NAME

       w9wm - 8-1/2-like Window Manager for X

SYNOPSIS

       w9wm  [  -grey  ]  [  -version  ] [ -font fname ] [ -nokeys ] [ -nostalgia ] [ -debug ] [ -pass ] [ -term
       termprog ] [ -virtuals n ] [ exit | restart ]

DESCRIPTION

       w9wm is a window manager for X which attempts to emulate the window management policies of Plan 9's 8-1/2
       window manager but adds some candy stuff like virtual screens and keyboard shortcuts.

       The  -grey  option  makes  the  background  light  grey,  as  does  8-1/2.   Use  this option for maximum
       authenticity.  -font fname sets the font in w9wm's menu to fname, overriding the default.  -nokeys option
       inhibits  keyboard  shortcups (Ctrl+Tab and Shift+Ctrl+Tab) -nostalgia applies some useless modifications
       to w9wm look & feel (windows border and cursor appearance) -debug triggers debug mode -pass  uses  click-
       to-focus-passes-through-click, which means that clicking on a nonactive window with whatever mouse button
       activates it and follows click to this window -term termprog specifies an alternative program to run when
       the  New  menu  item is selected.  -virtuals n set the number of virtual screens used -version prints the
       current version on standard error, then exits.

       To make w9wm exit, you have to run w9wm exit on the command line.  There is no ``exit'' menu item.

       w9wm is click-to-type: it has a notion of the current window, which is usually on top, and always has its
       border darkened.  Characters typed at the keyboard go to the current window, and mouse clicks outside the
       current window are swallowed up by w9wm.  To make another window the current one, click on it with button
       1  or type Ctrl+Tab (this shortcut is not ``stable'', which means that I could change it in case it would
       eventually be annoying).  Unlike other X window managers, w9wm implements `mouse focus': mouse events are
       sent only to the current window.

       A  menu  of window operations is available by pressing button 3 outside the current window.  The first of
       these, New, attempts to spawn a 9term process (or xterm if 9term is not available).  The new  9term  will
       request  that  its outline be swept using button 3 of the mouse, by changing the cursor.  (xterm defaults
       to a fixed size, and thus wants to be dragged; pressing button 3 places it.)

       The next four menu items are Reshape, Move, Delete, and Hide.  All of the operations  change  the  cursor
       into a target, prompting the user to click button 3 on one of the windows to select it for the operation.
       At this stage, clicking button 1 or 2 will abort the operation.  Otherwise, if the operation was  Resize,
       the  user  is  prompted to sweep out the new outline with button 3.  If it was Move, the user should keep
       the button held down after the initial click that selected the window, and drag the window to  the  right
       place before releasing.  In either case, button 1 or 2 will abort the operation.

       If  the  Delete  operation  is  selected,  the  window will be deleted when the button is released.  This
       typically kills the client that owns the window.  The Hide operation just  makes  the  window  invisible.
       While  hidden,  the window's name appears on the bottom of the button 3 menu.  Selecting that item brings
       the window back (unhides it).  This operation replaces the iconification feature provided by other window
       managers.

       A  menu  is  provided  to  switch from a virtual screen to another.  This popup is triggered by using the
       button 2, which displays a menu looking like the previous one but with four entries, One, Two, Three, and
       Four.  Selecting one of these entries will switch to another virtual screen.

       There  is  also  a menu to run programs using button 1.  Hold both "shift" and "left ctrl" keys and press
       button 1.  w9wm will then display a menu that allows you to exec programs specified in the  $HOME/.w9wmrc
       file.  Put each command in one line.  w9wm does not yet support args for these commands, write a one-line
       shell script if you need this.q

BUGS AND LIMITATIONS

       Is not completely compatible with 8-1/2.

       There is a currently a compiled-in limit of 32 hidden windows.

       Also, you cannot put more than 32 commands in your .w9wmrc file

SEE ALSO

       9term(1), 9wm(1), 9menu(1), xterm(1).

                                                                                                        w9wm(1x)