Xlib - C Language X Interface

X Window System Standard

James Gettys, Digital Equipment Corporation
Robert W. Scheifler, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Chuck Adams
Tektronix, Inc.
Vania Joloboff
Open Software Foundation
Hideki Hiura
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Bill McMahon
Hewlett-Packard Company
Ron Newman
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Al Tabayoyon
Tektronix, Inc.
Glenn Widener
Tektronix, Inc.
Shigeru Yamada
Fujitsu OSSI
Xlib - C Language X Interface: X Window System Standard
by James Gettys and Robert W. Scheifler
Chuck Adams
Tektronix, Inc.
Vania Joloboff
Open Software Foundation
Hideki Hiura
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Bill McMahon
Hewlett-Packard Company
Ron Newman
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Al Tabayoyon
Tektronix, Inc.
Glenn Widener
Tektronix, Inc.
Shigeru Yamada
Fujitsu OSSI
X Version 11, Release 7
Copyright 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2002 The Open Group
Copyright 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991 Digital Equipment Corporation
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated docu-
mentation files (the Software), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons
to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the
Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE X CONSORTIUM BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR
OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF
OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
Except as contained in this notice, the name of The Open Group shall not be used in advertising or otherwise to
promote the sale, use or other dealings in this Software without prior written authorization from The Open Group.
Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
provided that the above copyright notice appears in all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission
notice appear in supporting documentation, and that the names of Digital and Tetronix not be used in in advertising
or publicity pertaining to distribution of the software without specific, written prior permission. Digital and Tetronix
make no representations about the suitability of the software described herein for any purpose. It is provided "as
is" without express or implied warranty.
TekHVC is a trademark of Tektronix, Inc.
iii
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................. x
Release 1 ...................................................................................................... x
Release 4 ..................................................................................................... xi
Release 5 ..................................................................................................... xi
Release 6 .................................................................................................... xii
1. Introduction to Xlib ........................................................................................... 1
Overview of the X Window System ............................................................... 1
Errors ............................................................................................................. 3
Standard Header Files ................................................................................... 3
Generic Values and Types .............................................................................. 4
Naming and Argument Conventions within Xlib ........................................... 4
Programming Considerations ........................................................................ 5
Character Sets and Encodings ...................................................................... 5
Formatting Conventions ................................................................................. 6
2. Display Functions .............................................................................................. 7
Opening the Display ...................................................................................... 7
Obtaining Information about the Display, Image Formats, or Screens ........... 9
Display Macros ....................................................................................... 9
Image Format Functions and Macros .................................................. 15
Screen Information Macros .................................................................. 17
Generating a NoOperation Protocol Request .............................................. 20
Freeing Client-Created Data ........................................................................ 20
Closing the Display ...................................................................................... 21
Using X Server Connection Close Operations ............................................. 21
Using Xlib with Threads .............................................................................. 23
Using Internal Connections ......................................................................... 23
3. Window Functions ........................................................................................... 26
Visual Types ................................................................................................. 26
Window Attributes ....................................................................................... 27
Background Attribute ........................................................................... 30
Border Attribute ................................................................................... 31
Gravity Attributes ................................................................................. 31
Backing Store Attribute ....................................................................... 32
Save Under Flag .................................................................................. 33
Backing Planes and Backing Pixel Attributes ....................................... 33
Event Mask and Do Not Propagate Mask Attributes ........................... 33
Override Redirect Flag ......................................................................... 33
Colormap Attribute ............................................................................... 34
Cursor Attribute ................................................................................... 34
Creating Windows ........................................................................................ 34
Destroying Windows .................................................................................... 37
Mapping Windows ........................................................................................ 38
Unmapping Windows ................................................................................... 40
Configuring Windows ................................................................................... 40
Changing Window Stacking Order .............................................................. 45
Changing Window Attributes ....................................................................... 47
4. Window Information Functions ....................................................................... 51
Obtaining Window Information .................................................................... 51
Translating Screen Coordinates .................................................................. 54
Properties and Atoms .................................................................................. 56
Obtaining and Changing Window Properties ............................................... 59
Xlib - C Language X Interface
iv
Selections ..................................................................................................... 63
5. Pixmap and Cursor Functions ......................................................................... 66
Creating and Freeing Pixmaps .................................................................... 66
Creating, Recoloring, and Freeing Cursors ................................................. 67
6. Color Management Functions ......................................................................... 71
Color Structures ........................................................................................... 72
Color Strings ................................................................................................ 76
RGB Device String Specification .......................................................... 76
RGB Intensity String Specification ...................................................... 77
Device-Independent String Specifications ............................................ 77
Color Conversion Contexts and Gamut Mapping ......................................... 78
Creating, Copying, and Destroying Colormaps ............................................ 78
Mapping Color Names to Values ................................................................. 80
Allocating and Freeing Color Cells .............................................................. 82
Modifying and Querying Colormap Cells ..................................................... 86
Color Conversion Context Functions ........................................................... 91
Getting and Setting the Color Conversion Context of a Colormap....... 91
Obtaining the Default Color Conversion Context ................................. 92
Color Conversion Context Macros ....................................................... 92
Modifying Attributes of a Color Conversion Context ........................... 93
Creating and Freeing a Color Conversion Context .............................. 94
Converting between Color Spaces ............................................................... 95
Callback Functions ....................................................................................... 95
Prototype Gamut Compression Procedure ........................................... 96
Supplied Gamut Compression Procedures ........................................... 97
Prototype White Point Adjustment Procedure ...................................... 98
Supplied White Point Adjustment Procedures ...................................... 99
Gamut Querying Functions ........................................................................ 100
Red, Green, and Blue Queries ............................................................ 101
CIELab Queries .................................................................................. 102
CIELuv Queries .................................................................................. 104
TekHVC Queries ................................................................................. 106
Color Management Extensions .................................................................. 108
Color Spaces ....................................................................................... 108
Adding Device-Independent Color Spaces ......................................... 109
Querying Color Space Format and Prefix .......................................... 109
Creating Additional Color Spaces ...................................................... 109
Parse String Callback ......................................................................... 110
Color Specification Conversion Callback ........................................... 111
Function Sets ...................................................................................... 112
Adding Function Sets ......................................................................... 112
Creating Additional Function Sets ..................................................... 113
7. Graphics Context Functions .......................................................................... 115
Manipulating Graphics Context/State ........................................................ 115
Using Graphics Context Convenience Routines ......................................... 124
Setting the Foreground, Background, Function, or Plane Mask ......... 125
Setting the Line Attributes and Dashes ............................................. 126
Setting the Fill Style and Fill Rule ..................................................... 127
Setting the Fill Tile and Stipple ......................................................... 128
Setting the Current Font .................................................................... 130
Setting the Clip Region ...................................................................... 130
Setting the Arc Mode, Subwindow Mode, and Graphics Exposure..... 132
8. Graphics Functions ....................................................................................... 134
Clearing Areas ........................................................................................... 134
Xlib - C Language X Interface
v
Copying Areas ............................................................................................ 135
Drawing Points, Lines, Rectangles, and Arcs ............................................ 137
Drawing Single and Multiple Points ................................................... 138
Drawing Single and Multiple Lines .................................................... 139
Drawing Single and Multiple Rectangles ........................................... 140
Drawing Single and Multiple Arcs ..................................................... 141
Filling Areas ............................................................................................... 143
Filling Single and Multiple Rectangles .............................................. 143
Filling a Single Polygon ..................................................................... 144
Filling Single and Multiple Arcs ........................................................ 145
Font Metrics ............................................................................................... 146
Loading and Freeing Fonts ................................................................ 150
Obtaining and Freeing Font Names and Information ......................... 152
Computing Character String Sizes ..................................................... 153
Computing Logical Extents ................................................................ 154
Querying Character String Sizes ....................................................... 155
Drawing Text .............................................................................................. 157
Drawing Complex Text ....................................................................... 157
Drawing Text Characters ................................................................... 159
Drawing Image Text Characters ........................................................ 159
Transferring Images between Client and Server ....................................... 161
9. Window and Session Manager Functions ..................................................... 166
Changing the Parent of a Window ............................................................. 166
Controlling the Lifetime of a Window ........................................................ 167
Managing Installed Colormaps .................................................................. 168
Setting and Retrieving the Font Search Path ............................................ 169
Grabbing the Server .................................................................................. 170
Killing Clients ............................................................................................. 171
Controlling the Screen Saver .................................................................... 171
Controlling Host Access ............................................................................. 173
Adding, Getting, or Removing Hosts .................................................. 174
Changing, Enabling, or Disabling Access Control .............................. 176
10. Events .......................................................................................................... 178
Event Types ................................................................................................ 178
Event Structures ........................................................................................ 179
Event Masks ............................................................................................... 180
Event Processing Overview ....................................................................... 182
Keyboard and Pointer Events .................................................................... 184
Pointer Button Events ........................................................................ 184
Keyboard and Pointer Events ............................................................. 185
Window Entry/Exit Events ......................................................................... 189
Normal Entry/Exit Events .................................................................. 190
Grab and Ungrab Entry/Exit Events .................................................. 191
Input Focus Events .................................................................................... 192
Normal Focus Events and Focus Events While Grabbed .................... 193
Focus Events Generated by Grabs ..................................................... 196
Key Map State Notification Events ............................................................ 196
Exposure Events ........................................................................................ 197
Expose Events .................................................................................... 197
GraphicsExpose and NoExpose Events .............................................. 198
Window State Change Events .................................................................... 199
CirculateNotify Events ....................................................................... 200
ConfigureNotify Events ...................................................................... 200
CreateNotify Events ........................................................................... 202
Xlib - C Language X Interface
vi
DestroyNotify Events .......................................................................... 202
GravityNotify Events .......................................................................... 203
MapNotify Events ............................................................................... 204
MappingNotify Events ........................................................................ 204
ReparentNotify Events ....................................................................... 205
UnmapNotify Events ........................................................................... 206
VisibilityNotify Events ........................................................................ 206
Structure Control Events ........................................................................... 207
CirculateRequest Events .................................................................... 208
ConfigureRequest Events ................................................................... 208
MapRequest Events ............................................................................ 209
ResizeRequest Events ......................................................................... 210
Colormap State Change Events ................................................................. 210
Client Communication Events .................................................................... 211
ClientMessage Events ........................................................................ 211
PropertyNotify Events ........................................................................ 212
SelectionClear Events ........................................................................ 213
SelectionRequest Events .................................................................... 213
SelectionNotify Events ....................................................................... 214
11. Event Handling Functions ........................................................................... 216
Selecting Events ........................................................................................ 216
Handling the Output Buffer ....................................................................... 217
Event Queue Management ......................................................................... 218
Manipulating the Event Queue .................................................................. 218
Returning the Next Event .................................................................. 218
Selecting Events Using a Predicate Procedure .................................. 219
Selecting Events Using a Window or Event Mask .............................. 221
Putting an Event Back into the Queue ...................................................... 223
Sending Events to Other Applications ....................................................... 223
Getting Pointer Motion History ................................................................. 224
Handling Protocol Errors ........................................................................... 225
Enabling or Disabling Synchronization .............................................. 225
Using the Default Error Handlers ...................................................... 226
12. Input Device Functions ............................................................................... 231
Pointer Grabbing ........................................................................................ 231
Keyboard Grabbing .................................................................................... 236
Resuming Event Processing ....................................................................... 239
Moving the Pointer .................................................................................... 242
Controlling Input Focus ............................................................................. 243
Manipulating the Keyboard and Pointer Settings ...................................... 244
Manipulating the Keyboard Encoding ....................................................... 249
13. Locales and Internationalized Text Functions ............................................. 255
X Locale Management ............................................................................... 256
Locale and Modifier Dependencies ............................................................ 257
Variable Argument Lists ............................................................................ 259
Output Methods ......................................................................................... 260
Output Method Overview ................................................................... 260
Output Method Functions .................................................................. 261
X Output Method Values .................................................................... 262
Output Context Functions .................................................................. 264
Output Context Values ....................................................................... 266
Creating and Freeing a Font Set ....................................................... 269
Obtaining Font Set Metrics ................................................................ 273
Drawing Text Using Font Sets ........................................................... 278
Xlib - C Language X Interface
vii
Input Methods ............................................................................................ 280
Input Method Overview ...................................................................... 281
Input Method Management ................................................................ 289
Input Method Functions ..................................................................... 291
Input Method Values .......................................................................... 293
Input Context Functions ..................................................................... 297
Input Context Values .......................................................................... 300
Input Method Callback Semantics ..................................................... 311
Event Filtering .................................................................................... 320
Getting Keyboard Input ...................................................................... 321
Input Method Conventions ................................................................. 323
String Constants ........................................................................................ 323
14. Inter-Client Communication Functions ....................................................... 325
Client to Window Manager Communication .............................................. 327
Manipulating Top-Level Windows ....................................................... 327
Converting String Lists ...................................................................... 328
Setting and Reading Text Properties ................................................. 332
Setting and Reading the WM_NAME Property .................................. 333
Setting and Reading the WM_ICON_NAME Property ........................ 335
Setting and Reading the WM_HINTS Property .................................. 336
Setting and Reading the WM_NORMAL_HINTS Property .................. 338
Setting and Reading the WM_CLASS Property .................................. 341
Setting and Reading the WM_TRANSIENT_FOR Property ................. 343
Setting and Reading the WM_PROTOCOLS Property ........................ 343
Setting and Reading the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS Property ....... 344
Setting and Reading the WM_ICON_SIZE Property ........................... 345
Using Window Manager Convenience Functions ............................... 346
Client to Session Manager Communication ............................................... 349
Setting and Reading the WM_COMMAND Property .......................... 349
Setting and Reading the WM_CLIENT_MACHINE Property .............. 350
Standard Colormaps .................................................................................. 350
Standard Colormap Properties and Atoms ......................................... 353
Setting and Obtaining Standard Colormaps ...................................... 354
15. Resource Manager Functions ..................................................................... 357
Resource File Syntax ................................................................................. 358
Resource Manager Matching Rules ........................................................... 359
Quarks ........................................................................................................ 360
Creating and Storing Databases ................................................................ 362
Merging Resource Databases .................................................................... 365
Looking Up Resources ............................................................................... 366
Storing into a Resource Database ............................................................. 368
Enumerating Database Entries .................................................................. 370
Parsing Command Line Options ................................................................ 371
16. Application Utility Functions ....................................................................... 374
Using Keyboard Utility Functions .............................................................. 374
KeySym Classification Macros ........................................................... 376
Using Latin-1 Keyboard Event Functions .................................................. 377
Allocating Permanent Storage ................................................................... 378
Parsing the Window Geometry .................................................................. 378
Manipulating Regions ................................................................................ 380
Creating, Copying, or Destroying Regions ......................................... 380
Moving or Shrinking Regions ............................................................. 381
Computing with Regions .................................................................... 381
Determining if Regions Are Empty or Equal ...................................... 382
Xlib - C Language X Interface
viii
Locating a Point or a Rectangle in a Region ...................................... 383
Using Cut Buffers ...................................................................................... 383
Determining the Appropriate Visual Type ................................................. 385
Manipulating Images ................................................................................. 386
Manipulating Bitmaps ................................................................................ 389
Using the Context Manager ....................................................................... 392
A. Xlib Functions and Protocol Requests .......................................................... 394
B. X Font Cursors .............................................................................................. 408
C. Extensions ..................................................................................................... 409
D. Compatibility Functions ................................................................................ 429
X Version 11 Compatibility Functions ....................................................... 429
Setting Standard Properties ............................................................... 429
Setting and Getting Window Sizing Hints .......................................... 430
Getting and Setting an XStandardColormap Structure ...................... 432
Parsing Window Geometry ................................................................. 433
Getting the X Environment Defaults .................................................. 434
X Version 10 Compatibility Functions ....................................................... 434
Drawing and Filling Polygons and Curves ......................................... 434
Associating User Data with a Value ................................................... 437
Glossary ............................................................................................................. 439
Index .................................................................................................................. 452
ix
List of Tables
A.1. Protocol requests made by each Xlib function ........................................... 394
A.2. Xlib functions which use each Protocol Request ....................................... 401
x
Acknowledgments
The design and implementation of the first 10 versions of X were primarily the work
of three individuals: Robert Scheifler of the MIT Laboratory for Computer Science
and Jim Gettys of Digital Equipment Corporation and Ron Newman of MIT, both at
MIT Project Athena. X version 11, however, is the result of the efforts of dozens of
individuals at almost as many locations and organizations. At the risk of offending
some of the players by exclusion, we would like to acknowledge some of the people
who deserve special credit and recognition for their work on Xlib. Our apologies to
anyone inadvertently overlooked.
Release 1
Our thanks does to Ron Newman (MIT Project Athena), who contributed substan-
tially to the design and implementation of the Version 11 Xlib interface.
Our thanks also goes to Ralph Swick (Project Athena and Digital) who kept it all
together for us during the early releases. He handled literally thousands of requests
from people everywhere and saved the sanity of at least one of us. His calm good
cheer was a foundation on which we could build.
Our thanks also goes to Todd Brunhoff (Tektronix) who was ``loaned'' to Project
Athena at exactly the right moment to provide very capable and much-needed as-
sistance during the alpha and beta releases. He was responsible for the successful
integration of sources from multiple sites; we would not have had a release without
him.
Our thanks also goes to Al Mento and Al Wojtas of Digital's ULTRIX Documentation
Group. With good humor and cheer, they took a rough draft and made it an infinitely
better and more useful document. The work they have done will help many every-
where. We also would like to thank Hal Murray (Digital SRC) and Peter George (Dig-
ital VMS) who contributed much by proofreading the early drafts of this document.
Our thanks also goes to Jeff Dike (Digital UEG), Tom Benson, Jackie Granfield,
and Vince Orgovan (Digital VMS) who helped with the library utilities implementa-
tion; to Hania Gajewska (Digital UEG-WSL) who, along with Ellis Cohen (CMU and
Siemens), was instrumental in the semantic design of the window manager proper-
ties; and to Dave Rosenthal (Sun Microsystems) who also contributed to the proto-
col and provided the sample generic color frame buffer device-dependent code.
The alpha and beta test participants deserve special recognition and thanks as well.
It is significant that the bug reports (and many fixes) during alpha and beta test
came almost exclusively from just a few of the alpha testers, mostly hardware ven-
dors working on product implementations of X. The continued public contribution
of vendors and universities is certainly to the benefit of the entire X community.
Our special thanks must go to Sam Fuller, Vice-President of Corporate Research
at Digital, who has remained committed to the widest public availability of X and
who made it possible to greatly supplement MIT's resources with the Digital staff
in order to make version 11 a reality. Many of the people mentioned here are part
of the Western Software Laboratory (Digital UEG-WSL) of the ULTRIX Engineering
group and work for Smokey Wallace, who has been vital to the project's success.
Acknowledgments
xi
Others not mentioned here worked on the toolkit and are acknowledged in the X
Toolkit documentation.
Of course, we must particularly thank Paul Asente, formerly of Stanford University
and now of Digital UEG-WSL, who wrote W, the predecessor to X, and Brian Reid,
formerly of Stanford University and now of Digital WRL, who had much to do with
W's design.
Finally, our thanks goes to MIT, Digital Equipment Corporation, and IBM for pro-
viding the environment where it could happen.
Release 4
Our thanks go to Jim Fulton (MIT X Consortium) for designing and specifying the
new Xlib functions for Inter-Client Communication Conventions (ICCCM) support.
We also thank Al Mento of Digital for his continued effort in maintaining this doc-
ument and Jim Fulton and Donna Converse (MIT X Consortium) for their much-ap-
preciated efforts in reviewing the changes.
