Quickstep into Windowlab
========================

Windowlab is a lean window manager, suitable for the connoisseur!
These are quick words on the basic usage of Windowlab.

Windowlab uses a narrow, protected strip at the upper edge, where a
task bar and a menu bar alternate in using the reserved space. It is
not possible for a window client to overlap into that area. Normally
the task bar occupies the space, but by pressing the right mouse
button (button event 3) the menu bar appears. Once the pointer
enters the menu bar it cannot escape. Upon release of the button,
the indicated command will be effectuated, or none if no action
was highlighted.

Tapping on a client will give it the focus, but not raising it.
It is grabbed for movement by double tapping at the title bar.
Alternatively, it is possible to rotate between the clients by
pressing Alt-Tab or Alt-Q, each fetching  and focussing on the
next client, but stepping in opposite directions. The order is
reflected in the task bar, with Alt-Tab moving leftwards, and
Alt-Q rightwards. Each one is continuing at the opposite screen
edge in case of wrapping.

The content of the menu bar is determined by

        ~/.windowlab/windowlab.menurc

        /etc/X11/windowlab/windowlab.menurc

the first taking precedence. Each line in these consists of two
entries separated by a colon:

        # title:action
        Terminal:mrxvt -showmenu -xft

The first entry being the name to be shown, and the second
entry providing the command action. A comment must use a hash
character in the leftmost position.

Among other entries, this package includes, as of 1.37, one menu
entry named "Reload", which simply sends a SIGHUP to Windowlab,
thus triggering a reload of the resource file.

On its own, Windowlab does not offer virtual desktops, but by
installing the Debian package "vdesk", this feature is very
easily implemented. All it takes are two new menu entries:

        # Enhancement to
        # ~/.windowlab/windowlab.menurc
        #
        Go to 1:vdesk 1
        Go to 2:vdesk 2

By itself, Vdesk starts its numbering at cipher one, and it
uses positive integers. One caveat is that Windowlab is not
yet taking the membership of a client to a particular virtual
desktop into account, so the client rotation and task bar clicking
simply bring the desired client into view, possibly moving
it to the present desk! Windowlab is conceived to be straight-
forward, not convoluted!


               Mon, Oct 16th, 22:57:44 CET 2009
               Mats Erik Andersson
