DECwindows Motif
Version 1.2-5 for OpenVMS
Release Notes


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1.1.17 Font Selection Limitations

V1.2--4

On the New Desktop, Style Manager contains a control that displays a dialog box used to select font size. Selecting a new font size affects only New Desktop applications and does not affect existing DECwindows Motif applications.

1.1.18 Default Workspace Limitations

V1.2--4

The New Desktop provides a default backdrop for the four default workspaces. You can change or even select Nobackdrop using the Backdrop control located in Style Manager.

When no backdrop is selected, you cannot drag icons and place them on the backdrop of the desktop. If you drag an icon and release it, it snaps back to File Manager or Application Manager.

Icons that were dropped on the background before Nobackdrop was selected remain and function correctly.

1.1.19 Alt + Space Key Does Not Post the Window Menu

V1.2--4

The New Desktop maps the key binding Alt+space key to the Compose Character function by default. This provides a method for character composition on keyboards which do not supply a specific Compose Character key. To use this feature, follow these steps:

  1. Copy CDE$SYSTEM_DEFAULTS:[CONFIG.lang]SYS.DTWMRC to DISK$:[LOGIN.DT]DTWMRC.DAT.
  2. In the Keys DtKeyBindings section, uncomment the following line:


    Alt<Key>space   icon|window   f.post_wmenu 
    

  3. Restart the Workspace Manager.

1.1.20 DECwrite Icon Does Not Open DECwrite Program

V1.2--5

DECwindows does not include the DECwrite program. However, DECwindows does include the DECwrite icon on the New Desktop. If the DECwrite product has not been installed, clicking on the DECwrite icon results in the following error messages:


> RCV'D (pid 000000CA): %DCL-W-IVVERB, unrecognized command verb - 
                         check validity and spelling 
-> RCV'D (pid 000000CA):  \DECWRITE\
-> RCV'D (pid 000000CA):   TESTER       logged out at 
29-JUL-1998 17:56:44.63 

If the DECwrite product is installed and you still get this error, ensure that DECwrite is started in SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM.

1.2 DECwindows Support of OpenVMS Extended File Specifications (EFS)

V1.2--5

In general, DECwindows Motif supports the Extended File Specifications (EFS) option provided in OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.2. The interface either supports the new ODS-5 file names or provides an error message indicating that the particular component does not support the new names.

1.2.1 The File Selection Popup

V1.2--5

The standard file selection popup window used by most DECwindows Motif applications fully supports ODS-5 style file names. The window supports deep directories, case preservation, and extended-length file names. The window supports entry of file names using the extended file name character and displays files using the extended file name character set using the circumflex character (^). See the OpenVMS Guide to Extended File Specifications for more specific information about using deep directories and the extended file name character set.

1.2.2 The FileView Application in the Traditional DECwindows Desktop

V1.2--5

With an ODS-5 volume, the FileView application supports deep directories, case preservation, and extended-length file names. FileView supports entry of file names using the extended file name character and displays files using the extended file name character set using the circumflex character (^). See the OpenVMS Guide to Extended File Specifications for more specific information about using deep directories and the extended file name character set.

Any custom FileView command extensions must be modified to support EFS.

1.2.3 The File Manager Application in the New Desktop

V1.2--5

The FileManager application supports case preservation.

The FileManager application creates files with the extended file name character set, but does not support any operations on its files.

The FileManager application supports deep directories and extended-length file names with the following restriction. As indicated in the OpenVMS Guide to Extended File Specifications, ODS-5 volumes allow file names up to 236 8-bit characters in length and deep directory structures if the total file specification does not exceed 512 8-bit characters in length. The current version of the File Manager supports extended-length file names and deep directory structures with the additional restriction that a total file specification cannot exceed 235 8-bit characters in length. Exceeding this limit causes an error message for some menu items.

1.2.3.1 File Manager Problems with EFS (New Desktop Only)

1.2.4 The Programming Libraries

V1.2--5

The programming libraries fully support deep directories and extended-length file names. The libraries do not support case preservation or the extended file name character set.

1.2.5 The Translated Image Support (TIS) Library (Alpha Only)

V1.2--5

The translated image support (TIS) library has not been updated to support EFS.

1.3 Alt + Space Key Does Not Post the Window Menu (DECwindows Desktop Only)

V1.2--4

OpenVMS DECwindows Motif maps the key binding Alt+space key to the Compose Character function by default. This provides a method for character composition on keyboards which do not supply a specific Compose Character key. To use this feature, follow these steps:

  1. Copy DECW$SYSTEM_DEFAULTS:DECW$MWM_RC.DAT to DECW$USER_DEFAULTS:DECW$MWM_RC.DAT.
  2. In the Keys DtKeyBindings section, uncomment the line:


    Alt<Key>space   icon|window   f.post_wmenu 
    

  3. Restart the Window Manager.

1.4 Using Drag and Drop

V1.2

All DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS applications except Notepad support the drag-and-drop feature. DECwindows Mail supports the drag-and-drop feature in all windows except the main message area, where DECwindows Mail has its own drag-and-drop; you can use MB2 to move messages around with the SVN interface.

