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9. Miscellaneous Questions

This section is a collection of questions on subjects that go beyond simply using IceWM.

9.1 What does Logout(Cancel) Command do?

For most users, nothing. Both commands were meant for GNOME integration as alternative commands that would be run when users initiated a logout or logout cancel. Since GNOME did not seem to incorporate this feature, they generally go unused.

9.2 What is the blank field in the task bar good for?

If you are running IceWM with the "TaskBarDoubleHeight" option set, a blank field in the task bar occurs. It is a command line interface.

In this field you can enter commands to start programs. If you click inside the field and enter xclock the X clock is started.

If you click on it and simply press "Ctrl-Enter" an XTerm is being started.

If you enter a non-X command and press "Ctrl-Enter" an that command is being executed in an XTerm.

9.3 How to keep IceWM from grabbing keystrokes

What if you are running an application and need to use a keystroke that is grabbed by IceWM?

Marko suggests the following workaround:

  1. Activate scroll lock
  2. Do problematic key stroke
  3. Deactivate scroll lock

He advises that this will only work if "ScrollLock" is set up as a modifier.

Here is how to use the X11 xmodmap utility to setup ScrollLock as a modifier (from Marco Molteni):

  1. check which modifiers are free: 
        $ xmodmap -pm

    xmodmap:  up to 2 keys per modifier, (keycodes in parentheses):

    shift       Shift_L (0x32),  Shift_R (0x3e)
    lock        Caps_Lock (0x42)
    control     Control_L (0x25),  Control_R (0x6d)
    mod1        Alt_L (0x40),  Alt_R (0x71)
    mod2        Num_Lock (0x4d)
    mod3
    mod4        Super_L (0x73),  Super_R (0x74)
    mod5
  2. in this example mod3 is free, so we bind the ScrollLock key to it: 
       $ xmodmap -e "add mod3 = Scroll_Lock"
    this invocation of xmodmap should be put in the script that starts the window manager, for example $HOME/.xinit or $HOME/.xsession, see Howto make IceWM default WM for more detailed info about startup of WM or use IceWM's startup.

9.4 How to lock the screen

Screen locking is something you should do whenever you leave your machine (even at home and even for only a few seconds - just imagine a cat pushing the enter button at the wrong moment). It should be a habit like logging out root as soon as possible.

... by keyboard

With IceWM screen locking is very easy: If you press

    Ctrl-Alt-Del

a menu pops up offering you the following tasks:

The letters that are emphasized in this FAQ are underlined in real life. The meaning of this emphasis is that you may e. g. press "W" to lock your workstation.

Another possibility (this is the one I prefer because I once to often pressed "L" in order to lock my machine) is to press "ENTER". The result is the same because the button that is active by default is "Lock Workstation".

A more obvious reason for using "ENTER" in place of "W" is that it is easier to type in: "Del" and "ENTER" are next to each other.

You could as well use your mouse to click on "Lock Workstation" but if you are already using your keyboard to evoke the menu why not use the keyboard to select from it?

... by mouse

If you p