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w9wm(1x)                                                              w9wm(1x)


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)

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