LiteStep v. 0.24.6 documentation

written by the LiteStep Documentation Effort, August 2000
Changes.TXT

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What does vwm2.dll do?
The VWM is a Virtual Window Manager, which increases the available work area by creating virtual desktops. The Vwm2.dll core module provides the user with a means to create, configure and access these virtual desktops. You will find many variations of this concept in the alternative shell community as well as a number of Third-Party executables for use in Explorer.

Vwm2.dll can be loaded in the wharf, or by itself, in which case a "miniview" can be configured to display the VWM. Click here to see a representation of the VWM miniview display.

Step.RC Syntax for vwm2.dll
vwmX [X Co-ordinate] The horizontal co-ordinate of the VWM's screen position.

Default: 0

vwmY [Y Co-ordinate] The vertical co-ordinate of the VWM's screen position.

Default: 0

vwmWidth [WIDTH] The width in pixels of the VWM miniview.

Default: 64

Note: This command is only valid if VWM is not loaded in the Wharf.

vwmHeight [HEIGHT] The height in pixels of the VWM miniview.

Default: 64

Note: This command is only valid if VWM is not loaded in the Wharf.

vwmNoGathering [BOOL] Keeps application windows from being moved to the current desktop after a !Recycle.
vwmNoSwitchOnFocus [BOOL] If focus is given to an application outside the current desktop, vwm will not automatically switch to that desktop.
vwmFocusCenter [BOOL] Sends the focus to the Application Window closest to the center of the screen after switching virtual desktops.
vwmHidden [BOOL] Forces the VWM display to be hidden on startup or after a !Recycle.

Note: This command is only valid if VWM is not loaded in the Wharf.

vwmNotAlwaysOnTop [BOOL] Forces the VWM display to be placed behind all other windows.

Note: This command is only valid if VWM is not loaded in the Wharf.

vwmNoMove [BOOL] Disables the ability to drag the VWM display with the mouse.

Note: This command is only valid if VWM is not loaded in the Wharf.

vwmSnapDistance [NUMBER] If the VWM display is placed within this pixel distance from the screen edge it will will snap to the edge automatically.

Default: 10

Note: This command is only valid if VWM is not loaded in the Wharf.

vwmTitlebars [BOOL] Displays titlebars on all application windows displayed within the VWM display to give it a more realistic look.
vwmTitlebarMod [NUMBER] Sets the percentage of the application windows in the VWM miniview that will be used to represent titlebars. For example, a value of 3 will make titlebars 1/3 of the application window height in the VWM miniview.

Default: 16

Note: This command will only work if vwmTitlebars is set to true.

vwmInitialDesk [NUMBER] Sets the desktop number to activate on startup or after a !Recycle.

Default: 1

vwmDesksX [NUMBER] Sets the number of virtual desktops in the horizontal direction.

Default: 2

vwmDesksY [NUMBER] Sets the number of virtual desktops in the vertical direction.

Default: 2

vwmWinColor [COLOR]
or
vwmForeColor [COLOR] 		Sets the color of application windows in the VWM miniview.

Default: FFFFFF

vwmBackColor [COLOR] Sets the color of the VWM miniview background.

Default: 808080

vwmBorderColor [COLOR] Sets the color of the borders of application windows in the VWM miniview, as well as the lines dividing the desktops in the miniview.

Default: 000000

vwmSelBmp [IMAGE.BMP]
or
vwmWinBmp [IMAGE.BMP] 		Sets the image for the active application window in the VWM miniview.
vwmTitlebarBmp [IMAGE.BMP] Sets the image for the titlebars of application windows in the VWM miniview.

Note: This command will only work if vwmTitlebars is set to true.

vwmOnSwitchTo [NUMBER] [ACTION] Executes the specified command when switching to the specified desktop.
vwmDeskWallpaper[NUMBER] [IMAGE.BMP] Allows different wallpapers to be displayed on each desktop. [NUMBER] is the desktop number.

Example:
vwmDeskWallpaper1 $WindowsDIR$bubbles.bmp
vwmDeskWallpaper2 $LiteStepDIR$trance.bmp
vwmDeskWallpaper3 c:\backgrounds\flower.bmp
vwmDeskWallpaper4 "c:\Photos\Lorain Pier\lisa2.bmp"

Note: Remember all backgrounds used in LiteStep currently have to be in BitMap format.

VWMDeskName[NUMBER] [STRING] Allows one to add a name to a desktop. This is currently not used by vwm2, however it can be referenced from other modules.

Example:
vwmDeskName1 Main
vwmDeskName2 Multimedia
vwmDeskName3 Office
vwmDeskName4 Internet
Unfinished, yet promised, Step.RC settings
* vwmAutoHide [BOOL] Enables autohide features. Autohide will work only when the vwm2 miniview is docked on an edge of the screen. If you drag the vwm2 miniview away from the edge, autohide will disable itself until the vwm2 miniview is redocked.
* vwmAutoHideDistance [NUMBER] When autohide features are enabled, this value determines how close to the screen edge the cursor must be to show the vwm2 miniview.

Default: 10

* vwmAutoSwitch [BOOL] Enables vwm2 to automatically switch to adjacent desktops when the mouse reaches a screen edge.
* vwmAutoSwitchDistance [NUMBER] vwmAutoSwitch must be active. The number of pixels the mouse must be from the screen edge before an autoswitch occurs. The default value is 1.

Default: 10

* vwmAutoSwitchDelay [NUMBER] vwmAutoSwitch must be active. The number of milliseconds to wait before peforming autoswitch.

Default: 50

* vwmIcons [BOOL] Enables application window representation in the vwm2 miniview.
* vwmIconSize [NUMBER] Specifies the size that you prefer each icon to be drawn at.

Default: 16

* vwmMouseLeft [ACTION] Executes the specified command when the left button is clicked on the miniview.
* vwmMouseRight [ACTION] Executes the specified command when the right button is clicked on the miniview. Default switches to clicked desktop.
* vwmMouseMiddle [ACTION] Executes the specified command when the middle button is clicked on the miniview.
* vwmSelBackColor [COLOR] Color of shading for the selected desktop

Default: 404040

!Bang Commands for vwm2.dll
!vwmGather Gathers all windows onto the first VWM. This is most commonly used when windows are lost in the "Void".
!vwmUp Allows you to go up 1 VWM in the VWM layout.
!vwmDown Allows a user to shift down one VWM.
!vwmLeft Shifts the VWM display one cell to the left.
!vwmRight Sets the VWM to the Right as the active VWM.
!vwmDesk [NUMBER] Allows you to switch to a specific Desktop.
!vwmShow Displays the VWM display if it is hidden.
!vwmHide
!vwmRollUp 		Hides the VWM display from the user.
!vwmToggle Toggles between !vwmShow and !vwmHide.
!vwmOpen [NUMBER] [ACTION] Allows you to open an application on a specific VWM.
!vwmReset WTF!?
!vwmMoveApp [LEFT/UP/RIGHT/DOWN] Allows you to move an application in a direction on your VWM.