Workspaces. The Workspace Manager controls the number of workspaces, and keeps track of which windows are open in each workspace.
Workspace backdrops. The user changes backdrops using Style Manager. However, backdrop management is a function of the Workspace Manager.
The Front Panel. Although the Front Panel uses its own configuration files, it is created and managed by the Workspace Manager.

Many of these can be changed with Style Manager. Style Manager is able to make often-used changes quickly, with little effort on your part. Other resources must be set manually.

The Workspace Manager is dtwm. It is based on the OSF/Motif Window Manager.

Workspace Manager Configuration Files

The Workspace Manager gets information about the window menus, workspace menus, button bindings, and key bindings from a configuration file.

It uses one of the following files:

Personal file: HomeDirectory/.dt/dtwmrc
System custom file: /etc/dt/config/language/sys.dtwmrc
Built-in file: /usr/dt/config/language/sys.dtwmrc

The Workspace Manager searches for a configuration file in the order shown above, and uses the first one it finds.

For users who use more than one session language, a personal, language-dependent configuration file HomeDirectory/.dt/language/dtwrmc can be created that takes precedence over HomeDirectory/.dt/dtwmrc.

To Create or Modify a Personal Configuration File

The personal Workspace Manager configuration file is HomeDirectory/.dt/dtwmrc. If this file exists, it is the file used.

Double-click Edit Dtwmrc in the Desktop_Tools application group.
If you already have a personal dtwmrc file, it is loaded into the editor. If not, sys.dtwmrc is copied to HomeDirectory/.dt/dtwmrc, which is then loaded into the editor.
Edit the file.
Exit the editor.
The file is saved as your personal dtwmrc, regardless of its original source.

To Create a System-Wide Configuration File

The system-wide Workspace Manager configuration file is /etc/dt/config/language/sys.dtwmrc.

Copy /usr/dt/config/language/sys.dtwmrc to /etc/dt/config/language/sys.dtwmrc.

Note: This file is not used if HomeDirectory/.dt/dtwmrc exists.

To Include (Source In) Other Files

Use the syntax:

include
{
   path
   path
   ... 
}

For example, the following lines source in the file /users/ellen/mymenu:

include
{
   /users/ellen/mymenu
}

Include statements are useful for providing additional functionality without copying the entire configuration file. For example, a user might want to create a new key binding without having to administer the entire configuration file. The user can create a file HomeDirectory/.dt/dtwmrc with this content:

include
{
 /etc/dt/config/C/sys.dtwmrc
}
Keys DtKeyBindings
{
  Alt<Key>F5 root  f.menu  Applications
}

Menu Applications
{
  "GraphicsApp" f.exec "/usr/bin/GraphicsApp/GApp"
  ... 
}

To Restart the Workspace Manager

The Workspace Manager must be restarted in order for changes made to the configuration file to take effect.

Choose Restart Workspace Manager from the Workspace menu (press mouse button 3 when the pointer is on the backdrop).

Customizing Workspaces

Most workspace customization, such as changing workspace names and the number of workspaces, can be done by the user using the desktop's interface. However, the Workspace Manager provides resources for setting system-wide defaults.

To Change the Number of Workspaces on a System-Wide Basis

The default desktop configuration provides four workspaces. The user can add and delete workspaces using the pop-up menu associated with the Workspace switch.

The Workspace Manager provides a resource for changing the default number of workspaces.

Use the workspaceCount resource to set the number of workspaces:

Dtwm*workspaceCount: number

For information about setting Workspace Manager resources, see "Setting Application Resources".

For example, the following resource sets the number of workspaces to six:

Dtwm*workspaceCount: 6

To Provide System-Wide Workspace Names

Internally, the workspaces are numbered by the numbering convention wsn, where n is 0, 1, 2, and so on. For example, the default four workspaces are numbered internally ws0 through ws3.