The drag-and-drop feature lets you move or copy screen objects; this feature is provided primarily for programmers who choose to incorporate drag-and-drop into their applications. For example, you can move text from a text entry area and paste it elsewhere.

To drag and drop text into a new location:

  1. Select the text to be copied or moved with MB1.
  2. To move the text, press and hold MB2; to copy the text, press and hold
    Ctrl/MB2.
    A move or copy icon is displayed.
  3. Drag the icon to the location where you want to drop the text and release Ctrl/MB2.
    If the object is highlighted as you drag the icon across it, you can drop the text into that location.

1.5 Using Tear-Off Menus

V1.2--3

The following applications do not support tear-off menus:

Refer to Section 4.2.3.2 for instructions on tearing off a menu and closing a tear-off menu.

1.6 Access Control Not Explicitly Enabled by Default

V1.0

DECwindows Motif does not enable access control by default. Instead, the product uses access control set by the server. The DECwindows X11 display server enables access control at startup time.

To force the DECwindows Session Manager to enable or disable access control explicitly at login time, you can define one of the following logical names:


$ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXECUTIVE DECW$LOGIN_ACCESS_CONTROL ENABLE
  
$ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXECUTIVE DECW$LOGIN_ACCESS_CONTROL DISABLE

If the logical name is not defined or if it is defined to some other value, such as "SERVER", DECwindows login neither enables nor disables access control.

In most cases, it should not be necessary to define the logical name.

1.7 Color Customizer Example Program

V1.2

The color customizer example program allows you to dynamically control the colors of your workstation environment. Window, icon, and window manager colors can be changed individually or as part of a palette switch. You can control mapping between resources and color cells, as well as the size and contents of the palette set. Also, automatic shadowing with the standard Motif shadowing algorithms is supported.

1.7.1 Supported Displays

V1.2

The color customizer supports any display using pseudocolor or grayscale visuals. This includes most 4- and 8-plane workstation displays.

1.7.2 Supported Applications

V1.2

The color customizer can affect the colors of any applications that use the current release of the DIGITAL X Toolkit Library. Applications from other vendors and previous versions of the DIGITAL X Toolkit Library are unaffected.

Note

If the color customizer is used to control the colors of applications that have their own color customization dialog boxes (like the Session Manager, Window Manager, and DECwindows Mail), those application-specific color customization dialog boxes may not reflect the correct current color values while the customizer is running the application. This is normal; use the customizer instead of the application-specific dialog box to change these color values.

1.7.3 Building the Color Customizer on OpenVMS Systems

V1.2

To build the color customizer on OpenVMS systems, perform the following steps:

  1. Copy the files to a private directory. For example:


    $ SET DEFAULT SYS$LOGIN
    $ CREATE/DIRECTORY [.CUSTOMIZER]
    $ SET DEFAULT [.CUSTOMIZER]
    $ COPY DECW$EXAMPLES:CUSTOM.C []
    $ COPY DECW$EXAMPLES:CUSTOM.UIL []
    $ COPY DECW$EXAMPLES:CUSTOMIMAGE.DAT []
    $ COPY DECW$EXAMPLES:XSETROOT_CUST.C []
    $ COPY DECW$EXAMPLES:BUILD_CUSTOMIZER.COM []
    

  2. Build the customizer using the following command:


    $ @BUILD_CUSTOMIZER.COM
    

This command procedure creates the following output files:

1.7.4 Running the Color Customizer

V1.2

To run the color customizer, perform the following steps:

  1. Copy the files CUSTOM.UID and CUSTOM.EXE, which were created during the customizer build, to the directory where the customizer will be run. A typical location is the directory SYS$LOGIN or the directory DECW$USER_DEFAULTS.
  2. Copy the files CUSTOM.DAT and DXMDEFAULTS.DAT from the directory DECW$EXAMPLES to the same location as you copied the files in step 1. The same typical locations apply.
  3. Run the executable file CUSTOM.EXE as follows:


    $ RUN CUSTOM
    

Note

Only the colors of applications invoked after the customizer starts will be affected. For this reason, start the customizer as the first X application during the login process.

1.7.5 Modifying the DECW$LOGIN.COM File

V1.2

As noted in Section 1.7.4, the color customizer should be the first X application started during the login process. Do this by starting it as a subprocess from within the DECW$LOGIN.COM file. Add a command to wait approximately 10 seconds between customizer startup and the startup of other applications.

