dfm - a filemanager for X

dfm

dfm directory [-detail|-structure]

dfm -setdir directory

dfm -setfile file...

dfm -start file...

dfm -save file...

DFM is a drag-and-drop file- and desktopmanager for X11. It should be used in conjunction with a X window manager such as twm, fvwm or afterstep.

THERE IS NO WARRANTY.

You may distribute under the terms of the GNU General Public License as specified in the COPYING file.

Copyright 1997 by Achim Kaiser

If you start DFM for the first time it will create a directory named "~/.dfmdesk" in the homedirectory. All files, directories or links in this ~/.dfmdesk will hereafter be visible as icons on the root window of your window manager. Icons that refer to links will have a tiny arrow attached to the lower right of the original icon.

After creation of this directory dfm will by default install a number of links in this directory: ".linktohomedir", which points to your home directory and ".linktorootdir", which points to the root directory of the filesystem. Then it creates some links to a number of popular programs, such as xedit and xv, if available on your system.

When dfm is started without parameters (typically in .Xclients or a similar file) it displays the objects that are exist as links or files in the .dfmdesk-directory as icons. ".linktorootdir" is shown as the icon of a folder with the title "/" and ".linktohomedir" is shown as a folder with the title "~/". If a directory window is opened by double-clicking the corresponding icon with the mouse, a new instance of dfm is spawned that displays the information for the files in that directory.

You can open new directory windows from the command line by invoking dfm with parameters. If you try to run dfm this way before having started the main instance, it will wait 30 seconds to see if the main instance will become active; if not it ends itself automatically.

DFM does not accept any of the common X options. Don't use the -geometry or -display options. DFM will read the DISPLAY variable of the shell instead. The geometry of a window will be set automatically (see USING DFM).

-detail

Show the directory in detail mode.

-structure

Show the directory in tree mode.

directory-name

Show the directory in icon mode.

-setfile

If you have specified a single file, a fileoptions window opens in single mode. Otherwise a fileoptions window opens in multiple mode.

-setdir

A windowoptions window opens.

The concept of DFM is very easy: Every new window reports its position and backgroundpixmap to the main instance of dfm. It also reports the information about its files to this instance. In this manner the position, icon and shellcommand of every file is known. If you end DFM without saving you will loose the information, unless you use the "save positions" command.

files

Dfm keeps the information about saved windows in the file ".dfminfo" in the home directory. This file cannot be edited by the user. If it gets erased or corrupted you can generate a new .dfminfo file by the 'save positions' command.

DFM also needs the ".dfmext" file. If this file cannot be found in the homedirectory DFM will look for the file "dfmext" in the directory "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/dfm/", where it also keeps the backgrounds and icons.

You can edit the ".dfmext" file using a normal text editor. It contains a list with the extensions of filenames, the names of the associated icons and the action that has to be taken when activated by clicking or dropping. The format is "extension;icon;command&command&...". DFM will take the first line that fits the extension.

For example:

"*.gif;/usr/X11/lib/X11/dfm/picicon.xpm;xv !0!"

would describe the icon for files with the extension ".gif" and the action to be taken when the file is double-clicked. The string !0! at the end refers to the expanded filename and must be present.

Note: There is no difference between ';' and LF in the format.

The ".dfmdesk/" directory is already described in the START section.

Using the mouse

Manipulation of files and directories in dfm is done by double-clicking on icons with the lefthand mouse button or dragging the icons over the desktop and dropping them on other icons that represent either directories or executables.

No keys pressed. When dropping a file- or directory icon on a directory icon or a directory window, this causes a move (mv) operation from the first location of the file to the directory it is dragged to.

SHIFT-key pressed. If the icon is dragged when the SHIFT-key is pressed, the file is not moved. A symbolic link is made instead.

CTRL-key pressed. If the icon is dragged while the CTRL-key is pressed, the file is not moved. Instead, a copy of the file is made, as if cp was used with the -rdp options (according to the syntax of the GNU mv as used by Linux).

SHIFT and CTRL-keys presssed. If both CTRL and SHIFT are pressed, a copy like "cp -r" is executed (follows links).

Programs are launched by double-clicking the program icon.

If the icon of a (data-)file is double-clicked, the action described in the shellcommand for the file is executed. Generally this wil cause an executable to be launched with the file that is represented by the icon as parameter.

If an icon is dragged on the icon of an executable, the executable is started with the icon list as a parameter.

You can group icons, either by dragging a rectangle around them or by clicking each individual icon while pressing the CRTL key. The objects thus selected will be highlighted. If now you activite the context menu (see below) by clicking on one of the highlighted items, the actions that you select, e.g. 'delete', will be executed for all highlighted items.

the context menu

Pressing the righthand mouse button while the pointer is on the desktop, an icon or a filewindow, will cause a small menu (the context menu) to pop up. Also, an oval will appear on the desktop or window, indicating which object exactly is referred to. The context menu contains the following options. If they are followed by an arrow, the option will contain a new pop-up menu with more options. If an option at a certain point is not applicable, it is greyed out.

DFM for X =>

Info

Shows info about DFM. (Version number, author etc.)

Help

Shows this manfile in a xterm.

XTerm

Launches a xterm window.

Add new programs

A new window opens where you can type the name of a program. DFM will create a link to the program. This link will be created in the "~/.dfmdesk/" directory and after a few moments will appear on the desktop as an icon. You may move or copy this link to any other directory (see 'launching' and 'save settings').