Release 5
The principal authors of the Input Method facilities are Vania Joloboff (Open Soft-
ware Foundation) and Bill McMahon (Hewlett-Packard). The principal author of the
rest of the internationalization facilities is Glenn Widener (Tektronix). Our thanks
to them for keeping their sense of humor through a long and sometimes difficult
design process. Although the words and much of the design are due to them, many
others have contributed substantially to the design and implementation. Tom Mc-
Farland (HP) and Frank Rojas (IBM) deserve particular recognition for their contri-
butions. Other contributors were: Tim Anderson (Motorola), Alka Badshah (OSF),
Gabe Beged-Dov (HP), Chih-Chung Ko (III), Vera Cheng (III), Michael Collins (Dig-
ital), Walt Daniels (IBM), Noritoshi Demizu (OMRON), Keisuke Fukui (Fujitsu), Hi-
toshoi Fukumoto (Nihon Sun), Tim Greenwood (Digital), John Harvey (IBM), Hideki
Hiura (Sun), Fred Horman (AT&T), Norikazu Kaiya (Fujitsu), Yuji Kamata (IBM),
Yutaka Kataoka (Waseda University), Ranee Khubchandani (Sun), Akira Kon (NEC),
Hiroshi Kuribayashi (OMRON), Teruhiko Kurosaka (Sun), Seiji Kuwari (OMRON),
Sandra Martin (OSF), Narita Masahiko (Fujitsu), Masato Morisaki (NTT), Nelson
Ng (Sun), Takashi Nishimura (NTT America), Makato Nishino (IBM), Akira Ohsone
(Nihon Sun), Chris Peterson (MIT), Sam Shteingart (AT&T), Manish Sheth (AT&T),
Muneiyoshi Suzuki (NTT), Cori Mehring (Digital), Shoji Sugiyama (IBM), and Eiji
Tosa (IBM).
We are deeply indebted to Tatsuya Kato (NTT), Hiroshi Kuribayashi (OMRON), Sei-
ji Kuwari (OMRON), Muneiyoshi Suzuki (NTT), and Li Yuhong (OMRON) for pro-
ducing one of the first complete sample implementation of the internationalization
facilities, and Hiromu Inukai (Nihon Sun), Takashi Fujiwara (Fujitsu), Hideki Hiu-
ra (Sun), Yasuhiro Kawai (Oki Technosystems Laboratory), Kazunori Nishihara (Fu-
ji Xerox), Masaki Takeuchi (Sony), Katsuhisa Yano (Toshiba), Makoto Wakamatsu
(Sony Corporation) for producing the another complete sample implementation of
the internationalization facilities.
The principal authors (design and implementation) of the Xcms color management
facilities are Al Tabayoyon (Tektronix) and Chuck Adams (Tektronix). Joann Tay-
Acknowledgments
xii
lor (Tektronix), Bob Toole (Tektronix), and Keith Packard (MIT X Consortium) also
contributed significantly to the design. Others who contributed are: Harold Boll
(Kodak), Ken Bronstein (HP), Nancy Cam (SGI), Donna Converse (MIT X Consor-
tium), Elias Israel (ISC), Deron Johnson (Sun), Jim King (Adobe), Ricardo Motta
(HP), Chuck Peek (IBM), Wil Plouffe (IBM), Dave Sternlicht (MIT X Consortium),
Kumar Talluri (AT&T), and Richard Verberg (IBM).
We also once again thank Al Mento of Digital for his work in formatting and refor-
matting text for this manual, and for producing man pages. Thanks also to Clive
Feather (IXI) for proof-reading and finding a number of small errors.
Release 6
Stephen Gildea (X Consortium) authored the threads support. Ovais Ashraf (Sun)
and Greg Olsen (Sun) contributed substantially by testing the facilities and report-
ing bugs in a timely fashion.
The principal authors of the internationalization facilities, including Input and Out-
put Methods, are Hideki Hiura (SunSoft) and Shigeru Yamada (Fujitsu OSSI). Al-
though the words and much of the design are due to them, many others have con-
tributed substantially to the design and implementation. They are: Takashi Fuji-
wara (Fujitsu), Yoshio Horiuchi (IBM), Makoto Inada (Digital), Hiromu Inukai (Nihon
SunSoft), Song JaeKyung (KAIST), Franky Ling (Digital), Tom McFarland (HP), Hi-
royuki Miyamoto (Digital), Masahiko Narita (Fujitsu), Frank Rojas (IBM), Hidetoshi
Tajima (HP), Masaki Takeuchi (Sony), Makoto Wakamatsu (Sony), Masaki Wakao
(IBM), Katsuhisa Yano(Toshiba) and Jinsoo Yoon (KAIST).
The principal producers of the sample implementation of the internationalization
facilities are: Jeffrey Bloomfield (Fujitsu OSSI), Takashi Fujiwara (Fujitsu), Hideki
Hiura (SunSoft), Yoshio Horiuchi (IBM), Makoto Inada (Digital), Hiromu Inukai (Ni-
hon SunSoft), Song JaeKyung (KAIST), Riki Kawaguchi (Fujitsu), Franky Ling (Dig-
ital), Hiroyuki Miyamoto (Digital), Hidetoshi Tajima (HP), Toshimitsu Terazono (Fu-
jitsu), Makoto Wakamatsu (Sony), Masaki Wakao (IBM), Shigeru Yamada (Fujitsu
OSSI) and Katsuhisa Yano (Toshiba).
The coordinators of the integration, testing, and release of this implementation of
the internationalization facilities are Nobuyuki Tanaka (Sony) and Makoto Waka-
matsu (Sony).
Others who have contributed to the architectural design or testing of the sam-
ple implementation of the internationalization facilities are: Hector Chan (Digital),
Michael Kung (IBM), Joseph Kwok (Digital), Hiroyuki Machida (Sony), Nelson Ng
(SunSoft), Frank Rojas (IBM), Yoshiyuki Segawa (Fujitsu OSSI), Makiko Shimamura
(Fujitsu), Shoji Sugiyama (IBM), Lining Sun (SGI), Masaki Takeuchi (Sony), Jinsoo
Yoon (KAIST) and Akiyasu Zen (HP).
Jim Gettys
Cambridge Research Laboratory
Digital Equipment Corporation
Robert W. Scheifler
Laboratory for Computer Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1
Chapter 1. Introduction to Xlib
The X Window System is a network-transparent window system that was designed
at MIT. X display servers run on computers with either monochrome or color bitmap
display hardware. The server distributes user input to and accepts output requests
from various client programs located either on the same machine or elsewhere in
the network. Xlib is a C subroutine library that application programs (clients) use
to interface with the window system by means of a stream connection. Although a
client usually runs on the same machine as the X server it is talking to, this need
not be the case.
Xlib C Language X Interface is a reference guide to the low-level C language
interface to the X Window System protocol. It is neither a tutorial nor a users guide
to programming the X Window System. Rather, it provides a detailed description
of each function in the library as well as a discussion of the related background
information. Xlib C Language X Interface assumes a basic understanding of a
graphics window system and of the C programming language. Other higher-level
abstractions (for example, those provided by the toolkits for X) are built on top
of the Xlib library. For further information about these higher-level libraries, see
the appropriate toolkit documentation. The X Window System Protocol provides the
denitive word on the behavior of X. Although additional information appears here,
the protocol document is the ruling document.
To provide an introduction to X programming, this chapter discusses:
Overview of the X Window System
Errors
Standard header files
Generic values and types
Naming and argument conventions within Xlib
Programming considerations
Character sets and encodings
Formatting conventions
Overview of the X Window System
Some of the terms used in this book are unique to X, and other terms that are
common to other window systems have different meanings in X. You may find it
helpful to refer to the glossary, which is located at the end of the book.
The X Window System supports one or more screens containing overlapping win-
dows or subwindows. A screen is a physical monitor and hardware that can be
color, grayscale, or monochrome. There can be multiple screens for each display
or workstation. A single X server can provide display services for any number of
screens. A set of screens for a single user with one keyboard and one pointer (usu-
ally a mouse) is called a display.
Introduction to Xlib
2
All the windows in an X server are arranged in strict hierarchies. At the top of each
hierarchy is a root window, which covers each of the display screens. Each root
window is partially or completely covered by child windows. All windows, except for
root windows, have parents. There is usually at least one window for each applica-
tion program. Child windows may in turn have their own children. In this way, an
application program can create an arbitrarily deep tree on each screen. X provides
graphics, text, and raster operations for windows.
A child window can be larger than its parent. That is, part or all of the child window
can extend beyond the boundaries of the parent, but all output to a window is clipped
by its parent. If several children of a window have overlapping locations, one of the
children is considered to be on top of or raised over the others, thus obscuring them.
Output to areas covered by other windows is suppressed by the window system
unless the window has backing store. If a window is obscured by a second window,
the second window obscures only those ancestors of the second window that are
also ancestors of the first window.
A window has a border zero or more pixels in width, which can be any pattern
(pixmap) or solid color you like. A window usually but not always has a background
pattern, which will be repainted by the window system when uncovered. Child win-
dows obscure their parents, and graphic operations in the parent window usually
are clipped by the children.
Each window and pixmap has its own coordinate system. The coordinate system has
the X axis horizontal and the Y axis vertical with the origin [0, 0] at the upper-left
corner. Coordinates are integral, in terms of pixels, and coincide with pixel centers.
For a window, the origin is inside the border at the inside, upper-left corner.
X does not guarantee to preserve the contents of windows. When part or all of a
window is hidden and then brought back onto the screen, its contents may be lost.
The server then sends the client program an Expose event to notify it that part or
all of the window needs to be repainted. Programs must be prepared to regenerate
the contents of windows on demand.
X also provides off-screen storage of graphics objects, called pixmaps. Single
plane (depth 1) pixmaps are sometimes referred to as bitmaps. Pixmaps can be used
in most graphics functions interchangeably with windows and are used in various
graphics operations to define patterns or tiles. Windows and pixmaps together are
referred to as drawables.
Most of the functions in Xlib just add requests to an output buffer. These requests
later execute asynchronously on the X server. Functions that return values of infor-
mation stored in the server do not return (that is, they block) until an explicit reply
is received or an error occurs. You can provide an error handler, which will be called
when the error is reported.
If a client does not want a request to execute asynchronously, it can follow the
request with a call to XSync, which blocks until all previously buffered asynchronous
events have been sent and acted on. As an important side effect, the output buffer in
Xlib is always flushed by a call to any function that returns a value from the server
or waits for input.
Many Xlib functions will return an integer resource ID, which allows you to
refer to objects stored on the X server. These can be of type Window, Font, Pixmap,
Colormap, Cursor, and GContext, as defined in the file <X11/X.h>. These resources
Introduction to Xlib
3
are created by requests and are destroyed (or freed) by requests or when connec-
tions are closed. Most of these resources are potentially sharable between appli-
cations, and in fact, windows are manipulated explicitly by window manager pro-
grams. Fonts and cursors are shared automatically across multiple screens. Fonts
are loaded and unloaded as needed and are shared by multiple clients. Fonts are
often cached in the server. Xlib provides no support for sharing graphics contexts
between applications.
Client programs are informed of events. Events may either be side effects of a
request (for example, restacking windows generates Expose events) or complete-
ly asynchronous (for example, from the keyboard). A client program asks to be in-
formed of events. Because other applications can send events to your application,
programs must be prepared to handle (or ignore) events of all types.
Input events (for example, a key pressed or the pointer moved) arrive asynchronous-
ly from the server and are queued until they are requested by an explicit call (for
example, XNextEvent or XWindowEvent). In addition, some library functions (for ex-
ample, XRaiseWindow) generate Expose and ConfigureRequest events. These events
also arrive asynchronously, but the client may wish to explicitly wait for them by
calling XSync after calling a function that can cause the server to generate events.
Errors
Some functions return Status, an integer error indication. If the function fails, it
returns a zero. If the function returns a status of zero, it has not updated the return
arguments. Because C does not provide multiple return values, many functions
must return their results by writing into client-passed storage. By default, errors are
handled either by a standard library function or by one that you provide. Functions
that return pointers to strings return NULL pointers if the string does not exist.
The X server reports protocol errors at the time that it detects them. If more than
one error could be generated for a given request, the server can report any of them.
Because Xlib usually does not transmit requests to the server immediately (that is,
it buffers them), errors can be reported much later than they actually occur. For
debugging purposes, however, Xlib provides a mechanism for forcing synchronous
behavior (see section 11.8.1). When synchronization is enabled, errors are reported
as they are generated.
When Xlib detects an error, it calls an error handler, which your program can pro-
vide. If you do not provide an error handler, the error is printed, and your program
terminates.
Standard Header Files
The following include files are part of the Xlib standard:
<X11/Xlib.h>
<X11/X.h>
<X11/Xcms.h>
<X11/Xutil.h>
<X11/Xresource.h>
<X11/Xatom.h>
<X11/cursorfont.h>
<X11/keysymdef.h>
Introduction to Xlib
4
<X11/keysym.h>
<X11/Xlibint.h>
<X11/Xproto.h>
<X11/Xprotostr.h>
<X11/X10.h>
Generic Values and Types
The following symbols are defined by Xlib and used throughout the manual:
Xlib defines the type Bool and the Boolean values True and False.
None is the universal null resource ID or atom.
The type XID is used for generic resource IDs.
The type XPointer is defined to be char* and is used as a generic opaque pointer
to data.
Naming and Argument Conventions within Xlib
Xlib follows a number of conventions for the naming and syntax of the functions.
Given that you remember what information the function requires, these conventions
are intended to make the syntax of the functions more predictable.
The major naming conventions are:
To differentiate the X symbols from the other symbols, the library uses mixed case
for external symbols. It leaves lowercase for variables and all uppercase for user
macros, as per existing convention.
All Xlib functions begin with a capital X.
The beginnings of all function names and symbols are capitalized.
All user-visible data structures begin with a capital X. More generally, anything
that a user might dereference begins with a capital X.
Macros and other symbols do not begin with a capital X. To distinguish them from
all user symbols, each word in the macro is capitalized.
All elements of or variables in a data structure are in lowercase. Compound words,
where needed, are constructed with underscores (_).
The display argument, where used, is always first in the argument list.
All resource objects, where used, occur at the beginning of the argument list im-
mediately after the display argument.
When a graphics context is present together with another type of resource (most
commonly, a drawable), the graphics context occurs in the argument list after the
other resource. Drawables outrank all other resources.
Source arguments always precede the destination arguments in the argument list.
The x argument always precedes the y argument in the argument list.
Introduction to Xlib
5
The width argument always precedes the height argument in the argument list.
Where the x, y, width, and height arguments are used together, the x and y argu-
ments always precede the width and height arguments.
Where a mask is accompanied with a structure, the mask always precedes the
pointer to the structure in the argument list.
Programming Considerations
The major programming considerations are:
Coordinates and sizes in X are actually 16-bit quantities. This decision was made
to minimize the bandwidth required for a given level of performance. Coordinates
usually are declared as an int in the interface. Values larger than 16 bits are
truncated silently. Sizes (width and height) are declared as unsigned quantities.
Keyboards are the greatest variable between different manufacturers' worksta-
tions. If you want your program to be portable, you should be particularly conser-
vative here.
Many display systems have limited amounts of off-screen memory. If you can, you
should minimize use of pixmaps and backing store.
The user should have control of his screen real estate. Therefore, you should write
your applications to react to window management rather than presume control
of the entire screen. What you do inside of your top-level window, however, is up
to your application. For further information, see chapter 14 and the Inter-Client
Communication Conventions Manual.
Character Sets and Encodings
Some of the Xlib functions make reference to specific character sets and character
encodings. The following are the most common:
X Portable Character Set A basic set of 97 characters, which are assumed to
exist in all locales supported by Xlib. This set contains
the following characters:
a..z A..Z 0..9 !"#$%&'()*+,-./:;<=>?@[\\]^_`{|}~ <space>, <tab>, and <newline>
This set is the left/lower half of the graphic character
set of ISO8859-1 plus space, tab, and newline. It is
also the set of graphic characters in 7-bit ASCII plus
the same three control characters. The actual encod-
ing of these characters on the host is system depen-
dent.
Host Portable Character
Encoding
The encoding of the X Portable Character Set on the
host. The encoding itself is not defined by this stan-
dard, but the encoding must be the same in all locales
supported by Xlib on the host. If a string is said to be
in the Host Portable Character Encoding, then it on-
Introduction to Xlib
6
ly contains characters from the X Portable Character
Set, in the host encoding.
Latin-1 The coded character set defined by the ISO8859-1
standard.
Latin Portable Character
Encoding
The encoding of the X Portable Character Set using
the Latin-1 codepoints plus ASCII control characters.
If a string is said to be in the Latin Portable Character
Encoding, then it only contains characters from the
X Portable Character Set, not all of Latin-1.
STRING Encoding Latin-1, plus tab and newline.
POSIX Portable Filename
Character Set
The set of 65 characters, which can be used in nam-
ing files on a POSIX-compliant host, that are correct-
ly processed in all locales. The set is:
a..z A..Z 0..9 ._-
Formatting Conventions
Xlib C Language X Interface uses the following conventions:
Global symbols are printed in this special font. These can be either function
names, symbols defined in include files, or structure names. When declared and
defined, function arguments are printed in italics. In the explanatory text that
follows, they usually are printed in regular type.
Each function is introduced by a general discussion that distinguishes it from oth-
er functions. The function declaration itself follows, and each argument is specifi-
cally explained. Although ANSI C function prototype syntax is not used, Xlib head-
er files normally declare functions using function prototypes in ANSI C environ-
ments. General discussion of the function, if any is required, follows the argu-
ments. Where applicable, the last paragraph of the explanation lists the possible
Xlib error codes that the function can generate. For a complete discussion of the
Xlib error codes, see section 11.8.2.
To eliminate any ambiguity between those arguments that you pass and those that
a function returns to you, the explanations for all arguments that you pass start
with the word specifies or, in the case of multiple arguments, the word specify.
The explanations for all arguments that are returned to you start with the word
returns or, in the case of multiple arguments, the word return. The explanations
for all arguments that you can pass and are returned start with the words specifies
and returns.
Any pointer to a structure that is used to return a value is designated as such by
the _return suffix as part of its name. All other pointers passed to these functions
are used for reading only. A few arguments use pointers to structures that are
used for both input and output and are indicated by using the _in_out suffix.
7
Chapter 2. Display Functions
Before your program can use a display, you must establish a connection to the X
server. Once you have established a connection, you then can use the Xlib macros
and functions discussed in this chapter to return information about the display. This
chapter discusses how to:
Open (connect to) the display
Obtain information about the display, image formats, or screens
Generate a NoOperation protocol request
Free client-created data
Close (disconnect from) a display
Use X Server connection close operations
Use Xlib with threads
Use internal connections
Opening the Display
To open a connection to the X server that controls a display, use XOpenDisplay.
AllPlanes()
XAllPlanes
display_name Specifies the hardware display name, which de-
termines the display and communications domain
to be used. On a POSIX-conformant system, if the
display_name is NULL, it defaults to the value of the
DISPLAY environment variable.
The encoding and interpretation of the display name are implementation-depen-
dent. Strings in the Host Portable Character Encoding are supported; support for
other characters is implementation-dependent. On POSIX-conformant systems, the
display name or DISPLAY environment variable can be a string in the format:
protocol/hostname:number.screen_number
protocol Specifies a protocol family or an alias for a protocol
family. Supported protocol families are implementa-
tion dependent. The protocol entry is optional. If pro-
tocol is not specified, the / separating protocol and
hostname must also not be specified.
