Provided by: olvwm_4.4.3.2p1.4-28.1_amd64 
NAME
olvwmrc - Resource file for the OPEN LOOK Virtual Window Manager
SYNOPSIS
$HOME/.olvwmrc
DESCRIPTION
.olvwmrc is a file which controls advanced keybinding and menu features for the OPEN LOOK Window Manager
olvwm. Four features of olvwm are controlled by entries in this file:
Local Variables
which can be used in key or screen bindings
Key Bindings
which can map specific actions to function keys
Screen Bindings
which can control where certain applications are started
WINMENU
entries which can control the behavior of items selected from the olvwm WINMENU menu.
The syntax for each of these entries is given below. Common to all syntax entries is the notion of an
``identifier'': this is a string which somehow specifies which window(s) the given entry applies to.
When determining if a particular window is affected by a particular rule in .olvwmrc, olvwm first checks
a window's WM_NAME to see if it matches the identifier listed in the rule. This match is done only for
the length of the identifier, so that the identifier Mail will match all windows which begin with the 4
letters Mail in their WM_NAME. If this does not match, olvwm next checks the instance and then the class
fields of the window's WM_CLASS attribute to check for a possible match. If a match is found for any of
these fields, the window is affected by the given rule. Case is significant in checking all matches.
Identifiers may contain any alpha-numeric characters; any other characters must be enclosed within quotes
(single or double). Thus, Mail is a valid identifier, as is "Mail Tool" but Mail Tool is not.
Similarly, strings which are to be executed should be enclosed in quotes if they contain non alpha-
numeric characters. Quotes may be nested in strings, so that to start a clock with the label foo bar,
you would specify 'clock -label "foo bar"'. Finally, single quotes may be escaped with a backslash, so
that the full WM_NAME of DevGuide, for example, should appear as "OpenWindows Developer\'s Guide".
All whitespace in this file is ignored; and lines beginning with a # are considered comments (but only if
the # is in column 1).
Variables
The .olvwmrc file may define local variables by assigning a value to a legal variable name. Variable
names must be made up of alphanumeric charcaters or the '_' character. Variable names may begin with a
number and assignments may contain spaces either before of after the '=' operator.
Variable names are referenced by using %VariableName or %{VariableName}; %% will yield a single %.
Variable references may appear as part of the definition of any key or screen binding. Variable
references may also appear in assignment statements.
In addition to olvwm variables, environment variables may be used in the same contexts using the familiar
$NAME or ${NAME} syntax; again, $$ will yield a single $.
The following example illustrates the use of variables:
#
# Define screen size.
#
Xsize = '1136'
Ysize = '798'
WholeScreenSize = '%{Xsize}x%{Ysize}+3+3'
#
# Define file names.
#
FileName = '.olvwmrc'
PathName = '$HOME/%FileName'
Key/Action Bindings
olvwm can be made to perform a series of actions when a specific key is pressed. The key can be any
valid X keysym name and may be specified by itself or with any one or more of the following modifiers:
Shift, Control, Alt, Meta, Hyper, Super, Shift Lock, or Caps Lock, in which case the key must be pressed
with the given modifiers.
The functionality for a key specified in a binding in .olvwmrc takes precedence over any other functions
that key might perform. Thus, if you bind the L5 key to an action in .olvwmrc, you will not be able to
use the L5 key to bring windows to the front; if you bind the R8 key, you will not be able to scroll up
on the desktop using that key. Since the unmodified versions of 29 of the possible 35 standard function
keys on a type-4 keyboard (L1-L10, F1-F10, and R1-R15) already have a meaning within olvwm, it is
recommended that at least one modifier be used for keys in this manner so as not to conflict with other
key meanings.
There are thirteen valid actions which can be associated with a key:
Warp This action requires a single identifier. The youngest window matching this identifier will be
located, and the view into the desktop will be warped so that the found window is displayed on the
screen. The window itself will not change position relative to the other windows; merely the view
into the desktop will be changed. If no matching window is found, the view is unchanged. The
mouse is moved into the matching window, and that window is given input focus.
Open This action requires a list of identifiers separated by commas. Each iconified window will be
matched against this list and those which match any identifier in the list will be opened.