Use the title resource to change the name of a specified workspace:

Dtwm*wsn: name

For information about setting Workspace Manager resources, see "Setting Application Resources".

For example, the following resources set the default four workspaces to the specified names:

Dtwm*ws0*title: Anna Dtwm*ws1*title: Don Dtwm*ws2*title Julia Dtwm*ws3*title Patti

To Create Additional Backdrops

Create the backdrop images. They can be bitmap or pixmap files.
Place the backdrops in one of the following directories. (You may have to create the directory.)
- System-wide backdrops: /etc/dt/backdrops
- Personal backdrops: HomeDirectory/.dt/backdrops
Choose Restart Workspace Manager from the Workspace menu.

The system-wide and personal backdrops are added to the built-in backdrops in /usr/dt/backdrops.

You can replace an existing built-in backdrop by creating a personal or system-wide backdrop with the same name.

To Replace the Backdrop With a Graphics Image

The backdrops are layered over the display's root window. The Style Manager Backdrop dialog box provides a NoBackdrop setting in which the backdrop is transparent.

There is only one root window behind all the workspace backdrops. Thus, a graphics image placed on the root window persists across all workspaces. You can specify which workspaces cover up the root window with a backdrop. However, the image visible when NoBackdrop is in effect will be the same for every workspace.

Create the graphics image. It must be in a format for which a tool exists to display the image on the root window. For example, if you intend to use xsetroot, you must create a bitmap file.
If it doesn't already exist, create an executable file HomeDirectory/.dt/sessions/sessionetc. The sessionetc file is run each time the user logs in.
Place the command to display the image in the sessionetc file.
For example, the following command tiles the root window with the specified bitmap:
```
xsetroot -bitmap /users/ellen/.dt/icons/root.bm
```

Workspace Manager Menus

Workspace Manager has three default menus:

Workspace menu: Also called the root menu. Displayed when the user presses mouse button 3 when the pointer is on the backdrop. The menu is associated with the mouse button through a button binding.
Window menu: The menu displayed when the user presses mouse buttons 1 or 3 when the pointer is on the Window menu button (upper left corner of the window frame). The menu is associated with the button by the windowMenu resource.
Front Panel menu: The menu displayed when the user presses mouse buttons 1 or 3 when the pointer is over the Front Panel's Window menu button.

Workspace Manager Menu Syntax

Workspace Manager menus have the syntax:

Menu MenuName
{
   selection1 [mnemonic] [accelerator] function [argument]
   selection2 [mnemonic] [accelerator] function [argument]
   ... 
}

where:

selection: The text or bitmap that appears on the menu. If the text includes spaces, enclose the text in quotation marks. For bitmaps, use the syntax @/path.
mnemonic: A single character that acts as a keyboard shortcut when the menu is displayed. It is specified in the form _character.
accelerator: A keyboard shortcut that is active whether or not the menu is displayed. Accelerators have the syntax
modifier<Key> Keyname where modifier is Ctrl , Shift, Alt (Extend char), or Lock. For a list of all possible key names, refer to the keysymdef.h file in your "X11 include" directory.
function: The function to be performed when this selection is made. Refer to the dtwmrc(4) man page for a list of functions.
argument: Function arguments. Refer to the dtwmrc(4) man page for more details.

For example, the following menu item labeled Restore normalizes the window. When the menu is displayed, typing "R" will also restore the window. Pressing Extend char F5 will also restore the window.

Restore   _R   Alt<Key> F5   f.normalize

Note: For complete information on Workspace Manager menu syntax, see the dtwmrc(4) man page.

To Modify the Existing Workspace (Root) Menu

Open the appropriate file for editing:
- Personal: HomeDirectory/.dt/dtwmrc
- System-wide: /etc/dt/config/language/sys.dtwmrc
For information on creating these files, see "Workspace Manager Configuration Files".

Edit the description of the Workspace menu.

The default Workspace menu is named DtRootMenu.