Display Functions
8
hostname Specifies the name of the host machine on which the
display is physically attached. You follow the host-
name with either a single colon (:) or a double colon
(::).
number Specifies the number of the display server on that
host machine. You may optionally follow this display
number with a period (.). A single CPU can have more
than one display. Multiple displays are usually num-
bered starting with zero.
screen_number Specifies the screen to be used on that server. Mul-
tiple screens can be controlled by a single X serv-
er. The screen_number sets an internal variable that
can be accessed by using the DefaultScreen macro
or the XDefaultScreen function if you are using lan-
guages other than C (see section 2.2.1).
For example, the following would specify screen 1 of display 0 on the machine named
``dual-headed'':
dual-headed:0.1
The XOpenDisplay function returns a Display structure that serves as the connec-
tion to the X server and that contains all the information about that X server.
XOpenDisplay connects your application to the X server through TCP or DECnet
communications protocols, or through some local inter-process communication pro-
tocol. If the protocol is specified as "tcp", "inet", or "inet6", or if no protocol is
specified and the hostname is a host machine name and a single colon (:) separates
the hostname and display number, XOpenDisplay connects using TCP streams. (If
the protocol is specified as "inet", TCP over IPv4 is used. If the protocol is specified
as "inet6", TCP over IPv6 is used. Otherwise, the implementation determines which
IP version is used.) If the hostname and protocol are both not specified, Xlib uses
whatever it believes is the fastest transport. If the hostname is a host machine name
and a double colon (::) separates the hostname and display number, XOpenDisplay
connects using DECnet. A single X server can support any or all of these transport
mechanisms simultaneously. A particular Xlib implementation can support many
more of these transport mechanisms.
If successful, XOpenDisplay returns a pointer to a Display structure, which is de-
fined in <X11/Xlib.h>. If XOpenDisplay does not succeed, it returns NULL. After
a successful call to XOpenDisplay, all of the screens in the display can be used by
the client. The screen number specified in the display_name argument is returned
by the DefaultScreen macro (or the XDefaultScreen function). You can access ele-
ments of the Display and Screen structures only by using the information macros or
functions. For information about using macros and functions to obtain information
from the Display structure, see section 2.2.1.
X servers may implement various types of access control mechanisms (see section
9.8).
Display Functions
9
Obtaining Information about the Display, Image
Formats, or Screens
The Xlib library provides a number of useful macros and corresponding functions
that return data from the Display structure. The macros are used for C program-
ming, and their corresponding function equivalents are for other language bindings.
This section discusses the:
Display macros
Image format functions and macros
Screen information macros
All other members of the Display structure (that is, those for which no macros are
defined) are private to Xlib and must not be used. Applications must never directly
modify or inspect these private members of the Display structure. The XDisplay-
Width, XDisplayHeight, XDisplayCells, XDisplayPlanes, XDisplayWidthMM, and
XDisplayHeightMM functions in the next sections are misnamed. These functions
really should be named Screenwhatever and XScreenwhatever, not Displaywhatev-
er or XDisplaywhatever. Our apologies for the resulting confusion.
Display Macros
Applications should not directly modify any part of the Display and Screen struc-
tures. The members should be considered read-only, although they may change as
the result of other operations on the display.
The following lists the C language macros, their corresponding function equivalents
that are for other language bindings, and what data both can return.
AllPlanes()
XAllPlanes()
Both return a value with all bits set to 1 suitable for use in a plane argument to
a procedure.
Both BlackPixel and WhitePixel can be used in implementing a monochrome ap-
plication. These pixel values are for permanently allocated entries in the default col-
ormap. The actual RGB (red, green, and blue) values are settable on some screens
and, in any case, may not actually be black or white. The names are intended to
convey the expected relative intensity of the colors.
BlackPixel(display, screen_number)
unsigned long XBlackPixel( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return the black pixel value for the specified screen.
Display Functions
10
WhitePixel(display, screen_number)
unsigned long XWhitePixel( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return the white pixel value for the specified screen.
ConnectionNumber(display)
int XConnectionNumber( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both return a connection number for the specified display. On a POSIX-conformant
system, this is the file descriptor of the connection.
DefaultColormap(display, screen_number)
Colormap XDefaultColormap( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return the default colormap ID for allocation on the specified screen. Most
routine allocations of color should be made out of this colormap.
DefaultDepth(display, screen_number)
int XDefaultDepth( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return the depth (number of planes) of the default root window for the spec-
ified screen. Other depths may also be supported on this screen (see XMatchVisu-
alInfo).
To determine the number of depths that are available on a given screen, use XList-
Depths.
DefaultGC(display, screen_number)
GC XDefaultGC( *display, screen_number, *count_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Display Functions
11
count_return Returns the number of (Cn.
The XListDepths function returns the array of depths that are available on the spec-
ified screen. If the specified screen_number is valid and sufficient memory for the
array can be allocated, XListDepths sets count_return to the number of available
depths. Otherwise, it does not set count_return and returns NULL. To release the
memory allocated for the array of depths, use XFree.
DefaultGC(display, screen_number)
GC XDefaultGC( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return the default graphics context for the root window of the specified
screen. This GC is created for the convenience of simple applications and contains
the default GC components with the foreground and background pixel values ini-
tialized to the black and white pixels for the screen, respectively. You can modify
its contents freely because it is not used in any Xlib function. This GC should never
be freed.
DefaultRootWindow(display)
Window XDefaultRootWindow( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both return the root window for the default screen.
DefaultScreenOfDisplay(display)
Screen *XDefaultScreenOfDisplay( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both return a pointer to the default screen.
ScreenOfDisplay(display, screen_number)
Screen *XScreenOfDisplay( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return a pointer to the indicated screen.
DefaultScreen(display)
int XDefaultScreen( *display);
Display Functions
12
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both return the default screen number referenced by the XOpenDisplay function.
This macro or function should be used to retrieve the screen number in applications
that will use only a single screen.
DefaultVisual(display, screen_number)
Visual *XDefaultVisual( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return the default visual type for the specified screen. For further information
about visual types, see section 3.1.
DisplayCells(display, screen_number)
int XDisplayCells( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return the number of entries in the default colormap.
DisplayPlanes(display, screen_number)
int XDisplayPlanes( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return the depth of the root window of the specified screen. For an explanation
of depth, see the glossary.
DisplayString(display)
char *XDisplayString( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both return the string that was passed to XOpenDisplay when the current display
was opened. On POSIX-conformant systems, if the passed string was NULL, these
return the value of the DISPLAY environment variable when the current display was
opened. These are useful to applications that invoke the fork system call and want
to open a new connection to the same display from the child process as well as for
printing error messages.
Display Functions
13
LastKnownRequestProcessed(display)
unsigned long XLastKnownRequestProcessed( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XExtendedMaxRequestSize function returns zero if the specified display
does not support an extended-length protocol encoding; otherwise, it returns the
maximum request size (in 4-byte units) supported by the server using the ex-
tended-length encoding. The Xlib functions XDrawLines, XDrawArcs, XFillPoly-
gon, XChangeProperty, XSetClipRectangles, and XSetRegion will use the extend-
ed-length encoding as necessary, if supported by the server. Use of the extend-
ed-length encoding in other Xlib functions (for example, XDrawPoints, XDrawRec-
tangles, XDrawSegments, XFillArcs, XFillRectangles, XPutImage) is permitted
but not required; an Xlib implementation may choose to split the data across mul-
tiple smaller requests instead.
LastKnownRequestProcessed(display)
unsigned long XLastKnownRequestProcessed( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XMaxRequestSize function returns the maximum request size (in 4-byte units)
supported by the server without using an extended-length protocol encoding. Sin-
gle protocol requests to the server can be no larger than this size unless an ex-
tended-length protocol encoding is supported by the server. The protocol guaran-
tees the size to be no smaller than 4096 units (16384 bytes). Xlib automatically
breaks data up into multiple protocol requests as necessary for the following func-
tions: XDrawPoints, XDrawRectangles, XDrawSegments, XFillArcs, XFillRectan-
gles, and XPutImage.
LastKnownRequestProcessed(display)
unsigned long XLastKnownRequestProcessed( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both extract the full serial number of the last request known by Xlib to have been
processed by the X server. Xlib automatically sets this number when replies, events,
and errors are received.
NextRequest(display)
unsigned long XNextRequest( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both extract the full serial number that is to be used for the next request. Serial
numbers are maintained separately for each display connection.
ProtocolVersion(display)
int XProtocolVersion( *display);
Display Functions
14
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both return the major version number (11) of the X protocol associated with the
connected display.
ProtocolRevision(display)
int XProtocolRevision( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both return the minor protocol revision number of the X server.
QLength(display)
int XQLength( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both return the length of the event queue for the connected display. Note that there
may be more events that have not been read into the queue yet (see XEventsQueued).
RootWindow(display, screen_number)
Window XRootWindow( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return the root window. These are useful with functions that need a drawable
of a particular screen and for creating top-level windows.
ScreenCount(display)
int XScreenCount( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both return the number of available screens.
ServerVendor(display)
char *XServerVendor( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both return a pointer to a null-terminated string that provides some identification
of the owner of the X server implementation. If the data returned by the server is
in the Latin Portable Character Encoding, then the string is in the Host Portable
Character Encoding. Otherwise, the contents of the string are implementation-de-
pendent.
Display Functions
15
VendorRelease(display)
int XVendorRelease( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both return a number related to a vendor's release of the X server.
Image Format Functions and Macros
Applications are required to present data to the X server in a format that the server
demands. To help simplify applications, most of the work required to convert the
data is provided by Xlib (see sections 8.7 and 16.8).
The XPixmapFormatValues structure provides an interface to the pixmap format
information that is returned at the time of a connection setup. It contains:
typedef struct {
int depth;
int bits_per_pixel;
int scanline_pad;
} XPixmapFormatValues;
To obtain the pixmap format information for a given display, use XListPixmapFor-
mats.
ImageByteOrder(display)
int XImageByteOrder( *display, *count_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
count_return Returns the number of (Cn.
The XListPixmapFormats function returns an array of XPixmapFormatValues struc-
tures that describe the types of Z format images supported by the specified display.
If insufficient memory is available, XListPixmapFormats returns NULL. To free the
allocated storage for the XPixmapFormatValues structures, use XFree.
The following lists the C language macros, their corresponding function equivalents
that are for other language bindings, and what data they both return for the speci-
fied server and screen. These are often used by toolkits as well as by simple appli-
cations.
ImageByteOrder(display)
int XImageByteOrder( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both specify the required byte order for images for each scanline unit in XY format
(bitmap) or for each pixel value in Z format. The macro or function can return either
LSBFirst or MSBFirst.
Display Functions
16
BitmapUnit(display)
int XBitmapUnit( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Both return the size of a bitmap's scanline unit in bits. The scanline is calculated
in multiples of this value.
BitmapBitOrder(display)
int XBitmapBitOrder( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Within each bitmap unit, the left-most bit in the bitmap as displayed on the screen is
either the least significant or most significant bit in the unit. This macro or function
can return LSBFirst or MSBFirst.
BitmapPad(display)
int XBitmapPad( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Each scanline must be padded to a multiple of bits returned by this macro or
function.
DisplayHeight(display, screen_number)
int XDisplayHeight( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return an integer that describes the height of the screen in pixels.
DisplayHeightMM(display, screen_number)
int XDisplayHeightMM( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return the height of the specified screen in millimeters.
DisplayWidth(display, screen_number)
int XDisplayWidth( *display, screen_number);
Display Functions
17
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return the width of the screen in pixels.
DisplayWidthMM(display, screen_number)
int XDisplayWidthMM( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
Both return the width of the specified screen in millimeters.
Screen Information Macros
The following lists the C language macros, their corresponding function equivalents
that are for other language bindings, and what data they both can return. These
macros or functions all take a pointer to the appropriate screen structure.
BlackPixelOfScreen(screen)
unsigned long XBlackPixelOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the black pixel value of the specified screen.
WhitePixelOfScreen(screen)
unsigned long XWhitePixelOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the white pixel value of the specified screen.
CellsOfScreen(screen)
int XCellsOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the number of colormap cells in the default colormap of the specified
screen.
DefaultColormapOfScreen(screen)
Colormap XDefaultColormapOfScreen( *screen);
Display Functions
18
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the default colormap of the specified screen.
DefaultDepthOfScreen(screen)
int XDefaultDepthOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the depth of the root window.
DefaultGCOfScreen(screen)
GC XDefaultGCOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return a default graphics context (GC) of the specified screen, which has the
same depth as the root window of the screen. The GC must never be freed.
DefaultVisualOfScreen(screen)
Visual *XDefaultVisualOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the default visual of the specified screen. For information on visual
types, see section 3.1.
DoesBackingStore(screen)
int XDoesBackingStore( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return a value indicating whether the screen supports backing stores. The
value returned can be one of WhenMapped, NotUseful, or Always (see section 3.2.4).
DoesSaveUnders(screen)
Bool XDoesSaveUnders( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return a Boolean value indicating whether the screen supports save unders.
If True, the screen supports save unders. If False, the screen does not support save
unders (see section 3.2.5).
DisplayOfScreen(screen)
Display *XDisplayOfScreen( *screen);
Display Functions
19
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the display of the specified screen.
EventMaskOfScreen(screen)
long XEventMaskOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
The XScreenNumberOfScreen function returns the screen index number of the spec-
ified screen.
EventMaskOfScreen(screen)
long XEventMaskOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the event mask of the root window for the specified screen at connec-
tion setup time.
WidthOfScreen(screen)
int XWidthOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the width of the specified screen in pixels.
HeightOfScreen(screen)
int XHeightOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the height of the specified screen in pixels.
WidthMMOfScreen(screen)
int XWidthMMOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the width of the specified screen in millimeters.
HeightMMOfScreen(screen)
int XHeightMMOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Display Functions
20
Both return the height of the specified screen in millimeters.
MaxCmapsOfScreen(screen)
int XMaxCmapsOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the maximum number of installed colormaps supported by the speci-
fied screen (see section 9.3).
MinCmapsOfScreen(screen)
int XMinCmapsOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the minimum number of installed colormaps supported by the specified
screen (see section 9.3).
PlanesOfScreen(screen)
int XPlanesOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the depth of the root window.
RootWindowOfScreen(screen)
Window XRootWindowOfScreen( *screen);
screen Specifies the appropriate Screen structure.
Both return the root window of the specified screen.
Generating a NoOperation Protocol Request
To execute a NoOperation protocol request, use XNoOp.
XNoOp( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XNoOp function sends a NoOperation protocol request to the X server, thereby
exercising the connection.
Freeing Client-Created Data
To free in-memory data that was created by an Xlib function, use XFree.
XFree( *data);
Display Functions
21
data Specifies the data that is to be freed.
The XFree function is a general-purpose Xlib routine that frees the specified data.
You must use it to free any objects that were allocated by Xlib, unless an alternate
function is explicitly specified for the object. A NULL pointer cannot be passed to
this function.
Closing the Display
To close a display or disconnect from the X server, use XCloseDisplay.
XCloseDisplay( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XCloseDisplay function closes the connection to the X server for the display
specified in the Display structure and destroys all windows, resource IDs (Window,
Font, Pixmap, Colormap, Cursor, and GContext), or other resources that the client
has created on this display, unless the close-down mode of the resource has been
changed (see XSetCloseDownMode). Therefore, these windows, resource IDs, and
other resources should never be referenced again or an error will be generated.
Before exiting, you should call XCloseDisplay explicitly so that any pending errors
are reported as XCloseDisplay performs a final XSync operation.
XCloseDisplay can generate a BadGC error.
Xlib provides a function to permit the resources owned by a client to survive after
the client's connection is closed. To change a client's close-down mode, use XSet-
CloseDownMode.
XSetCloseDownMode( *display, close_mode);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
close_mode Specifies the client close-down mode. You can pass De-
stroyAll, RetainPermanent, or RetainTemporary.
The XSetCloseDownMode defines what will happen to the client's resources at con-
nection close. A connection starts in DestroyAll mode. For information on what hap-
pens to the client's resources when the close_mode argument is RetainPermanent
or RetainTemporary, see section 2.6.
XSetCloseDownMode can generate a BadValue error.
Using X Server Connection Close Operations
When the X server's connection to a client is closed either by an explicit call to
XCloseDisplay or by a process that exits, the X server performs the following au-
tomatic operations:
It disowns all selections owned by the client (see XSetSelectionOwner).
It performs an XUngrabPointer and XUngrabKeyboard if the client has actively
grabbed the pointer or the keyboard.
Display Functions
22
It performs an XUngrabServer if the client has grabbed the server.
It releases all passive grabs made by the client.
It marks all resources (including colormap entries) allocated by the client either
as permanent or temporary, depending on whether the close-down mode is Re-
tainPermanent or RetainTemporary. However, this does not prevent other client
applications from explicitly destroying the resources (see XSetCloseDownMode).
When the close-down mode is DestroyAll, the X server destroys all of a client's re-
sources as follows:
It examines each window in the client's save-set to determine if it is an inferior
(subwindow) of a window created by the client. (The save-set is a list of other
clients' windows that are referred to as save-set windows.) If so, the X server
reparents the save-set window to the closest ancestor so that the save-set win-
dow is not an inferior of a window created by the client. The reparenting leaves
unchanged the absolute coordinates (with respect to the root window) of the up-
per-left outer corner of the save-set window.
It performs a MapWindow request on the save-set window if the save-set window is
unmapped. The X server does this even if the save-set window was not an inferior
of a window created by the client.
It destroys all windows created by the client.
It performs the appropriate free request on each nonwindow resource created
by the client in the server (for example, Font, Pixmap, Cursor, Colormap, and
GContext).
It frees all colors and colormap entries allocated by a client application.
Additional processing occurs when the last connection to the X server closes. An X
server goes through a cycle of having no connections and having some connections.
When the last connection to the X server closes as a result of a connection closing
with the close_mode of DestroyAll, the X server does the following:
It resets its state as if it had just been started. The X server begins by destroying
all lingering resources from clients that have terminated in RetainPermanent or
RetainTemporary mode.
It deletes all but the predefined atom identifiers.
It deletes all properties on all root windows (see section 4.3).
It resets all device maps and attributes (for example, key click, bell volume, and
acceleration) as well as the access control list.
It restores the standard root tiles and cursors.
It restores the default font path.
It restores the input focus to state PointerRoot.
However, the X server does not reset if you close a connection with a close-down
mode set to RetainPermanent or RetainTemporary.
Display Functions
23
Using Xlib with Threads
On systems that have threads, support may be provided to permit multiple threads
to use Xlib concurrently.
To initialize support for concurrent threads, use XInitThreads.
Status XInitThreads();
The XInitThreads function initializes Xlib support for concurrent threads. This
function must be the first Xlib function a multi-threaded program calls, and it must
complete before any other Xlib call is made. This function returns a nonzero status
if initialization was successful; otherwise, it returns zero. On systems that do not
support threads, this function always returns zero.
It is only necessary to call this function if multiple threads might use Xlib concur-
rently. If all calls to Xlib functions are protected by some other access mechanism
(for example, a mutual exclusion lock in a toolkit or through explicit client pro-
gramming), Xlib thread initialization is not required. It is recommended that sin-
gle-threaded programs not call this function.
To lock a display across several Xlib calls, use XLockDisplay.
XLockDisplay( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XLockDisplay function locks out all other threads from using the specified dis-
play. Other threads attempting to use the display will block until the display is un-
locked by this thread. Nested calls to XLockDisplay work correctly; the display will
not actually be unlocked until XUnlockDisplay has been called the same number
of times as XLockDisplay. This function has no effect unless Xlib was successfully
initialized for threads using XInitThreads.
