wm(3Tk) wm(3Tk)
wm - Communicate with window manager
wm option window ?args?
The wm command is used to interact with window managers in order to
control such things as the title for a window, its geometry, or the
increments in terms of which it may be resized. The wm command can take
any of a number of different forms, depending on the option argument.
All of the forms expect at least one additional argument, window, which
must be the path name of a top-level window.
The legal forms for the wm command are:
wm aspect window ?minNumer minDenom maxNumer maxDenom?
If minNumer, minDenom, maxNumer, and maxDenom are all specified,
then they will be passed to the window manager and the window
manager should use them to enforce a range of acceptable aspect
ratios for window. The aspect ratio of window (width/length) will
be constrained to lie between minNumer/minDenom and
maxNumer/maxDenom. If minNumer etc. are all specified as empty
strings, then any existing aspect ratio restrictions are removed.
If minNumer etc. are specified, then the command returns an empty
string. Otherwise, it returns a Tcl list containing four elements,
which are the current values of minNumer, minDenom, maxNumer, and
maxDenom (if no aspect restrictions are in effect, then an empty
string is returned).
wm client window ?name?
If name is specified, this command stores name (which should be the
name of the host on which the application is executing) in window's
WM_CLIENT_MACHINE property for use by the window manager or session
manager. The command returns an empty string in this case. If name
isn't specified, the command returns the last name set in a wm
client command for window. If name is specified as an empty string,
the command deletes the WM_CLIENT_MACHINE property from window.
wm colormapwindows window ?windowList?
This command is used to manipulate the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property,|
which provides information to the window managers about windows that|
have private colormaps. If windowList isn't specified, the command |
returns a list whose elements are the names of the windows in the |
WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property. If windowList is specified, it |
consists of a list of window path names; the command overwrites the|
WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property with the given windows and returns an |
empty string. The WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property should normally |
contain a list of the internal windows within window whose colormaps|
differ from their parents. The order of the windows in the property|
indicates a priority order: the window manager will attempt to |
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wm(3Tk) wm(3Tk)
install as many colormaps as possible from the head of this list |
when window gets the colormap focus. If wm colormapwindows is not |
invoked, Tk will automatically set the property for each top-level |
window to all the internal windows whose colormaps differ from their|
parents, but the order is undefined. See the ICCCM documentation |
for more information on the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property.
wm command window ?value?
If value is specified, this command stores value in window's
WM_COMMAND property for use by the window manager or session manager
and returns an empty string. Value must have proper list structure;
the elements should contain the words of the command used to invoke
the application. If value isn't specified then the command returns
the last value set in a wm command command for window. If value is
specified as an empty string, the command deletes the WM_COMMAND
property from window.
wm deiconify window
Arrange for window to be displayed in normal (non-iconified) form.
This is done by mapping the window. If the window has never been
mapped then this command will not map the window, but it will ensure
that when the window is first mapped it will be displayed in deiconified
form. Returns an empty string.
wm focusmodel window ?active|passive?
If active or passive is supplied as an optional argument to the
command, then it specifies the focus model for window. In this case
the command returns an empty string. If no additional argument is
supplied, then the command returns the current focus model for
window. An active focus model means that window will claim the
input focus for itself or its descendants, even at times when the
focus is currently in some other application. Passive means that
window will never claim the focus for itself: the window manager
should give the focus to window at appropriate times. However, once
the focus has been given to window or one of its descendants, the
application may re-assign the focus among window's descendants. The
focus model defaults to passive, and Tk's focus command assumes a
passive model of focussing.
wm frame window
If window has been reparented by the window manager into a
decorative frame, the command returns the X window identifier for
the outermost frame that contains window (the window whose parent is
the root or virtual root). If window hasn't been reparented by the
window manager then the command returns the X window identifier for
window.
wm geometry window ?newGeometry?
If newGeometry is specified, then the geometry of window is changed
and an empty string is returned. Otherwise the current geometry for
window is returned (this is the most recent geometry specified
either by manual resizing or in a wm geometry command). NewGeometry
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wm(3Tk) wm(3Tk)
has the form =widthxheight+_x+_y, where any of =, widthxheight, or
+_x+_y may be omitted. Width and height are positive integers
specifying the desired dimensions of window. If window is gridded
(see GRIDDED GEOMETRY MANAGEMENT below) then the dimensions are
specified in grid units; otherwise they are specified in pixel
units. X and y specify the desired location of window on the
screen, in pixels. If x is preceded by +, it specifies the number
of pixels between the left edge of the screen and the left edge of
window's border; if preceded by - then x specifies the number of
pixels between the right edge of the screen and the right edge of
window's border. If y is preceded by + then it specifies the number
of pixels between the top of the screen and the top of window's
border; if y is preceded by - then it specifies the number of
pixels between the bottom of window's border and the bottom of the
screen. If newGeometry is specified as an empty string then any
existing user-specified geometry for window is cancelled, and the
window will revert to the size requested internally by its widgets.
wm grid window ?baseWidth baseHeight widthInc heightInc?