Save positions/info

All information will be saved in the ".dfminfo" file (see 'save settings')

Quit DFM

Sends a 'killall dfm'. All instances of dfm will be killed, including the icons on the desktop.

Quit X

Sends a 'killall X'.

Open =>

Program

This is the same as a double click on an icon. If after selecting this option you don't press the righthand mousebutton on an icon, dfm will ignore this selection.

XTerm -e ...

DFM opens the program in a xterm. If you don't press the righthand mousebutton on an icon after this selection, dfm will ignore this.

Without extension

DFM opens the program ignoring the shellcommand specified. If you don't press the righthand mousebutton on an icon, dfm will ignore this.

Normal view

DFM opens a folder in normal mode (icons). If you don't press the right mouse on an folder icon, dfm will ignore this. The shellcomand is "dfm dirname"; an active dfm will use the current folder.

Structure view

DFM opens a folder in structure mode (tree). If you don't press the right mouse on an folder icon dfm will ignore this. The shellcomand is "dfm dirname -stucture"; an active dfm will use the current folder.

Detail view

DFM opens a folder in detail mode (more info). If you don't press the right mouse on an folder icon dfm will ignore this. The shellcomand is "dfm dirname -detail"; an active dfm will use the current folder.

Go up one folder

DFM opens the folder which is above this one in normal mode.

Options

An options menu is opened for the dfm-object that the mouse points to. This can be the desktopbackground, a directory window or an icon. Please refer below to Option Windows.

Create =>

Folder or File

Update

rereads the directory.

Re-recognize

deletes the Shellcommand(s) of the selected file(s) and reads the .dfmext file again, updating the shellcommands(s) in the process.

Select all

Select all objects in the window or on the desktop.

Delete

Delete the selected item or items.

Sort =>

With this option sort the icons or objects may be sorted on one of the following keys: name, type, extension; date ascending or descending or size ascending/descending.

Arrange This option arranges the icons on the desktop or in the

window in a grid as specified in the Desktop Option Window (below). Icons that have 'Prevent moving' checked, will stay where they are.

Option Windows

There are four types of option windows: the File-Options window, that appears when an icon is clicked on with the righthand button; the Multiple-File-Options window, that appears if you select more than one icon; the Window-Options window, that appears when a dfm-window is clicked and the Maindesktop-Options window, when the background (desktop) is clicked.

Window-Options

There are two placeholders for filenames; one for the directory name of the folder and one for the the backgroundpixmap or color. Just select the "pixmap" button or the "Color" button. The file window also has two checkbuttons: "Windowinfo will be saved" and "Iconinfo will be saved". Windows in the "~/.dfmdesk/" Path always have activated buttons. The desktopbackground doesn't have these buttons, but they are activated, too. DFM automatically select "Windowinfo will be saved" on the new window if you launch a link from the "~/.dfmdesk/" Path and the current window is in icon mode.

If "Windowinfo will be saved" is activated DFM will save the window position and the name of the backgroundpixmap. DFM will do it if you select 'Save positions/info'.

If "Iconinfo`ll be saved" is activated DFM will save all info about the icons in the associated window. This info includes icon, position and command. This also is the action taken by DFM when you select 'Save positions/info'. Note: If you don't select this DFM won't save the iconinfo if you change an iconposition or the shellcommand! If you select this DFM will ignore the ".dfmext" file the second time DFM is started (see 'files').

Maindesktop-Options

The setting of the color and background are the same as in the 'file options window'. The four round buttons describe how icons will be arranged ('Sort'). The four inputfields below the round buttons describe the boundingbox in which icons will be arranged. The 'Grid tight' describes how icons will be placed on the desktop if they are moved. The last two checkbuttons show where the contextmenu of the windowmanager is available.

File-Options

At the first two lines you see the full pathname of the file and an optional 'rename'-field. The icon Pixmap to be displayed for this directory can be entered in the next line. You can also change the icon by pressing on the pixmap and entering a separate menu window. A checkbutton below that level gives the opportunity to prevent moving the icon after a re-arrangement of the desktop. Below this line there are info on Size, 'Link to' and Time of the file. You also can change the shellcommand that is executed by doubleclicking the icon. '!0!' is the parameter for the filename, it must be there. (see launching) The last are the rights. You can change the rights only if you have the permission. (You can't change the modeline of a link)

Multiple-File-Options

Here you can set options for more than one file, with a single step.

Any bug reports or comments will be appreciated!

DFM has run on the following combinations of operating systems, window managers and X implementations:

Linux 2.0.22 , 2.0.30; MkLinux (PPC); IRIX 6.2 , 6.3; SunOS 5.5.1

X11R6 1,4,8,16,32 Bit color. Accelerated X.

fvwm95, fvwm2, fvwm, olvwm, olwm, twm, mlvwm (apple-mac look and feel), AfterStep, bowman, WindowMaker, mwm, 4Dwm, wm2, wmx (but without multiple desks) Enlightenment DR_0.9 (wm) (DFM runs only if the wm already have been started: add "dfm" in the "system_config/exec" file).

xearth, xfishtank (with the -d option), xmountains, xv (in the rootwindow), xsnow (but makes my computer slow;IRIX works in normal speed)

DFM doesn't currently run with:

amiwm (amiga windowmanager)

Copyleft Achim Kaiser...

Thanks to: for (and more)

-----------------------------------

Anuj Dev Sun Testing

Henning Ehlermann tar copy idea

Scott Sams picture icons html-netscape icon

George R. Welch the extension manager

Hans Paijmans man-page

(random order)