mwm(user cmd) mwm(user cmd)
NAME
mwm — The Motif Window Manager
SYNOPSIS
mwm [options]
DESCRIPTION
The mwm window manager provides functions that facilitate control (by
the user and the programmer) of elements of window state such as place‐
ment, size, icon/normal display, and input-focus ownership.
The stand-alone window manager is not an integral part of CDE and does
not support communication with other components in the CDE environment,
such as the Style Manager and the Session Manager.
Options
-display display
This option specifies the display to use; see X(1).
-xrm resourcestring
This option specifies a resource string to use.
-multiscreen
This option causes mwm to manage all screens on the display.
The default is to manage only a single screen.
-name name
This option causes mwm to retrieve its resources using the
specified name, as in name*resource.
-screens name [name [...]]
This option specifies the resource names to use for the
screens managed by mwm. If mwm is managing a single screen,
only the first name in the list is used. If mwm is managing
multiple screens, the names are assigned to the screens in
order, starting with screen 0. Screen 0 gets the first name,
screen 1 the second name, and so on.
Appearance
The following sections describe the basic default behaviors of windows,
icons, the icon box, input focus, and window stacking. The appearance
and behavior of the window manager can be altered by changing the con‐
figuration of specific resources. Resources are defined under the head‐
ing "X DEFAULTS."
Screens
By default, mwm manages only the single screen specified by the -dis‐
play option or the DISPLAY environment variable (by default, screen 0).
If the -multiscreen option is specified or if the multiScreen resource
is True, mwm tries to manage all the screens on the display.
When mwm is managing multiple screens, the -screens option can be used
to give each screen a unique resource name. The names are separated by
blanks, for example, -screens scr0 scr1. If there are more screens than
names, resources for the remaining screens will be retrieved using the
first name. By default, the screen number is used for the screen name.
Windows
Default mwm window frames have distinct components with associated
functions:
Title Area
In addition to displaying the client's title, the title area
is used to move the window. To move the window, place the
pointer over the title area, press button 1 and drag the win‐
dow to a new location. By default, a wire frame is moved dur‐
ing the drag to indicate the new location. When the button is
released, the window is moved to the new location.
Title Bar The title bar includes the title area, the minimize button,
the maximize button, and the window menu button. In shaped
windows, such as round windows, the title bar floats above
the window.
Minimize Button
To turn the window into an icon, click button 1 on the mini‐
mize button (the frame box with a small square in it).
Maximize Button
To make the window fill the screen (or enlarge to the largest
size allowed by the configuration files), click button 1 on
the maximize button (the frame box with a large square in
it).
Window Menu Button
The window menu button is the frame box with a horizontal bar
in it. To pull down the window menu, press button 1. While
pressing, drag the pointer on the menu to your selection,
then release the button when your selection is highlighted.
Pressing button 3 in the title bar or resize border handles
also posts the window menu. Alternately, you can click button
1 to pull down the menu and keep it posted; then position the
pointer and select. You can also post the window menu by
pressing or . Double-clicking
button 1 with the pointer on the window menu button closes
the window.
The following table lists the contents of the window menu.
Default Window Menu
Selection Accelerator Description
Restore Restores the window to its size
before minimizing or maximizing.
Move Allows the window to be moved
with keys or mouse.
Size Allows the window to be resized.
Minimize Turns the window into an icon.
Maximize Makes the window fill the screen.
Lower Moves window to bottom of window
stack.
Close Alt+F4 Causes client to terminate.
Resize Border Handles
To change the size of a window, move the pointer over a
resize border handle (the cursor changes), press button 1,
and drag the window to a new size. When the button is
released, the window is resized. While dragging is being
done, a rubber-band outline is displayed to indicate the new
window size.
Matte An optional matte decoration can be added between the client
area and the window frame (see the matteWidth resource). A
matte is not actually part of the window frame. There is no
functionality associated with a matte.
Icons
Icons are small graphic representations of windows. A window can be
minimized (iconified) using the minimize button on the window frame.
Icons provide a way to reduce clutter on the screen.
Pressing mouse button 1 when the pointer is over an icon causes the
icon's window menu to pop up. Releasing the button (press + release
without moving mouse = click) causes the menu to stay posted. The menu
contains the following selections:
Icon Window Menu
Selection Accelerator Description
Restore Opens the associated window.
Move Allows the icon to be moved with
keys.
Size Inactive (not an option for icons).
Minimize Inactive (not an option for icons).
Maximize Opens the associated window and
makes it fill the screen.
Lower Moves icon to bottom of icon stack.
Close Alt+F4 Removes client from mwm management.
Note that pressing button 3 over an icon also causes the icon's window
menu to pop up. To make a menu selection, drag the pointer over the
menu and release button 3 when the desired item is highlighted.
Double-clicking button 1 on an icon invokes the f.restoreandraise
function and restores the icon's associated window to its previous
state. For example, if a maximized window is iconified, double-clicking
button 1 restores it to its maximized state. Double-clicking button 1
on the icon box's icon opens the icon box and allows access to the con‐
tained icons. (In general, double-clicking a mouse button is a quick
way to perform a function.) Pressing or