusr/lib/X11/uwm/default.uwmrc. This is the first startup file read by uwm.
You can copy this file to . uwm rc in your home directory and modify it to
customize uwm to your own preferences.
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#

$Source $
$Author $
$Header $
Copyright (c) 1987 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
T his i s a s tar t u p f i I e for uwm t hat pro d u c e san x wm I 00 k a I ike,
but adds two usefu I menus.
It is patterned on the pub Ii c
dis t rib uti 0 n .. / lib / X/ uwm / j g . uwm r c f i I e by Jim Get t y s .

resetbindings
resetvariables
resetmenus
noautoselect
delta=5
freeze
g rid
zap
pushabsolute
push=1
hiconpad=5
viconpad=5
hmenupad=3
vmenupad=O
iconfont=fixed
menufont=fixed
resizefont=fixed
volume=O
# FUNCTION
KEYS
f.newiconify=
meta
meta
f.raise=
meta
f.lower=
meta
f.raise=
meta
f.resize=

CONTEXT
:windowl icon:
:windowl icon:
:windowl icon:
:window:
:window:

MOUSE BUTTON ACTIONS
delta left
delta left
left up
middle down
delta middle

(continued on next page)

: icon:
f. iconify=
meta
:windowl icon:
f. raise=
meta
meta
:wi ndowl icon:
f. move=
:root:
f.ci rcledown=
meta
f.ci rcleup=
meta
:root:
ml s
f.ci rcledown=
:root:
f.menu=
ml s
f. menu=
ml s
f.menu=
ml s
f.ci rcleup=
:w ndowl con:
f. iconify=
ml c
:w ndowl con:
f.newiconify=
mil
mil
:w ndowl con:
f.raise=
:w ndowl con:
f.pushright=
mil
:w ndowl con:
f.pushleft=
ml c
:w ndowl con:
f.pushup=
mil
f.pushdown=
ml c
:w ndowl con:
menu = "WindowOps" {
New Window:
! "xt e rm&"
f. ref resh
RefreshScreen:
Redraw:
f. redraw
Move:
f . move
Resize:
f.resize
f . lowe r
Lowe r :
Raise:
f.raise
CircUp:
f.circleup
Ci rcDown:
f.circledown
AutoIconify: f. iconify
LowerIconify: f.newiconify
NewIconify:
f.newiconify
Focus:
f.focus
Freeze:
f.pause
UnFreeze:
f.continue
Restart: f.restart
}

menu = "Preferences" {
Be I I Loud:
! "xset b 7&"
Be I I Norma I: ! "xset b 3&"
Be I I Of f:
! "xset b off&"
CI ick Loud:
! "xset c 8&"
C lick Soft:
! "xset c on&"
C lick Off:
! "xset c off&"
Lock On: !"xset I on&"
Lock Of f:
! "xset I of f&"
Mouse Fast:
! "xset m 4 2&"
Mouse No rma I : ! "xset m 2 5&"
Mouse Slow:
! "xset m 1 1&"
}

A-2 Default Built-In Startup File

middle up
right down
delta right
left down
right down
left down
middle down
middle down
middle down
right down
left down
left down
left up
right down
right down
middle down
middle down

"WindowOps"
"WindowOps"
"Preference!

XUI Toolkit Startup File

This appendix contains a listing of the default startup file
lusr/lib/X11/uwm/system.uwmrc. This file overrides the
lusr/lib/X11/uwm/default.uwmrc file and is provided to give the XUI Toolkit
"look and feel." You can copy this file to .uwmrc in your home directory
and modify it to customize uwm to your own preferences.
#
#
#

Global variables

resetb i nd i ngs; reset va r i ab I es; resetmenus
autoselect
delta=25
freeze
g rid
hiconpad=5
hmenupad=6
iconfont=times_bold14
menufont=times_bold14
no rma I i
resizefont=6x13
viconpad=5
vmenupad=3
volume=7
#
# Mouse button/key maps
#
# FUNCTION
KEYS
CONTEXT
# ========
=======

f . menu
f.menu =
f .move =
f.circleup

meta
meta
meta
meta

:wl i
: root

BUTTON

MENU(if any)

left down
middle down
right down
right down

: "WINDOW OPS"
: "EXTENDED WINDOW OPS"

#
# Menu specifications
#

menu = "WINDOW OPS" {
"(De)Iconify":
f. iconify
Move:
f . move
Resize:
f. resize
Lowe r :
f . lowe r
Raise:
f.raise
(continued on next page)

menu = "EXTENDED WINDOW OPS" {
Create Wi ndow:
! "xterm &"
Iconify at New Position:
f.newiconify
Focus Keyboard on Window:
f.focus
Freeze All Windows:
f.pause
Unfreeze All Windows:
f.continue
Circulate Windows Up:
f.circleup
Ci rcu I ate Wi ndows Down:
f. c i rc I edown
}

8-2 XUI Toolkit Startup File

Index

c
command format, 1
customizing, 13 to 27
customizing guidelines, 27

o
default.uwmrc file
default uwm specifications, A-Ie to
A-2e
function specification, 18
menu specifications, 23
deiconifying
window, 10

E
Extended Window Operations menu
commands, 6 to 13
displaying, 2f

F
freezing
window, 11
function specification
contexts, 21 to 22, 2lt
default, 18

function specification (cont.)
format, 18
function, 19 to 20
keys, 21
menu names, 23
mouse actions, 22t
mouse buttons, 22, 22t

M
menu specification
color menus, 26
default, 23
format, 23
function menu actions, 24
item name, 24
menu actions, 24 to 27
menu name, 24
shell command menu actions, 25
text string menu actions, 25
mouse button specification, 22, 22t
R

raising
window, 6
rubber-banded window
positioning, 7
sizing, 7, 8t
sizing and positioning, 7f

s
starting uwm, 1
system. uwmrc file
default system specifications, B-le
to B-2e
variable specifications, 14
window manager environment, 13

u
unfreezing
windows, 12

v
variable specification
default, 14
startup file, 15t
system.uwmrc file, 14
variable specifications
default system. uwmrc file, 14e

w
window
circulating down, 13
circulating up, 12
creating new, 7
deiconifying, 3, 10
deiconifying at new position, 10
focusing the keyboard, 11
freezing, 11
iconifying, 3, 3f
iconifying at new position, 9
lowering, 6
moving, 4
raising, 6
resizing, 4, 5f, 5t
rubber-banded, 7

Index-2

window (cont.)
unfocusing the keyboard, 11
unfreezing, 12
Window Operations menu
commands, 2 to 6
displaying, 2f

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