NAME
B4Step - B4Step window manager for X11 (Eric Boucher)
SYNOPSIS
B4Step [ options ]
DESCRIPTION
B4Step is a window manager for the X Window System that will
work properly with any X11 system. It is currently available
for Solaris and Linux.
OPTIONS
-display display-string
Specifies the name of the display to manage. This over-
rides the DISPLAY environment variable. This display
string is exported to B4Step's environment.
-onedisplay
Forces B4Step to manage only the display specified by
the DISPLAY environment variable or the -display
option, when a multiscreen environment is available.
-norc
With this option, B4Step will start without reading the
.B4Steprc file and restoring the session.
INPUT FOCUS
The input focus is the window that will receive keystrokes.
By default, B4Step uses the "focus-follows-mouse" mode. The
window the mouse is pointing to will receive the input
focus.
MANIPULATING WINDOWS AND ICONS
Window Title Bar.
Clicking BUTTON 1 raises the window above other windows, and
map it if needed. Clicking BUTTON 3 lowers the window under
other windows. Pressing and holding BUTTON 1 and then drag-
ging the mouse will move the selected window without raising
it.
Double-clicking BUTTON 1 will change the window size to the
maximum vertical size. Double clicking again BUTTON 1 will
restore the window size.
Clicking BUTTON 2 assigns the window to all virtual screens.
Clicking again assigns the window to the current directory.
Resize Corners.
Pressing and holding BUTTON 1 or BUTTON 3 over the resize
corners and then dragging the mouse resizes the window.
Releasing the mouse button will set the new size of the win-
dow. BUTTON 1 resizes from the lower corners, BUTTON 3
resizes from the upper corners.
Window Buttons.
Three buttons are available on the left side of the window.
Clicking them with BUTTON 1 performs the associated action.
The first button closes the window. The second button unmaps
the window and keeps only the title mapped. The third button
iconifies the window.
Icons.
An icon represents an unmapped window. You can move the icon
window by pressing and holding BUTTON 1 and dragging the
mouse. The window is restored by clicking BUTTON 1.
Keyboard.
<L5> (Front) raise and lower the selected window. <L7>
(Open) unmaps and map the selecetd window. The title window
remains mapped. <Alt-L> (Alt-Left) hold with BUTTON 1
pressed over a window and dragged moves the window.
ROOT MENU
The root menu is displayed using the BUTTON 3. Two methods
of operating are supported: the "click-move-click" method
and the "press-drag-release" method. You choose the method
either by clicking the BUTTON 3 button or by pressing it
down and holding it. If you click the MENU button, the menu
will pop up and will stay up indefinitely. To dismiss the
menu, click the BUTTON 3 on the root window.
ROOT BAR
The root bar displays on the top of the screen all the win-
dows present on the screen. You can access all windows
through this bar. Clicking BUTTON 1 raises the associated
window. Pressing and holding BUTTON 1 over the bar and then
dragging the mouse moves the bar vertically. Clicking BUT-
TON3 raises the associated window and moves the pointer in
it. When B4Step detects a override-redirect style window
(like the gnome panel) at the top of the screen, and having
the screen width, the bar is moved under this window. This
root bar also contains two buttons: quit (the window
manager) and move (a window).
WORKSPACES
You can work within separate workspaces. B4Step displays a
window representing the state of the workspaces. You can
drag a window from the screen to a represented workspace,
from a represented workspace to the screen, and between
represented workspaces. Clicking BUTTON1 on a represented
workspace changes the current workspace. Hitting <Alt-L>-L5
with focus on the root window raises the root bar and the
workspaces window.
BUILD IN ZOOM
Any area of the screen can be zoomed. To enable the zoom,
press and hold <LEFT-SHIFT>+<LEFT-CTRL>. To zoom in, hold
<LEFT-CTRL>, release and press <LEFT-SHIFT>. To Zoom out,
hold <LEFT-SHIFT>, release and press <LEFT-CTRL>.
CUSTOMIZATION
B4Step is customized through resources. It will look for
resources matching B4S.* . B4Step can read the following
image formats : XPM, JPEG, GIF, PNG.
BarBackgroundPixmap (filename)
Indicates the pixmap to use as background for the root
bar. Default value: B4S_WinIcons/B4S_bar.xpm.