For example, add the following lines to the DECW$LOGIN.COM file:


$! Starting the color customizer 
$ DISPLAY = F$LOGICAL("DECW$DISPLAY") 
$ SPAWN/NOWAIT/OUTPUT='DISPLAY' RUN SYS$LOGIN:CUSTOM.EXE 
$ WAIT 0:0:10 

See Using DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS and Managing DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS Systems for more information on the file DECW$LOGIN.COM.

1.7.6 Command Interface Summary

V1.2

A box containing a list of available palettes is in the leftmost section of the Color Customizer window. Click on the desired palette to see the colors take affect.

Below the palettes are two arrays of colored buttons, representing the dynamically allocated color cells for normal and shadow colors. To find out what resources are affected by a color cell, click and hold the arrow button next to the color cell.

Hint

As a shortcut, you can click on the screen facsimile in the rightmost corner of the dialog box. If the portion you click on is colored by one of the resource values controlled by the customizer, the pop-up window for the appropriate color button is displayed.

To modify a single color cell, click on the corresponding color button. A colormix widget pops up; as you modify the color, these modifications are reflected in your workstation environment. Use the colormix widget reset button to return to the starting color at any time. You can also change the color cell you are modifying by clicking on a different color button while the colormix widget is displayed.

The automatic shadowing option causes shadow and select colors to be automatically updated when their corresponding background colors are changed. The standard Motif shadowing algorithms are used for these calculations.

Use the File menu to modify, add, and delete color palettes as follows:

Changes made through the File menu automatically update the CUSTOM.DAT file, which contains the resource defaults.

The File menu Exit button causes the customizer application to exit. A warning dialog is displayed first. Note that the color cells allocated by the customizer (and used by the currently running applications) will be deallocated. After the customizer exits, if the colors of the currently running applications are not correct, the applications should be restarted to restore normal colors. Usually, there is no need to exit the color customizer; it is typically kept running at all times, like the Session Manager.

1.7.7 Changing the Mapping Between Color Resources and Color Cells

V1.2

The file DXMDEFAULTS.DAT allows you to control how many dynamic color cells are allocated and what resources are affected. This file contains resource specifications like the following:


*background:       DXmDynamicWindowBackground 
*foreground:       DXmDynamicWindowForeground 
*topShadowColor:   DXmDynamicWindowTopShadow 

When the customizer is started, the file DXMDEFAULTS.DAT is written to a property on the root window. Any application that is subsequently run and that uses the correct X Toolkit Library merges these resources with its normal resource database. Resource specifications in this file take precedence over specifications with equivalent resource names in other resource default files.

The resource values within the file DXMDEFAULTS.DAT have a special format. For each unique color value in this file that begins with the string "DXmDynamic", a color button is created in the color customizer. If the string "Shadow" is encountered in a name, the color button is placed in the shadow button box rather than the normal color button box. If a color value string ends with the suffix "Background", it is linked to any color buttons with identical prefixes and suffixes of "TopShadow", "BottomShadow", or "SelectColor" for purposes of automatic shadowing. If a color value named "DXmDynamicScreenBackground" is encountered, the color cell allocated is used by the customizer to set the root window background color.

You can edit the file DXMDEFAULTS.DAT and define resources to use the same color cells. You can have separate dynamic color cells, for scrollbar widgets or for your DECwindows Mail application, for example, by adding the following lines to the file DXMDEFAULTS.DAT:


Mail*background:         DXmDynamicMyMailBackground 
Mail*foreground:         DXmDynamicMyMailForeground 
Mail*topShadowColor:     DXmDynamicMyMailTopShadow 
Mail*bottomShadowColor:  DXmDynamicMyMailBottomShadow 

Adding the previous lines to the file DXMDEFAULTS.DAT and restarting the customizer causes four new color cells to be allocated and four new color buttons to be added to the customizer interface. These buttons are assigned default color values (usually black or white) for each palette. These defaults can then be modified for each palette through the customizer interface.

Note

The text of the DXMDEFAULTS.DAT file is read and parsed by the color customizer. The parsing algorithm does not allow comments, incorrect spacing, or incorrect resource specifications. If this file or the CUSTOM.DAT resource file become corrupt, the customizer cannot start correctly. To resolve the problem, copy the versions of CUSTOM.DAT and DXMDEFAULTS.DAT from the DECW$EXAMPLES directory into your login directory.

1.7.8 DECterm Windows Not Affected

V1.2

The color customizer does not affect the colors of DECterm windows. To change the colors of DECterm windows, copy the DECterm resource specifications from the file DXMDEFAULTS.DAT and add them to the DECterm resource defaults file DECW$USER_DEFAULTS:DECW$TERMINAL_DEFAULT.DAT. For example, add the following lines to the DECterm resource defaults file:


   .
   .
   .
  DECW$TERMINAL.main.terminal.background: DXmDynamicTerminalBackground 
  DECW$TERMINAL.main.terminal.foreground: DXmDynamicTerminalForeground 

This allows the DECterm window colors to be customized with the color customizer.


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