FvwmTaskBar(2.6)

NAME
FvwmTaskBar - the FVWM taskbar module

SYNOPSIS
FvwmTaskBar is spawned by FVWM, so no command line invocation will work.

DESCRIPTION
The FvwmTaskBar module provides a taskbar made up of buttons arranged by rows, each corresponding to a window that FVWM is managing. Clicking on first button gives focus to the corresponding toplevel window; clicking on the middle button will hide a toplevel window; third mouse button is reserved for a future extension (context menu). Like the other modules, FvwmTaskBar only works when fvwm is used as the window manager. When started, the taskbar shows up as a single row of buttons filling the full width of the screen, but during the work can be resized to accomodate up to 8 rows. In adition, if the AutoStick option is used, the taskbar will autoposition itself at the top or bottom of the screen, and can be dragged from one position to another with a normal move operation. The first button of the taskbar, labelled "Start" sends a "Popup StartMenu" command to the FVWM, which can be used to pop-up a general-purpose menu when the button is pressed. The FvwmTaskBar also displays at the right side a window showing the current time and the built-in incoming mail indicator.

COPYRIGHTS
The FvwmTaskBar module is derivated from Mike Finger's FvwmWinList. Copyright 1994, Mike Finger. The author makes no guarantees or warranties of any kind about the use of this module. Use this modules at your own risk. You may freely use this module or any portion of it for any purpose as long as the copyright is kept intact.

INITIALIZATION
During initialization, FvwmTaskBar will scan the same configuration file that FVWM used during startup to find the options that pertain to it. These options are discussed in a later section.

INVOCATION
FvwmTaskBar can be invoked by fvwm during initialization by inserting the line 'Module FvwmTaskBar' in the .fvwmrc file. FvwmTaskBar must reside in a directory that is listed in the ModulePath option of FVWM for it to be executed by FVWM.

CONFIGURATION OPTIONS
The following options can be placed in the .fvwmrc file

*FvwmTaskBarGeometry {+-}<X>x{+-}<Y>
    Specifies the location and gravity of the FvwmTaskBar window. At the current version, size is not supported and the taskbar will resize itself to fill the full witdh of the screen. If the AutoStick option is also specified, the module will automatically "stick" to the top or the bottom of the screen, whichever is closest to the geometry specification.

*FvwmTaskBarFont font
    Specifies the default font to be used for labeling the buttons, when they are not depressed. If not specified, fixed font is assumed.

*FvwmTaskBarSelFont font
    Specifies the font to be used for the depressed buttons. Note that the Start button will use always this font even if is not pressed. If this option is not specified, the default font is used instead.

*FvwmTaskBarStatusFont font
    Specifies the font to be used for the clock and tip windows. If this option is not specified, fixed font is used.

*FvwmTaskBarFore color
    Specifies the color to use for the button names.

*FvwmTaskBarBack color
    Specifies the background color for the bar and buttons.

*FvwmTaskBarTipsFore color
    Specifies the color to be used for the text in the tips windows.

*FvwmTaskBarTipsBack color
    Specifies the background color for the tips windows.

*FvwmTaskBarGeometry geometry
    This option specifies the geometry of the window (only the Y coordinate is useful)

*FvwmTaskBarAutoStick
    This option causes the taskbar to "stick" either to the top or bottom of the screen, whichever is closest to the initial window placement. Any further move operation is also subject to that behaviour.

*FvwmTaskBarAutoHide
    This option causes the taskbar to disappear leaving a narrow strip at the bottom of the screen, and reappears only when the mouse is moved to that strip. This option automatically enables AutoStick.

*FvwmTaskBarUseSkipList
    Tells FvwmTaskBar to not show the windows that are listed on a WindowListSkip line in the configuration file.

*FvwmTaskBarUseIconNames
    Tells FvwmTaskBar to use the icon name of the window instead of the full window name. This is useful to keep the width of the buttons small.

*FvwmTaskBarShowTransients
    Tells FvwmTaskBar to show the application transient windows also. By default they are not shown.

