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), but react to when a monitor is plugged in (enabled), unplugged (disabled), focused (focus) or changed (resized/rotated, etc., which will only be true if the monitor is already active).

    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 (

    • 1994 FvwmAudio Mark Scott (

    • 1996 FvwmAudio Albrecht Kadlec

    • 1998 FvwmEvent Albrecht Kadlec (