This command indicates that window is to be managed as a gridded
window. It also specifies the relationship between grid units and
pixel units. BaseWidth and baseHeight specify the number of grid
units corresponding to the pixel dimensions requested internally by
window using Tk_GeometryRequest. WidthInc and heightInc specify the
number of pixels in each horizontal and vertical grid unit. These
four values determine a range of acceptable sizes for window,
corresponding to grid-based widths and heights that are non-negative
integers. Tk will pass this information to the window manager;
during manual resizing, the window manager will restrict the
window's size to one of these acceptable sizes. Furthermore, during
manual resizing the window manager will display the window's current
size in terms of grid units rather than pixels. If baseWidth etc.
are all specified as empty strings, then window will no longer be
managed as a gridded window. If baseWidth etc. are specified then
the return value is an empty string. Otherwise the return value is
a Tcl list containing four elements corresponding to the current
baseWidth, baseHeight, widthInc, and heightInc; if window is not
currently gridded, then an empty string is returned. Note: this
command should not be needed very often, since the Tk_SetGrid
library procedure and the setGrid option provide easier access to
the same functionality.
wm group window ?pathName?
If pathName is specified, it gives the path name for the leader of a
group of related windows. The window manager may use this
information, for example, to unmap all of the windows in a group
when the group's leader is iconified. PathName may be specified as
an empty string to remove window from any group association. If
pathName is specified then the command returns an empty string;
otherwise it returns the path name of window's current group leader,
or an empty string if window isn't part of any group.
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wm(3Tk) wm(3Tk)
wm iconbitmap window ?bitmap?
If bitmap is specified, then it names a bitmap in the standard forms
accepted by Tk (see the Tk_GetBitmap manual entry for details).
This bitmap is passed to the window manager to be displayed in
window's icon, and the command returns an empty string. If an empty
string is specified for bitmap, then any current icon bitmap is
cancelled for window. If bitmap is specified then the command
returns an empty string. Otherwise it returns the name of the
current icon bitmap associated with window, or an empty string if
window has no icon bitmap.
wm iconify window
Arrange for window to be iconified. It window hasn't yet been
mapped for the first time, this command will arrange for it to
appear in the iconified state when it is eventually mapped.
wm iconmask window ?bitmap?
If bitmap is specified, then it names a bitmap in the standard forms
accepted by Tk (see the Tk_GetBitmap manual entry for details).
This bitmap is passed to the window manager to be used as a mask in
conjunction with the iconbitmap option: where the mask has zeroes
no icon will be displayed; where it has ones, the bits from the
icon bitmap will be displayed. If an empty string is specified for
bitmap then any current icon mask is cancelled for window (this is
equivalent to specifying a bitmap of all ones). If bitmap is
specified then the command returns an empty string. Otherwise it
returns the name of the current icon mask associated with window, or
an empty string if no mask is in effect.
wm iconname window ?newName?
If newName is specified, then it is passed to the window manager;
the window manager should display newName inside the icon associated
with window. In this case an empty string is returned as result.
If newName isn't specified then the command returns the current icon
name for window, or an empty string if no icon name has been
specified (in this case the window manager will normally display the
window's title, as specified with the wm title command).
wm iconposition window ?x y?
If x and y are specified, they are passed to the window manager as a
hint about where to position the icon for window. In this case an
empty string is returned. If x and y are specified as empty strings
then any existing icon position hint is cancelled. If neither x nor
y is specified, then the command returns a Tcl list containing two
values, which are the current icon position hints (if no hints are
in effect then an empty string is returned).
wm iconwindow window ?pathName?
