NAME
mwmrc — the Motif Window Manager Resource Description File
DESCRIPTION
The mwmrc file is a supplementary resource file that controls much of
the behavior of the Motif window manager mwm. It contains descriptions
of resources that cannot easily be written using standard X Window
System, Version 11 resource syntax. The resource description file
contains entries that are referred to by X resources in defaults files
(for example, /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/app-defaults/Mwm) or in the
RESOURCE_MANAGER property on the root window. For example, the resource
description file enables you to specify different types of window
menus; however, an X resource is used to specify which of these window
menus mwm should use for a particular window.
Location
The window manager searches for one of the following resource
description files, where $LANG is the value of the language environment
on a per-user basis:
$HOME/$LANG/.mwmrc
$HOME/.mwmrc
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/$LANG/system.mwmrc
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/system.mwmrc
The first file found is the first used. If no file is found, a set of
built-in specifications is used. A particular resource description file
can be selected using the configFile resource. The following shows how
a different resource description file can be specified from the command
line:
/usr/X11R6/bin/X11/mwm -xrm "mwm*configFile: mymwmrc"
Resource Types
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 new lines
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 back-slash
character (\). If a line ends with a back-slash, the next line is
considered a continuation of that line. 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.
Window Manager Functions
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 is no longer obscuring any other window or icon).
This function affects only those windows and icons that are
obscuring 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 windows always stay on top of the
associated primary window and there can be no other primary
windows between the secondary windows and their primary
window. If an icon function argument is specified, then the
function applies only to icons. If a window function argument
is specified then 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 are obscuring 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
then the function applies only to icons. If an window
function argument is specified then the function applies only
to windows.
f.exec command (or ! command)
This function causes command to be executed (using the value
of the $MWMSHELL or $SHELL environment variable if 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, then the default
colormap (setup by the X Window System for the screen where
mwm is running) is installed and there is no specific client
window colormap focus. This function is treated as f.nop if
colormapFocusPolicy 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
keyboardFocusPolicy is not explicit or the function is
executed in a root context.
f.kill This function is used to close application windows. The
actual processing that occurs depends on the protocols that
the application observes. The application lists the protocols
it observes in the WM_PROTOCOLS property on its top level
window. If the application observes the WM_DELETE_WINDOW
protocol, it is sent a message that requests the window be
deleted. If the application observes both WM_DELETE_WINDOW
and WM_SAVE_YOURSELF, it is sent one message requesting the
window be deleted and another message advising it to save its
state. If the application observes only the
WM_SAVE_YOURSELFprotocol , it is sent a message advising it
to save its state. After a delay (specified by the resource
quitTimeout), the application’s connection to the X server is
terminated. If the application observes neither of these
protocols, its connection to the X server is terminated.
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
lowers 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. The name or class of a client
appears in the WM_CLASS property on the client’s top-level
window. 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 (staying 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. Refer to the maximumClientSize,
maximumMaximumSize, and limitResize resources in mwm(1).
f.menu menu_name
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
(iconified). When a window is minimized with no icon box in
use, and if the lowerOnIconify resource has the value True
(the default), the icon is placed on the bottom of the window
stack (such that it obscures no other window). If an icon
box is used, then the client’s icon changes to its iconified
form inside the icon box. Secondary 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 initiates an interactive move of a client
window.
f.next_cmap
This function installs the next colormap in the list of
colormaps for the window with the colormap focus.
f.next_key [ icon | window | transient]
This function sets the keyboard input focus to the next
window/icon in the set of windows/icons managed by the window
manager (the ordering of this set is based on the stacking of
windows on the screen). This function is treated as f.nop if
keyboardFocusPolicy is not explicit. The keyboard input focus
is only moved to windows that do not have an associated
secondary window that is application modal. If the transient
argument is specified, then transient (secondary) windows are
traversed (otherwise, 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, then the
function applies only to icons. If a window function argument
is specified, then 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 a client window to be displayed 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
colormaps for the window with the colormap focus.
f.prev_key [ icon | window | transient]
This function sets the keyboard input focus to the previous
window/icon in the set of windows/icons managed by the window
manager (the ordering of this set is based on the stacking of
windows on the screen). This function is treated as f.nop if
keyboardFocusPolicy is not explicit. The keyboard input focus
is only moved to windows that do not have an associated
secondary window that is application modal. If the transient
argument is specified, then transient (secondary) windows are
traversed (otherwise, 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 then the
function applies only to icons. If an window function
argument is specified then 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; otherwise, 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 bottom 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 initiates an interactive resize of a client
window.
f.restore This function restores the previous state of an icon’s
associated 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
associated 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
normalized 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). Restart is necessary for mwm to
incorporate changes in both the mwmrc file and X resources.
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 an XClientMessageEvent of type
_MOTIF_WM_MESSAGES with message_type set to message_number.
The client message is sent only if message_number is included
in the client’s _MOTIF_WM_MESSAGES property. 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 a
custom behavior (if a default behavior is configured). By
default this is bound to Shift Ctrl Alt <Key>!.
f.title This function inserts a title in the menu pane at the
specified location.
f.version This function causes the window manager to display its
release version in a dialog box.
Function Constraints
Each function may be constrained as to which resource types can specify
the function (for example, menu pane) and also what context the
function 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.normalize).
icon An icon has been selected as an object for the function.
If a function is specified in a type of resource where it is not
supported or is invoked in a context that does not apply then 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 root,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 button,key,menu (root only)
f.raise root,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.restart root button,key,menu (root only)
f.restore icon,window button,key,menu
f.restore_and_raise icon,window button,key,menu
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
f.version root,icon,window button,key,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}
The following table indicates the values that can be used for
modifier_name. Note that [Alt] and [Meta] can be used interchangably on
some hardware.
Modifier Description
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ctrl Control Key
Shift Shift Key
Alt Alt Key
Meta Meta Key
Mod1 Modifier1
Mod2 Modifier2
Mod3 Modifier3
Mod4 Modifier4
Mod5 Modifier5
Locking modifiers are ignored when processing button and key bindings.
The following table lists keys that are interpreted as locking
modifiers. The X server may map some of these symbols to the Mod1 -
Mod5 modifier keys. These keys may or may not be available on your
hardware: Key Symbol Caps Lock Shift Lock Kana Lock Num Lock Scroll
Lock The following table indicates the values that can be used for
button_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
buttons. 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
bindings that are used to configure window manager behavior. A window
manager 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
indicates that the pointer must be over a client window or window
management 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
specification. 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
automatically uses 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 with one addition. The context ifkey may be
specified for binding keys that may not be available on all displays.
If the key is not available and if ifkey is in the context, then
reporting of the error message to the error log is suppressed. This
feature is useful for networked, heterogeneous environments. For key
bindings, the frame, title, border, and app contexts are equivalent 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
binding 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.
Optionally 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.
INCLUDING FILES
You may include other files into your mwmrc file by using the include
construct. For example,
INCLUDE
{
/usr/local/shared/mwm.menus
/home/kmt/personal/my.bindings
}
causes the files named to be read in and interpreted in order as an
additional part of the mwmrc file. Include is a top-level construct. It
cannot be nested inside another construct.
WARNINGS
Errors that occur during the processing of the resource description
file are recorded in: $HOME/.mwm/errorlog. Be sure to check this file
if the appearance or behavior of mwm is not what you expect.
FILES
$HOME/$LANG/.mwmrc
$HOME/.mwmrc
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/$LANG/system.mwmrc
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/system.mwmrc
RELATED INFORMATION
mwm(1), X(1).
mwmrc(special file)