About This Manual

This manual introduces DECwindows Motif applications, describes how to customize your DECwindows environment, and includes advanced user information.

DECwindows Motif is based on the X Consortium specification for the X Window System, Version 11, Release 5 and the Open Software Foundation's OSF/Motif Version 1.2.

Note

All references to DECwindows in this manual refer to DECwindows Motif software.

Audience

This manual is for new and experienced DECwindows users. You need not be familiar with the DIGITAL UNIX operating system or the DECwindows Motif graphical user interface.

For a first-time DECwindows user, this book guides you through DECwindows techniques and features.

For the experienced DECwindows user, information is provided about the Motif interface, customizing your environment, and advanced user topics.

Organization

Use this manual in accordance with your knowledge of DECwindows.

If you are new to windowing systems, read Part 1.

If you are familiar with graphical user interfaces, look over the summaries of the contents of each part and chapter in the following table to review what is familiar about DECwindows and identify the areas you want to know more about.

The manual is divided into four parts comprising 10 chapters and four appendices:

Part 1 Introduces the DECwindows Motif Graphical User Interface and includes all the information you need to get started. It describes the basic window components and how to use the mouse to manipulate these components.

Chapter 1 Introduces DECwindows and describes the main components of the DECwindows interface.

Chapter 2 Describes how to start, pause, and end a DECwindows session and how to run window applications. It also describes how to get help and read documentation on line.

Chapter 3 Describes basic window components and explains how to use the mouse to select and manage these components.

Part 2 Describes how to use and manage window features common to all applications, introduces the DECwindows Motif Desktop Applications, and describes how to use the Options menus to customize your windows environment.

Chapter 4 Describes tasks common to many applications, such as how to work with text, print files, and mix colors. This chapter also describes how to run applications on another host on the network for display on your workstation screen.

Chapter 5 Introduces the DECwindows Motif Desktop applications.

Chapter 6, Chapter 7 Describe how to customize your windows environment with the window manager and Session Manager Options menus.

Part 3 Describes advanced features of Mail, AccessX software, and how to use the.Xdefaults and .mwmrc configuration files to customize your window environment.

Chapter 8 Describes how to use the advanced features of Mail, including how to change editors, sort incoming mail, and customize your Mail environment.

Chapter 9 Provides advanced topics on customizing your windows environment, including how to customize the file .mwmrc and how to modify resources in the file .Xdefaults.

Chapter 10 Describes how to use AccessX, software that provides features to help people with different disabilities interact with Digital workstations running the DIGITAL UNIX operating system.

Appendix A Describes how to use DECwindows with a keyboard.

Appendix B Describes how to compose characters in the DECterm terminal emulator.

Appendix C Describes commands that help you manage windows.

Appendix D Provides sample resource and configuration files.

Reader's Comments

DIGITAL welcomes any comments and suggestions you have on this and other DIGITAL UNIX manuals.

You can send your comments in the following ways:

Fax: 603-881-0120 Attn: UEG Publications, ZK03-3/Y32
Internet electronic mail: readers_comment@zk3.dec.com
A Reader's Comment form is located on your system in the following location:
```
/usr/doc/readers_comment.txt
```
Mail:
Digital Equipment Corporation
UEG Publications Manager
ZK03-3/Y32
110 Spit Brook Road
Nashua, NH 03062-9987
A Reader's Comment form is located in the back of each printed manual. The form is postage paid if you mail it in the United States.

Please include the following information along with your comments:

The full title of the book and the order number. (The order number is printed on the title page of this book and on its back cover.)
The section numbers and page numbers of the information on which you are commenting.
The version of DIGITAL UNIX that you are using.
If known, the type of processor that is running the DIGITAL UNIX software.

The DIGITAL UNIX Publications group cannot respond to system problems or technical support inquiries. Please address technical questions to your local system vendor or to the appropriate DIGITAL technical support office. Information provided with the software media explains how to send problem reports to DIGITAL.

Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual:

mouse The term mouse is used to refer to any pointing device, such as a mouse, a trackball, a puck, or a stylus.

MB1 (Select)
MB2 (Drag)
MB3 (Menu)

MB1 indicates the left mouse button, MB2 indicates the middle mouse button, and MB3 indicates the right mouse button. (The buttons can be redefined by the user.)

[Ctrl+x] A sequence such as [Ctrl+x] indicates that you must hold down the key labeled Ctrl while you press another key or a mouse button.

