X Window System User's Guide for X11 R3 and R4 of the X Window System

3

Using the twm Window Manager

This chapter describes twm, the standard window manager distributed with X. Additional information on customizing the operation of twm is provided in Chapter 10.

In This Chapter:

Starting the Window Manager

Titlebars

The Twm Menu

Displaying Windows as Icons

Resizing Windows

Moving Windows and Icons

Shuffling the Window Stack: Raise and Lower

Raising Windows (bringing in front of others)

Lowering Windows (sending behind others)

Changing Keyboard Focus

Removing a Window: Delete and Kill

Restarting the Window Manager

Exiting the Window Manager

Button Control of Window Manager Functions

Using twm to Place Other Clients

Customizing twm

Some of My Keystrokes are Missing

3

Using the twm Window Manager

The twm window manager is primarily a window manipulation tool. It allows you to:

•   Size and position client windows on the screen interactively.

•   Move windows around the screen.

•   Change the size of windows.

•   Lower windows (send them to the back of others).

•   Raise windows (bring them to the front of others).

•   Convert windows to icons and icons to windows.

•   Remove windows.

The twm window manipulation functions can be invoked in four ways:

•   Using the titlebar.

•   Using the Twm menu.

•   By combinations of keyboard keys and pointer buttons.

•   Automatically, when a client is started (to allow you to size and place the client window on the screen).

This chapter discusses each of these subjects in detail, but first we’ll take a look ...