HOWTO: IceWM Basic Configuration

macondo123 · 2011-04-28 22:57:39

IceWM is a great window manager, fast, light and easy to understand. There are many apps to configure it, but i prefer to edit the configuration files. I abhor icons, wallpapers, and the constant use of the mouse (i also use Ratpoison).

IceWM allows to configure many options so do not despair. Basically, this is how i do it and it's not the only way, there are other ways that may appeal to you and that is OK.

The site for IceWM is www.icewm.org and is very good explaining how to do things like wallpapers, keybinds, etc.

INSTALLATION
I use #! Wheezy so aptitude, apt-get, or wajig will do the job for me:

# apt-get install icewm icewm-themes menu

LAUNCHING ICEWM
You can put it in your DM of choice or in your .xinitrc, here is my .xinitrc:
If you want to eliminate your default DM:

$ sudo dpkg -P gdm gdm-themes

And edit /etc/inittab, leaving it like this:

# The default runlevel.
id:2:initdefault:

Just create the .xnitrc file ($ touch .xinitrc) and paste whatever you want.
Here's my .xinitrc:

 
#!/bin/sh

setxkbmap -option terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp
xsetroot -solid black 
xrdb -merge .Xdefaults 
unclutter -idle 2 & 
numlockx &  
icewm

unclutter eliminates the cursor pointer after 2 seconds, making reading easier, numlock activates the numpad when you enter the X system (only in wheezy and sid), 'setxkbmap -optionterminate:ctrl_alt_bksp' allows you to leave the X system back to the console smile

Reboot:

$ sudo shutdown -r now

When you come back, type your username (Enter), your password (Enter) and finally startx (Enter)

Once inside the X system, i press the left Windows key and the main menu comes up, i click on Settings > Focus > Sloppy Mouse Focus.

Next i choose my theme: Settings > Themes, click on it, and immediately it takes effect.

CREATING CONFIGURATION FILES
First i create a directory for ~/.icewm:

$ mkdir -p .icewm

After that i create the configuration files i'm going to use:

$ touch .icewm/preferences
$ touch .icewm/keys
$ touch .icewm/winoptions
$ touch .icewm/prefoverride

I go to the first one and open it:

$ nano -w .icewm/preferences

And paste the preferences i have chosen from /usr/share/icewm/preferences, in order to enable the preference, you have to UNCOMMENT the second line and change the number from '0' to '1', then i copy it and paste it in my .icewm/preferences. The first time it takes a while, but if you keep your IceWM configurations in a folder in your web mail, the second time will be just a matter of copying/pasting and it takes less than 5 minutes to configure the window manager. IceWM is very, very configurable is a dream for a meticulous person. So here is mine:

At the end of each line there is a number, either zero or one.
0 = disables the option
1 = enables it

OpaqueMove=0
OpaqueResize=0
SmartPlacement=1
MenuMouseTracking=1
ModSuperIsCtrlAlt=1
UseMouseWheel=1
QuickSwitch=1
AutoReloadMenus=1
ShowProgramsMenu=1
ShowThemesMenu=1
ShowHelp=1
TerminalCommand="xterm"
ShutdownCommand="sudo shutdown -h now"
RebootCommand="sudo shutdown -r now"
WorkspaceNames=" 1 ", " 2 "
LockCommand="xlock -mode blank"


ShowTaskBar=1
TaskBarAutoHide=0
TaskBarShowClock=1
TaskBarShowAPMStatus=0
TaskBarAtTop=0
TaskBarShowAPMStatus=0
TaskBarShowAPMTime=0
TaskBarShowMailboxStatus=1
TaskBarShowWindows=1
TaskBarShowShowDesktopButton=0
TaskBarShowTray=1
TaskBarShowWindowIcons=0
TaskBarShowCPUStatus=0
TaskBarShowNetStatus=0
TaskBarShowCollapseButton=0
TaskBarWorkspacesLeft=1
TimeFormat="%R"
TaskBarShowShowDesktopButton=1
TaskBarShowWindowListMenu=0
TaskBarShowMailboxStatus=0
TaskBarMailboxStatusBeepOnNewMail=0
NormalTaskBarFontName="-*-sans-medium-r-*-*-*-100-*-*-*-*-*- *"
NormalTaskBarFontNameXft="sans-serif:size=10"
ActiveTaskBarFontName="-*-sans-r-*-*-*-100-*-*-*-*-*-*"
ActiveTaskBarFontNameXft="sans-serif:size=10"