[Return] In some examples, a key name is shown enclosed in a box to indicate that you press a key on the keyboard.

new term, user input Boldface text represents the introduction of a new term. Boldface text also indicates information that you must enter from the keyboard or a screen object that you must choose or click on.

% or $ A percent sign represents the C shell system prompt. A dollar sign represents the system prompt for the Bourne and Korn shells.

# A number sign represents the superuser prompt.

file Italic (slanted) type indicates variable values, placeholders, and function argument names.

[ | ], { | } In syntax definitions, brackets indicate items that are optional and braces indicate items that are required. Vertical bars separating items inside brackets or braces indicate that you choose one item from among those listed.

... In syntax definitions, a horizontal ellipsis indicates that the preceding item can be repeated one or more times.

cat(1) A cross-reference to a reference page includes the appropriate section number in parentheses. For example, cat(1) indicates that you can find information on the cat command in Section 1 of the reference pages.

Audience	Icon	Color Code
General users	G	Blue
System and network administrators	S	Red
Programmers	P	Purple
Device driver writers	D	Orange
Reference page users	R	Green

Part 1	Introduces the DECwindows Motif Graphical User Interface and includes all the information you need to get started. It describes the basic window components and how to use the mouse to manipulate these components.
Chapter 1	Introduces DECwindows and describes the main components of the DECwindows interface.
Chapter 2	Describes how to start, pause, and end a DECwindows session and how to run window applications. It also describes how to get help and read documentation on line.
Chapter 3	Describes basic window components and explains how to use the mouse to select and manage these components.
Part 2	Describes how to use and manage window features common to all applications, introduces the DECwindows Motif Desktop Applications, and describes how to use the Options menus to customize your windows environment.
Chapter 4	Describes tasks common to many applications, such as how to work with text, print files, and mix colors. This chapter also describes how to run applications on another host on the network for display on your workstation screen.
Chapter 5	Introduces the DECwindows Motif Desktop applications.
Chapter 6, Chapter 7	Describe how to customize your windows environment with the window manager and Session Manager Options menus.
Part 3	Describes advanced features of Mail, AccessX software, and how to use the`.Xdefaults` and `.mwmrc` configuration files to customize your window environment.
Chapter 8	Describes how to use the advanced features of Mail, including how to change editors, sort incoming mail, and customize your Mail environment.
Chapter 9	Provides advanced topics on customizing your windows environment, including how to customize the file `.mwmrc` and how to modify resources in the file `.Xdefaults`.
Chapter 10	Describes how to use AccessX, software that provides features to help people with different disabilities interact with Digital workstations running the DIGITAL UNIX operating system.
Appendix A	Describes how to use DECwindows with a keyboard.
Appendix B	Describes how to compose characters in the DECterm terminal emulator.
Appendix C	Describes commands that help you manage windows.
Appendix D	Provides sample resource and configuration files.

mouse	The term mouse is used to refer to any pointing device, such as a mouse, a trackball, a puck, or a stylus.
MB1 (Select) MB2 (Drag) MB3 (Menu)	MB1 indicates the left mouse button, MB2 indicates the middle mouse button, and MB3 indicates the right mouse button. (The buttons can be redefined by the user.)
`[Ctrl+x]`	A sequence such as `[Ctrl+x]` indicates that you must hold down the key labeled Ctrl while you press another key or a mouse button.
`[Return]`	In some examples, a key name is shown enclosed in a box to indicate that you press a key on the keyboard.
new term, `user input`	Boldface text represents the introduction of a new term. Boldface text also indicates information that you must enter from the keyboard or a screen object that you must choose or click on.
`%` or `$`	A percent sign represents the C shell system prompt. A dollar sign represents the system prompt for the Bourne and Korn shells.
`#`	A number sign represents the superuser prompt.
file	Italic (slanted) type indicates variable values, placeholders, and function argument names.
[ \| ], { \| }	In syntax definitions, brackets indicate items that are optional and braces indicate items that are required. Vertical bars separating items inside brackets or braces indicate that you choose one item from among those listed.
...	In syntax definitions, a horizontal ellipsis indicates that the preceding item can be repeated one or more times.
`cat`(1)	A cross-reference to a reference page includes the appropriate section number in parentheses. For example, `cat`(1) indicates that you can find information on the `cat` command in Section 1 of the reference pages.

About This Manual

Audience

Organization

Related Documents

Reader's Comments

Conventions