To unlock a display, use XUnlockDisplay.
XUnlockDisplay( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XUnlockDisplay function allows other threads to use the specified display
again. Any threads that have blocked on the display are allowed to continue. Nest-
ed locking works correctly; if XLockDisplay has been called multiple times by a
thread, then XUnlockDisplay must be called an equal number of times before the
display is actually unlocked. This function has no effect unless Xlib was successfully
initialized for threads using XInitThreads.
Using Internal Connections
In addition to the connection to the X server, an Xlib implementation may require
connections to other kinds of servers (for example, to input method servers as de-
scribed in chapter 13). Toolkits and clients that use multiple displays, or that use
displays in combination with other inputs, need to obtain these additional connec-
tions to correctly block until input is available and need to process that input when
Display Functions
24
it is available. Simple clients that use a single display and block for input in an Xlib
event function do not need to use these facilities.
To track internal connections for a display, use XAddConnectionWatch.
type void XConnectionWatchProc( *display, client_data, fd, opening,
*watch_data);
Status XAddConnectionWatch( *display, procedure, client_data);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
procedure Specifies the procedure to be called.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
The XAddConnectionWatch function registers a procedure to be called each time
Xlib opens or closes an internal connection for the specified display. The procedure
is passed the display, the specified client_data, the file descriptor for the connec-
tion, a Boolean indicating whether the connection is being opened or closed, and a
pointer to a location for private watch data. If opening is True, the procedure can
store a pointer to private data in the location pointed to by watch_data; when the
procedure is later called for this same connection and opening is False, the location
pointed to by watch_data will hold this same private data pointer.
This function can be called at any time after a display is opened. If internal connec-
tions already exist, the registered procedure will immediately be called for each
of them, before XAddConnectionWatch returns. XAddConnectionWatch returns a
nonzero status if the procedure is successfully registered; otherwise, it returns zero.
The registered procedure should not call any Xlib functions. If the procedure di-
rectly or indirectly causes the state of internal connections or watch procedures to
change, the result is not defined. If Xlib has been initialized for threads, the proce-
dure is called with the display locked and the result of a call by the procedure to
any Xlib function that locks the display is not defined unless the executing thread
has externally locked the display using XLockDisplay.
To stop tracking internal connections for a display, use XRemoveConnectionWatch.
()
Status XRemoveConnectionWatch( *display, procedure, client_data);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
procedure Specifies the procedure to be called.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
The XRemoveConnectionWatch function removes a previously registered connection
watch procedure. The client_data must match the client_data used when the proce-
dure was initially registered.
To process input on an internal connection, use XProcessInternalConnection.
()
void XProcessInternalConnection( *display, fd);
Display Functions
25
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
fd Specifies the file descriptor.
The XProcessInternalConnection function processes input available on an inter-
nal connection. This function should be called for an internal connection only after
an operating system facility (for example, select or poll) has indicated that input
is available; otherwise, the effect is not defined.
To obtain all of the current internal connections for a display, use XInternalCon-
nectionNumbers.
()
Status XInternalConnectionNumbers( *display, fd, count_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
fd_return Returns the file descriptors.
count_return Returns the number of (Cn.
The XInternalConnectionNumbers function returns a list of the file descriptors for
all internal connections currently open for the specified display. When the allocated
list is no longer needed, free it by using XFree. This functions returns a nonzero
status if the list is successfully allocated; otherwise, it returns zero.
26
Chapter 3. Window Functions
Visual Types
On some display hardware, it may be possible to deal with color resources in more
than one way. For example, you may be able to deal with a screen of either 12-bit
depth with arbitrary mapping of pixel to color (pseudo-color) or 24-bit depth with 8
bits of the pixel dedicated to each of red, green, and blue. These different ways of
dealing with the visual aspects of the screen are called visuals. For each screen of
the display, there may be a list of valid visual types supported at different depths of
the screen. Because default windows and visual types are defined for each screen,
most simple applications need not deal with this complexity. Xlib provides macros
and functions that return the default root window, the default depth of the default
root window, and the default visual type (see sections 2.2.1 and 16.7).
Xlib uses an opaque Visual structure that contains information about the possi-
ble color mapping. The visual utility functions (see section 16.7) use an XVisu-
alInfo structure to return this information to an application. The members of this
structure pertinent to this discussion are class, red_mask, green_mask, blue_mask,
bits_per_rgb, and colormap_size. The class member specifies one of the possible vi-
sual classes of the screen and can be StaticGray, StaticColor, TrueColor, GrayS-
cale, PseudoColor, or DirectColor.
The following concepts may serve to make the explanation of visual types clearer.
The screen can be color or grayscale, can have a colormap that is writable or read-
only, and can also have a colormap whose indices are decomposed into separate
RGB pieces, provided one is not on a grayscale screen. This leads to the following
diagram:
Color Gray-Scale
R/O R/W R/O R/W
----------------------------------------------
Undecomposed Static Pseudo Static Gray
Colormap Color Color Gray Scale
Decomposed True Direct
Colormap Color Color
----------------------------------------------
Conceptually, as each pixel is read out of video memory for display on the screen,
it goes through a look-up stage by indexing into a colormap. Colormaps can be
manipulated arbitrarily on some hardware, in limited ways on other hardware, and
not at all on other hardware. The visual types affect the colormap and the RGB
values in the following ways:
For PseudoColor, a pixel value indexes a colormap to produce independent RGB
values, and the RGB values can be changed dynamically.
GrayScale is treated the same way as PseudoColor except that the primary that
drives the screen is undefined. Thus, the client should always store the same value
for red, green, and blue in the colormaps.
Window Functions
27
For DirectColor, a pixel value is decomposed into separate RGB subfields, and
each subfield separately indexes the colormap for the corresponding value. The
RGB values can be changed dynamically.
TrueColor is treated the same way as DirectColor except that the colormap has
predefined, read-only RGB values. These RGB values are server dependent but
provide linear or near-linear ramps in each primary.
StaticColor is treated the same way as PseudoColor except that the colormap has
predefined, read-only, server-dependent RGB values.
StaticGray is treated the same way as StaticColor except that the RGB values are
equal for any single pixel value, thus resulting in shades of gray. StaticGray with
a two-entry colormap can be thought of as monochrome.
The red_mask, green_mask, and blue_mask members are only defined for Direct-
Color and TrueColor. Each has one contiguous set of bits with no intersections. The
bits_per_rgb member specifies the log base 2 of the number of distinct color values
(individually) of red, green, and blue. Actual RGB values are unsigned 16-bit num-
bers. The colormap_size member defines the number of available colormap entries
in a newly created colormap. For DirectColor and TrueColor, this is the size of an
individual pixel subfield.
To obtain the visual ID from a Visual, use XVisualIDFromVisual.
VisualID XVisualIDFromVisual(visual);
visual Specifies the visual type.
The XVisualIDFromVisual function returns the visual ID for the specified visual
type.
Window Attributes
All InputOutput windows have a border width of zero or more pixels, an optional
background, an event suppression mask (which suppresses propagation of events
from children), and a property list (see section 4.3). The window border and back-
ground can be a solid color or a pattern, called a tile. All windows except the root
have a parent and are clipped by their parent. If a window is stacked on top of an-
other window, it obscures that other window for the purpose of input. If a window
has a background (almost all do), it obscures the other window for purposes of out-
put. Attempts to output to the obscured area do nothing, and no input events (for
example, pointer motion) are generated for the obscured area.
Windows also have associated property lists (see section 4.3).
Both InputOutput and InputOnly windows have the following common attributes,
which are the only attributes of an InputOnly window:
win-gravity
event-mask
do-not-propagate-mask
Window Functions
28
override-redirect
cursor
If you specify any other attributes for an InputOnly window, a BadMatch error re-
sults.
InputOnly windows are used for controlling input events in situations where In-
putOutput windows are unnecessary. InputOnly windows are invisible; can only be
used to control such things as cursors, input event generation, and grabbing; and
cannot be used in any graphics requests. Note that InputOnly windows cannot have
InputOutput windows as inferiors.
Windows have borders of a programmable width and pattern as well as a back-
ground pattern or tile. Pixel values can be used for solid colors. The background
and border pixmaps can be destroyed immediately after creating the window if no
further explicit references to them are to be made. The pattern can either be rela-
tive to the parent or absolute. If ParentRelative, the parent's background is used.
When windows are first created, they are not visible (not mapped) on the screen. Any
output to a window that is not visible on the screen and that does not have backing
store will be discarded. An application may wish to create a window long before it
is mapped to the screen. When a window is eventually mapped to the screen (using
XMapWindow), the X server generates an Expose event for the window if backing
store has not been maintained.
A window manager can override your choice of size, border width, and position
for a top-level window. Your program must be prepared to use the actual size and
position of the top window. It is not acceptable for a client application to resize
itself unless in direct response to a human command to do so. Instead, either your
program should use the space given to it, or if the space is too small for any useful
work, your program might ask the user to resize the window. The border of your
top-level window is considered fair game for window managers.
To set an attribute of a window, set the appropriate member of the XSetWindowAt-
tributes structure and OR in the corresponding value bitmask in your subsequent
calls to XCreateWindow and XChangeWindowAttributes, or use one of the other con-
venience functions that set the appropriate attribute. The symbols for the value
mask bits and the XSetWindowAttributes structure are:
/* Window attribute value mask bits */
/* Window attribute value mask bits */
#define CWBackPixmap (1L<<0)
#define CWBackPixel (1L<<1)
#define CWBorderPixmap (1L<<2)
#define CWBorderPixel (1L<<3)
#define CWBitGravity (1L<<4)
#define CWWinGravity (1L<<5)
#define CWBackingStore (1L<<6)
#define CWBackingPlanes (1L<<7)
#define CWBackingPixel (1L<<8)
#define CWOverrideRedirect (1L<<9)
#define CWSaveUnder (1L<<10)
#define CWEventMask (1L<<11)
Window Functions
29
#define CWDontPropagate (1L<<12)
#define CWColormap (1L<<13)
#define CWCursor (1L<<14)
/* Values */
typedef struct {
Pixmap background_pixmap; /* background, None, or ParentRelative */
unsigned long background_pixel; /* background pixel */
Pixmap border_pixmap; /* border of the window or CopyFromParent */
unsigned long border_pixel; /* border pixel value */
int bit_gravity; /* one of bit gravity values */
int win_gravity; /* one of the window gravity values */
int backing_store; /* NotUseful, WhenMapped, Always */
unsigned long backing_planes; /* planes to be preserved if possible */
unsigned long backing_pixel; /* value to use in restoring planes */
Bool save_under; /* should bits under be saved? (popups) */
long event_mask; /* set of events that should be saved */
long do_not_propagate_mask; /* set of events that should not propagate */
Bool override_redirect; /* boolean value for override_redirect */
Colormap colormap; /* color map to be associated with window */
Cursor cursor; /* cursor to be displayed (or None) */
} XSetWindowAttributes;
The following lists the defaults for each window attribute and indicates whether the
attribute is applicable to InputOutput and InputOnly windows:
Attribute Default InputOutput nputOnly
back-
ground-pixmap
None Yes No
background-pixel Undefined Yes No
border-pixmap CopyFromParent Yes No
border-pixel Undefined Yes No
bit-gravity ForgetGravity Yes No
win-gravity NorthWestGravity Yes Yes
backing-store NotUseful Yes No
backing-planes All ones Yes No
backing-pixel zero Yes No
save-under False Yes No
event-mask empty set Yes Yes
do-not-prop-
agate-mask
empty set Yes Yes
override-redirect False Yes Yes
colormap CopyFromParent Yes No
Window Functions
30
Attribute Default InputOutput nputOnly
cursor None Yes Yes
Background Attribute
Only InputOutput windows can have a background. You can set the background of
an InputOutput window by using a pixel or a pixmap.
The background-pixmap attribute of a window specifies the pixmap to be used for
a window's background. This pixmap can be of any size, although some sizes may
be faster than others. The background-pixel attribute of a window specifies a pixel
value used to paint a window's background in a single color.
You can set the background-pixmap to a pixmap, None (default), or ParentRelative.
You can set the background-pixel of a window to any pixel value (no default). If you
specify a background-pixel, it overrides either the default background-pixmap or
any value you may have set in the background-pixmap. A pixmap of an undefined size
that is filled with the background-pixel is used for the background. Range checking
is not performed on the background pixel; it simply is truncated to the appropriate
number of bits.
If you set the background-pixmap, it overrides the default. The background-pixmap
and the window must have the same depth, or a BadMatch error results. If you set
background-pixmap to None, the window has no defined background. If you set the
background-pixmap to ParentRelative:
The parent window's background-pixmap is used. The child window, however,
must have the same depth as its parent, or a BadMatch error results.
If the parent window has a background-pixmap of None, the window also has a
background-pixmap of None.
A copy of the parent window's background-pixmap is not made. The parent's back-
ground-pixmap is examined each time the child window's background-pixmap is
required.
The background tile origin always aligns with the parent window's background
tile origin. If the background-pixmap is not ParentRelative, the background tile
origin is the child window's origin.
Setting a new background, whether by setting background-pixmap or back-
ground-pixel, overrides any previous background. The background-pixmap can be
freed immediately if no further explicit reference is made to it (the X server will
keep a copy to use when needed). If you later draw into the pixmap used for the
background, what happens is undefined because the X implementation is free to
make a copy of the pixmap or to use the same pixmap.
When no valid contents are available for regions of a window and either the regions
are visible or the server is maintaining backing store, the server automatically tiles
the regions with the window's background unless the window has a background of
None. If the background is None, the previous screen contents from other windows
of the same depth as the window are simply left in place as long as the contents come
from the parent of the window or an inferior of the parent. Otherwise, the initial
contents of the exposed regions are undefined. Expose events are then generated
for the regions, even if the background-pixmap is None (see section 10.9).
Window Functions
31
Border Attribute
Only InputOutput windows can have a border. You can set the border of an InputOut-
put window by using a pixel or a pixmap.
The border-pixmap attribute of a window specifies the pixmap to be used for a
window's border. The border-pixel attribute of a window specifies a pixmap of unde-
fined size filled with that pixel be used for a window's border. Range checking is not
performed on the background pixel; it simply is truncated to the appropriate num-
ber of bits. The border tile origin is always the same as the background tile origin.
You can also set the border-pixmap to a pixmap of any size (some may be faster
than others) or to CopyFromParent (default). You can set the border-pixel to any
pixel value (no default).
If you set a border-pixmap, it overrides the default. The border-pixmap and the
window must have the same depth, or a BadMatch error results. If you set the bor-
der-pixmap to CopyFromParent, the parent window's border-pixmap is copied. Sub-
sequent changes to the parent window's border attribute do not affect the child
window. However, the child window must have the same depth as the parent win-
dow, or a BadMatch error results.
The border-pixmap can be freed immediately if no further explicit reference is made
to it. If you later draw into the pixmap used for the border, what happens is unde-
fined because the X implementation is free either to make a copy of the pixmap or
to use the same pixmap. If you specify a border-pixel, it overrides either the default
border-pixmap or any value you may have set in the border-pixmap. All pixels in the
window's border will be set to the border-pixel. Setting a new border, whether by
setting border-pixel or by setting border-pixmap, overrides any previous border.
Output to a window is always clipped to the inside of the window. Therefore, graph-
ics operations never affect the window border.
Gravity Attributes
The bit gravity of a window defines which region of the window should be retained
when an InputOutput window is resized. The default value for the bit-gravity at-
tribute is ForgetGravity. The window gravity of a window allows you to define how
the InputOutput or InputOnly window should be repositioned if its parent is resized.
The default value for the win-gravity attribute is NorthWestGravity.
If the inside width or height of a window is not changed and if the window is moved
or its border is changed, then the contents of the window are not lost but move with
the window. Changing the inside width or height of the window causes its contents
to be moved or lost (depending on the bit-gravity of the window) and causes children
to be reconfigured (depending on their win-gravity). For a change of width and
height, the (x, y) pairs are defined:
Gravity Direction Coordinates
NorthWestGravity (0, 0)
NorthGravity (Width/2, 0)
NorthEastGravity (Width, 0)
WestGravity (0, Height/2)
Window Functions
32
Gravity Direction Coordinates
CenterGravity (Width/2, Height/2)
EastGravity (Width, Height/2)
SouthWestGravity (0, Height)
SouthGravity (Width/2, Height)
SouthEastGravity (Width, Height)
When a window with one of these bit-gravity values is resized, the corresponding
pair defines the change in position of each pixel in the window. When a window with
one of these win-gravities has its parent window resized, the corresponding pair
defines the change in position of the window within the parent. When a window is
so repositioned, a GravityNotify event is generated (see section 10.10.5).
A bit-gravity of StaticGravity indicates that the contents or origin should not move
relative to the origin of the root window. If the change in size of the window is
coupled with a change in position (x, y), then for bit-gravity the change in position of
each pixel is (x, y), and for win-gravity the change in position of a child when its
parent is so resized is (x, y). Note that StaticGravity still only takes effect when
the width or height of the window is changed, not when the window is moved.
A bit-gravity of ForgetGravity indicates that the window's contents are always dis-
carded after a size change, even if a backing store or save under has been request-
ed. The window is tiled with its background and zero or more Expose events are
generated. If no background is defined, the existing screen contents are not altered.
Some X servers may also ignore the specified bit-gravity and always generate Ex-
pose events.
The contents and borders of inferiors are not affected by their parent's bit-gravity.
A server is permitted to ignore the specified bit-gravity and use Forget instead.
A win-gravity of UnmapGravity is like NorthWestGravity (the window is not moved),
except the child is also unmapped when the parent is resized, and an UnmapNotify
event is generated.
Backing Store Attribute
Some implementations of the X server may choose to maintain the contents of In-
putOutput windows. If the X server maintains the contents of a window, the off-
screen saved pixels are known as backing store. The backing store advises the X
server on what to do with the contents of a window. The backing-store attribute can
be set to NotUseful (default), WhenMapped, or Always.
A backing-store attribute of NotUseful advises the X server that maintaining con-
tents is unnecessary, although some X implementations may still choose to maintain
contents and, therefore, not generate Expose events. A backing-store attribute of
WhenMapped advises the X server that maintaining contents of obscured regions
when the window is mapped would be beneficial. In this case, the server may gen-
erate an Expose event when the window is created. A backing-store attribute of
Always advises the X server that maintaining contents even when the window is
unmapped would be beneficial. Even if the window is larger than its parent, this is
a request to the X server to maintain complete contents, not just the region within
the parent window boundaries. While the X server maintains the window's contents,
Window Functions
33
Expose events normally are not generated, but the X server may stop maintaining
contents at any time.
When the contents of obscured regions of a window are being maintained, regions
obscured by noninferior windows are included in the destination of graphics re-
quests (and source, when the window is the source). However, regions obscured by
inferior windows are not included.
Save Under Flag
Some server implementations may preserve contents of InputOutput windows under
other InputOutput windows. This is not the same as preserving the contents of a
window for you. You may get better visual appeal if transient windows (for example,
pop-up menus) request that the system preserve the screen contents under them,
so the temporarily obscured applications do not have to repaint.
You can set the save-under flag to True or False (default). If save-under is True,
the X server is advised that, when this window is mapped, saving the contents of
windows it obscures would be beneficial.
