On Sat, 9 Nov 1996, Paul Boven wrote:
> I like to be able to see at a glance whether there are any new messages in
> my iconified xconsole, and it changes it's icon-name to "xconsole *" just
> for that purpose. However, I do not see that happen on my screen unless I
> move my mouse pointer over the icon, giving it focus.
> ...
> How much trouble would it be to make fvwm2 behave a bit more sane in this
> regard?
Hi, Paul --
Actually, fvwm's policy is quite rational, and not uncommon among
window managers (mwm does this, too). The policy is to size the title to match
the width of the icon pixmap, except for the icon that has focus. Many apps,
like word processors and text editors, like to insert the name of the document
being edited into the title, and if all titles are shown full width, you get
a desktop cluttered with icons that look something like this.
----------
| |
| icon.xpm |
| |
---------------------------------------------------
| ./my/really/long/directory/path/and/filename.txt |
---------------------------------------------------
This very quickly gets ugly and hard to read.
When you shift focus to an icon, the window manager assumes that you
might be expressing an interest in it, so it shows you the full width title.
The problem with xconsole is that it doesn't provide an icon pixmap
resource, so you get nothing but the little title icon window. However,
this is easy to get around.
Can you live with having a small, unobtrusive icon pixmap associated
with xconsole? If so, here's what you do.
1) Find a pixmap that suits you. This may take a little trial and
error, depending on the effect you want. Most pixmaps are easily
wide enough to accommodate the string "xconsole *" (except for
those itty-bitty ones designed for button bars.) If you want one
that's really minimal, you may have to create your own. I just
tried a little one sized at 56 x 26 that nicely fits xconsole;
but YMMV, depending on your font selection.
2) Change your fvwm2rc Style definition for xconsole as follows:
Style "xconsole" Icon My-Favorite-Xconsole.xpm
(plus whatever other Style arguments you like for xconsole).
Restart fvwm, and you're in business. You'll now see the title change
to "xconsole *" as soon as new output appears in the buffer.
Alternatively, you could add an icon to the generic style
specification (the one that says Style "*"), so that all apps that aren't
otherwise associated with an icon resource would use that.
Good luck,
Bob
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Received on Sat Nov 09 1996 - 17:58:13 GMT