KEYBINDINGS
$ nano -w .icewm/keys
and paste something of your liking like this:

key "Super+a" xterm
key "Super+e" xfe
key "Super+m" sylpheed
key "Super+i" iceweasel
key "Super+u" xchat
key "Super+Pause" sudo shutdown -h now
key "Print" xterm -e scrot -cd 10

Just change the letters and applications to your liking as in Openbox
i.e.
key "Super+t" Terminator

OR
If you're not using some of your Fn keys:

key "F2" xterm
key "F3" xfe
key "F4" sylpheed
key "F5" iceweasel
key "F6" xchat
key "Super+Pause" sudo shutdown -h now
key "Print" xterm -e scrot -cd 10

I use F1 for the Vimperator manual. Keybinding is faster than the point/click with the mouse, your wrist will appreciate it. Just press F2 and your favorite terminal will be launched. Press the 'Print' key and scrot will take a screenshot in 10 seconds. To "get out of Dodge" press the Windows key and the 'Pause' key, bye-bye. I edited my /etc/sudoers file and added these two lines for my wife and me.

macondo ALL = NOPASSWD : ALL
giovi ALL = NOPASSWD: /sbin/halt, /sbin/reboot

PREFOVERRIDE - alterations to the default keys to work easier for me.
$ nano -w .icewm/prefoverride
I copy/paste this:

KeyWinClose="Super+k"
KeyWinMaximize="F12"

I like to close my apps with the Windows key (left or right one) and the 'k' key; the object is never to lift the hands from the keyboard smile To maximize, instead of the default Alt+F10, a simple F12 will do.

WINOPTIONS
$ nano -w .icewm/winoptions
I copy/paste this:
I like my apps maximized smile

xterm.startMaximized: 1
sylpheed.startMaximized: 1
xchat.startMaximized: 1
feh.startMaximized: 1
iceweasel.startMaximized: 1
xfe.startMaximized: 1

IceWM comes with Alt-Tab by default.
Personally, i like the taskbar on top and no title bar, i think it's a waste of real estate smile

Icewm with titlebar:

Icewm without title bar:

If you're like me and like the taskbar on top, go to your .icewm/preferences and change this line to look like this:

TaskBarAtTop=1

To eliminate the title bar:
locate the default line for the theme you're using:

$ locate icewm

In my case, the theme is SilverXP, so i find it and enter it as root:

$ sudo nano -w /usr/share/icewm/themes/SilverXP/default.theme

And change the number at the end of the line to zero like this:

#  Title bar height
TitleBarHeight=0

IMPORTANT: in order for ANY changes you make to be activated you have to restart IceWM.

Ctrl+Alt+Delete -click on Restart IceWM 
OR Left Windows key + Delete - Click on Restart IceWM
OR Left Windows key + Delete + r (if IceWM is installed in English)

That should do it, good luck smile

PS: I forgot to mention, if you want a run box (like grun) just press the Windows key + the space bar and the taskbar becomes one.

Last edited by macondo123 (2011-07-08 16:04:38)

crunchy · 2011-04-28 23:00:31

you didn't post your ~/.xinitrc

I don't really want to do this. I'm fine with pytyle in openbox but someone else might need your ~/.xinitrc wink

macondo123 · 2011-04-28 23:08:03

crunchy wrote:

you didn't post your ~/.xinitrc

It's there...:) with an explanation of numlockx and unclutter, openbox is a great wm smile

Last edited by macondo123 (2011-04-28 23:11:07)

macondo123 · 2011-07-08 16:01:53

I finally found out how to control the sound volume with keybindings:
Add this to the .icewm/keys

#Sound volume
key "Alt+Ctrl+KP_Multiply" amixer set PCM 5+ # raise volume
key "Alt+Ctrl+KP_Divide" amixer set PCM 5- # lower volume

If you have this option in your .icewm preferences:

ModSuperIsCtrlAlt=1

you can just use the Windows key (Mod4) instead of Ctrl+Alt smile

IOW, to raise the volume:
Win key + * (in the numpad to the right of the keyboard.