Backing Planes and Backing Pixel Attributes
You can set backing planes to indicate (with bits set to 1) which bit planes of an
InputOutput window hold dynamic data that must be preserved in backing store
and during save unders. The default value for the backing-planes attribute is all
bits set to 1. You can set backing pixel to specify what bits to use in planes not
covered by backing planes. The default value for the backing-pixel attribute is all
bits set to 0. The X server is free to save only the specified bit planes in the backing
store or the save under and is free to regenerate the remaining planes with the
specified pixel value. Any extraneous bits in these values (that is, those bits beyond
the specified depth of the window) may be simply ignored. If you request backing
store or save unders, you should use these members to minimize the amount of off-
screen memory required to store your window.
Event Mask and Do Not Propagate Mask Attributes
The event mask defines which events the client is interested in for this InputOutput
or InputOnly window (or, for some event types, inferiors of this window). The event
mask is the bitwise inclusive OR of zero or more of the valid event mask bits. You
can specify that no maskable events are reported by setting NoEventMask (default).
The do-not-propagate-mask attribute defines which events should not be propa-
gated to ancestor windows when no client has the event type selected in this In-
putOutput or InputOnly window. The do-not-propagate-mask is the bitwise inclusive
OR of zero or more of the following masks: KeyPress, KeyRelease, ButtonPress,
ButtonRelease, PointerMotion, Button1Motion, Button2Motion, Button3Motion,
Button4Motion, Button5Motion, and ButtonMotion. You can specify that all events
are propagated by setting NoEventMask (default).
Override Redirect Flag
To control window placement or to add decoration, a window manager often needs
to intercept (redirect) any map or configure request. Pop-up windows, however,
often need to be mapped without a window manager getting in the way. To control
Window Functions
34
whether an InputOutput or InputOnly window is to ignore these structure control
facilities, use the override-redirect flag.
The override-redirect flag specifies whether map and configure requests on this
window should override a SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent. You can set the
override-redirect flag to True or False (default). Window managers use this infor-
mation to avoid tampering with pop-up windows (see also chapter 14).
Colormap Attribute
The colormap attribute specifies which colormap best reflects the true colors of the
InputOutput window. The colormap must have the same visual type as the window,
or a BadMatch error results. X servers capable of supporting multiple hardware
colormaps can use this information, and window managers can use it for calls to
XInstallColormap. You can set the colormap attribute to a colormap or to Copy-
FromParent (default).
If you set the colormap to CopyFromParent, the parent window's colormap is copied
and used by its child. However, the child window must have the same visual type
as the parent, or a BadMatch error results. The parent window must not have a
colormap of None, or a BadMatch error results. The colormap is copied by sharing
the colormap object between the child and parent, not by making a complete copy
of the colormap contents. Subsequent changes to the parent window's colormap
attribute do not affect the child window.
Cursor Attribute
The cursor attribute specifies which cursor is to be used when the pointer is in
the InputOutput or InputOnly window. You can set the cursor to a cursor or None
(default).
If you set the cursor to None, the parent's cursor is used when the pointer is in the
InputOutput or InputOnly window, and any change in the parent's cursor will cause
an immediate change in the displayed cursor. By calling XFreeCursor, the cursor
can be freed immediately as long as no further explicit reference to it is made.
Creating Windows
Xlib provides basic ways for creating windows, and toolkits often supply higher-lev-
el functions specifically for creating and placing top-level windows, which are dis-
cussed in the appropriate toolkit documentation. If you do not use a toolkit, howev-
er, you must provide some standard information or hints for the window manager
by using the Xlib inter-client communication functions (see chapter 14).
If you use Xlib to create your own top-level windows (direct children of the root
window), you must observe the following rules so that all applications interact rea-
sonably across the different styles of window management:
You must never fight with the window manager for the size or placement of your
top-level window.
You must be able to deal with whatever size window you get, even if this means
that your application just prints a message like ``Please make me bigger'' in its
window.
Window Functions
35
You should only attempt to resize or move top-level windows in direct response to
a user request. If a request to change the size of a top-level window fails, you must
be prepared to live with what you get. You are free to resize or move the children
of top-level windows as necessary. (Toolkits often have facilities for automatic
relayout.)
If you do not use a toolkit that automatically sets standard window properties,
you should set these properties for top-level windows before mapping them.
For further information, see chapter 14 and the Inter-Client Communication Con-
ventions Manual.
XCreateWindow is the more general function that allows you to set specific window
attributes when you create a window. XCreateSimpleWindow creates a window that
inherits its attributes from its parent window.
The X server acts as if InputOnly windows do not exist for the purposes of graphics
requests, exposure processing, and VisibilityNotify events. An InputOnly window
cannot be used as a drawable (that is, as a source or destination for graphics re-
quests). InputOnly and InputOutput windows act identically in other respects (prop-
erties, grabs, input control, and so on). Extension packages can define other classes
of windows.
To create an unmapped window and set its window attributes, use XCreateWindow.
Window XCreateWindow( *display, parent, y, height, border_width,
depth, class, *visual, valuemask, *attributes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
parent Specifies the parent window. borders and are relative
to the inside of the parent window's borders
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy. and do not include
the created window's borders
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh. The dimensions
must be nonzero, or a BadValue error results.
border_width Specifies the width of the created window's border
in pixels.
depth Specifies the window's depth. A depth of Copy-
FromParent means the depth is taken from the par-
ent.
class Specifies the created window's class. You can pass
InputOutput, InputOnly, or CopyFromParent. A class
of CopyFromParent means the class is taken from the
parent.
visual Specifies the visual type. A visual of CopyFromParent
means the visual type is taken from the parent.
Window Functions
36
valuemask Specifies which window attributes are defined in the
attributes argument. This mask is the bitwise inclu-
sive OR of the valid attribute mask bits. If valuemask
is zero, the attributes are ignored and are not refer-
enced.
attributes Specifies the structure from which the values (as
specified by the value mask) are to be taken. The val-
ue mask should have the appropriate bits set to indi-
cate which attributes have been set in the structure.
The XCreateWindow function creates an unmapped subwindow for a specified parent
window, returns the window ID of the created window, and causes the X server to
generate a CreateNotify event. The created window is placed on top in the stacking
order with respect to siblings.
The coordinate system has the X axis horizontal and the Y axis vertical with the
origin [0, 0] at the upper-left corner. Coordinates are integral, in terms of pixels,
and coincide with pixel centers. Each window and pixmap has its own coordinate
system. For a window, the origin is inside the border at the inside, upper-left corner.
The border_width for an InputOnly window must be zero, or a BadMatch error re-
sults. For class InputOutput, the visual type and depth must be a combination sup-
ported for the screen, or a BadMatch error results. The depth need not be the same
as the parent, but the parent must not be a window of class InputOnly, or a Bad-
Match error results. For an InputOnly window, the depth must be zero, and the vi-
sual must be one supported by the screen. If either condition is not met, a BadMatch
error results. The parent window, however, may have any depth and class. If you
specify any invalid window attribute for a window, a BadMatch error results.
The created window is not yet displayed (mapped) on the user's display. To display
the window, call XMapWindow. The new window initially uses the same cursor as its
parent. A new cursor can be defined for the new window by calling XDefineCursor.
The window will not be visible on the screen unless it and all of its ancestors are
mapped and it is not obscured by any of its ancestors.
XCreateWindow can generate BadAlloc, BadColor, BadCursor, BadMatch, Bad-
Pixmap, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.
To create an unmapped InputOutput subwindow of a given parent window, use
XCreateSimpleWindow.
Window XCreateSimpleWindow( *display, parent, y, height,
border_width, border, background);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
parent Specifies the parent window. and are relative to the
inside of the parent window's borders
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy. and do not include
the created window's borders
width
Window Functions
37
height Specify the width and height(Wh. The dimensions
must be nonzero, or a BadValue error results.
border_width Specifies the width of the created window's border
in pixels.
border Specifies the border pixel value of the window.
background Specifies the background pixel value of the window.
The XCreateSimpleWindow function creates an unmapped InputOutput subwindow
for a specified parent window, returns the window ID of the created window, and
causes the X server to generate a CreateNotify event. The created window is placed
on top in the stacking order with respect to siblings. Any part of the window that
extends outside its parent window is clipped. The border_width for an InputOnly
window must be zero, or a BadMatch error results. XCreateSimpleWindow inher-
its its depth, class, and visual from its parent. All other window attributes, except
background and border, have their default values.
XCreateSimpleWindow can generate BadAlloc, BadMatch, BadValue, and BadWin-
dow errors.
Destroying Windows
Xlib provides functions that you can use to destroy a window or destroy all subwin-
dows of a window.
To destroy a window and all of its subwindows, use XDestroyWindow.
XDestroyWindow( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XDestroyWindow function destroys the specified window as well as all of its
subwindows and causes the X server to generate a DestroyNotify event for each
window. The window should never be referenced again. If the window specified by
the w argument is mapped, it is unmapped automatically. The ordering of the De-
stroyNotify events is such that for any given window being destroyed, DestroyNotify
is generated on any inferiors of the window before being generated on the window
itself. The ordering among siblings and across subhierarchies is not otherwise con-
strained. If the window you specified is a root window, no windows are destroyed.
Destroying a mapped window will generate Expose events on other windows that
were obscured by the window being destroyed.
XDestroyWindow can generate a BadWindow error.
To destroy all subwindows of a specified window, use XDestroySubwindows.
XDestroySubwindows( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
Window Functions
38
The XDestroySubwindows function destroys all inferior windows of the specified
window, in bottom-to-top stacking order. It causes the X server to generate a De-
stroyNotify event for each window. If any mapped subwindows were actually de-
stroyed, XDestroySubwindows causes the X server to generate Expose events on the
specified window. This is much more efficient than deleting many windows one at a
time because much of the work need be performed only once for all of the windows,
rather than for each window. The subwindows should never be referenced again.
XDestroySubwindows can generate a BadWindow error.
Mapping Windows
A window is considered mapped if an XMapWindow call has been made on it. It may
not be visible on the screen for one of the following reasons:
It is obscured by another opaque window.
One of its ancestors is not mapped.
It is entirely clipped by an ancestor.
Expose events are generated for the window when part or all of it becomes visible
on the screen. A client receives the Expose events only if it has asked for them.
Windows retain their position in the stacking order when they are unmapped.
A window manager may want to control the placement of subwindows. If Substruc-
tureRedirectMask has been selected by a window manager on a parent window
(usually a root window), a map request initiated by other clients on a child window
is not performed, and the window manager is sent a MapRequest event. However,
if the override-redirect flag on the child had been set to True (usually only on pop-
up menus), the map request is performed.
A tiling window manager might decide to reposition and resize other clients' win-
dows and then decide to map the window to its final location. A window manager
that wants to provide decoration might reparent the child into a frame first. For
further information, see sections 3.2.8 and 10.10. Only a single client at a time can
select for SubstructureRedirectMask.
Similarly, a single client can select for ResizeRedirectMask on a parent window.
Then, any attempt to resize the window by another client is suppressed, and the
client receives a ResizeRequest event.
To map a given window, use XMapWindow.
XMapWindow( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XMapWindow function maps the window and all of its subwindows that have had
map requests. Mapping a window that has an unmapped ancestor does not display
the window but marks it as eligible for display when the ancestor becomes mapped.
Such a window is called unviewable. When all its ancestors are mapped, the window
Window Functions
39
becomes viewable and will be visible on the screen if it is not obscured by another
window. This function has no effect if the window is already mapped.
If the override-redirect of the window is False and if some other client has selected
SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent window, then the X server generates a
MapRequest event, and the XMapWindow function does not map the window. Other-
wise, the window is mapped, and the X server generates a MapNotify event.
If the window becomes viewable and no earlier contents for it are remembered, the
X server tiles the window with its background. If the window's background is unde-
fined, the existing screen contents are not altered, and the X server generates zero
or more Expose events. If backing-store was maintained while the window was un-
mapped, no Expose events are generated. If backing-store will now be maintained,
a full-window exposure is always generated. Otherwise, only visible regions may be
reported. Similar tiling and exposure take place for any newly viewable inferiors.
If the window is an InputOutput window, XMapWindow generates Expose events on
each InputOutput window that it causes to be displayed. If the client maps and
paints the window and if the client begins processing events, the window is painted
twice. To avoid this, first ask for Expose events and then map the window, so the
client processes input events as usual. The event list will include Expose for each
window that has appeared on the screen. The client's normal response to an Expose
event should be to repaint the window. This method usually leads to simpler pro-
grams and to proper interaction with window managers.
XMapWindow can generate a BadWindow error.
To map and raise a window, use XMapRaised.
XMapRaised( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XMapRaised function essentially is similar to XMapWindow in that it maps the
window and all of its subwindows that have had map requests. However, it also
raises the specified window to the top of the stack. For additional information, see
XMapWindow.
XMapRaised can generate multiple BadWindow errors.
To map all subwindows for a specified window, use XMapSubwindows.
XMapSubwindows( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XMapSubwindows function maps all subwindows for a specified window in top-
to-bottom stacking order. The X server generates Expose events on each newly dis-
played window. This may be much more efficient than mapping many windows one
at a time because the server needs to perform much of the work only once, for all
of the windows, rather than for each window.
XMapSubwindows can generate a BadWindow error.
Window Functions
40
Unmapping Windows
Xlib provides functions that you can use to unmap a window or all subwindows.
To unmap a window, use XUnmapWindow.
XUnmapWindow( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XUnmapWindow function unmaps the specified window and causes the X server
to generate an UnmapNotify event. If the specified window is already unmapped,
XUnmapWindow has no effect. Normal exposure processing on formerly obscured win-
dows is performed. Any child window will no longer be visible until another map
call is made on the parent. In other words, the subwindows are still mapped but are
not visible until the parent is mapped. Unmapping a window will generate Expose
events on windows that were formerly obscured by it.
XUnmapWindow can generate a BadWindow error.
To unmap all subwindows for a specified window, use XUnmapSubwindows.
XUnmapSubwindows( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XUnmapSubwindows function unmaps all subwindows for the specified window
in bottom-to-top stacking order. It causes the X server to generate an UnmapNotify
event on each subwindow and Expose events on formerly obscured windows. Using
this function is much more efficient than unmapping multiple windows one at a
time because the server needs to perform much of the work only once, for all of the
windows, rather than for each window.
XUnmapSubwindows can generate a BadWindow error.
Configuring Windows
Xlib provides functions that you can use to move a window, resize a window, move
and resize a window, or change a window's border width. To change one of these
parameters, set the appropriate member of the XWindowChanges structure and
OR in the corresponding value mask in subsequent calls to XConfigureWindow. The
symbols for the value mask bits and the XWindowChanges structure are:
/* Con#gure window value mask bits */
#define CWX (1<<0)
#define CWY (1<<1)
#define CWWidth (1<<2)
#define CWHeight (1<<3)
Window Functions
41
#define CWBorderWidth (1<<4)
#define CWSibling (1<<5)
#define CWStackMode (1<<6)
/* Values */
typedef struct {
int x, y;
int width, height;
int border_width;
Window sibling;
int stack_mode;
} XWindowChanges;
The x and y members are used to set the window's x and y coordinates, which are
relative to the parent's origin and indicate the position of the upper-left outer corner
of the window. The width and height members are used to set the inside size of the
window, not including the border, and must be nonzero, or a BadValue error results.
Attempts to configure a root window have no effect.
The border_width member is used to set the width of the border in pixels. Note that
setting just the border width leaves the outer-left corner of the window in a fixed
position but moves the absolute position of the window's origin. If you attempt to
set the border-width attribute of an InputOnly window nonzero, a BadMatch error
results.
The sibling member is used to set the sibling window for stacking operations. The
stack_mode member is used to set how the window is to be restacked and can be
set to Above, Below, TopIf, BottomIf, or Opposite.
If the override-redirect flag of the window is False and if some other client has se-
lected SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent, the X server generates a Config-
ureRequest event, and no further processing is performed. Otherwise, if some oth-
er client has selected ResizeRedirectMask on the window and the inside width or
height of the window is being changed, a ResizeRequest event is generated, and the
current inside width and height are used instead. Note that the override-redirect
flag of the window has no effect on ResizeRedirectMask and that SubstructureRedi-
rectMask on the parent has precedence over ResizeRedirectMask on the window.
When the geometry of the window is changed as specified, the window is restacked
among siblings, and a ConfigureNotify event is generated if the state of the window
actually changes. GravityNotify events are generated after ConfigureNotify events.
If the inside width or height of the window has actually changed, children of the
window are affected as specified.
If a window's size actually changes, the window's subwindows move according to
their window gravity. Depending on the window's bit gravity, the contents of the
window also may be moved (see section 3.2.3).
If regions of the window were obscured but now are not, exposure processing is
performed on these formerly obscured windows, including the window itself and
its inferiors. As a result of increasing the width or height, exposure processing is
Window Functions
42
also performed on any new regions of the window and any regions where window
contents are lost.
The restack check (specifically, the computation for BottomIf, TopIf, and Opposite)
is performed with respect to the window's final size and position (as controlled by
the other arguments of the request), not its initial position. If a sibling is specified
without a stack_mode, a BadMatch error results.
If a sibling and a stack_mode are specified, the window is restacked as follows:
Above The window is placed
just above the sibling.
Below The window is placed
just below the sibling.
TopIf If the sibling occludes the window, the
window is placed at the top of the stack.
BottomIf If the window occludes the
sibling, the window is placed
at the bottom of the stack.
Opposite If the sibling occludes the win-
dow, the window is placed at the
top of the stack. If the window oc-
cludes the sibling, the window is
placed at the bottom of the stack.
If a stack_mode is specified but no sibling is specified, the window is restacked as
follows:
Above The window is placed
at the top of the stack.
Below The window is placed at
the bottom of the stack.
TopIf If any sibling occludes the window, the
window is placed at the top of the stack.
If the window occludes any
sibling, the window is placed
at the bottom of the stack.
Opposite If any sibling occludes the win-
dow, the window is placed at the
top of the stack. If the window oc-
cludes any sibling, the window is
placed at the bottom of the stack.
Attempts to configure a root window have no effect.
To configure a window's size, location, stacking, or border, use XConfigureWindow.
XConfigureWindow( *display, w, value_mask, *values);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
Window Functions
43
value_mask Specifies which values are to be set using information in
the values structure. This mask is the bitwise inclusive
OR of the valid configure window values bits.
values Specifies the XWindowChanges structure.
The XConfigureWindow function uses the values specified in the XWindowChanges
structure to reconfigure a window's size, position, border, and stacking order. Values
not specified are taken from the existing geometry of the window.
If a sibling is specified without a stack_mode or if the window is not actually a sib-
ling, a BadMatch error results. Note that the computations for BottomIf, TopIf, and
Opposite are performed with respect to the window's final geometry (as controlled
by the other arguments passed to XConfigureWindow), not its initial geometry. Any
backing store contents of the window, its inferiors, and other newly visible windows
are either discarded or changed to reflect the current screen contents (depending
on the implementation).
XConfigureWindow can generate BadMatch, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.
To move a window without changing its size, use XMoveWindow.
XMoveWindow( *display, w, y);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi. of the window's border or the
window itself if it has no border
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
The XMoveWindow function moves the specified window to the specified x and y co-
ordinates, but it does not change the window's size, raise the window, or change the
mapping state of the window. Moving a mapped window may or may not lose the
window's contents depending on if the window is obscured by nonchildren and if no
backing store exists. If the contents of the window are lost, the X server generates
Expose events. Moving a mapped window generates Expose events on any formerly
obscured windows.
If the override-redirect flag of the window is False and some other client has se-
lected SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent, the X server generates a Config-
ureRequest event, and no further processing is performed. Otherwise, the window
is moved.
XMoveWindow can generate a BadWindow error.
To change a window's size without changing the upper-left coordinate, use XRe-
sizeWindow.