If pathName is specified, it is the path name for a window to use as
icon for window: when window is iconified then pathName will be
mapped to serve as icon, and when window is de-iconified then
pathName will be unmapped again. If pathName is specified as an
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wm(3Tk) wm(3Tk)
empty string then any existing icon window association for window
will be cancelled. If the pathName argument is specified then an
empty string is returned. Otherwise the command returns the path
name of the current icon window for window, or an empty string if
there is no icon window currently specified for window. Button |
press events are disabled for window as long as it is an icon |
window; this is needed in order to allow window managers to ``own''|
those events. Note: not all window managers support the notion of
an icon window.
wm maxsize window ?width height?
If width and height are specified, they give the maximum permissible|
dimensions for window. For gridded windows the dimensions are |
specified in grid units; otherwise they are specified in pixel |
units. The window manager will restrict the window's dimensions to |
be less than or equal to width and height. If width and height are |
specified, then the command returns an empty string. Otherwise it |
returns a Tcl list with two elements, which are the maximum width |
and height currently in effect. The maximum size defaults to the |
size of the screen. If resizing has been disabled with the wm |
resizable command, then this command has no effect. See the |
sections on geometry management below for more information.
wm minsize window ?width height?
If width and height are specified, they give the minimum permissible|
dimensions for window. For gridded windows the dimensions are |
specified in grid units; otherwise they are specified in pixel |
units. The window manager will restrict the window's dimensions to |
be greater than or equal to width and height. If width and height |
are specified, then the command returns an empty string. Otherwise |
it returns a Tcl list with two elements, which are the minimum width|
and height currently in effect. The minimum size defaults to one |
pixel in each dimension. If resizing has been disabled with the wm |
resizable command, then this command has no effect. See the |
sections on geometry management below for more information.
wm overrideredirect window ?boolean?
If boolean is specified, it must have a proper boolean form and the
override-redirect flag for window is set to that value. If boolean
is not specified then 1 or 0 is returned to indicate whether or not
the override-redirect flag is currently set for window. Setting the
override-redirect flag for a window causes it to be ignored by the
window manager; among other things, this means that the window will
not be reparented from the root window into a decorative frame and
the user will not be able to manipulate the window using the normal
window manager mechanisms.
wm positionfrom window ?who?
If who is specified, it must be either program or user, or an
abbreviation of one of these two. It indicates whether window's
current position was requested by the program or by the user. Many
window managers ignore program-requested initial positions and ask
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wm(3Tk) wm(3Tk)
the user to manually position the window; if user is specified then
the window manager should position the window at the given place
without asking the user for assistance. If who is specified as an
empty string, then the current position source is cancelled. If who
is specified, then the command returns an empty string. Otherwise
it returns user or window to indicate the source of the window's
current position, or an empty string if no source has been specified
yet. Most window managers interpret ``no source'' as equivalent to
program. Tk will automatically set the position source to user when
a wm geometry command is invoked, unless the source has been set
explicitly to program.
wm protocol window ?name? ?command?
This command is used to manage window manager protocols such as
WM_DELETE_WINDOW. Name is the name of an atom corresponding to a
window manager protocol, such as WM_DELETE_WINDOW or
WM_SAVE_YOURSELF or WM_TAKE_FOCUS. If both name and command are
specified, then command is associated with the protocol specified by
name. Name will be added to window's WM_PROTOCOLS property to tell
the window manager that the application has a protocol handler for
name, and command will be invoked in the future whenever the window
manager sends a message to the client for that protocol. In this
case the command returns an empty string. If name is specified but
command isn't, then the current command for name is returned, or an
empty string if there is no handler defined for name. If command is
specified as an empty string then the current handler for name is
deleted and it is removed from the WM_PROTOCOLS property on window;
an empty string is returned. Lastly, if neither name nor command is
specified, the command returns a list of all the protocols for which
handlers are currently defined for window.
Tk always defines a protocol handler for WM_DELETE_WINDOW, even if
you haven't asked for one with wm protocol. If a WM_DELETE_WINDOW
message arrives when you haven't defined a handler, then Tk handles
the message by destroying the window for which it was received.
wm resizable window ?width height?
This command controls whether or not the user may interactively |
resize a top-level window. If width and height are specified, they |
are boolean values that determine whether the width and height of |
window may be modified by the user. In this case the command |
returns an empty string. If width and height are omitted then the |
command returns a list with two 0/1 elements that indicate whether |
the width and height of window are currently resizable. By default,|
windows are resizable in both dimensions. If resizing is disabled, |
then the window's size will be the size from the most recent |
interactive resize or wm geometry command. If there has been no |
such operation then the window's natural size will be used.
wm sizefrom window ?who?