BarBackgroundPixmapOther (filename)
Indicates the pixmap to use as background in the root
bar for the represented windows not belonging to the
current screen. Default value:
B4S_WinIcons/B4S_bar_other.xpm.
BarBackgroundPixmapCommand (filename)
Indicates the pixmap to use as background in the root
bar for the QUIT and MOVE buttons. Default value:
B4S_WinIcons/B4S_bar_command.xpm.
BarUnmapped (string)
Defines if the bar must be unmapped. Default value:
False
IconPath (path)
Indicates the path to access the button set. Default
value: B4S_WinIcons.
IconClose_down (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to draw the close button when pressed.
Default value: B4S_close_down.xpm.
IconClose_up (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to draw the close button when not pressed.
Default value: B4S_close_up.xpm.
IconToBar_down (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to draw the unmap button when pressed.
Default value: B4S_to_bar_down.xpm.
IconToBar_up (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to draw the unmap button when not pressed.
Default value: B4S_to_bar_up.xpm.
IconIconify_down (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to draw the iconify button when pressed.
Default value: B4S_iconify_down.xpm.
IconIconify_up (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to draw the iconify button when not pressed.
Default value: B4S_iconify_up.xpm.
IconResizeG_down (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to draw the left resize button when pressed.
Default value: B4S_resize_down_g.xpm.
IconResizeG_up (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to draw the left resize button when not
pressed. Default value: B4S_resize_up_g.xpm.
IconResizeD_down (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to draw the right resize button when
pressed. Default value: B4S_resize_down_d.xpm.
IconResizeD_up (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to draw the right resize button when not
pressed. Default value: B4S_resize_up_d.xpm.
TitleBackgroundPixmap_down_G (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the left part of the pixmap to draw the title when
pressed. Default value: B4S_title_down_G.xpm.
TitleBackgroundPixmap_up_G (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the left part of the pixmap to draw the unselected
title when not pressed. Default value:
B4S_title_up_G.xpm.
TitleBackgroundPixmapSelected_G (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the left part of the pixmap to draw the selected title.
Default value: B4S_title_selected_G.xpm.
TitleBackgroundPixmap_down_M (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the middle part of the pixmap to draw the title when
pressed. Default value: B4S_title_down_M.xpm.
TitleBackgroundPixmap_up_M (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the middle part of the pixmap to draw the unselected
title when not pressed. Default value:
B4S_title_up_M.xpm.
TitleBackgroundPixmapSelected_M (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the middle part of the pixmap to draw the selected
title. Default value: B4S_title_selected_M.xpm.
TitleBackgroundPixmap_down_D (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the right part of the pixmap to draw the title when
pressed. Default value: B4S_title_down_D.xpm.
TitleBackgroundPixmap_up_D (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the right part of the pixmap to draw the unselected
title when not pressed. Default value:
B4S_title_up_D.xpm.
TitleBackgroundPixmapSelected_D (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the right part of the pixmap to draw the selected
title. Default value: B4S_title_selected_D.xpm.
BarBackgroundPixmap_down_G (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the left part of the pixmap to draw the title of an
unmapped window when pressed. Default value:
B4S_bar_down_G.xpm.
BarBackgroundPixmap_up_G (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the left part of the pixmap to draw the unselected
title of an unmapped window when not pressed. Default
value: B4S_bar_up_G.xpm.
BarBackgroundPixmapSelected_G (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the left part of the pixmap to draw the selected title
of an unmapped window. Default value:
B4S_bar_selected_G.xpm.
BarBackgroundPixmap_down_M (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the middle part of the pixmap to draw the title of an
unmapped window when pressed. Default value:
B4S_bar_down_M.xpm.
BarBackgroundPixmap_up_M (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the middle part of the pixmap to draw the unselected
title of an unmapped window when not pressed. Default
value: B4S_bar_up_M.xpm.
BarBackgroundPixmapSelected_M (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the middle part of the pixmap to draw the selected
title of an unmapped window. Default value:
B4S_bar_selected_M.xpm.
BarBackgroundPixmap_down_D (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the right part of the pixmap to draw the title of an
unmapped window when pressed. Default value:
B4S_bar_down_D.xpm.
