NAME

       wm - Communicate with window manager


SYNOPSIS

       wm option window ?args?
_________________________________________________________________


DESCRIPTION

       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 win­
              dow  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/minDe­
              nom  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 maxDe­
              nom (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  speci­
              fied, 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_COL­
              ORMAP_WINDOWS  property, which provides information
              to the window  managers  about  windows  that  have

              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 over­
              writes the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS  property  with  the
              given  windows  and  returns  an empty string.  The
              WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property should  normally  con­
              tain  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
              install as many colormaps as possible from the head
              of this list when window gets the  colormap  focus.
              If window is not included among the windows in win­
              dowList, Tk implicitly adds it at the  end  of  the
              WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS  property, so that its colormap
              is lowest in priority.  If  wm  colormapwindows  is
              not invoked, Tk will automatically set the property
              for each top-level window to all the internal  win­
              dows  whose  colormaps  differ  from their parents,
              followed by the top-level itself;  the order of the
              internal windows is undefined.  See the ICCCM docu­
              mentation  for  more  information  on  the  WM_COL­
              ORMAP_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 com­
              mand 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 win­
              dow.  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  de-iconified  form.   On  Windows, a
              deiconified window will also be raised and be given
              the  focus  (made  the  active window).  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

              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.  Pas­
              sive  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 focusing.

       wm frame window
              If window has been reparented by the window manager |
              into  a  decorative  frame, the command returns the |
              platform specific window identifier for the  outer­ |
              most  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  platform  specific  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  speci­
              fied  either by manual resizing or in a wm geometry
              command).   NewGeometry  has  the   form   =width
              height±x±y,  where  any of =, widthxheight, or ±x±y
              may be omitted.   Width  and  height  are  positive
              integers  specifying the desired dimensions of win­
              dow.  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  pre­
              ceded  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.

              This command indicates that window is to be managed
              as  a  gridded window.  It also specifies the rela­
              tionship  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_GeometryRe­
              quest.  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 win­
              dow'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  exam­
              ple,  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;  other­
              wise it returns the path name of  window's  current
              group  leader,  or  an empty string if window isn't
              part of any group.

       wm iconbitmap window ?bitmap?
              If bitmap is specified, then it names a  bitmap  in
              the  standard forms accepted by Tk (see the Tk_Get­
              Bitmap 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 com­
              mand returns an empty string.  Otherwise it returns

              window, or an empty string if window  has  no  icon
              bitmap.   On the Windows operating system, an addi­
              tional flag  is  supported:  wm  iconbitmap  window
              ?-default? ?image?.  If the -default flag is given,
              the icon is applied to all toplevel windows (exist­
              ing and future) to which no other specific icon has
              yet been applied.   In  addition  to  bitmap  image
              types, any file which contains a valid Windows icon
              is also accepted (usually .ico or .icr files).  Tcl
              will  first test if the files contains an icon, and
              if that fails, test for a 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 iconi­
              fied 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_Get­
              Bitmap  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 associ­
              ated 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 com­
              mand).

       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

              the command returns a Tcl list containing two  val­
              ues,  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 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 cur­
              rently 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  win­
              dow.

       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 win­
              dow'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.   Other­
              wise 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 win­
              dow's dimensions to be greater  than  or  equal  to
              width  and  height.  If width and height are speci­
              fied, 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

              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 cur­
              rently set for window.  Setting the  override-redi­
              rect  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 win­
              dow managers ignore program-requested initial posi­
              tions  and  ask  the  user to manually position the
              window;  if user is specified then the window  man­
              ager  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.  Other­
              wise it returns user or  program  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 com­
              mand is invoked, unless the  source  has  been  set
              explicitly to program.

       wm protocol window ?name? ?command?
              This  command is used to manage window manager pro­
              tocols such as WM_DELETE_WINDOW.  Name is the  name
              of an atom corresponding to a window manager proto­
              col, 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 pro­
              tocol  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

              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 win­
              dow  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  dimen­
              sions.   If resizing is disabled, then the window's
              size will be the size from the most recent interac­
              tive  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   current  size  was
              requested by the program or by the user.  Some win­
              dow 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.

              If newstate is specified, the window will be set to
              the  new  state,  otherwise  it returns the current
              state of window: either normal, iconic,  withdrawn,
              icon,  or  (Windows  only)  zoomed.  The difference
              between iconic and icon is that iconic refers to  a
              window  that  has been iconified (e.g., with the wm
              iconify command) while  icon  refers  to  a  window
              whose only purpose is to serve as the icon for some
              other window (via the wm iconwindow command).   The
              icon state cannot be set.

       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 speci­
              fied, then the command  returns  an  empty  string.
              Otherwise the command returns the path name of win­
              dow'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 win­
              dow 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  han­
              dle windows that are mapped in the withdrawn state.
              Note: it sometimes seems to be necessary  to  with­
              draw  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.


GEOMETRY MANAGEMENT

       By default a top-level window appears on the screen in its
       natural  size,  which  is the one determined internally by

       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 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 win­
       dow 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 com­
       mands 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  inter­
       active 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 scroll­
       bars, 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  desir­
       able  to let the user specify the number of lines or char­
       acters-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-per-line;  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

       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.


BUGS

       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.

       On  the  Windows  operating  system  wm  iconbitmap has no
       effect when passed a bitmap:  only  icon  files  currently
       work properly.


KEYWORDS

       aspect  ratio,  deiconify,  focus  model,  geometry, grid,
       group, icon, iconify, increments, position,  size,  title,
       top-level window, units, window manager


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