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FVWMEVENT(1) Fvwm Modules FVWMEVENT(1)

NAME

FvwmEvent - the fvwm event module

DESCRIPTION

FvwmEvent is a module that triggers actions on fvwm events. It can be used to hook any fvwm function or program to any window manager event. FvwmEvent can trigger actions when windows are added, deleted, iconified, shaded, or when fvwm changes which virtual page or desk is being shown, or when RandR monitors are changed, enabled, disabled, or gain focus. Be creative, you’ll find a use for it.

INVOCATION

FvwmEvent is spawned by fvwm, so no command line invocation will work. FvwmEvent can be spawned from within the config file with or without an Alias as follows:

Module FvwmEvent Alias

You can add this to the StartFunction to ensure FvwmEvent is running and listening for events when fvwm starts. Alternatively you can add this to a menu, key binding, etc. You can kill stop a running instance of FvwmEvent with:

KillModule FvwmEvent Alias

CONFIGURATION OPTIONS

FvwmEvent gets config info from fvwm's module configuration database (see fvwm(1), section MODULE COMMANDS), and looks for certain configuration options:

*FvwmEvent: Cmd command

This determines the fvwm function that is to be called with the event parameters. You might want to do one of the following (details below): 



        # execute distinct fvwm functions


        *FvwmEvent: Cmd


        # execute distinct external programs


        *FvwmEvent: Cmd exec

FvwmEvent has support for any other external program. e.g: the rsynth 'say' command:



        *FvwmEvent: Cmd "Exec /rsynth/say"


        *FvwmEvent: destroy_window "window closed"

You can also use fvwm's builtin Echo command as FvwmEvent: Cmd to obtain debug output for fvwm events quietly. I used this setup to debug FvwmAuto:



        *FvwmEvent: Cmd Echo


        *FvwmEvent: focus_change "focus change"


        *FvwmEvent: raise_window "raise window"

You can even call different shell commands for each event just by setting



        *FvwmEvent: Cmd exec


        *FvwmEvent: add_window 'killname "APPL ERROR"'

*FvwmEvent: PassId

Specifies that the event action will have an ID parameter added to the end of the command line. Most events will have the windowID of the window that the event refers to. The new_desk event will have the new desk number. Monitor events will have the RandR monitor name. The windowID is a hexadecimal string preceded by 0x, desk numbers are decimal, and monitor name’s are strings.

*FvwmEvent: window-manager-event action

Binds particular actions to window manager events. The action is appended to the Cmd which is then sent to fvwm for execution.

The following events are valid:

Event Description
add_window Occurs when a new window is mapped and visible
config_info Occurs when a module asks for configuration
configure_window Occurs when a ConfigureNotify event happens
default_icon Occurs when a window’s DefaultIcon changes
deiconify Occurs when a window id deiconified
destroy_window Occurs when a window is destroyed
dewindowshade Occurs when a window is unshaded
echo Occurs when an Echo command is run
end_config_info Occurs when there’s no more module config to send
end_windowlist Occurs when the windowlist has finished sending
enter_window Occurs when a window receives a EnterNotify event
error DEPRECATED
focus_change Occurs when a window gains or loses focus
icon_file DEPRECATED
icon_location DEPRECATED
icon_name DEPRECATED
iconify Occurs when a window is iconified
leave_window Occurs when a window receives a LeaveNotify event
lower_window Occurs when a window is lowered
map Occurs when a window is Mapped
mini_icon Occurs when a window’s mini icon changes
monitor_changed Occurs when a monitor’s resolution changes
monitor_disabled Occurs when a monitor is disabled (via RandR)
monitor_enabled Occurs when a monitor is enabled (via RandR)
monitor_focus Occurs when a monitor gains focus
new_desk Occurs when a new desk is switched to
new_page Occurs when a new page is switched to
old_add_window DEPRECATED
old_configure_window DEPRECATED
property_change Occurs when a window receives a PropertNotify event
raise_window Occurs when a window is raised
res_class Occurs when a window’s Class is set
res_name Occurs when a window’s Resource is set
restack Occurs when windows are restacked
sendconfig Occurs when FvwmEvent asks for its config
shutdown DEPRECATED
startup DEPRECATED
string Occurs when the SendToModule command is used
unknown DEPRECATED
visible_icon_name Occurs when a window’s visible icon name changes
visible_name Occurs when a window’s visible name changes
window_name Occurs when a window’s name (WM_NAME) is set
windowshade Occurs when a window is shaded

The window related event handlers are executed within a window context. Previously PassId was used for this purpose, but now using PassId is not needed.

The monitor_* events do not operate in a window context (as there isn’t one).

The given event command is also passed the following values:

$0: monitor_event_name (for example: monitor_changed)
$1: monitor_name (the RandR name of the monitor)

For example, consider the following:



    DestroyFunc RandRFunc


    AddToFunc   RandRFunc


    + I Exec exec xmessage "Monitor $1 had this event: $0"


    DestroyModuleConfig FE-Monitor: *


    *FE-Monitor: monitor_changed RandRFunc


    *FE-Monitor: monitor_enabled RandRFunc


    KillModule FvwmEvent FE-Monitor


    Module FvwmEvent FE-Monitor

When, say, the monitor_changed event is triggered, RandRFunc is run, with the monitor name passed in as the first argument, and the monitor event as the second argument. In this way it is possible to do further matching if required.

NOTE: Using PassID with a configuration which includes monitor_ lines won’t work since there is no ID to pass back. If PassID is still required, separate out monitor events into their own FvwmEvent configuration.

The echo event is generated whenever Fvwm receives an Echo command.

Note: The enter_window event is generated when the pointer enters a window. With the -passid option, that window’s id is passed to fvwm. An enter_window event is generated too when the pointer leaves a window and moves into the root window. In this case, the id passed is 0.

Note: When the shutdown event arrives, FvwmEvent may be killed before it can trigger the associated action.

*FvwmEvent: Delay 5

Specifies that an event-action will only be executed if it occurs at least 5 seconds after the previous event. Events that occur during the delay period are ignored. The default delay is 0 which disables the Event.

*FvwmEvent: StartDelay delay

Specifies that an event-action will only be executed if it occurs at least delay seconds after the startup event. Events that occur during the delay period are ignored. This option is useful when fvwm starts and restarts using an audio player. The default delay is 0.

HISTORY

This module has evolved of FvwmAudio, which in term is heavily based on a similar Fvwm module called FvwmSound by Mark Boyns. FvwmAudio simply took Mark’s original program and extended it to make it generic enough to work with any audio player. Due to different requests to do specific things on specific events, FvwmEvent took this one step further and now calls any fvwm function. If fvwm's Exec function is used, any external program can be called with any parameter.

AUTHORS

•1994 FvwmSound Mark Boyns ( <boyns@sdsu.edu>)

•1994 FvwmAudio Mark Scott ( <mscott@mcd.mot.com>)

•1996 FvwmAudio Albrecht Kadlec

•1998 FvwmEvent Albrecht Kadlec ( <albrecht@auto.tuwien.ac.at>)
2025-12-20