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Astronomy
A VERY nice window manager that makes me think I'm on my NeXTstation until I realize it's a 15" monitor
| Workspaces | Dock^H^H^H^HWharf | Windows | Menus |
| Capture: Workspace 1 | Capture: Workspace 2 | Capture: Workspace 3 | Capture: Workspace 4 |
I have four workspaces (aka desktops), as you'll notice in the screenshots. I usually have at least twenty windows open, so crowding the workspace isn't on my top ten list. Fortunately, since AFTERSTEP is based on FVWM 1.24r code, I can configure apps to start on certain workspaces and switch between workspaces via keystrokes. Some windows, like PINE, a file viewer, and (ofcoz!) the Dock^H^H^H^HWharf are static (read: sticky) -- PINE doesn't like being started >1 time.
Hitting F9 would take me to the Network desktop, where all my telnet windows are. I like having everything in one place, plus the telnet windows don't interfere with any other apps ( so I can keep 'em open instead of iconified ).
F10 is my "web" workspace, where Netscape© Navigator, Mosaic, Lynx (yes, I use Lynx), and some HTML editors display. I'll usually run Navigator in 700x714, so that takes up a good portion of the screen. See what I mean about crowding?
I do some programming, so ofcoz that has to be another desktop, and F11 takes me there. Nedit is a nice editor, but after spending some time at my sysadmin's place I got used to jove/emacs...
Finally we have the aptly-titled Misc workspace, which is F12. Here's where all the miscellaneous apps display, such as xmcd, BitchX, etc.
Some .steprc "functions" used:
- StartsOnDesk
- Pager
- Sticky
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If you haven't guessed it by now, I like everything nice and organized. Some of my friends wonder why I spent so much time
editing AFTERSTEP's config file. Well, now I know where everything is, not to mention the fact that everything I usually run is
incredibly easy to get to via either the menus or the Dock, errr, Wharf.
Some apps on my Wharf include Netscape © Navigator (w/JAVA disabled, of course), Mosaic (errr, Navigator 1.1N), XV, GIMP, Nedit, ASTrash, xmcd, xmmix, and Xwave. AFTERSTEP allows the nice feature of pull-out folders, which I've made use of. Again, organization :) The main Wharf, off to your right, is showing the following AFTERSTEP apps: asclock, asmail, ascd, and astrash [in that order]. First, yes, I am up too late, but it's a Saturday. Secondly, no, I dont have any mail; I'm a loser. Third, ascd is currently playing Noise Unit's Decoder. Now that you know all that, let's examine the Wharf. Why's it so cool? First off, because it's always telling you something. What time is it? What track are you on? Do you have new mail? Secondly, because it looks nice. Hey, I'll admit I'm drawn to NEXTSTEP because it looks damn nice on its 17" monitor. Hell, even the case to my NeXTstation looks nice -- an all black slab that's a little smaller than a SPARC workstation. But my Pentium looks like crap - full tower case, beige, a big "27" MHz rating showing (I haven't bothered to redo the LEDs). Oh well.
Anyway, as you've probably guessed, the three dots on the lower-left hand side of an icon mean it's a folder. Clicking on the
"web" icon (don't tell me you don't know which one that is) brings out another series of icons. Oh, it also animates the
process, which is pretty slick. The folder looks like this:
And then there's the next "folder", which brings out graphic-related apps: 
These apps are the GIMP, XV, and Xpaint. The last folder brings out sound stuff: 
xmcd, Xwave, and xmmix are in this folder. |
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The remaining icons execute Xlock (locks the screen), Nedit, BitchX, and ASTrash (a Swallow-able module for AFTERSTEP that functions somewhat like NeXT's Recycler).
Some AFTERSTEP *Wharf directives used:
- *WharfAnimate
- *WharfAnimateMain
- *WharfColumns 1
- *WharfGeometry -1+1
- *WharfTextureType 1
- *WharfTextureColor #aaaab5 #59596b
Anyone who has used AFTERSTEP, or NEXTSTEP for that matter, knows about the two buttons at the top of each window. If you haven't, you might be wondering what they're used for. First, let me show you what semi-typical window looks like on my display:
Yes, the scrollbars are in the wrong place. This is not your normal Xterm. Yes, it's with the neXtaw widgets.
The left button is used to iconify the window or give you "Window Options", depending on what mouse button you use. For me, the left button iconifies and the right button gives the ops.
The right button ( the X ) is either Delete or Destroy, again, depending on the mouse. Left is Delete (aka Close) and right is Kill-With-Extreme-Predjudice, errr, Destroy.
A very interesting (and fixed, I might add) feature of AFTERSTEP is it's ability to Shade a window. Middle-clicking the title bar shades the window into:
The same Xterm, but shaded
Since I'm sometimes comparing two or three documents, it's a nice feature to have -- instead of minimizing the window, I can Shade it, then when I need it again, UnShade it. Another nice feature of AFTERSTEP happens when you drag a window. Instead of the FVWM-ish "black box representing your window", your window stays fully intact. It's a bit difficult to explain, but let's just say the window moves around. :)
The lower portions of the window control size and width. By pulling on either of tabs (left & right side), you can resize the window. By pulling on the bottom, you can make the window taller or shorter.