To lower the volume:
Win key + / (in the numpad)

macondo123 · 2011-07-26 13:32:35

I changed my sound volume keybindings to:

key "Alt+Ctrl+Prior" amixer set PCM 5+ #raise volume
key "Alt+Ctrl+Next" amixer set PCM 5- #lower volume

It's easier for me smile

Richard · 2011-07-26 18:41:48

Thanks for all this. It is inviting.

I used IceWM with Mandrake 7.2 through 10 on a Dell Latitude PII w/256 MiB,
until I changed to Mepis > Kanotix> sidux > LinuxMint > Peppermint > Saline > #!
And I used IceWM from time to time until LinuxMInt, etal.
It is amazingly fast, once it is configured to suit personal taste.
Still amazingly fast. smile

[...and IcePref2 is still available.]

Last edited by Richard (2011-07-26 18:43:10)

Digit · 2012-05-29 11:56:56

ace thread, for an ace wm, that doesnt get enough credit, imo, and also, i didnt realise it was so configurable! awesome stuff. smile thanks macondo 123. smile

icewm is seriously lightweight. gets my recommendation for old hardware.

ChickenPie4Tea · 2012-06-07 08:21:57

Thanks macondo123
I also wondered how to startup apps with icewm so maybe telling people to also create a file called startup and put it in their .icewm folder and use the normal bash stuff in that file
#!/bin/bash
kupfer &
nm-applet &
exit
-----
I am just trying out Icewm - I notice that Thunar starts up much faster than in openbox or Fluxbox even though I am not bothering to start the thunar daemon at startup.
one last thing - I did'nt know it did tiling - I read on another thread here that you just put this in your preferences or prefs overide file - I tested it and it works
KeySysTileVertical="Alt+Shift+F2"
KeySysTileHorizontal="Alt+Shift+F3"
KeySysUndoArrange="Alt+Shift+F7"

h8uthemost · 2012-06-08 03:51:53

The tiling bit is nice to know, I never knew it did that either. Thanks for mentioning it. Gonna go and see how well it does it...

josephg · 2012-06-20 09:20:53

ChickenPie4Tea wrote:

I also wondered how to startup apps with icewm so maybe telling people to also create a file called startup and put it in their .icewm folder and use the normal bash stuff in that file
#!/bin/bash
kupfer &
nm-applet &
exit

the recommended way to do so is in ~/.xinitrc. not dependant on your wm. use ~/.icewm/startup only for icewm specific apps.

that is assuming

macondo123 wrote:

$ sudo dpkg -P gdm gdm-themes

if you do use gdm or any other ?dm, then they will look for ~/.xsession. you could do

$ ln -s .xinitrc .xsession

i don't use any dm, as i consider them unnecessary bloat. if you put startx in your .profile, you will be logged in to x! :-)

Last edited by josephg (2012-06-20 09:36:00)

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#1 2011-04-28 22:57:39

HOWTO: IceWM Basic Configuration

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Re: HOWTO: IceWM Basic Configuration

#3 2011-04-28 23:08:03

Re: HOWTO: IceWM Basic Configuration

#4 2011-07-08 16:01:53

Re: HOWTO: IceWM Basic Configuration

#5 2011-07-26 13:32:35

Re: HOWTO: IceWM Basic Configuration

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Re: HOWTO: IceWM Basic Configuration

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Re: HOWTO: IceWM Basic Configuration

#8 2012-06-07 08:21:57

Re: HOWTO: IceWM Basic Configuration

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Re: HOWTO: IceWM Basic Configuration

#10 2012-06-20 09:20:53

Re: HOWTO: IceWM Basic Configuration

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