tellwm(1X)

NAME
     tellwm - shell front end to invoke window manager functions

SYNOPSIS
     tellwm [-t | -test] [-v | -verbose] command

DESCRIPTION
     The tellwm utility invokes window functions in a cooperating resident
     window manager program.

     Cooperating window managers post the _SGI_TELL_WM property on the root
     window, containing a list of command strings they support externally.  If
     the command argument given to tellwm matches this published protocol,
     tellwm forwards the command to the window manager for execution.  tellwm
     exits with a non-zero status if the current window manager does not
     provide the cooperating property, or if it does not support the requested
     command.  The following options are provided:

     -t      or

     -test   Test to determine whether the command can be sent, but don't send
             it.  The exit status of tellwm may be checked to see if the
             current window manager and its protocol support the command
             request given, but the requested command is not actually sent.

     -v      or

     -verbose
             Report diagnostics if tellwm fails to successfully communicate
             with the current window manager.

     For more information about the entire IRIX Interactive
     Desktop environment, see the IID(1) man page.

PROTOCOL
     The 4Dwm window manager is currently the only window manager which
     supports the _SGI_TELL_WM protocol property.  4Dwm publishes the
     following protocol of supported external commands:  auto_place,
     auto_save, beep, circle_down, circle_up, end_session, explicit_save,
     interactive_place, minimize_all, opaque, outline, pack_icons, quit,
     refresh, restart, restore_all, and save_configuration.

     For example, the shell command line

     tellwm restart

     causes 4Dwm to perform the same action as when the Restart item
     (f.restart) is invoked from the 4Dwm menu.  Refer to the 4Dwm
     documentation for definitions of these commands.
SEE ALSO
     4Dwm(1), IID(1)