Re: FVWM: Window hierarchy ?

From: Dominik Vogt <dominik.vogt_at_gmx.de>
Date: Sat, 29 Jun 2002 21:49:09 +0200

On Thu, Jun 27, 2002 at 02:59:14PM +0000, Mikhael Goikhman wrote:
> On 27 Jun 2002 10:11:19 -0400, dombs_at_swing.be wrote:
> >
> > I'm new with FVWM and I have a question.
> >
> > I'm writing a X-Window application (based on Trolltech Qt libraries,
> > running under Linux with FVWM2).
> >
> > This application has a lot of windows. And some of those windows have
> > more priority.
> >
> > Is it possible to create an hierarchy with the different windows ?
> > For example, if I have five windows:
> > A has priority 3 (less priority)
> > B and C have priority 2 (middle priority)
> > D and E have priority 1 (first priority)
> > Does somebody know how to always have windows D and E above all other,
> > If I select the E window it comes above D window, and if a select D
> > window it comes above E window, If I select B window it comes above C
> > window but always under D and E windows (in case of overlapping), etc.
> >
> > Can it be done at the WindowManager level or at the X-Window level
> > (properties of the windows)?
>
> You may want to use layers. An application may assign them using gnome
> window manager hints or using extended window manager hints (EWMH).
> FVWM recognizes these hints unless they are switched off by a user.
>
> You may do it on the window manager configuration level too by defining:
>
> Style A_pattern Layer 2
> Style B_pattern Layer 4
> Style C_pattern Layer 4
> Style D_pattern Layer 6
> Style E_pattern Layer 6
>
> The default window layer (StaysPut) is 4, other shortcuts: StaysOnTop
> is layer 6, StaysOnBottom is layer 2
>
> But if you write your application please rethink twice before throwing
> layers on pure users.

Let me put it this way:

  layers = best way to drive the user up the wall = evil

(same is valid for window that raise or maximize themselves - or
worse: both)

> I think (without knowing details) that a better solution than layers is
> to define window groups and/or a tree of your transients. Then a user
> has more options to configure such window tree, search for "Transient"
> or "WindowGroups" in the fvwm man page.

Transients should give reasonable results. Lets assume B and C
are opened from A, D is openend from B and E is openend from C.

The set the transientfor property of the window to

window transientfor
  A -
  B A
  C A
  D B
  E C

Bye

Dominik ^_^ ^_^

 --
Dominik Vogt, dominik.vogt_at_gmx.de
Reply-To: dominik.vogt_at_gmx.de
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Received on Sat Jun 29 2002 - 17:52:19 BST

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