DragonFly On-Line Manual Pages
Wharf(1.0) Wharf(1.0)
NAME
Wharf - the AfterStep application "dock" module
SYNOPSIS
Wharf is spawned by afterstep, so no command line invocation will work.
DESCRIPTION
The Wharf module is a free-floating application loader that can execute
programs, "Swallow" running programs, and contain "Folders" of more
applications, among other things. The user can press the first button
at any time to trigger invocation of one of these functions, or the
user can press button two in order to cause the entire Wharf to
withdraw to the nearest corner in an iconized state. Wharf only works
when afterstep is used as the window manager.
COPYRIGHTS
The Wharf module is copyright 1995 and 1996 by a variety of
contributors. They are, in alphabetical order, Beat Christen, Frank
Fejes, Alfredo Kenji Kojima, Dan Weeks, and Bo Yang
The GoodStuff program, and the concept for interfacing this module to
the Window Manager, are all original work by Robert Nation
No guarantees or warranties or anything are provided or implied in any
way whatsoever. Use this program at your own risk. Permission to use
this program for any purpose is given, as long as the copyright is kept
intact.
INITIALIZATION
During initialization, Wharf will search for a configuration file which
describes the button panel geometry, color, icons, and actions. The
format of this file will be described later. The configuration file
will be the one which afterstep used during its initialization.
If the Wharf executable is linked to another name, ie ln -s Wharf Pier,
then another module called Pier can be started, with a completely
different configuration than Wharf, simply by changing the keywords
Wharf??? to Pier???. This way multiple button-bars can be used.
INVOCATION
Wharf can be invoked by inserting the line 'Module Wharf' in the
.steprc file. This can be placed on a line by itself, if Wharf is to be
spawned during AfterStep's initialization, or can be bound to a menu or
mouse button or keystroke to invoke it later. AfterStep will search
directory specified in the ModulePath configuration option to attempt
to locate Wharf.
CONFIGURATION OPTIONS
The following options can be placed in the .steprc file
*WharfAnimate
If specified, the opening and closing of Folders will be
animated, rather than simply drawn in one frame.
*WharfAnimateMain
Designates that full-length Wharf windraws will be animated.
*WharfBgColor color
If *WharfTextureType 0 is specified, Wharf's buttons will be
filled with color.
*WharfColumns columns
Specifies the number of columns of buttons to be created. If
unspecified, the number of columns will be set to 1. If the
columns are set to a number greater than 1 then there will be
that number of columns with enough rows to satisfy the requested
number of buttons.
*WharfForceSize
If specified, will force pixmaps larger than 64x64 to the
default size. Pixmaps smaller than 64x64 are not supported.
*WharfFullPush
If specified, the entire Wharf button background will be moved
down and to the right when pushed. Especially useful with
*WharfNoBorder textures.
*WharfGeometry geometry
Specifies the Wharf window location and/or size. If the size is
not specified, Wharf will auto-size itself in a reasonable
manner. The geometry is a standard X11 window geometry
specification. This option is pre-set in the NEXTSTEP(tm) style
section for a consistent look and feel with NEXTSTEP(tm).
Secondary Wharf invocations from links may have their own
geometry.
*WharfMaxColors number
Specifies the maximum number of colors to use on a gradient
fill.
*WharfNoBorder
Denotes that beveled borders should not be drawn around the
Wharf button. Useful with textures that include their own
bevels.
*WharfPixmap pixmap
Sets the pixmap file to be used as Wharf's button. To be used
with *WharfTextureType 128.
*WharfTextureColor from to
When used with a *WharfTextureType of 1 to 5, designates the
ends of the gradient range to be used on Wharf's buttons.
*WharfTextureType type
Specifies the type of gradient fill to be used on Wharf's
buttons. Valid values are:
0 - No texture - use WharfBgColor to set the desired color
1 - Gradient from upper-left to lower right
2 - Horizontal one way gradient from top to bottom
3 - Horizontal cylindrical gradient from top/bottom to center
4 - Vertical one way gradient from left to right
5 - Vertical cylindrical gradient from left/right to center
128 - User specified pixmap
The default is the builtin Wharf texture pixmap.
*Wharf label icon command
Specifies a window manager built-in command or folder to
activate (folders will be discussed below), as described in the
afterstep man page, which should be executed when a button is
pressed. The label field is an internal item that is still
around from the GoodStuff module. The icon field specifies an
X11 bitmap file, XPM color icon file, or a comma-delimited set
of pixmaps containing the icon(s) to display on the button.
Wharf will search through the path specified in the afterstep
IconPath or PixmapPath configuration items to find the icon
file.
NOTE: Icons must have one transparent pixel or the definition of
a transparent color in order to be valid.
If command is an afterstep Exec command, then the button will
appear pushed in until the mouse button is released.
A single extension to the afterstep built-in command set is
provided. A command of the form:
*Wharf junk clock.xpm Swallow "Clock" asclock -shape -12 &
will cause Wharf to spawn an asclock process, and capture the
first window whose name or resource is "Clock", and display it
in the button-bar. This is handy for applications like xclock,
xbiff, xload, asclock, and asmail. Modules can be swallowed by
specifying SwallowModule instead of just "swallow" NOTE: if you
use xclock for this application, you will want to specify xclock
-padding 0.
For certain applications that overrun the 48 pixel by 48 pixel
boundary of Wharf icons and Swallowed programs there is a
special option called MaxSwallow. MaxSwallow will allow the
application to draw itself larger than the 48x48 boundary. It
is invoked the same way Swallow is.
To create folder "slide-outs" in Wharf the following format must
be used:
*Wharf files Folders.xpm Folder
*Wharf xftp 3DRings.xpm Exec "" xftp &
*Wharf xdir FolderDeposit.xpm Exec "" xdir &
*Wharf moxfm FilingCabinet.xpm Exec "" moxfm &
*Wharf ~Folders
The first line of this set tells Wharf that this button
definition will be a folder. All of the button definitions
between the Folder and the line with the definition of *Wharf
~Folders will appear on the "files" folder when it is exposed.
To expose the "files" folder simply click on the Wharf button
with the Folders.xpm icon showing. A button bar will appear
perpendicular to your Wharf bar and toward the center of the
screen. On this smaller bar will be the three icons that were
configured between the Folder and ~Folder parts of the Wharf
configuration. As many folder buttons may be configured as is
room on your screen. The only items that may not be configured
within folders are Swallowed applications and more folders.
DRAG AND DROP
Wharf supports the OffiX Drag and Drop standard. In order to have Drag
and Drop enabled on a particular button, the following syntax must be
adhered to:
*Wharf nil nil DropExec "program" program %s
*Wharf program iconname Exec "program" program
The button will call program when pushed. If a file is dragged onto
into it, program will be called with %s being replaced by the dropped
filename.
AUTHORS
Beat Christen (bchriste@iiic.ethz.ch)
Frank Fejes (frank@ssax.com)
Alfredo Kengi Kojima (kojima@inf.ufrgs.br)
Dan Weeks (dan@mango.sfasu.edu)
Bo Yang (eric@coeus.ucsd.edu)
3rd Berkeley Distribution October 1996 Wharf(1.0)