Menu DtRootMenu { "Workspace Menu" f.title "Shuffle Up" f.circle_up "Shuffle Down" f.circle_down ... }

To Create a New Workspace (Root) Menu

Open the appropriate file for editing:
- Personal: HomeDirectory/.dt/dtwmrc
- System-wide: /etc/dt/config/language/sys.dtwmrc
For information on creating these files, see "Workspace Manager Configuration Files".
Create the new menu:
```
Menu menu_name
{
        ... 
}
```
See "Workspace Manager Menu Syntax".
Create or edit the button binding to display the new menu.
If the menu replaces the existing menu, edit the button binding that displays the Workspace menu.
```
<Btn3Down> root  f.menu  menu_name
```
If the menu is an additional menu, create a new mouse button binding. For example, the following button binding displays the menu when Shift-mouse button 3 is pressed over the backdrop:
```
Shift<Btn3Down> root  f.menu  menu_name
```
Choose Restart Workspace Manager from the Workspace menu.

To Create a New Window Menu

Note: The Window menu is built into the Workspace Manager, and ordinarily is not customized. To keep window behavior consistent between applications, you should avoid extensive modification to the Window menu.

Open the appropriate file for editing:
- Personal: HomeDirectory/.dt/dtwmrc
- System-wide: /etc/dt/config/language/sys.dtwmrc
For information on creating these files, see "Workspace Manager Configuration Files".
Create the new menu:
```
Menu menu_name
{
        ... 
}
```
Use the windowMenu resource to specify the new menu:
```
Dtwm*windowMenu: menu_name
```
Choose Restart Workspace Manager from the Workspace menu.

Customizing Button Bindings

A button binding associates a mouse button operation and possible keyboard modifier key with a window manager function. Button bindings apply to all workspaces.

The desktop default button bindings are defined in the Workspace Manager configuration file in a button binding set named DtButtonBindings:

Buttons DtButtonBindings
{
  ... 
}

Button Binding Syntax

The syntax for button bindings is:

Buttons ButtonBindingSetName
{
    [modifier]<button_nameMouse_action>   context  function  [argument]
    ... 
}

where:

button_name: Btn1--Left mouse button
Btn2--Middle button (3-button mouse) or both buttons (2-button mouse)
Btn3--Right button
Btn4--Buttons 1 and 2 together on a 3-button mouse
Btn5--Buttons 2 and 3 together on a 3-button mouse
modifier: Ctrl, Shift, Alt, Lock
mouse_action: Down--Holding down a mouse button
Up--Releasing a mouse button
Click--Pressing and releasing a mouse button
Click2--Double-clicking a mouse button
Drag--Dragging the mouse while holding down the mouse button
context: Indicates where the pointer must be for the binding to be effective. If necessary, separate multlple contents with the "|" character.
: root--The workspace window
window--Client window or window frame
frame--Window frame, excluding the contents
icon--Icon
title--Title bar
app--Client window (excluding the frame)
function: One of the window manager functions. Refer to the dtwmrc(4) man page for a list of valid functions.
argument: Any window manager function arguments that are required. Refer to the dtwmrc(4) man page for details.

For example, the following line causes the menu described in DtRootMenu to be displayed when mouse button 3 is pressed while the pointer is in the workspace window (but not within client windows).

<Btn3Down>      root     f.menu     DtRootMenu

Note: For complete information on button binding syntax, see the dtwmrc(4) man page.

To Add a Button Binding

Open the appropriate file for editing:
- Personal: HomeDirectory/.dt/dtwmrc
- System-wide: /etc/dt/config/language/sys.dtwmrc
For information on creating these files, see "Workspace Manager Configuration Files".
Add the button binding to the DtButtonBindings definition.
Do not bind the same button to different functions for the click and press operations, and do not bind more than one function to the same button and context.
Choose Restart Workspace Manager from the Workspace menu.

