Creating a new button binding set

To create a new button binding set, perform the following steps.

1. Open the desired window manager configuration file for editing.

   • pmwm mode:
     
     /usr/lib/X11/system.pmwmrc for system-wide changes

     $HOME/.pmwmrc for individual changes

   • mwm mode:
     
     /usr/lib/X11/system.mwmrc for system-wide changes

     $HOME/.mwmrc for individual changes

2. Locate the ``DefaultButtonBindings'' section in the window manager configuration file, copy it, then use it as a template for your new set.

3. Configure the new button, function, and context specifications.

4. Configure the new button binding set for use by the window manager with the buttonBindings resource. Add this resource to /usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/Pmwm (for pmwm mode), /usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/Mwm (for mwm mode), or to the $HOME/.Xdefaults-hostname file, where hostname is the name of the machine on which the window manager is running. Use the following syntax:
   
   PmwmbuttonBindings: bindings_set_name

   or

   MwmbuttonBindings: bindings_set_name

5. Restart the window manager and test your new button binding set.

See also:

• ``Example of creating a new button set'' to see sample button binding definitions

Step 1: Editing a window manager configuration file

If you want to make system-wide changes to the default button bindings, open the system-wide window manager configuration file, /usr/lib/X11/system.pmwmrc if you are using pmwm mode or system.mwmrc if you are using mwm mode. The system-wide file contains the default functionality for the window manager button bindings.

If you want to customize the button bindings in your local Graphical Environment, edit your personal window manager configuration file, $HOME/.pmwmrc if you are using pmwm mode or $HOME/.mwmrc if you are using mwm mode. The personal configuration file is not provided with the system by default. If it does not already exist, you must create your own by copying the appropriate system-wide window manager configuration file to .pmwmrc or .mwmrc in your $HOME directory.

See also:

• ``Customizing the window manager'' for more information on the system-wide and local window manager configuration files

Step 2: Locating the DefaultButtonBindings section

When you locate the ``DefaultButtonBindings'' section, you see entries with the following syntax:

   Buttons  DefaultButtonBindings	
   {
       button  context     function
       button  context     function
                 .
                 .
   }

Buttons

the type of the binding set being defined

``DefaultButtonBindings''

the default name assigned to a set of bindings

button

the specification that defines the mouse button action or the mouse button action plus a key sequence. See ``Button event definitions'' for a list of the values that can be used for button. See ``Modifiers'' for a list of modifiers that can be used with the button actions.

context

the specification that defines the context in which the button specification becomes active. See ``Button binding contexts'' for a list and description of the values that can be used for context.

function

the specification that defines one of the many window manager functions or actions. See ``About window manager functions'' for a basic description of functions. See ``Using window manager functions'' for a list and a detailed description of functions.

Step 3: Defining button, function, and context specifications

Each button binding definition consists of button event, function, and context specifications. Use the template you created in Step 2 to create these new specifications.

• Define the new button event specification. The button event specification has the following syntax:
  
  button  =  [modifier_list]button_event_name

  where:
  
  modifier_list  =  modifier_name {modifier_name}

  See ``Button event definitions'' and ``Modifiers'' for lists of the values that can be used for button_event_name and modifier_name.

• Define the function specification, after the button event specification. The syntax for naming a function is:
  
  function  =  function_name [function_args]

  where function_name is one of the valid window manager functions, and function_args is a valid argument to the function. If function_args contains more than one word, the argument must be contained in quotes.

  See ``Using window manager functions'' for a complete list and a detailed explanation of all the default window manager functions.

• Define the context specification after the function specification. The syntax for the context specification is:
  
  context  =  app | border | frame | icon | root | title | window

  The context specification defines the context in which the button specification becomes active; it indicates where the pointer must be for the button specification to be effective. The button specification can be active in more than one context. See ``Button binding contexts'' for a list and description of the values that can be used for context.

Step 4: Specifying the buttonBindings resource

Define the new button binding set through the buttonBindings resource, using the appropriate resource file.

If you are making local changes, you must define the new binding set in the $HOME/.Xdefaults-hostname file. (If this file does yet not exist, create a file in your $HOME directory named .Xdefaults-hostname, where hostname is the name of the host, or machine, where the window manager is running.)

If you want the new button bindings to be used by all users on your system, specify the resource in /usr/lib/X11/app-default/Pmwm (if you are using pmwm mode) or /usr/lib/X11/app-default/Mwm (if you are using mwm mode).

The syntax of the resource specification is the same for all of the window manager configuration files:

PmwmbuttonBindings: new_button_bindings_set_name

or

MwmbuttonBindings: new_button_bindings_set_name

See also:

• ``Understanding resources'' for more information on resources and the .Xdefaults-hostname file

Step 5: Restarting the window manager

After you create your new button binding set, you must restart the window manager so your changes can take effect. Restart the window manager by selecting the Restart Window Manager option from the Root menu. The Root menu is accessed by pressing and holding mouse button 1 on the Desktop background or, if the Desktop is not running, in the Root window.

Verify that the new button binding set was created correctly by testing your new button sequences in the appropriate contexts. The button bindings are effective immediately after the window manager is restarted.