If who is specified, it must be either program or user, or an
abbreviation of one of these two. It indicates whether window's
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wm(3Tk) wm(3Tk)
current size was requested by the program or by the user. Some
window managers ignore program-requested sizes and ask the user to
manually size the window; if user is specified then the window
manager should give the window its specified size without asking the
user for assistance. If who is specified as an empty string, then
the current size source is cancelled. If who is specified, then the
command returns an empty string. Otherwise it returns user or
window to indicate the source of the window's current size, or an
empty string if no source has been specified yet. Most window
managers interpret ``no source'' as equivalent to program.
wm state window
Returns the current state of window: either normal, iconic, or
withdrawn.
wm title window ?string?
If string is specified, then it will be passed to the window manager
for use as the title for window (the window manager should display
this string in window's title bar). In this case the command
returns an empty string. If string isn't specified then the command
returns the current title for the window. The title for a window
defaults to its name.
wm transient window ?master?
If master is specified, then the window manager is informed that
window is a transient window (e.g. pull-down menu) working on behalf
of master (where master is the path name for a top-level window).
Some window managers will use this information to manage window
specially. If master is specified as an empty string then window is
marked as not being a transient window any more. If master is
specified, then the command returns an empty string. Otherwise the
command returns the path name of window's current master, or an
empty string if window isn't currently a transient window.
wm withdraw window
Arranges for window to be withdrawn from the screen. This causes
the window to be unmapped and forgotten about by the window manager.
If the window has never been mapped, then this command causes the
window to be mapped in the withdrawn state. Not all window managers
appear to know how to handle windows that are mapped in the
withdrawn state. Note: it sometimes seems to be necessary to
withdraw a window and then re-map it (e.g. with wm deiconify) to get
some window managers to pay attention to changes in window
attributes such as group.
By default a top-level window appears on the screen in its natural size, |
which is the one determined internally by its widgets and geometry |
managers. If the natural size of a top-level window changes, then the |
window's size changes to match. A top-level window can be given a size |
other than its natural size in two ways. First, the user can resize the |
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wm(3Tk) wm(3Tk)
window manually using the facilities of the window manager, such as |
resize handles. Second, the application can request a particular size |
for a top-level window using the wm geometry command. These two cases |
are handled identically by Tk; in either case, the requested size |
overrides the natural size. You can return the window to its natural by |
invoking wm geometry with an empty geometry string. |
Normally a top-level window can have any size from one pixel in each |
dimension up to the size of its screen. However, you can use the wm |
minsize and wm maxsize commands to limit the range of allowable sizes. |
The range set by wm minsize and wm maxsize applies to all forms of |
resizing, including the window's natural size as well as manual resizes |
and the wm geometry command. You can also use the command wm resizable |
to completely disable interactive resizing in one or both dimensions.
GRIDDED GEOMETRY MANAGEMENT
Gridded geometry management occurs when one of the widgets of an
application supports a range of useful sizes. This occurs, for example,
in a text editor where the scrollbars, menus, and other adornments are
fixed in size but the edit widget can support any number of lines of text
or characters per line. In this case, it is usually desirable to let the
user specify the number of lines or characters-per-line, either with the
wm geometry command or by interactively resizing the window. In the case
of text, and in other interesting cases also, only discrete sizes of the
window make sense, such as integral numbers of lines and characters-perline;
arbitrary pixel sizes are not useful.
Gridded geometry management provides support for this kind of
application. Tk (and the window manager) assume that there is a grid of
some sort within the application and that the application should be
resized in terms of grid units rather than pixels. Gridded geometry
management is typically invoked by turning on the setGrid option for a
widget; it can also be invoked with the wm grid command or by calling
Tk_SetGrid. In each of these approaches the particular widget (or
sometimes code in the application as a whole) specifies the relationship
between integral grid sizes for the window and pixel sizes. To return to
non-gridded geometry management, invoke wm grid with empty argument
strings.
When gridded geometry management is enabled then all the dimensions |
specified in wm minsize, wm maxsize, and wm geometry commands are treated|
as grid units rather than pixel units. Interactive resizing is also |
carried out in even numbers of grid units rather than pixels.
Most existing window managers appear to have bugs that affect the
operation of the wm command. For example, some changes won't take effect
if the window is already active: the window will have to be withdrawn
and de-iconified in order to make the change happen.
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wm(3Tk) wm(3Tk)
aspect ratio, deiconify, focus model, geometry, grid, group, icon,
iconify, increments, position, size, title, top-level window, units,
window manager
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