Close This action requires a list of identifiers separated by commas. Each non-iconified window will be
matched against this list and those which match any identifier in the list will be closed.
Raise This action requires a list of identifiers separated by commas. Each window will be matched
against this list and those which match any identifier in the list will be raised. Windows will
be raised youngest first, so that the oldest windows in the list will end up on top.
Lower This action requires a list of identifiers separated by commas. Each window will be matched
against this list and those which match any identifier in the list will be lowered. Windows will
be lowered youngest first, so that the oldest windows in the list will end up on the bottom.
RaiseLower
This action requires a list of identifiers separated by commas. Each window will be matched
against this list and those which match any identifier in the list will be raised to the top of
the stack if they are partially obscured or lowered to the bottom of the stack if they are on top.
Execute
This action requires a list of commands separated by commas. Each command will be executed via a
Bourne-shell in the same manner as commands given in the olvwm menu file [except that multiple
commands may be listed in this case.]
Goto This action requires a single integer parameter, which is the logical screen to which the desktop
should warp when the given key(s) are pressed.
Quit This action requires a list of identifiers separated by commas. Each window will be matched
against this list and those which match any identifier in the list will be killed.
Geometry
This action requires a single identifier. The identifier must be a valid X geometry string but
may be partially specified (may only specify position or size). This geometry will be applied to
the current window. If there is no current window this action will have no effect.
Rebind This action optionally takes a filename parameter. If no parameter is specified the normal search
is performed to find the correct version of the .olvwmrc file (as at startup). If a parameter is
given it is used as the .olvwmrc file. All current key bindings are discarded and the .olvwmrc
file is read. If the .olvwmrc files does not exist the current key bindings are not discarded.
Stick This action requires a single parameter which must be one of the following: OLVWM_USE_SELECTION,
on, off, toggle, or a list of window names. If the parameter is either OLVWM_USE_SELECTION or
toggle, the sticky attribute of the current window will be toggled. Similarly, if the parameter
is a list of window names then those window's sticky attributes will be toggled. The values on
and off can be used to explicitly set the current window's sticky attribute.
SetSize
This action requires a single parameter which must be one of the following: OLVWM_USE_SELECTION,
full, save, store, restore, toggle, or a list of window names. If the parameter is
OLVWM_USE_SELECTION or toggle, either the window's current geometry will be saved and its size
will be set to full size or its saved geometry will be restored, depending on the window's current
state. Similarly, if the parameter is a list of window names then the same action will be
performed for those windows. The parameter save can be used to preserve the current window's
geometry such that a restore size (or toggle) will restore the windows position and size. Note
that save will only store the windows geometry if it has not already been saved. The parameter
store will always save a windows geometry (possibly overwriting the currently saved geometry).
The restore parameter will simply restore the current window's saved geometry (if it has one).
Focus This action requires a single parameter which must be either save or restore. The save parameter
will cause the window with focus to be remembered such that a restore will restore focus to that
window.
These actions may appear in any order and will be performed in the reverse of the order specified.
Commands may be listed multiple times; this is useful in case you want a different stacking order than
that obtained by using a single raise command. To do this, list separate raise commands for each window
and put the raise command for the window you want to be on top first.
The full syntax for a Key/Action binding is
KeyName { Actions }
A Key Name is a valid key (L1-L10, F1-F10, or R1-R15) followed by plus signs and the modifiers desired.
For example, given the following entry:
L2 + Shift {
Warp: "OpenWindows Developer\'s Guide"
Execute: '$OPENWINHOME/bin/xview/clock -label "foo bar"',
"$OPENWINHOME/bin/xview/iconedit"
Raise: xterm, shelltool
}
Then when Shift L2 is pressed, the following will occur:
1) The view will shift so that the youngest copy of DevGuide is on the screen.
2) A clock will be started; its namestripe will contain foo bar. The IconEditor will also be
started.
3) All xterms and shelltools will be raised to the front of the stacking order.