*FvwmTaskBarAction action response[,response...]
    Tells FvwmTaskBar to do response when action is done. The currently supported actions are: Click1, Click2, Click3. The currently supported responses are any fvwm built-in commands, including modules and functions. The configuration example below shows the default values.

*FvwmTaskBarButtonWidth width
    Indicates the maximum width that window buttons should reach. (the minimum is hardcoded at 32).

*FvwmTaskBarHighlightFocus
    If the mouse pointer is over the taskbar, the window under the current button is active. This behavior is like the TVTWM Icon Manager or FvwmIconMan. Note: If you use this option combined with FollowMouse focus style, you'll want the taskbar to be ClickToFocus.

*FvwmTaskBarShowTips
    Enables the tips windows (by default disabled).

The following options deal more specifically with the status indicators displayed at the rigth of the taskbar.

*FvwmTaskBarClockFormat format-string
    This option specifies the time format for the digital clock. It is a stfrtime(3) compatible format string. By default it is "%R".

*FvwmTaskBarUpdateInterval seconds
    Specifies how often the clock display should be refreshed, so that times of the form HH:MM:SS can be used. By default 60 seconds.

*FvwmTaskBarBellVolume volume
    This sets the volume of the bell when mail is detected. It is a value between 0 (no bell) and 100 (maximum volume). By default it is set to 20.

*FvwmTaskBarMailBox path
    This option intructs the module to look for mail at the specified place It is a full pathname to the user's mailbox. By default it is /var/spool/mail/$USER_LOGIN. A value of 'None' instructs the module not to have a mail indicator.

*FvwmTaskBarMailCommand command
    Specifies a fvwm95 command to be executed when double-clicking on the mail icon.

*FvwmTaskBarIgnoreOldMail
    If set, draw no bitmap if there is no new mail.

The following options deal with the Start button at the left of the taskbar:

*FvwmTaskBarStartName string
    This option specifies the string displayed in the Start button. ('Start' by default).

*FvwmTaskBarStartMenu string
    This option specifies the popup to invoke when the start button is pressed. ('StartMenu' by default). The module send a 'Popup StartMenu' command to the fvwm window manager.

*FvwmTaskBarStartIcon icon-name
    This option specifies the name of the icon to display at the left of the Start button.

SAMPLE CONFIGURATION
The following are excepts from a .fvwm2rc95 file which describe FvwmTaskBar initialization commands:

#
# Start the taskbar on fvwm startup and restart
#
AddToFunc "InitFunction" "I" Module FvwmTaskBar
AddToFunc "RestartFunction" "I" Module FvwmTaskBar
#
# Set the style for the taskbar window, keep always on top of another
# windows
#
Style "FvwmTaskBar" NoTitle,BorderWidth 4, HandleWidth 4,Sticky,
StaysOnTop,WindowSkipList,CirculateSkip
#------------------------------------ taskbar
*FvwmTaskBarBack #c3c3c3
*FvwmTaskBarFore black
*FvwmTaskBarTipsBack bisque
*FvwmTaskBarTipsFore black
*FvwmTaskBarGeometry +0-1
*FvwmTaskBarFont -adobe-helvetica-medium-r-*-*-14-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
*FvwmTaskBarSelFont -adobe-helvetica-bold-r-*-*-14-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
*FvwmTaskBarStatusFont fixed
*FvwmTaskBarAction Click1 Iconify -1, Raise
*FvwmTaskBarAction Click2 Iconify +1, Lower
*FvwmTaskBarAction Click3 Iconify -1, Raise
*FvwmTaskBarUseSkipList
*FvwmTaskBarUseIconNames
*FvwmTaskBarAutoStick
*FvwmTaskBarShowTips
*FvwmTaskBarButtonWidth 180
*FvwmTaskBarBellVolume 20
*FvwmTaskBarMailBox /var/spool/mail/
*FvwmTaskBarMailCommand Exec xterm -e mail
*FvwmTaskBarClockFormat %I:%M %p
*FvwmTaskBarStartName Start
*FvwmTaskBarStartMenu StartMenu
*FvwmTaskBarStartIcon mini-exp.xpm

BUGS
At present the FvwmTaskBar works only with fvwm95-2.

AUTHOR
David Barth (barth@di.epfl.ch)