HOWTO: Basic JWM Configuration

[Member macondo]

This is a fast and light window manager, perfect for me.

$ sudo apt-get install jwm gmrun

You cannot edit the global configuration file, so I copied it to my /home.

$cp /etc/jwm/system.jwmrc .jwmrc

Now I can edit it as USER:

$ nano .jwmrc

The first part is the Root menu, I don’t use it much.

<JWM><!-- The root menu, if this is undefined you will not get a menu. 
--><!-- Additional RootMenu attributes: onroot, labeled, label 
--><RootMenu height="15" onroot="12"><Program icon="terminal.png" label="Terminal">lxterminal
      </Program><Program icon="www.png" label="Firefox">firefox</Program>
      <Program icon="firefox.png" label="Www Browser">gnome-www-browser</Program>
      <Menu icon="folder.png" label="Applications">
         <Program icon="editor.png" label="Dia">dia</Program>
         <Program icon="www.png" label="Firefox">firefox</Program>
         <Program icon="gimp.png" label="Gimp">gimp</Program>
         <Program icon="mail.png" label="Mutt">
            xterm -e mutt
         </Program>
         <Program icon="word-processor.png" label="Open Office">  
            ooffice
         </Program>
         <Program icon="chat.png" label="Pidgin">pidgin</Program>
         <Program icon="music.png" label="Rhythmbox">rhythmbox</Program>
         <Program icon="development.png" label="Xilinx ISE">
            /usr/local/xilinx/bin/ise
         </Program>
         <Program icon="video.png" label="Xine">gxine</Program>
      </Menu>
      <Menu icon="folder.png" label="Utilities">
         <Program icon="calculator.png" label="Calculator">xcalc</Program>
         <Program icon="font.png" label="Fonts">xfontsel</Program>
         <Program icon="viewer.png" label="Magnify">xmag</Program>
         <Program icon="programs.png" label="Synaptic">
            gksudo synaptic
         </Program>
         <Program icon="window.png" label="Window Properties">
            xprop | xmessage -file -
         </Program>
      </Menu>
--><Include>/etc/jwm/debian-menu</Include><Separator/><Program icon="lock.png" label="Lock">
         xscreensaver-command -activate
      </Program><Separator/>
<Restart label="Restart" icon="restart.png"/>
<Exit label="Exit" confirm="true" icon="quit.png"/>
</RootMenu>

The second part deals with the window options:
(there is a list of them at: http://joewing.net/projects/jwm/config.shtml#groups)
I’m only interested in maximizing my windows:

`<Group>
<Class>Firefox</Class>
<Option>maximized</Option>
</Group>

<Group>
<Name>xfe</Name>
<Option>maximized</Option>
</Group>

<Group>
<Name>lxterminal</Name>
<Option>maximized</Option>
</Group>`

Next, I want a thinner taskbar (height)

 <!-- Additional tray attributes: autohide, width, border, layer, layout -->
 <Tray  x="0" y="-1" height="20" autohide="false">

Next, I want 2 virtual desktops next to each other. You can have as many as you want on top of each other.

`<!– Virtual Desktops –>
<!– Desktop tags can be contained within Desktops for desktop names. –>
<Desktops width=”2″ height=”1″>` (edit height)

The default focus model is sloppy.

Some miscelaneous keybinds:

`<Key mask=”A” key=”Tab”>next</Key>
<Key mask=”” key=”F4″>close</Key>
<Key mask=”” key=”F12″>maximize</Key>
<Key mask=”C” key=”Right”>rdesktop</Key>
<Key mask=”C” key=”Left”>ldesktop</Key>`

A = Alt
C = Ctrl
4 = Windows key, Super

alt-tab as always
F4 – closes apps
F12 maximizes window
Ctrl+right arrow moves to virtual desktop to the right.
Ctrl+left arrow to the left.

Main keybindings:

<Key mask="" key="F1">exec:lxterminal</Key>
<Key mask="" key="F2">exec:xfe</Key>
<Key mask="C" key="f">exec:firefox</Key>
<Key mask="" key="F7">exec:mirage</Key>
<Key mask="" key="F8">exec:hexchat</Key>
<Key mask="" key="F9">exec:libreoffice</Key>
<Key mask="" key="F10">exec:jwm -restart</Key>
<Key mask="" key="Print">exec:lxterminal -e scrot -cd 10</Key>
<Key mask="" key="Super_L">root:1</Key>
<Key mask="" key="Super_R">exec:gmrun</Key>

I got no use for my Fn keys, if you do, use combinations of Ctrl,Alt,4(super)

For example:
<Key mask=”C” key=”f”>exec:firefox</Key

IOW, Control key + letter “f” simultaneously will launch Firefox.

From the top, F1 launches the terminal, F2 launches the file manager, Ctrl+f launches the browser, F7 for
the image viewer, F9 launches libreoffice, F10 to restart jwm, F12 to maximize app.
Press Print to take a snapshot, press left Windows key to get the global menu, press the right Windows key to
get gmrun in order to launch apps or sudo.

For sound,

#Volume
<Key mask="C" key="Down">>exec:amixer set Master 9%- </Key>
<Key mask="C" key="Up">exec:amixer set Master 9%+ </Key>
<Key mask="C" key="0">exec:amixer sset Master,0 toggle </Key>

ctrl+down arrow lowers the volume.
ctrl+up arrow increases the volume
ctrl+0 (zero) mutes the sound, do it again and the sound returns.

Note: launch alsamixer and unmute with the letter M.
After doing the configuration, RESTART JWM from the Menu the first time,
after that you can restart with F10.

Happy trails

macondo

• This topic was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by macondo.
• This topic was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by macondo.
• This topic was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by Brian Masinick. Reason: typo

Attachments:

1. 

   2020-07-02-090013_1920x1080_scrot.png
   

antiX Core 64 Bit Runit IceWM

"Sometimes a man finds his destiny on the road he took to avoid it."

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Nice work macondo! Thanks for sharing it with us!

--
Brian Masinick

[Member m1k3]

Helpful

Up

0

::

You keep XVideos right in your bookmarks toolbar huh? lol

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

Helpful

Up

0

::

I came back to this and tried a few of your settings.

I’m going to work on the.jwmrc file a bit myself and see if I want to use JWM more often.

You have me interested and the additional response reminded me to experiment with it too.

Thanks again for sharing your configuration.

--
Brian Masinick

[Author]

Posts