XResizeWindow( *display, w, height);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window. after the call completes
width
Window Functions
44
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
The XResizeWindow function changes the inside dimensions of the specified window,
not including its borders. This function does not change the window's upper-left
coordinate or the origin and does not restack the window. Changing the size of a
mapped window may lose its contents and generate Expose events. If a mapped
window is made smaller, changing its size generates Expose events on windows that
the mapped window formerly obscured.
If the override-redirect flag of the window is False and some other client has se-
lected SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent, the X server generates a Config-
ureRequest event, and no further processing is performed. If either width or height
is zero, a BadValue error results.
XResizeWindow can generate BadValue and BadWindow errors.
To change the size and location of a window, use XMoveResizeWindow.
XMoveResizeWindow( *display, w, y, height);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
The XMoveResizeWindow function changes the size and location of the specified win-
dow without raising it. Moving and resizing a mapped window may generate an
Expose event on the window. Depending on the new size and location parameters,
moving and resizing a window may generate Expose events on windows that the
window formerly obscured.
If the override-redirect flag of the window is False and some other client has se-
lected SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent, the X server generates a Config-
ureRequest event, and no further processing is performed. Otherwise, the window
size and location are changed.
XMoveResizeWindow can generate BadValue and BadWindow errors.
To change the border width of a given window, use XSetWindowBorderWidth.
XSetWindowBorderWidth( *display, w, width);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
width Specifies the width of the window border.
The XSetWindowBorderWidth function sets the specified window's border width to
the specified width.
Window Functions
45
XSetWindowBorderWidth can generate a BadWindow error.
Changing Window Stacking Order
Xlib provides functions that you can use to raise, lower, circulate, or restack win-
dows.
To raise a window so that no sibling window obscures it, use XRaiseWindow.
XRaiseWindow( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XRaiseWindow function raises the specified window to the top of the stack so
that no sibling window obscures it. If the windows are regarded as overlapping
sheets of paper stacked on a desk, then raising a window is analogous to moving the
sheet to the top of the stack but leaving its x and y location on the desk constant.
Raising a mapped window may generate Expose events for the window and any
mapped subwindows that were formerly obscured.
If the override-redirect attribute of the window is False and some other client has
selected SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent, the X server generates a Config-
ureRequest event, and no processing is performed. Otherwise, the window is raised.
XRaiseWindow can generate a BadWindow error.
To lower a window so that it does not obscure any sibling windows, use XLower-
Window.
XLowerWindow( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XLowerWindow function lowers the specified window to the bottom of the stack
so that it does not obscure any sibling windows. If the windows are regarded as
overlapping sheets of paper stacked on a desk, then lowering a window is analogous
to moving the sheet to the bottom of the stack but leaving its x and y location on
the desk constant. Lowering a mapped window will generate Expose events on any
windows it formerly obscured.
If the override-redirect attribute of the window is False and some other client has
selected SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent, the X server generates a Config-
ureRequest event, and no processing is performed. Otherwise, the window is low-
ered to the bottom of the stack.
XLowerWindow can generate a BadWindow error.
To circulate a subwindow up or down, use XCirculateSubwindows.
XCirculateSubwindows( *display, w, direction);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Window Functions
46
w Specifies the window.
direction Specifies the direction (up or down) that you want to cir-
culate the window. You can pass RaiseLowest or Lower-
Highest.
The XCirculateSubwindows function circulates children of the specified window in
the specified direction. If you specify RaiseLowest, XCirculateSubwindows raises
the lowest mapped child (if any) that is occluded by another child to the top of
the stack. If you specify LowerHighest, XCirculateSubwindows lowers the highest
mapped child (if any) that occludes another child to the bottom of the stack. Expo-
sure processing is then performed on formerly obscured windows. If some other
client has selected SubstructureRedirectMask on the window, the X server gener-
ates a CirculateRequest event, and no further processing is performed. If a child is
actually restacked, the X server generates a CirculateNotify event.
XCirculateSubwindows can generate BadValue and BadWindow errors.
To raise the lowest mapped child of a window that is partially or completely occluded
by another child, use XCirculateSubwindowsUp.
XCirculateSubwindowsUp( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XCirculateSubwindowsUp function raises the lowest mapped child of the spec-
ified window that is partially or completely occluded by another child. Completely
unobscured children are not affected. This is a convenience function equivalent to
XCirculateSubwindows with RaiseLowest specified.
XCirculateSubwindowsUp can generate a BadWindow error.
To lower the highest mapped child of a window that partially or completely occludes
another child, use XCirculateSubwindowsDown.
XCirculateSubwindowsDown( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XCirculateSubwindowsDown function lowers the highest mapped child of the
specified window that partially or completely occludes another child. Completely
unobscured children are not affected. This is a convenience function equivalent to
XCirculateSubwindows with LowerHighest specified.
XCirculateSubwindowsDown can generate a BadWindow error.
To restack a set of windows from top to bottom, use XRestackWindows.
XRestackWindows( *display, windows[], nwindows);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
windows Specifies an array containing the windows to be
restacked.
Window Functions
47
nwindows Specifies the number of windows to be restacked.
The XRestackWindows function restacks the windows in the order specified, from
top to bottom. The stacking order of the first window in the windows array is unaf-
fected, but the other windows in the array are stacked underneath the first window,
in the order of the array. The stacking order of the other windows is not affected.
For each window in the window array that is not a child of the specified window,
a BadMatch error results.
If the override-redirect attribute of a window is False and some other client has
selected SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent, the X server generates Config-
ureRequest events for each window whose override-redirect flag is not set, and no
further processing is performed. Otherwise, the windows will be restacked in top-
to-bottom order.
XRestackWindows can generate a BadWindow error.
Changing Window Attributes
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set window attributes. XChangeWin-
dowAttributes is the more general function that allows you to set one or more win-
dow attributes provided by the XSetWindowAttributes structure. The other func-
tions described in this section allow you to set one specific window attribute, such
as a window's background.
To change one or more attributes for a given window, use XChangeWindowAttrib-
utes.
XChangeWindowAttributes( *display, w, valuemask, *attributes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
valuemask Specifies which window attributes are defined in the
attributes argument. This mask is the bitwise inclusive
OR of the valid attribute mask bits. If valuemask is ze-
ro, the attributes are ignored and are not referenced.
The values and restrictions are the same as for XCre-
ateWindow.
attributes Specifies the structure from which the values (as speci-
fied by the value mask) are to be taken. The value mask
should have the appropriate bits set to indicate which
attributes have been set in the structure (see section
3.2).
Depending on the valuemask, the XChangeWindowAttributes function uses the win-
dow attributes in the XSetWindowAttributes structure to change the specified win-
dow attributes. Changing the background does not cause the window contents to be
changed. To repaint the window and its background, use XClearWindow. Setting the
border or changing the background such that the border tile origin changes causes
the border to be repainted. Changing the background of a root window to None
Window Functions
48
or ParentRelative restores the default background pixmap. Changing the border of
a root window to CopyFromParent restores the default border pixmap. Changing
the win-gravity does not affect the current position of the window. Changing the
backing-store of an obscured window to WhenMapped or Always, or changing the
backing-planes, backing-pixel, or save-under of a mapped window may have no im-
mediate effect. Changing the colormap of a window (that is, defining a new map,
not changing the contents of the existing map) generates a ColormapNotify event.
Changing the colormap of a visible window may have no immediate effect on the
screen because the map may not be installed (see XInstallColormap). Changing
the cursor of a root window to None restores the default cursor. Whenever possible,
you are encouraged to share colormaps.
Multiple clients can select input on the same window. Their event masks are main-
tained separately. When an event is generated, it is reported to all interested clients.
However, only one client at a time can select for SubstructureRedirectMask, Resiz-
eRedirectMask, and ButtonPressMask. If a client attempts to select any of these
event masks and some other client has already selected one, a BadAccess error re-
sults. There is only one do-not-propagate-mask for a window, not one per client.
XChangeWindowAttributes can generate BadAccess, BadColor, BadCursor, Bad-
Match, BadPixmap, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.
To set the background of a window to a given pixel, use XSetWindowBackground.
XSetWindowBackground( *display, w, background_pixel);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
background_pixel Specifies the pixel that is to be used for the back-
ground.
The XSetWindowBackground function sets the background of the window to the spec-
ified pixel value. Changing the background does not cause the window contents to
be changed. XSetWindowBackground uses a pixmap of undefined size filled with the
pixel value you passed. If you try to change the background of an InputOnly window,
a BadMatch error results.
XSetWindowBackground can generate BadMatch and BadWindow errors.
To set the background of a window to a given pixmap, use XSetWindowBackground-
Pixmap.
XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap( *display, w, background_pixmap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
background_pixmap Specifies the background pixmap, ParentRelative, or
None.
The XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap function sets the background pixmap of the
window to the specified pixmap. The background pixmap can immediately be freed
if no further explicit references to it are to be made. If ParentRelative is specified,
Window Functions
49
the background pixmap of the window's parent is used, or on the root window, the
default background is restored. If you try to change the background of an InputOnly
window, a BadMatch error results. If the background is set to None, the window
has no defined background.
XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap can generate BadMatch, BadPixmap, and BadWin-
dow errors. XSetWindowBackground and XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap do not
change the current contents of the window.
To change and repaint a window's border to a given pixel, use XSetWindowBorder.
XSetWindowBorder( *display, w, border_pixel);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
border_pixel Specifies the entry in the colormap.
The XSetWindowBorder function sets the border of the window to the pixel value
you specify. If you attempt to perform this on an InputOnly window, a BadMatch
error results.
XSetWindowBorder can generate BadMatch and BadWindow errors.
To change and repaint the border tile of a given window, use XSetWindowBorder-
Pixmap.
XSetWindowBorderPixmap( *display, w, border_pixmap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
border_pixmap Specifies the border pixmap or CopyFromParent.
The XSetWindowBorderPixmap function sets the border pixmap of the window to
the pixmap you specify. The border pixmap can be freed immediately if no further
explicit references to it are to be made. If you specify CopyFromParent, a copy of
the parent window's border pixmap is used. If you attempt to perform this on an
InputOnly window, a BadMatch error results.
XSetWindowBorderPixmap can generate BadMatch, BadPixmap, and BadWindow er-
rors.
To set the colormap of a given window, use XSetWindowColormap.
XSetWindowColormap( *display, w, colormap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
The XSetWindowColormap function sets the specified colormap of the specified win-
dow. The colormap must have the same visual type as the window, or a BadMatch
error results.
Window Functions
50
XSetWindowColormap can generate BadColor, BadMatch, and BadWindow errors.
To define which cursor will be used in a window, use XDefineCursor.
XDefineCursor( *display, w, cursor);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
cursor Specifies the cursor that is to be displayed or None.
If a cursor is set, it will be used when the pointer is in the window. If the cursor is
None, it is equivalent to XUndefineCursor.
XDefineCursor can generate BadCursor and BadWindow errors.
To undefine the cursor in a given window, use XUndefineCursor.
XUndefineCursor( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XUndefineCursor function undoes the effect of a previous XDefineCursor for
this window. When the pointer is in the window, the parent's cursor will now be
used. On the root window, the default cursor is restored.
XUndefineCursor can generate a BadWindow error.
51
Chapter 4. Window Information
Functions
After you connect the display to the X server and create a window, you can use the
Xlib window information functions to:
Obtain information about a window
Translate screen coordinates
Manipulate property lists
Obtain and change window properties
Manipulate selections
Obtaining Window Information
Xlib provides functions that you can use to obtain information about the window
tree, the window's current attributes, the window's current geometry, or the current
pointer coordinates. Because they are most frequently used by window managers,
these functions all return a status to indicate whether the window still exists.
To obtain the parent, a list of children, and number of children for a given window,
use XQueryTree.
Status XQueryTree( *display, w, *root_return, *parent_return,
**children_return, *nchildren_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server. you want to
obtain
w Specifies the window (Wi.
root_return Returns the root window.
parent_return Returns the parent window.
children_return Returns the list of children.
nchildren_return Returns the number of children.
The XQueryTree function returns the root ID, the parent window ID, a pointer to
the list of children windows (NULL when there are no children), and the number
of children in the list for the specified window. The children are listed in current
stacking order, from bottom-most (first) to top-most (last). XQueryTree returns zero
if it fails and nonzero if it succeeds. To free a non-NULL children list when it is no
longer needed, use XFree.
XQueryTree can generate a BadWindow error.
To obtain the current attributes of a given window, use XGetWindowAttributes.
Window Informa-
tion Functions
52
Status XGetWindowAttributes( *display, w, *window_attributes_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
window_attributes_return Returns the specified window's attributes in the
XWindowAttributes structure.
The XGetWindowAttributes function returns the current attributes for the specified
window to an XWindowAttributes structure.
typedef struct {
int x, y; /* location of window */
int width, height; /* width and height of window */
int border_width; /* border width of window */
int depth; /* depth of window */
Visual *visual; /* the associated visual structure */
Window root; /* root of screen containing window */
int class; /* InputOutput, InputOnly*/
int bit_gravity; /* one of the bit gravity values */
int win_gravity; /* one of the window gravity values */
int backing_store; /* NotUseful, WhenMapped, Always */
unsigned long backing_planes; /* planes to be preserved if possible */
unsigned long backing_pixel; /* value to be used when restoring planes */
Bool save_under; /* boolean, should bits under be saved? */
Colormap colormap; /* color map to be associated with window */
Bool map_installed; /* boolean, is color map currently installed*/
int map_state; /* IsUnmapped, IsUnviewable, IsViewable */
long all_event_masks; /* set of events all people have interest in*/
long your_event_mask; /* my event mask */
long do_not_propagate_mask; /* set of events that should not propagate */
Bool override_redirect; /* boolean value for override-redirect */
Screen *screen; /* back pointer to correct screen */
} XWindowAttributes;
The x and y members are set to the upper-left outer corner relative to the parent
window's origin. The width and height members are set to the inside size of the
window, not including the border. The border_width member is set to the window's
border width in pixels. The depth member is set to the depth of the window (that
is, bits per pixel for the object). The visual member is a pointer to the screen's
associated Visual structure. The root member is set to the root window of the screen
containing the window. The class member is set to the window's class and can be
either InputOutput or InputOnly.
The bit_gravity member is set to the window's bit gravity and can be one of the
following:
ForgetGravity EastGravity
NorthWestGravity SouthWestGravity
Window Informa-
tion Functions
53
NorthGravity SouthGravity
NorthEastGravity SouthEastGravity
WestGravity StaticGravity
The win_gravity member is set to the window's window gravity and can be one of
the following:
UnmapGravity SouthWestGravity
NorthWestGravity SouthGravity
NorthGravity SouthEastGravity
NorthEastGravity StaticGravity
WestGravity CenterGravity
EastGravity
For additional information on gravity, see section 3.2.3.
The backing_store member is set to indicate how the X server should maintain
the contents of a window and can be WhenMapped, Always, or NotUseful. The
backing_planes member is set to indicate (with bits set to 1) which bit planes of the
window hold dynamic data that must be preserved in backing_stores and during
save_unders. The backing_pixel member is set to indicate what values to use for
planes not set in backing_planes.
The save_under member is set to True or False. The colormap member is set to
the colormap for the specified window and can be a colormap ID or None. The
map_installed member is set to indicate whether the colormap is currently installed
and can be True or False. The map_state member is set to indicate the state of
the window and can be IsUnmapped, IsUnviewable, or IsViewable. IsUnviewable is
used if the window is mapped but some ancestor is unmapped.
The all_event_masks member is set to the bitwise inclusive OR of all event masks
selected on the window by all clients. The your_event_mask member is set to
the bitwise inclusive OR of all event masks selected by the querying client. The
do_not_propagate_mask member is set to the bitwise inclusive OR of the set of
events that should not propagate.
The override_redirect member is set to indicate whether this window overrides
structure control facilities and can be True or False. Window manager clients should
ignore the window if this member is True.
The screen member is set to a screen pointer that gives you a back pointer to the
correct screen. This makes it easier to obtain the screen information without having
to loop over the root window fields to see which field matches.
XGetWindowAttributes can generate BadDrawable and BadWindow errors.
To obtain the current geometry of a given drawable, use XGetGeometry.
Status XGetGeometry( *display, d, *root_return, *y_return,
*height_return, *border_width_return, *depth_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable(Dr.
root_return Returns the root window.
Window Informa-
tion Functions
54
x_return
y_return Return the x and y coordinates that define the lo-
cation of the drawable. For a window, these coordi-
nates specify the upper-left outer corner relative to
its parent's origin. For pixmaps, these coordinates
are always zero.
width_return
height_return Return the drawable's dimensions (width and
height). For a window, these dimensions specify the
inside size, not including the border.
border_width_return Returns the border width in pixels. If the drawable is
a pixmap, it returns zero.
depth_return Returns the depth of the drawable (bits per pixel for
the object).
The XGetGeometry function returns the root window and the current geometry of
the drawable. The geometry of the drawable includes the x and y coordinates, width
and height, border width, and depth. These are described in the argument list. It is
legal to pass to this function a window whose class is InputOnly.
XGetGeometry can generate a BadDrawable error.
Translating Screen Coordinates
Applications sometimes need to perform a coordinate transformation from the co-
ordinate space of one window to another window or need to determine which win-
dow the pointing device is in. XTranslateCoordinates and XQueryPointer fulfill
these needs (and avoid any race conditions) by asking the X server to perform these
operations.
To translate a coordinate in one window to the coordinate space of another window,
use XTranslateCoordinates.
Bool XTranslateCoordinates( *display, dest_w, src_y, *dest_y_return,
*child_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
src_w Specifies the source window.
dest_w Specifies the destination window.
src_x
src_y Specify the x and y coordinates within the source win-
dow.
dest_x_return
dest_y_return Return the x and y coordinates within the destination
window.
Window Informa-
tion Functions
55
child_return Returns the child if the coordinates are contained in
a mapped child of the destination window.
If XTranslateCoordinates returns True, it takes the src_x and src_y coordinates rel-
ative to the source window's origin and returns these coordinates to dest_x_return
and dest_y_return relative to the destination window's origin. If XTranslateCoor-
dinates returns False, src_w and dest_w are on different screens, and dest_x_return
and dest_y_return are zero. If the coordinates are contained in a mapped child of
dest_w, that child is returned to child_return. Otherwise, child_return is set to None.
XTranslateCoordinates can generate a BadWindow error.
To obtain the screen coordinates of the pointer or to determine the pointer coordi-
nates relative to a specified window, use XQueryPointer.
Bool XQueryPointer( *display, w, *child_return, *root_y_return,
*win_y_return, *mask_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
root_return Returns the root window (Ro.
child_return Returns the child window that the pointer is located
in, if any.
root_x_return
root_y_return Return the pointer coordinates relative to the root
window's origin.
win_x_return
win_y_return Return the pointer coordinates relative to the speci-
fied window.
mask_return Returns the current state of the modifier keys and
pointer buttons.
The XQueryPointer function returns the root window the pointer is logically on
and the pointer coordinates relative to the root window's origin. If XQueryPoint-
er returns False, the pointer is not on the same screen as the specified window,
and XQueryPointer returns None to child_return and zero to win_x_return and
win_y_return. If XQueryPointer returns True, the pointer coordinates returned to
win_x_return and win_y_return are relative to the origin of the specified window.
In this case, XQueryPointer returns the child that contains the pointer, if any, or
else None to child_return.
XQueryPointer returns the current logical state of the keyboard buttons and the
modifier keys in mask_return. It sets mask_return to the bitwise inclusive OR of one
or more of the button or modifier key bitmasks to match the current state of the
mouse buttons and the modifier keys.