BarBackgroundPixmap_up_D (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the right part of the pixmap to draw the unselected
title of an unmapped window when not pressed. Default
value: B4S_bar_up_D.xpm.
BarBackgroundPixmapSelected_D (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the right part of the pixmap to draw the selected title
of an unmapped window. Default value:
B4S_bar_selected_D.xpm.
ToolTipPixmap (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the background pixmap for the tooltip window. Default
value: B4S_tooltip.xpm.
IdlePixmap (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to use to describe the non-current
workspaces. Default value: B4S_idle.xpm.
SelectedPixmap (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to use to describe the current workspaces.
Default value: B4S_selected.xpm.
ArrowPixmap (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to use to describe the workspaces in which a
moved window will be dropped Default value:
B4S_arrow.xpm.
PresPixmap (filename)
The pixmap used for the presentation on startup Default
value: ./B4S_WinIcons/B4S_pres.xpm.
DefaultIconPixmap (filename)
Indicates a filename relative to IconPath. It defines
the pixmap to draw the default icon when no icon is
specified by the client. Default value:
DefaultIcon.xpm.
MenuBackgroundPixmap (filename)
Defines the pixmap to be used as a background for the
root menu. Default value: B4S_MenuIcons/background.xpm
MenuSelectedPixmap (filename)
Defines the pixmap to be used to highlight a selected
menu item. Default value: B4S_MenuIcons/selected.xpm
MenuSubPixmap (filename)
Defines the pixmap to be used to identify an entry to a
sub menu. Default value: B4S_MenuIcons/submenu.xpm
MenuDef (filename)
Defines file to be used as the root menu description.
Default value: B4S_Menu.def
MenuIconPath (path)
Defines the path of the icons displayed in the root
menu. Default value: B4S_MenuIcons
TitleFont (font)
Defines the font to be used in the title windows.
Default value: 9x15bold
TitleBase (integer)
Height of the base of the title in the title window.
Default value: 4
MenuFont (font)
Defines the font to be used in the root menu. Default
value: 9x15
BarFont (font)
Defines the font to be used in the root bar. Default
value: 6x13
ToolTipFont (font)
Defines the font to be used in the tooltip. Default
value: 9x15
NbScreens (integer)
Defines the number of workspaces. Default value: 4
BackgroundPixmap.n (filename)
Defines the pixmap to be used as the background for
workspace number n. Can be None. Default value:
B4S_Background.xpm
WorkspaceName.n (string)
Defines the name of the workspace number n. This name
will be displayed in the workspace description window.
Default value: Workspace - n
TitleFontColor (string)
Defines the color to use for drawing text on the title
bar. This color must be one of those defined in rgb.txt
Default value: black
BarFontColor (string)
Defines the color to use for drawing text on the root
bar for the windows belonging to the current screen.
This color must be one of those defined in rgb.txt
Default value: black
BarOtherFontColor (string)
Defines the color to use for drawing text on the root
barfor the windows belonging to the non current
screens. This color must be one of those defined in
rgb.txt Default value: black
BarCommandFontColor (string)
Defines the color to use for drawing text on the root
bar for the QUIT and MOVE windows. This color must be
one of those defined in rgb.txt Default value: black
MenuFontColor (string)
Defines the color to use for drawing text on the root
menu. This color must be one of those defined in
rgb.txt Default value: black
ToolTipFontColor (string)
Defines the color to use for drawing text on the tool-
tip window. This color must be one of those defined in
rgb.txt Default value: blue
BorderColor (string)
Defines the color to use for drawing the windows
border. This color must be one of those defined in
rgb.txt Default value: black
LaunchIconDir (string)
Defines the directory of the B4Step icons used to
launch programs. Default value: B4S_LanchIcons
TransitionSteps (integer)
Defines the number of steps when icons are moved when
actions such as iconyfying, maximizing, etc... are exe-
cuted. Default value: 20
DockFile (string)
Name of the file that defines the "Dock" programs.
