What is a window manager?

A window manager is a program that handles window controls on an X server

Where is IceWM and why I like it

IceWM is a basic window manager that has a small footprint and is configurable.

• IceWM is easy for people more familiar with the Microsoft Windows interface
• You can make it look and function much like Microsoft Windows

Where to get IceWM

• At Sourceforge
• Hunt for the RPM on RedHat's site
• From the LVLUG ftp files

How do you install IceWM?

• Use the RPM from RedHat which is very easy and is configured pretty well.
• You can also compile IceWM using the tarball, but beware: Different installs have different base configuration options set.

How do you set IceWM as your default window manager?

• Add IceWM to your .Xclients or .Xclients-default in your home directory (the easiest method>
• Add IceWM to .xinitrc
• Note: In RedHat you may need to run switchdesk first. But usually you do not have to if you added IceWM to your .xinitrc file.

What/Where are the configuration files?

• The configuration files are usually in /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/icewm.
• Pertinent files are:
  • preferences
  • winoptions
  • menu
  • toolbar

To configure (note that all the files are text files so you can use your preferred text editor):

Globally:

• Edit the files where they are

User by User basis (better because people can personalize)

1. Create an .icewm directory in user's home directory and set the user as owner and give them rwx permissions
2. Copy the four listed files above into this directory
3. Set the user as owner to these files and give rwx permissions
4. Edit the file to suite the users taste

The 'menu' config file:

• Controls contents of 'start menu.'
• You can add your favorite apps here for quick launching
• The format is very easy to follow
• You can add programs on the fly. That is, you can add programs while IceWM is running and changes will occur immediately.
• There are multiple categories and you can create your own.
• Programs that are not available on your system will not show up on the menu.

The 'preferences' config file:

• Controls IceWM setup and general behavior
• Configuration options are commented out so to use you must remove the #.
• You can control the desktop background color and image from this file.
  • You can also leave these blank to use another method of setting background color and images (i.e.;xview, xsetroot, etc).

The 'toolbar' file:

• This file controls the 'taskbar' launcher icons.
• It is in the same format as the 'menu' config file.

The 'winoptions' file:

• Controls the way individual apps behave.
• Links icons to apps.
• Contains some start-up options for apps.

Hints/Tips:

To use a "groovy" background image:

1. Edit the following in the 'preferences' file:
   • DesktopBackgroundColor=""
   • DesktopBackgroundImages=""

Edit .xinitrc (or your rendition of it) to use xview or xsetbg to set background image

If you don't edit your preferences, your BackGround changes will be overwritten by the 'preferences' config file in IceWM

To "lock" your session:

1. Press ctrl-alt-del and choose 'Lock Workstation.'
2. This only works if you have xlock installed.
3. If you do not have xlock you can use klock (or another lock program) but you must first edit 'preferences' and 'menu' and change the appropriate elements.

For a 'Run Command' (works like Windows run command) box:

1. Edit 'preferences' to include a double height task bar.

Things to remember:

• Most regular X apps should work under IceWM without a problem.
• Gnome and KDE apps will work under IceWM.
• You cannot get any screen icons like in KDE or GNOME.

Are there graphical configuration programs for IceWM?

Yes:

• IcePref
• IcewmConf

But in my opinion they are outdated and only semi-functional.