Screen Bindings
olvwm can arrange to begin any application relative to a particular logical screen. A ``logical screen''
is the area on the virtual desktop which maps to the size of your monitor; in the VDM, each logical
screen is outlined in dashed lines (unless you've turned this feature off). Screens are numbered by row
starting with 1. Note that the position of a logical screen will vary depending on the size of a
desktop: in the default (2x3) configuration, screen 4 is in the bottom left-hand corner of the VDM but
in a smaller (2x2) configuration, it is in the bottom right-hand corner.
The syntax for specifying a screen binding is
Screen # { Identifiers }
where # is the logical number of the screen and Identifiers is a list of comma-separated window
identifiers for windows which should always start on that screen. Note that it is always possible to
move the window to another screen later.
For example, the following entry will ensure that the windows started by Sun's AnswerBook (windows with
names Navigator and Viewer) will always start on screen 6:
Screen 6 { Navigator, Viewer }
WINMENU Actions
When a window is selected in the WINMENU menu, olvwm will perform certain actions. The possible actions
are the same as those listed above for Key Actions, except that the mouse position will not change on a
warp. By default, windows behave as if a warp, raise, and open were performed on the selected window.
To effect a different action list for a particular window, you can specify
Identifier { Actions }
Each of these is a MenuGroup; one or more of these can appear in the following syntax:
WINMENU { MenuGroups }
For example, here is a possible entry:
WINMENU {
"File Manager" {
Warp: "Mail Tool"
Open: OLVWM_USE_SELECTION
}
xterm { }
"Virtual Desktop" {
Open: OLVWM_USE_SELECTION
Execute: "$OPENWINHOME/bin/props"
}
}
If you select the File Manager from your WINMENU, then the view will
warp to your Mail Tool instead of your file manager, and your file manager, if closed, will be opened.
[This isn't that contrived an example: pretend your file manager is sticky and your mail tool isn't, and
you anticipate that you'll need to drag between the two.]
If you select an xterm from your WINMENU, absolutely nothing will happen. This implements a No-Op for
that window.
If you select the VDM from your WINMENU, it will be opened and the properties application will be
started.
Note that this Identifier list can contain the special entry OLVWM_USE_SELECTION which, as you might
expect, operates on the single window corresponding to the one you selected. A subtle distinction exists
here: given the MenuGroup
xterm { Raise: xterm }
then ALL xterms will be raised when any xterm is selected via the WINMENU. However, the entry
xterm { Raise: OLVWM_USE_SELECTION }
will raise only the xterm corresponding to the one selected via the WINMENU.
RESOURCES AND KEY BINDINGS
There are a few resources which are particular to the operation of olvwmrc.
VirtualReRead (boolean)
When this resource is True, olvwm will re-read the .olvwmrc file whenever it receives a Function
Key event. This will happen whenever a function key is pressed in the VDM or on the root window,
or whenever a function key grabbed by olvwm is pressed. Default value: True
NoVirtualKey (list of windows)
This resource disables the virtual keys set up in .olvwmrc for a particular window. The list of
windows follows the same syntax as other resource lists like MinimalDecor and VirtualSticky. When
a window in this list has the input focus and the user executes a key sequence which is mentioned
in .olvwmrc, that key sequence will be passed to the application rather than initiating the
olvwmrc action. Note that this disabling applies only to bindings established via entries in
.olvwmrc; normal olvwm and olwm bindings are not affected. Default value: None
NoVirtualFKey (list of windows)
This resource is like NoVirtualKey, but only the Function keys F1 to F10 will be disabled for the
given window. Default value: None
NoVirtualLKey (list of windows)
This resource is like NoVirtualKey, but only the keys L1 to L10 (which map to F11-F20 on non-Sun
keyboards) will be disabled for the given window. Default value: None
NoVirtualRKey (list of windows)
This resource is like NoVirtualKey, but only the keys R1 to R15 will be disabled for the given
window. Default value: None
SEE ALSO
olvwm(1), olwm(1)
NOTES
Please see the LEGAL_NOTICES file for full disclosure of copyright information and olvwm(1) for
acknowledgments.
BUGS
The multiple interfaces for NoVirtualKeys is something only a Wall Street trader could appreciate.
30 November 1992 OLVWMRC(5)