Default value: B4S_Docks
FixedPanel (string)
Defines if the panel's location is fixed. Default
value: False
Panel.x Panel.y (integer)
The panel location. A positive coordinate is the dis-
tance between the left (top) of the screen and the left
(top) of the panel window . A negative coordinate is
the distance between the right (bottom) of the screen
and the right (bottom) of the panel window. Default
values: 0 -10
PanelWidth (integer)
The width of each subwindow of the panel. Default
value: 50
SpaceBeforeTitle (integer)
Blank space before the string in the title window, in
pixels. Default value: 5
SpaceAfterTitle (integer)
Minimum blank space after the string in the title win-
dow, in pixels. Default value: 5
MinColorForApplications (integer)
For default visual PseudoColor, GrayScale or
DirectColor, this resource defines the minimum number
of colormap cells to remain free during initialization.
Default value: 0
LeftHanded (string)
Defines if the mouse if left handed. Possible values:
False or True Default value: False
OpenGl (string)
If your graphic card is too slow for OpenGl, set this
resource to False. Default value: False
SoundsPath (string)
The location for the sounds. B4Step looks in the file
named 'SoundMapping' located in this directory.
Default value: B4S_Sounds
SoundEnable (string)
If you want to enable the sound, set this resource to
True. For a remote display, the sound will be dis-
abled, unless this resource is set to Force. Default
value: False
SoundPlayer (string)
Defines the executable to be used to play sounds.
DefaultValue: B4S_SoundPlayer
AppIconsFile (string)
Defines the file to be used for configuring the appli-
cation icons. DefaultValue: B4S_AppIcons/appicons.info
QuestionPixmap (filename)
The pixmap tu be used as the background for the ques-
tion window. DefaultValue: B4S_Question/question.xpm
QuestionYesPixmap (filename)
The pixmap tu be used as the YES button for the ques-
tion. DefaultValue: B4S_Question/question_yes.xpm
QuestionNoPixmap (filename)
The pixmap tu be used as the NO button for the ques-
tion. DefaultValue: B4S_Question/question_no.xpm
QuestionFont (string)
Defines the font to be used in the question window.
DefaultValue: 9x15
QuestionFontColor (string)
Defines the color to use for drawing text in the ques-
tion window. This color must be one of those defined in
rgb.txt Default value: black
StatusPixmap (filename)
The pixmap tu be used as the background for the status
window. DefaultValue: B4S_Questionstatus.xpm
StatusFont (string)
Defines the font to be used in the status window.
DefaultValue: fixed
StatusFontColor (string)
Defines the color to use for drawing text in the status
window. This color must be one of those defined in
rgb.txt Default value: black
RaiseWindowPolicy (string)
The policy to raise a window. BannerClick: click on the
window banner. WindowEnter: enter the window. Default
value: BannerClick
SelectWindowPolicy (string)
The policy to select a window. BannerClick: click on
the window banner. WindowEnter: enter the window.
Default value: WindowEnter
BackingStoreEnable (string)
Select if B4Step will use the backing store extension
of the Xserver. Possible values: False or True.
Default value: True
HintEnable (string)
Defines if the startup hint must be displayed. Possi-
ble values: False or True. Default value: True
HintPixmap (filename)
The pixmap to be used as the background for the hint
window. DefaultValue: B4S_Hint/hint.xpm
HintNextPixmap (filename)
The pixmap to be used as the NEXT button in the hint
window. DefaultValue: B4S_Hint/hint_next.xpm
HintPrevPixmap (filename)
The pixmap to be used as the PREV button in the hint
window. DefaultValue: B4S_Hint/hint_prev.xpm
HintOKPixmap (filename)
The pixmap to be used as the OK button in the hint win-
dow. DefaultValue: B4S_Hint/hint_ok.xpm
HintFont (string)
Defines the font to be used in the hint window.
DefaultValue: 9x15
HintFontColor (string)
Defines the color to use for drawing text in the hint
window. This color must be one of those defined in
rgb.txt Default value: black
HintBackgroundColor (string)
Defines the background color to use for the hint text
window.
This color must be one of those defined in rgb.txt
Default value: white
ENVIRONMENT
DISPLAY
Specifies the X11 server to which to connect.
ROOT MENU SYNTAX
The root menu is declared within a structure bounded by Menu
RootMenu and End
This structure contains the following items :
Item name command [pixmap]
Item is a keyword. It defines a command.
name is the associated name to be displayed.
command is the full path to the command.
pixmap is optional; it defines the icon to be used.
