Chapter 14: Inter-Client Communication Functions
The
Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual,
hereafter referred to as the ICCCM, details the
X Consortium approved conventions that govern inter-client communications.
These conventions ensure peer-to-peer client cooperation in the use
of selections, cut buffers, and shared resources as well as client cooperation
with window and session managers.
For further information,
see the
Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual.
Xlib provides a number of standard properties and programming interfaces
that are ICCCM compliant.
The predefined atoms for some of these properties are defined in the
X11/Xatom.h
header file, where
to avoid name conflicts with user symbols their
name has an XA_ prefix.
For further information about atoms and properties,
see section "Properties and Atoms".
Xlib's selection and cut buffer mechanisms provide the primary programming
interfaces by which peer client applications communicate with each other
(see sections "Selections" and "Using Cut Buffers").
The functions discussed in this chapter provide
the primary programming interfaces by which client applications communicate
with their window and session managers as well as share standard colormaps.
The standard properties that are of special interest for communicating
with window and session managers are:
|
| Name | Type | Format | Description
|
|---|
|
| WM_CLASS | STRING | 8 | Set by application programs to allow window and session
managers to obtain the application's resources from the resource database.
| | WM_CLIENT_MACHINE | TEXT | | The string name of the machine on which the client application is running.
| | WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS | WINDOW | 32 | The list of window IDs that may need a different colormap
than that of their top-level window.
| | WM_COMMAND | TEXT | | The command and arguments, null-separated, used to invoke the
application.
| | WM_HINTS | WM_HINTS | 32 | Additional hints set by the client for use by the window manager.
The C type of this property is XWMHints.
| | WM_ICON_NAME | TEXT | | The name to be used in an icon.
| | WM_ICON_SIZE | WM_ICON_SIZE | 32 | The window manager may set this property on the root window to
specify the icon sizes it supports.
The C type of this property is XIconSize.
| | WM_NAME | TEXT | | The name of the application.
| | WM_NORMAL_HINTS | WM_SIZE_HINTS | 32 | Size hints for a window in its normal state.
The C type of this property is XSizeHints.
| | WM_PROTOCOLS | ATOM | 32 | List of atoms that identify the communications protocols between the
client and window manager in which the client is willing to participate.
| | WM_STATE | WM_STATE | 32 | Intended for communication between window and session managers only.
| | WM_TRANSIENT_FOR | WINDOW | 32 | Set by application programs to indicate to the window manager that a transient
top-level window, such as a dialog box.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
The remainder of this chapter discusses:
Christophe Tronche, [email protected]