To Create a New Button Binding Set

Open the appropriate file for editing:
- Personal: HomeDirectory/.dt/dtwmrc
- System-wide: /etc/dt/config/language/sys.dtwmrc
For information on creating these files, see "Workspace Manager Configuration Files".
Create the new button binding set. See "Button Binding Syntax".

Set the buttonBindings resource to the new name:

Dtwm*buttonBindings: ButtonBindingsSetName

Choose Restart Workspace Manager from the Workspace menu.

Note: The new button bindings replace your existing button bindings. Copy any button bindings you want to keep from DtButtonBindings.

Customizing Key Bindings

A keyboard binding, also known as a key binding, associates combination of keys with Workspace Manager functions. Key bindings apply to all workspaces.

Note: Be careful about using a common key combination as a keyboard binding. For example, Shift-A normally puts the letter "A" into your current window. If you bind Shift-A to a function, you lose its normal usage.

Default Desktop Key Bindings

The desktop default key bindings are defined in the Workspace Manager configuration file in a key binding set named DtKeyBindings:

Keys DtKeyBindings
{
 ... 
}

Key Binding Syntax

The syntax for key bindings is:

Keys KeyBindingSetName
{
   [Modifiers]<Key>key_name   context   function  [argument]
   ...      
}

where:

Modifiers: Ctrl, Shift, Alt, and Lock. Multiple modifiers are allowed; separate them with spaces.
key_name: The key to which the function is mapped. For keys with letters or numbers, the key_name name is usually printed on the key. For instance the name of the "a" key is "a", and the "2" key is named "2". The "Tab" key is named "Tab". The "F3" key is named "F3".

For other keys, the name is spelled out--for example, plus for the "+" key. The file keysymdef.h, located in a system-dependent directory, contains additional information about key names.

context: The element that must have the keyboard focus for this action to be effective. These can be concatenated together if the binding applies to more than one context. Multiple contexts are separated by the "|" character.
: root--Workspace backdrop
window--Client window
icon--Icon
function: A window manager function. Refer to the dtwmrc(4) man page for a list of valid functions.
argument: Any window manager function arguments that are required. Refer to the dtwmrc(4) man page for details.

For example, the following key binding lets the user to switch the keyboard focus to the next transient window in an application by pressing Alt+F6.

Alt<Key>F6     window     f.next_key     transient

Note: For complete information on key binding syntax, see the dtwmrc(4) man page.

To Create a Custom Key Binding Set

Open the appropriate file for editing:
- Personal: HomeDirectory/.dt/dtwmrc
- System-wide: /etc/dt/config/language/sys.dtwmrc
For information on creating these files, see "Workspace Manager Configuration Files".
Create a new key binding set with a unique KeyBindingSetName. Use the desktop default key binding set, DtKeyBindings, as a guide.
Set the keyBindings resource to the new set name:
```
Dtwm*keyBindings: KeyBindingSetName 
```
Choose Restart Workspace Manager from the Workspace menu.

Note: The new key bindings replace your existing key bindings. Copy any key bindings you want to keep from DtKeyBindings into your new set.

Switching Between Default and Custom Behavior

To toggle between OSF/Motif 1.2 default and CDE desktop window behavior:

Press Alt+Shift+Ctrl+!
Click OK in the dialog box.

Switching to default behavior removes the Front Panel and any custom key and button bindings.

Generated with CERN WebMaker

14 Customizing the Workspace Manager

See Also

To Create or Modify a Personal Configuration File

To Create a System-Wide Configuration File

To Include (Source In) Other Files

To Restart the Workspace Manager

To Provide System-Wide Workspace Names

To Create Additional Backdrops

To Replace the Backdrop With a Graphics Image

To Modify the Existing Workspace (Root) Menu

To Create a New Workspace (Root) Menu

To Create a New Window Menu

To Add a Button Binding

To Create a New Button Binding Set

Default Desktop Key Bindings

Key Binding Syntax

To Create a Custom Key Binding Set