FvwmConsole - an FVWM command input interface

Module FvwmConsole [options]

FvwmConsole can only be invoked by fvwm. Command line invocation of the FvwmConsole module will not work.

FvwmConsole allows the user to type fvwm configuration commands interactively, and have them executed immediately. This tool is particularly useful for testing new configuration ideas, or for implementing temporary changes to your environment.

FvwmConsole must be spawned as a module by fvwm. FvwmConsole takes all xterm(1) options.

FvwmConsole can be invoked by inserting the line 'Module FvwmConsole' in the .fvwm2rc file. This can be placed on a line by itself, if FvwmConsole is to be spawned during fvwm's initialization, or can be bound to a menu or mouse button or keystroke to invoke it later.

FvwmConsole uses xterm(1). All resources set for xterm are inherited unless overridden by command line options.

Module FvwmConsole -g 40x10 -fg black -bg green3

A different terminal emulator can be specified with the -terminal option. However, only terminal programs that understand the options -name, -title and -e can be used. Debian specific: hardcoded xterm is changed to x-terminal-emulator. To be policy compliant -name option is removed from default options and -title is changed to -T.

Module FvwmConsole -terminal rxvt

Previous versions of FvwmConsole supported a -e option to choose a different front-end. Although this option is still provided for backwards compatibility its use is discouraged unless you know exactly what you are doing.

Module FvwmConsole -e FvwmConsoleC.pl

(see FvwmConsoleC.pl(1)).

Also X resources can be set in your ~/.Xdefaults file:

FvwmConsole*VT100*geometry: 40x4

FvwmConsole*font: 7x14

There are a few options. If the GNU readline library is available, it can be used.

If Perl5 is installed, FvwmConsoleC.pl can be used as a command editor. This can be accomplished by either copying FvwmConsoleC.pl to fvwmlib directory as FvwmConsoleC or invoking FvwmConsole with -e option. For example:

Module FvwmConsole -e FvwmConsoleC.pl

If neither one is installed, a simple input reading function which doesn't have editing capabilities is used.

GNU readline and FvwmConsoleC.pl have some frequent used commands in common as default. These commands are similar to emacs. For more details, refer GNU readline man and info pages, and FvwmConsoleC.pl man page.

Cntl-A

- beginning of line

Cntl-B

- previous char

Cntl-D

- delete char

Cntl-E

- end of line

Cntl-F

- next char

Cntl-H

- backspace

Cntl-K

- erase to the end of line

Cntl-N

- next line

Cntl-P

- previous line

Cntl-R

- search reverse

Cntl-U

- delete line

Meta-B

- previous word

Meta-F

- next word

Esc <

- beginning of history

Esc >

- end of history

FvwmConsole can be stopped by entering the EOF character (usually CTRL-D).

Note! Do not use the "quit" command, as this is an fvwm builtin: typing "quit" at the FvwmConsole command line will cause fvwm to exit.

Copyright 1996, Toshi Isogai. No guarantees or warranties are provided. Use this program at your own risk. Permission to use this program for any purpose is given, as long as the copyright is kept intact.

xterm(1), FvwmConsoleC.pl(1), GNU Readline library

Toshi Isogai