Menu reference [pixmap]
Menu is a keyword. It defines a pointer to a following sub-
menu definition.
reference is the reference to the menu. It is also the name
to be displayed.
pixmap is optional; it defines the icon to be used.
Bar pixmap
Bar is a keyword. It defines a separator. pixmap defines
the pixmap to be used for the bar
Read [pixmap]
Read is a keyword. It defines the inlined reread-menu com-
mand.
pixmap is optional; it defines the icon to be used.
Swic command [pixmap]
Swic is a keyword. It defines a switch command. This permits
to switch to another window manager without loging out.
command is the full path to the command to switch to. It
should be another window manager.
pixmap is optional; it defines the icon to be used.
Sess [pixmap]
Sess is a keyword. It defines the inlined action that saves
the current session.
pixmap is optional; it defines the icon to be used.
Exit [pixmap]
Exit is a keyword. It defines the inlined exit action.
pixmap is optional; it defines the icon to be used.
A submenu is declared within a structure bounded by
Menu name and End
Menu is a keyword. It defines a submenu.
name is a keyword. It defines the name (reference) of the
menu.
LAUNCHICONS FILES
You can display icons on the root window, used to launch
applications by simply clicking on them. You can move those
icons with BUTTON 1.
Simply define a file suffixed with .info in the directory
specified by the resource LaunchIconDir.
This file should contain :
First Line : name of the icon.
Second Line : pixmap file used to display when icon not
pressed.
Third line : pixmap file used to display when icon pressed.
Fourth line : command to execute
Fitht line : coordinates of the icon. If the coordinate is
negative, it define the distance from the other side of the
screen.
DOCK FILE
You can display "docks" programs with B4Step.
Each line of this file describes one "dock" program :
E/C name x y
The first argument is E or C, E for exact and C for Con-
tains. B4Step consults the WM_CLASS property of the dock
window, and compares the res_name argument with name. If the
first argument is E, res_name must match exactly name. If
the first argument is C, res_name must contain name. The
coordinates are defined with x and y.
If the coordinate is negative, it define the distance from
the other side of the screen.
APPICONS
You can configure the icons to display for clients that did
not define their icon.
Each line of this file describes one "AppIcon" :
E/C name image
The first argument is E or C, E for exact and C for Con-
tains. B4Step consults the WM_NAME property of the window,
and compares it with name. If the first argument is E, the
names must match exactly name. If the first argument is C,
the name of the window must contain name. The icon to
display is defined with image
SOUND CONFIGURATION FILE
The sound configuration file is the file named 'SoundMap-
ping' located in the sounds directory.
The sound player is based on the code of Xplay, so WAVE,
AIFF, and Sun au files are supported. The sound player can
be changed to another executable, since it can be cancelled
with the TERM signal, and accepts one argument : the file to
play.
Each line contains a keyword (SessionStart: , SessionEnd: ,
CreateWindow: , DestroyWindow: , ChangeWorkspace: ,
MoveFromVirtual: , SelectFromVirtual: , Iconify: , UnIcon-
ify: , ToBar: , FromBar: , Resize: , MapMenu: ,SelectInMenu:
, LaunchIcon: , ClickOnBar: , SelectOnBar: , Maximize: ,
UnMaximize:) associated with a sound file. If the sound
name can be set to 'None',
B4STEP CONFIGURATION CLIENT
Some parameters can be configurable with the B4Step confi-
guration client, B4Scontrol. The binary is located in the
B4Step directory.
FILES
$HOME/.B4Steprc
Contains commands to be run on the B4Step's startup.
This file is an executable and contains commands run in
background.
$HOME/.B4S-errors
Contains errors reported by B4Step.
$HOME/.B4Stepsession-<display>
Contains the saved session for <display>.
$HOME/.B4Step-Theme
Contains the current theme.
$HOME/.B4Stepsocket;<hostname>;<display>
The socket used by the B4Step running on the machine
<hostname> on the display <display>. This socket is
used by the control-panel.
NOTES
B4Step uses the X Pixmap Format xpm library 3.4k, the libun-
gif 4.1.0 library, the jpeglib 6b, the libpng 1.0.3. The
sound player is based on Xplay-1.00.
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