Note that the logical state of a device (as seen through Xlib) may lag the physical
state if device event processing is frozen (see section 12.1).
XQueryPointer can generate a BadWindow error.
Window Informa-
tion Functions
56
Properties and Atoms
A property is a collection of named, typed data. The window system has a set of
predefined properties (for example, the name of a window, size hints, and so on),
and users can define any other arbitrary information and associate it with windows.
Each property has a name, which is an ISO Latin-1 string. For each named proper-
ty, a unique identifier (atom) is associated with it. A property also has a type, for
example, string or integer. These types are also indicated using atoms, so arbitrary
new types can be defined. Data of only one type may be associated with a single
property name. Clients can store and retrieve properties associated with windows.
For efficiency reasons, an atom is used rather than a character string. XInternAtom
can be used to obtain the atom for property names.
A property is also stored in one of several possible formats. The X server can store
the information as 8-bit quantities, 16-bit quantities, or 32-bit quantities. This per-
mits the X server to present the data in the byte order that the client expects. If
you define further properties of complex type, you must encode and decode them
yourself. These functions must be carefully written if they are to be portable. For
further information about how to write a library extension, see appendix C. The type
of a property is defined by an atom, which allows for arbitrary extension in this type
scheme.
Certain property names are predefined in the server for commonly used functions.
The atoms for these properties are defined in <X11/Xatom.h>. To avoid name
clashes with user symbols, the #define name for each atom has the XA_ prefix. For
an explanation of the functions that let you get and set much of the information
stored in these predefined properties, see chapter 14.
The core protocol imposes no semantics on these property names, but semantics are
specified in other X Consortium standards, such as the Inter-Client Communication
Conventions Manual and the X Logical Font Description Conventions.
You can use properties to communicate other information between applications. The
functions described in this section let you define new properties and get the unique
atom IDs in your applications.
Although any particular atom can have some client interpretation within each of the
name spaces, atoms occur in five distinct name spaces within the protocol:
Selections
Property names
Property types
Font properties
Type of a ClientMessage event (none are built into the X server)
The built-in selection property names are:
PRIMARY SECONDARY
The built-in property names are:
Window Informa-
tion Functions
57
CUT_BUFFER0 RESOURCE_MANAGER
CUT_BUFFER1 WM_CLASS
CUT_BUFFER2 WM_CLIENT_MACHINE
CUT_BUFFER3 WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS
CUT_BUFFER4 WM_COMMAND
CUT_BUFFER5 WM_HINTS
CUT_BUFFER6 WM_ICON_NAME
CUT_BUFFER7 WM_ICON_SIZE
RGB_BEST_MAP WM_NAME
RGB_BLUE_MAP WM_NORMAL_HINTS
RGB_DEFAULT_MAP WM_PROTOCOLS
RGB_GRAY_MAP WM_STATE
RGB_GREEN_MAP WM_TRANSIENT_FOR
RGB_RED_MAP WM_ZOOM_HINTS
The built-in property types are:
ARC PIXMAP
ATOM POINT
BITMAP RGB_COLOR_MAP
CARDINAL RECTANGLE
COLORMAP STRING
CURSOR VISUALID
DRAWABLE WINDOW
FONT WM_HINTS
INTEGER WM_SIZE_HINTS
The built-in font property names are:
MIN_SPACE STRIKEOUT_DESCENT
NORM_SPACE STRIKEOUT_ASCENT
MAX_SPACE ITALIC_ANGLE
END_SPACE X_HEIGHT
SUPERSCRIPT_X QUAD_WIDTH
SUPERSCRIPT_Y WEIGHT
SUBSCRIPT_X POINT_SIZE
SUBSCRIPT_Y RESOLUTION
UNDERLINE_POSITION COPYRIGHT
UNDERLINE_THICKNESS NOTICE
FONT_NAME FAMILY_NAME
FULL_NAME CAP_HEIGHT
For further information about font properties, see section 8.5.
To return an atom for a given name, use XInternAtom.
Atom XInternAtom( *display, *atom_name, only_if_exists);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
atom_name Specifies the name associated with the atom you
want returned.
only_if_exists Specifies a Boolean value that indicates whether the
atom must be created.
Window Informa-
tion Functions
58
The XInternAtom function returns the atom identifier associated with the specified
atom_name string. If only_if_exists is False, the atom is created if it does not ex-
ist. Therefore, XInternAtom can return None. If the atom name is not in the Host
Portable Character Encoding, the result is implementation-dependent. Uppercase
and lowercase matter; the strings ``thing'', ``Thing'', and ``thinG'' all designate dif-
ferent atoms. The atom will remain defined even after the client's connection closes.
It will become undefined only when the last connection to the X server closes.
XInternAtom can generate BadAlloc and BadValue errors.
To return atoms for an array of names, use XInternAtoms.
Status XInternAtoms( *display, **names, count, only_if_exists,
*atoms_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
names Specifies the array of atom names.
count Specifies the number of (Cn.
only_if_exists Specifies a Boolean value that indicates whether the
atom must be created.
atoms_return Returns the atoms.
The XInternAtoms function returns the atom identifiers associated with the speci-
fied names. The atoms are stored in the atoms_return array supplied by the caller.
Calling this function is equivalent to calling XInternAtom for each of the names in
turn with the specified value of only_if_exists, but this function minimizes the num-
ber of round-trip protocol exchanges between the client and the X server.
This function returns a nonzero status if atoms are returned for all of the names;
otherwise, it returns zero.
XInternAtoms can generate BadAlloc and BadValue errors.
To return a name for a given atom identifier, use XGetAtomName.
char *XGetAtomName( *display, atom);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
atom Specifies the atom for the property name you want re-
turned.
The XGetAtomName function returns the name associated with the specified atom. If
the data returned by the server is in the Latin Portable Character Encoding, then the
returned string is in the Host Portable Character Encoding. Otherwise, the result
is implementation-dependent. To free the resulting string, call XFree.
XGetAtomName can generate a BadAtom error.
To return the names for an array of atom identifiers, use XGetAtomNames.
Status XGetAtomNames( *display, *atoms, count, **names_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Window Informa-
tion Functions
59
atoms Specifies the array of atoms.
count Specifies the number of (Cn.
names_return Returns the atom names.
The XGetAtomNames function returns the names associated with the specified atoms.
The names are stored in the names_return array supplied by the caller. Calling this
function is equivalent to calling XGetAtomName for each of the atoms in turn, but
this function minimizes the number of round-trip protocol exchanges between the
client and the X server.
This function returns a nonzero status if names are returned for all of the atoms;
otherwise, it returns zero.
XGetAtomNames can generate a BadAtom error.
Obtaining and Changing Window Properties
You can attach a property list to every window. Each property has a name, a type,
and a value (see section 4.3). The value is an array of 8-bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit quanti-
ties, whose interpretation is left to the clients. The type char is used to represent
8-bit quantities, the type short is used to represent 16-bit quantities, and the type
long is used to represent 32-bit quantities.
Xlib provides functions that you can use to obtain, change, update, or interchange
window properties. In addition, Xlib provides other utility functions for inter-client
communication (see chapter 14).
To obtain the type, format, and value of a property of a given window, use XGetWin-
dowProperty.
int XGetWindowProperty( display, w, property, long_offset,
long_length, delete, req_type, actual_type_return,
actual_format_return, nitems_return, bytes_after_return,
prop_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
property Specifies the property name.
long_offset Specifies the offset in the specified property (in 32-
bit quantities) where the data is to be retrieved.
long_length Specifies the length in 32-bit multiples of the data to
be retrieved.
delete Specifies a Boolean value that determines whether
the property is deleted.
req_type Specifies the atom identifier associated with the
property type or AnyPropertyType.
Window Informa-
tion Functions
60
actual_type_return Returns the atom identifier that defines the actual
type of the property.
actual_format_return Returns the actual format of the property.
nitems_return Returns the actual number of 8-bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit
items stored in the prop_return data.
bytes_after_return Returns the number of bytes remaining to be read in
the property if a partial read was performed.
prop_return Returns the data in the specified format.
The XGetWindowProperty function returns the actual type of the property; the actual
format of the property; the number of 8-bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit items transferred; the
number of bytes remaining to be read in the property; and a pointer to the data
actually returned. XGetWindowProperty sets the return arguments as follows:
If the specified property does not exist for the specified window, XGetWin-
dowProperty returns None to actual_type_return and the value zero to
actual_format_return and bytes_after_return. The nitems_return argument is
empty. In this case, the delete argument is ignored.
If the specified property exists but its type does not match the specified type,
XGetWindowProperty returns the actual property type to actual_type_return, the
actual property format (never zero) to actual_format_return, and the property
length in bytes (even if the actual_format_return is 16 or 32) to bytes_after_return.
It also ignores the delete argument. The nitems_return argument is empty.
If the specified property exists and either you assign AnyPropertyType to the
req_type argument or the specified type matches the actual property type,
XGetWindowProperty returns the actual property type to actual_type_return and
the actual property format (never zero) to actual_format_return. It also returns a
value to bytes_after_return and nitems_return, by defining the following values:
N = actual length of the stored property in bytes (even if the format is 16 or 32)
I = 4 * long_offset T = N - I L = MINIMUM(T, 4 * long_length) A = N - (I + L)
The returned value starts at byte index I in the property (indexing from zero),
and its length in bytes is L. If the value for long_offset causes L to be negative,
a BadValue error results. The value of bytes_after_return is A, giving the number
of trailing unread bytes in the stored property.
If the returned format is 8, the returned data is represented as a char array. If the
returned format is 16, the returned data is represented as a short array and should
be cast to that type to obtain the elements. If the returned format is 32, the returned
data is represented as a long array and should be cast to that type to obtain the
elements.
XGetWindowProperty always allocates one extra byte in prop_return (even if the
property is zero length) and sets it to zero so that simple properties consisting of
characters do not have to be copied into yet another string before use.
If delete is True and bytes_after_return is zero, XGetWindowProperty deletes the
property from the window and generates a PropertyNotify event on the window.
Window Informa-
tion Functions
61
The function returns Success if it executes successfully. To free the resulting data,
use XFree.
XGetWindowProperty can generate BadAtom, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.
To obtain a given window's property list, use XListProperties.
Atom *XListProperties( *display, w, *num_prop_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
num_prop_return Returns the length of the properties array.
The XListProperties function returns a pointer to an array of atom properties that
are defined for the specified window or returns NULL if no properties were found.
To free the memory allocated by this function, use XFree.
XListProperties can generate a BadWindow error.
To change a property of a given window, use XChangeProperty.
XChangeProperty( *display, w, type, format, mode, *data, nelements);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
property Specifies the property name.
type Specifies the type of the property. The X server does not
interpret the type but simply passes it back to an appli-
cation that later calls XGetWindowProperty.
format Specifies whether the data should be viewed as a list of 8-
bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit quantities. Possible values are 8, 16,
and 32. This information allows the X server to correct-
ly perform byte-swap operations as necessary. If the for-
mat is 16-bit or 32-bit, you must explicitly cast your data
pointer to an (unsigned char *) in the call to XChange-
Property.
mode Specifies the mode of the operation. You can pass Prop-
ModeReplace, PropModePrepend, or PropModeAppend.
data Specifies the property data.
nelements Specifies the number of elements of the specified data
format.
The XChangeProperty function alters the property for the specified window and
causes the X server to generate a PropertyNotify event on that window. XChange-
Property performs the following:
If mode is PropModeReplace, XChangeProperty discards the previous property
value and stores the new data.
Window Informa-
tion Functions
62
If mode is PropModePrepend or PropModeAppend, XChangeProperty inserts the
specified data before the beginning of the existing data or onto the end of the
existing data, respectively. The type and format must match the existing property
value, or a BadMatch error results. If the property is undefined, it is treated as
defined with the correct type and format with zero-length data.
If the specified format is 8, the property data must be a char array. If the specified
format is 16, the property data must be a short array. If the specified format is 32,
the property data must be a long array.
The lifetime of a property is not tied to the storing client. Properties remain until
explicitly deleted, until the window is destroyed, or until the server resets. For a
discussion of what happens when the connection to the X server is closed, see sec-
tion 2.6. The maximum size of a property is server dependent and can vary dynam-
ically depending on the amount of memory the server has available. (If there is in-
sufficient space, a BadAlloc error results.)
XChangeProperty can generate BadAlloc, BadAtom, BadMatch, BadValue, and Bad-
Window errors.
To rotate a window's property list, use XRotateWindowProperties.
XRotateWindowProperties( *display, w, properties[], num_prop, npo-
sitions);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
properties Specifies the array of properties that are to be rotated.
num_prop Specifies the length of the properties array.
npositions Specifies the rotation amount.
The XRotateWindowProperties function allows you to rotate properties on a win-
dow and causes the X server to generate PropertyNotify events. If the property
names in the properties array are viewed as being numbered starting from zero and
if there are num_prop property names in the list, then the value associated with
property name I becomes the value associated with property name (I + npositions)
mod N for all I from zero to N 1. The effect is to rotate the states by npositions
places around the virtual ring of property names (right for positive npositions, left
for negative npositions). If npositions mod N is nonzero, the X server generates a
PropertyNotify event for each property in the order that they are listed in the array.
If an atom occurs more than once in the list or no property with that name is defined
for the window, a BadMatch error results. If a BadAtom or BadMatch error results,
no properties are changed.
XRotateWindowProperties can generate BadAtom, BadMatch, and BadWindow er-
rors.
To delete a property on a given window, use XDeleteProperty.
XDeleteProperty( *display, w, property);
Window Informa-
tion Functions
63
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
property Specifies the property name.
The XDeleteProperty function deletes the specified property only if the property
was defined on the specified window and causes the X server to generate a Proper-
tyNotify event on the window unless the property does not exist.
XDeleteProperty can generate BadAtom and BadWindow errors.
Selections
Selections are one method used by applications to exchange data. By using the
property mechanism, applications can exchange data of arbitrary types and can
negotiate the type of the data. A selection can be thought of as an indirect property
with a dynamic type. That is, rather than having the property stored in the X server,
the property is maintained by some client (the owner). A selection is global in nature
(considered to belong to the user but be maintained by clients) rather than being
private to a particular window subhierarchy or a particular set of clients.
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set, get, or request conversion of selec-
tions. This allows applications to implement the notion of current selection, which
requires that notification be sent to applications when they no longer own the se-
lection. Applications that support selection often highlight the current selection and
so must be informed when another application has acquired the selection so that
they can unhighlight the selection.
When a client asks for the contents of a selection, it specifies a selection target
type. This target type can be used to control the transmitted representation of the
contents. For example, if the selection is ``the last thing the user clicked on'' and
that is currently an image, then the target type might specify whether the contents
of the image should be sent in XY format or Z format.
The target type can also be used to control the class of contents transmitted, for
example, asking for the ``looks'' (fonts, line spacing, indentation, and so forth) of a
paragraph selection, not the text of the paragraph. The target type can also be used
for other purposes. The protocol does not constrain the semantics.
To set the selection owner, use XSetSelectionOwner.
XSetSelectionOwner( *display, selection, owner, time);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
selection Specifies the selection atom.
owner Specifies the owner of the specified selection atom. You
can pass a window or None.
time Specifies the time. You can pass either a timestamp or
CurrentTime.
The XSetSelectionOwner function changes the owner and last-change time for the
specified selection and has no effect if the specified time is earlier than the current
Window Informa-
tion Functions
64
last-change time of the specified selection or is later than the current X server time.
Otherwise, the last-change time is set to the specified time, with CurrentTime re-
placed by the current server time. If the owner window is specified as None, then
the owner of the selection becomes None (that is, no owner). Otherwise, the owner
of the selection becomes the client executing the request.
If the new owner (whether a client or None) is not the same as the current owner
of the selection and the current owner is not None, the current owner is sent a
SelectionClear event. If the client that is the owner of a selection is later terminated
(that is, its connection is closed) or if the owner window it has specified in the
request is later destroyed, the owner of the selection automatically reverts to None,
but the last-change time is not affected. The selection atom is uninterpreted by
the X server. XGetSelectionOwner returns the owner window, which is reported in
SelectionRequest and SelectionClear events. Selections are global to the X server.
XSetSelectionOwner can generate BadAtom and BadWindow errors.
To return the selection owner, use XGetSelectionOwner.
Window XGetSelectionOwner( *display, selection);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
selection Specifies the selection atom (Se.
The XGetSelectionOwner function returns the window ID associated with the win-
dow that currently owns the specified selection. If no selection was specified, the
function returns the constant None. If None is returned, there is no owner for the
selection.
XGetSelectionOwner can generate a BadAtom error.
To request conversion of a selection, use XConvertSelection.
XConvertSelection( *display, target, property, requestor, time);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
selection Specifies the selection atom.
target Specifies the target atom.
property Specifies the property name. You also can pass None.
requestor Specifies the requestor.
time Specifies the time. You can pass either a timestamp or
CurrentTime.
XConvertSelection requests that the specified selection be converted to the spec-
ified target type:
If the specified selection has an owner, the X server sends a SelectionRequest
event to that owner.
If no owner for the specified selection exists, the X server generates a Selection-
Notify event to the requestor with property None.
Window Informa-
tion Functions
65
The arguments are passed on unchanged in either of the events. There are two
predefined selection atoms: PRIMARY and SECONDARY.
XConvertSelection can generate BadAtom and BadWindow errors.
66
Chapter 5. Pixmap and Cursor
Functions
Creating and Freeing Pixmaps
Pixmaps can only be used on the screen on which they were created. Pixmaps are
off-screen resources that are used for various operations, such as defining cursors
as tiling patterns or as the source for certain raster operations. Most graphics re-
quests can operate either on a window or on a pixmap. A bitmap is a single bit-
plane pixmap.
To create a pixmap of a given size, use XCreatePixmap.
Pixmap XCreatePixmap( *display, d, height, depth);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies which screen the pixmap is created on.
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
depth Specifies the depth of the pixmap.
The XCreatePixmap function creates a pixmap of the width, height, and depth you
specified and returns a pixmap ID that identifies it. It is valid to pass an InputOnly
window to the drawable argument. The width and height arguments must be nonze-
ro, or a BadValue error results. The depth argument must be one of the depths sup-
ported by the screen of the specified drawable, or a BadValue error results.
The server uses the specified drawable to determine on which screen to create the
pixmap. The pixmap can be used only on this screen and only with other drawables
of the same depth (see XCopyPlane for an exception to this rule). The initial contents
of the pixmap are undefined.
XCreatePixmap can generate BadAlloc, BadDrawable, and BadValue errors.
To free all storage associated with a specified pixmap, use XFreePixmap.
XFreePixmap( *display, pixmap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
pixmap Specifies the pixmap.
The XFreePixmap function first deletes the association between the pixmap ID and
the pixmap. Then, the X server frees the pixmap storage when there are no refer-
ences to it. The pixmap should never be referenced again.
XFreePixmap can generate a BadPixmap error.
Pixmap and Cursor Functions
67
Creating, Recoloring, and Freeing Cursors
Each window can have a different cursor defined for it. Whenever the pointer is in
a visible window, it is set to the cursor defined for that window. If no cursor was
defined for that window, the cursor is the one defined for the parent window.
From X's perspective, a cursor consists of a cursor source, mask, colors, and a
hotspot. The mask pixmap determines the shape of the cursor and must be a depth
of one. The source pixmap must have a depth of one, and the colors determine the
colors of the source. The hotspot defines the point on the cursor that is reported
when a pointer event occurs. There may be limitations imposed by the hardware
on cursors as to size and whether a mask is implemented. XQueryBestCursor can
be used to find out what sizes are possible. There is a standard font for creating
cursors, but Xlib provides functions that you can use to create cursors from an ar-
bitrary font or from bitmaps.
