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h1. Clients

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[[Clients]] are the actual toplevel windows [[subtle]] manages.

h2. Types

There are several different window types that set some of the [[Clients#Modes|client modes]] automatically, this can be used in [[tagging]] to mimic this behavior.

Following types exist:

h3. Normal

This is the default type of windows and no special modes are set for this.

h3. Desktop

Desktop type windows are usually file managers that display icons and stay at the bottom of the window stack. They have no window title, no border and can neither be resized nor moved.

*Used modes*: [[Clients#Borderless|Borderless]], [[Clients#Fixed|Fixed]], [[Clients#Fullscreen|Fullscreen]]

h3. Dock

Dock type windows are usually panels that provide different kind of information and accessibility.

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Currently there is no special handling of this window type.

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h3. Toolbar

Toolbar windows are usually windows with either text or icons menu entries.

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Currently there is no special handling of this window type.

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h3. Splash

Splash windows are usually silly progress windows that are a placeholder until an app is ready.

*Used modes*: [[Clients#Center|Center]], [[Clients#Float|Float]]

h3. Dialog

Dialog windows are usually any kind of setting or message windows

*Used modes*: [[Clients#Center|Center]], [[Clients#Float|Float]]

h2. Properties

[[Clients]] have different properties, called atoms in "Xorg":http://www.x.org/wiki/-speak, to e.g. identify the window or to communicate with other programs and the window manager. The typical way to list them is to use the program "xprop":http://www.google.de/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=xprop, which used to be part of the "Xorg":http://www.x.org/wiki/ install, but might be broken into a separate package dependent on your distribution. Just start "xprop":http://www.google.de/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=xprop and click on a window, but be aware that the output is quite messy.

The instance and the class name are also included in the output of @subtler -cl@.

h3. WM_NAME

This property is used as the window title of the [[Clients|client]].

Example:

<pre><code>$ xprop | grep WM_NAME

_NET_WM_NAME(UTF8_STRING) = "tmux:xprop3"

WM_NAME(STRING) = "tmux:xprop3"</code></pre>

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When there are multiple values like in the example, [[subtle]] prefers the UTF8_STRING.

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h3. WM_CLASS

This property consists of two strings: The instance name and the class name. They are mainly used to identify the window instance and to find resources in the resource files like @.Xdefaults@. The instance name can typically be customized by passing something like *-name name* to the app like for most of the terminals.

Example:

<pre><code>$ xprop | grep WM_CLASS

WM_CLASS(STRING) = "urxvt", "URxvt"</code></pre>

h3. WM_ROLE

This property is *sometimes* used to identify the purpose of the window, like a browser or something else in the context of the program, but don't expect useful or consistent values.

Example:

<pre><code>$ xprop | grep WM_ROLE

WM_ROLE(STRING) = "browser"</code></pre>

h2. Modes

A [[Clients|window]] can have different modes that influence the appearance and behavior of it either globally or just for [[Tagging|tagged]] [[views]]. [[subtle]] and [[subtler]] indicate this mode with a special character.

Following modes exist:

h3. Global

h4. Borderless

This mode disables the [[Clients|window]] border of the [[Clients|window]] and uses the additional space for the [[Clients|window]].

h4. Fixed

This mode prevents the window from being resized, that means that all actions (like [[Clients#Fullscreen|fullscreen]] and [[gravity]]) that would change the size are ignored.

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This mode is indicated by a *!*.

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h4. Resize

This mode enables the honoring of size hints, that are hints for the window manager about special size preferences and constraints like an aspect ratio.

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This mode is indicated by a *~*.

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h4. Sticky

This mode overrides the [[Tagging|tagging]] and makes the [[Clients|window]] visible on all [[views]] on the same [[Multihead|screen]]. When a window isn't normally visible on a certain [[Views|view]] the current [[gravity]] instead of the default [[gravity]] will be used.

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This mode is indicated by a ***.

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h4. Zaphod

This mode spans a window across all [[Multihead|screens]] regardless if the [[Clients|window]] is normally visible there.

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This mode is indicated by a *=*.

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h3. Per view

h4. Floating

This mode looses the window from the [[gravity]] grid and raises it above other windows. Size hints are automatically honored in floating mode and [[Clients|windows]] can be moved and resized. (Doing that with [[Gravity|gravitated]] windows enables floating mode)

{{subforge_info

This mode is indicated by a *^*.

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h4. Fullscreen

This mode let's a [[Clients|window]] use the total space of [[Multihead|screen]], that includes all space that is normally used for [[Panel|panels]] and strut.

{{subforge_info

This mode is indicated by a *+*.

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h4. Urgent

This mode automatically draws pointer and keyboard focus and highlights the [[Panel#Title|panel title]] and any [[view]]. Once the [[Clients|window]] gets focus this mode is removed.

h2. Stacking

There are four stacking layers, ordered from top to bottom:

# [[Clients#Fullscreen|Fullscreen]]

# [[Clients#Floating|Floating]]

# [[Gravity]]

# [[Clients#Desktop|Desktop type]]

{{subforge_info(Lower/raise just move the windows on their layer, for example [[Clients#Floating|floating]] [[Clients|windows]] cannot be below a [[gravity]] [[Clients|window]].)}}