To create a cursor from the standard cursor font, use XCreateFontCursor.
#include <X11/cursorfont.h>
Cursor XCreateFontCursor( *display, shape);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
shape Specifies the shape of the cursor.
X provides a set of standard cursor shapes in a special font named cursor. Applica-
tions are encouraged to use this interface for their cursors because the font can
be customized for the individual display type. The shape argument specifies which
glyph of the standard fonts to use.
The hotspot comes from the information stored in the cursor font. The initial colors
of a cursor are a black foreground and a white background (see XRecolorCursor).
For further information about cursor shapes, see appendix B.
XCreateFontCursor can generate BadAlloc and BadValue errors.
To create a cursor from font glyphs, use XCreateGlyphCursor.
Cursor XCreateGlyphCursor( *display, mask_font, mask_char,
*foreground_color, *background_color);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
source_font Specifies the font for the source glyph.
mask_font Specifies the font for the mask glyph or None.
source_char Specifies the character glyph for the source.
mask_char Specifies the glyph character for the mask.
foreground_color Specifies the RGB values for the foreground of the
source.
background_color Specifies the RGB values for the background of the
source.
Pixmap and Cursor Functions
68
The XCreateGlyphCursor function is similar to XCreatePixmapCursor except that
the source and mask bitmaps are obtained from the specified font glyphs. The
source_char must be a defined glyph in source_font, or a BadValue error results.
If mask_font is given, mask_char must be a defined glyph in mask_font, or a Bad-
Value error results. The mask_font and character are optional. The origins of the
source_char and mask_char (if defined) glyphs are positioned coincidently and de-
fine the hotspot. The source_char and mask_char need not have the same bounding
box metrics, and there is no restriction on the placement of the hotspot relative to
the bounding boxes. If no mask_char is given, all pixels of the source are displayed.
You can free the fonts immediately by calling XFreeFont if no further explicit refer-
ences to them are to be made.
For 2-byte matrix fonts, the 16-bit value should be formed with the byte1 member
in the most significant byte and the byte2 member in the least significant byte.
XCreateGlyphCursor can generate BadAlloc, BadFont, and BadValue errors.
To create a cursor from two bitmaps, use XCreatePixmapCursor.
Cursor XCreatePixmapCursor( *display, source, mask,
*foreground_color, *background_color, y);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
source Specifies the shape of the source cursor.
mask Specifies the cursor's source bits to be displayed or
None.
foreground_color Specifies the RGB values for the foreground of the
source.
background_color Specifies the RGB values for the background of the
source.
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
The XCreatePixmapCursor function creates a cursor and returns the cursor ID as-
sociated with it. The foreground and background RGB values must be specified us-
ing foreground_color and background_color, even if the X server only has a Stat-
icGray or GrayScale screen. The foreground color is used for the pixels set to 1 in
the source, and the background color is used for the pixels set to 0. Both source
and mask, if specified, must have depth one (or a BadMatch error results) but can
have any root. The mask argument defines the shape of the cursor. The pixels set
to 1 in the mask define which source pixels are displayed, and the pixels set to 0
define which pixels are ignored. If no mask is given, all pixels of the source are
displayed. The mask, if present, must be the same size as the pixmap defined by the
source argument, or a BadMatch error results. The hotspot must be a point within
the source, or a BadMatch error results.
The components of the cursor can be transformed arbitrarily to meet display limi-
tations. The pixmaps can be freed immediately if no further explicit references to
them are to be made. Subsequent drawing in the source or mask pixmap has an
undefined effect on the cursor. The X server might or might not make a copy of the
pixmap.
Pixmap and Cursor Functions
69
XCreatePixmapCursor can generate BadAlloc and BadPixmap errors.
To determine useful cursor sizes, use XQueryBestCursor.
Status XQueryBestCursor( *display, d, height, *height_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable(Dr.
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
width_return
height_return Return the best width and height that is closest to
the specified width and height.
Some displays allow larger cursors than other displays. The XQueryBestCursor
function provides a way to find out what size cursors are actually possible on the
display. It returns the largest size that can be displayed. Applications should be
prepared to use smaller cursors on displays that cannot support large ones.
XQueryBestCursor can generate a BadDrawable error.
To change the color of a given cursor, use XRecolorCursor.
XRecolorCursor( *display, cursor, *background_color);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
cursor Specifies the cursor.
foreground_color Specifies the RGB values for the foreground of the
source.
background_color Specifies the RGB values for the background of the
source.
The XRecolorCursor function changes the color of the specified cursor, and if the
cursor is being displayed on a screen, the change is visible immediately. The pixel
members of the XColor structures are ignored; only the RGB values are used.
XRecolorCursor can generate a BadCursor error.
To free (destroy) a given cursor, use XFreeCursor.
XFreeCursor( *display, cursor);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
cursor Specifies the cursor.
The XFreeCursor function deletes the association between the cursor resource ID
and the specified cursor. The cursor storage is freed when no other resource refer-
ences it. The specified cursor ID should not be referred to again.
Pixmap and Cursor Functions
70
XFreeCursor can generate a BadCursor error.
71
Chapter 6. Color Management
Functions
Each X window always has an associated colormap that provides a level of indirec-
tion between pixel values and colors displayed on the screen. Xlib provides func-
tions that you can use to manipulate a colormap. The X protocol defines colors using
values in the RGB color space. The RGB color space is device dependent; rendering
an RGB value on differing output devices typically results in different colors. Xlib
also provides a means for clients to specify color using device-independent color
spaces for consistent results across devices. Xlib supports device-independent col-
or spaces derivable from the CIE XYZ color space. This includes the CIE XYZ, xyY,
L*u*v*, and L*a*b* color spaces as well as the TekHVC color space.
This chapter discusses how to:
Create, copy, and destroy a colormap
Specify colors by name or value
Allocate, modify, and free color cells
Read entries in a colormap
Convert between color spaces
Control aspects of color conversion
Query the color gamut of a screen
Add new color spaces
All functions, types, and symbols in this chapter with the prefix ``Xcms'' are defined
in <X11/Xcms.h>. The remaining functions and types are defined in <X11/Xlib.h>.

Functions in this chapter manipulate the representation of color on the screen. For
each possible value that a pixel can take in a window, there is a color cell in the
colormap. For example, if a window is 4 bits deep, pixel values 0 through 15 are
defined. A colormap is a collection of color cells. A color cell consists of a triple
of red, green, and blue (RGB) values. The hardware imposes limits on the number
of significant bits in these values. As each pixel is read out of display memory, the
pixel is looked up in a colormap. The RGB value of the cell determines what color
is displayed on the screen. On a grayscale display with a black-and-white monitor,
the values are combined to determine the brightness on the screen.
Typically, an application allocates color cells or sets of color cells to obtain the de-
sired colors. The client can allocate read-only cells. In which case, the pixel values
for these colors can be shared among multiple applications, and the RGB value of
the cell cannot be changed. If the client allocates read/write cells, they are exclu-
sively owned by the client, and the color associated with the pixel value can be
changed at will. Cells must be allocated (and, if read/write, initialized with an RGB
value) by a client to obtain desired colors. The use of pixel value for an unallocated
cell results in an undefined color.
Color Management Functions
72
Because colormaps are associated with windows, X supports displays with multiple
colormaps and, indeed, different types of colormaps. If there are insufficient col-
ormap resources in the display, some windows will display in their true colors, and
others will display with incorrect colors. A window manager usually controls which
windows are displayed in their true colors if more than one colormap is required for
the color resources the applications are using. At any time, there is a set of installed
colormaps for a screen. Windows using one of the installed colormaps display with
true colors, and windows using other colormaps generally display with incorrect
colors. You can control the set of installed colormaps by using XInstallColormap
and XUninstallColormap.
Colormaps are local to a particular screen. Screens always have a default colormap,
and programs typically allocate cells out of this colormap. Generally, you should
not write applications that monopolize color resources. Although some hardware
supports multiple colormaps installed at one time, many of the hardware displays
built today support only a single installed colormap, so the primitives are written to
encourage sharing of colormap entries between applications.
The DefaultColormap macro returns the default colormap. The DefaultVisual
macro returns the default visual type for the specified screen. Possible visual types
are StaticGray, GrayScale, StaticColor, PseudoColor, TrueColor, or DirectColor (see
section 3.1).
Color Structures
Functions that operate only on RGB color space values use an XColor structure,
which contains:
typedef struct {
unsigned long pixel; /* pixel value */
unsigned short red, green, blue; /* rgb values */
char flags; /* DoRed, DoGreen, DoBlue */
char pad;
} XColor;
The red, green, and blue values are always in the range 0 to 65535 inclusive, inde-
pendent of the number of bits actually used in the display hardware. The server
scales these values down to the range used by the hardware. Black is represented
by (0,0,0), and white is represented by (65535,65535,65535). In some functions,
the flags member controls which of the red, green, and blue members is used and
can be the inclusive OR of zero or more of DoRed, DoGreen, and DoBlue.
Functions that operate on all color space values use an XcmsColor structure. This
structure contains a union of substructures, each supporting color specification en-
coding for a particular color space. Like the XColor structure, the XcmsColor struc-
ture contains pixel and color specification information (the spec member in the Xcm-
sColor structure).
Color Management Functions
73
typedef unsigned long XcmsColorFormat; /* Color Specification Format */
typedef struct {
union {
XcmsRGB RGB;
XcmsRGBi RGBi;
XcmsCIEXYZ CIEXYZ;
XcmsCIEuvY CIEuvY;
XcmsCIExyY CIExyY;
XcmsCIELab CIELab;
XcmsCIELuv CIELuv;
XcmsTekHVC TekHVC;
XcmsPad Pad;
} spec;
unsigned long pixel;
XcmsColorFormat format;
} XcmsColor; /* Xcms Color Structure */
Because the color specification can be encoded for the various color spaces, encod-
ing for the spec member is identified by the format member, which is of type Xcm-
sColorFormat. The following macros define standard formats.
#define XcmsUnde#nedFormat 0x00000000
#define XcmsCIEXYZFormat 0x00000001 /* CIE XYZ */
#define XcmsCIEuvYFormat 0x00000002 /* CIE u'v'Y */
#define XcmsCIExyYFormat 0x00000003 /* CIE xyY */
#define XcmsCIELabFormat 0x00000004 /* CIE L*a*b* */
#define XcmsCIELuvFormat 0x00000005 /* CIE L*u*v* */
#define XcmsTekHVCFormat 0x00000006 /* TekHVC */
#define XcmsRGBFormat 0x80000000 /* RGB Device */
#define XcmsRGBiFormat 0x80000001 /* RGB Intensity */
Formats for device-independent color spaces are distinguishable from those for de-
vice-dependent spaces by the 32nd bit. If this bit is set, it indicates that the color
specification is in a device-dependent form; otherwise, it is in a device-independent
form. If the 31st bit is set, this indicates that the color space has been added to
Xlib at run time (see section 6.12.4). The format value for a color space added at
run time may be different each time the program is executed. If references to such
a color space must be made outside the client (for example, storing a color speci-
fication in a file), then reference should be made by color space string prefix (see
XcmsFormatOfPrefix and XcmsPrefixOfFormat).
Data types that describe the color specification encoding for the various color
spaces are defined as follows:
typedef double XcmsFloat;
typedef struct {
unsigned short red; /* 0x0000 to 0xffff */
Color Management Functions
74
unsigned short green; /* 0x0000 to 0xffff */
unsigned short blue; /* 0x0000 to 0xffff */
} XcmsRGB; /* RGB Device */
typedef struct {
XcmsFloat red; /* 0.0 to 1.0 */
XcmsFloat green; /* 0.0 to 1.0 */
XcmsFloat blue; /* 0.0 to 1.0 */
} XcmsRGBi; /* RGB Intensity */
typedef struct {
XcmsFloat X;
XcmsFloat Y; /* 0.0 to 1.0 */
XcmsFloat Z;
} XcmsCIEXYZ; /* CIE XYZ */
typedef struct {
XcmsFloat u_prime; /* 0.0 to ~0.6 */
XcmsFloat v_prime; /* 0.0 to ~0.6 */
XcmsFloat Y; /* 0.0 to 1.0 */
} XcmsCIEuvY; /* CIE u'v'Y */
typedef struct {
XcmsFloat x; /* 0.0 to ~.75 */
XcmsFloat y; /* 0.0 to ~.85 */
XcmsFloat Y; /* 0.0 to 1.0 */
} XcmsCIExyY; /* CIE xyY */
typedef struct {
XcmsFloat L_star; /* 0.0 to 100.0 */
Color Management Functions
75
XcmsFloat a_star;
XcmsFloat b_star;
} XcmsCIELab; /* CIE L*a*b* */
typedef struct {
XcmsFloat L_star; /* 0.0 to 100.0 */
XcmsFloat u_star;
XcmsFloat v_star;
} XcmsCIELuv; /* CIE L*u*v* */
typedef struct {
XcmsFloat H; /* 0.0 to 360.0 */
XcmsFloat V; /* 0.0 to 100.0 */
XcmsFloat C; /* 0.0 to 100.0 */
} XcmsTekHVC; /* TekHVC */
typedef struct {
XcmsFloat pad0;
XcmsFloat pad1;
XcmsFloat pad2;
XcmsFloat pad3;
} XcmsPad; /* four doubles */
The device-dependent formats provided allow color specification in:
RGB Intensity (XcmsRGBi)
Red, green, and blue linear intensity values, floating-point values from 0.0 to 1.0,
where 1.0 indicates full intensity, 0.5 half intensity, and so on.
RGB Device (XcmsRGB)
Red, green, and blue values appropriate for the specified output device. XcmsRGB
values are of type unsigned short, scaled from 0 to 65535 inclusive, and are in-
terchangeable with the red, green, and blue values in an XColor structure.
It is important to note that RGB Intensity values are not gamma corrected values.
In contrast, RGB Device values generated as a result of converting color specifica-
tions are always gamma corrected, and RGB Device values acquired as a result of
querying a colormap or passed in by the client are assumed by Xlib to be gamma
corrected. The term RGB value in this manual always refers to an RGB Device value.
Color Management Functions
76
Color Strings
Xlib provides a mechanism for using string names for colors. A color string may ei-
ther contain an abstract color name or a numerical color specification. Color strings
are case-insensitive.
Color strings are used in the following functions:
XAllocNamedColor
XcmsAllocNamedColor
XLookupColor
XcmsLookupColor
XParseColor
XStoreNamedColor
Xlib supports the use of abstract color names, for example, red or blue. A value
for this abstract name is obtained by searching one or more color name databases.
Xlib first searches zero or more client-side databases; the number, location, and
content of these databases is implementation-dependent and might depend on the
current locale. If the name is not found, Xlib then looks for the color in the X server's
database. If the color name is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the
result is implementation-dependent.
A numerical color specification consists of a color space name and a set of values
in the following syntax:
<color_space_name>:<value>/.../<value>
The following are examples of valid color strings.
"CIEXYZ:0.3227/0.28133/0.2493"
"RGBi:1.0/0.0/0.0"
"rgb:00/ff/00"
"CIELuv:50.0/0.0/0.0"
The syntax and semantics of numerical specifications are given for each standard
color space in the following sections.
RGB Device String Specification
An RGB Device specification is identified by the prefix ``rgb:'' and conforms to the
following syntax:
rgb:<red>/<green>/<blue>
<red>, <green>, <blue> := h | hh | hhh | hhhh
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h := single hexadecimal digits (case insignificant)
Note that h indicates the value scaled in 4 bits, hh the value scaled in 8 bits, hhh
the value scaled in 12 bits, and hhhh the value scaled in 16 bits, respectively.
Typical examples are the strings ``rgb:ea/75/52'' and ``rgb:ccc/320/320'', but mixed
numbers of hexadecimal digit strings (``rgb:ff/a5/0'' and ``rgb:ccc/32/0'') are also
allowed.
For backward compatibility, an older syntax for RGB Device is supported, but its
continued use is not encouraged. The syntax is an initial sharp sign character fol-
lowed by a numeric specification, in one of the following formats:
#RGB (4 bits each)
#RRGGBB (8 bits each)
#RRRGGGBBB (12 bits each)
#RRRRGGGGBBBB (16 bits each)
The R, G, and B represent single hexadecimal digits. When fewer than 16 bits each
are specified, they represent the most significant bits of the value (unlike the ``rgb:''
syntax, in which values are scaled). For example, the string ``#3a7'' is the same
as ``#3000a0007000''.
RGB Intensity String Specification
An RGB intensity specification is identified by the prefix ``rgbi:'' and conforms to
the following syntax:
rgbi:<red>/<green>/<blue>
Note that red, green, and blue are floating-point values between 0.0 and 1.0, inclu-
sive. The input format for these values is an optional sign, a string of numbers pos-
sibly containing a decimal point, and an optional exponent field containing an E or
e followed by a possibly signed integer string.
Device-Independent String Specifications
The standard device-independent string specifications have the following syntax:
CIEXYZ:<X>/<Y>/<Z>
CIEuvY:<u>/<v>/<Y>
CIExyY:<x>/<y>/<Y>
CIELab:<L>/<a>/<b>
CIELuv:<L>/<u>/<v>
TekHVC:<H>/<V>/<C>
All of the values (C, H, V, X, Y, Z, a, b, u, v, y, x) are floating-point values. The syntax for
these values is an optional plus or minus sign, a string of digits possibly containing a
decimal point, and an optional exponent field consisting of an ``E'' or ``e'' followed
by an optional plus or minus followed by a string of digits.
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Color Conversion Contexts and Gamut Map-
ping
When Xlib converts device-independent color specifications into device-dependent
specifications and vice versa, it uses knowledge about the color limitations of the
screen hardware. This information, typically called the device profile, is available
in a Color Conversion Context (CCC).
Because a specified color may be outside the color gamut of the target screen and
the white point associated with the color specification may differ from the white
point inherent to the screen, Xlib applies gamut mapping when it encounters certain
conditions:
Gamut compression occurs when conversion of device-independent color specifi-
cations to device-dependent color specifications results in a color out of the target
screen's gamut.
White adjustment occurs when the inherent white point of the screen differs from
the white point assumed by the client.
Gamut handling methods are stored as callbacks in the CCC, which in turn are used
by the color space conversion routines. Client data is also stored in the CCC for each
callback. The CCC also contains the white point the client assumes to be associated
with color specifications (that is, the Client White Point). The client can specify
the gamut handling callbacks and client data as well as the Client White Point. Xlib
does not preclude the X client from performing other forms of gamut handling (for
example, gamut expansion); however, Xlib does not provide direct support for gamut
handling other than white adjustment and gamut compression.
Associated with each colormap is an initial CCC transparently generated by Xlib.
Therefore, when you specify a colormap as an argument to an Xlib function, you are
indirectly specifying a CCC. There is a default CCC associated with each screen.
Newly created CCCs inherit attributes from the default CCC, so the default CCC
attributes can be modified to affect new CCCs.
Xcms functions in which gamut mapping can occur return Status and have specific
status values defined for them, as follows:
XcmsFailure indicates that the function failed.
XcmsSuccess indicates that the function succeeded. In addition, if the function
performed any color conversion, the colors did not need to be compressed.
XcmsSuccessWithCompression indicates the function performed color conversion
and at least one of the colors needed to be compressed. The gamut compression
method is determined by the gamut compression procedure in the CCC that is
specified directly as a function argument or in the CCC indirectly specified by
means of the colormap argument.
Creating, Copying, and Destroying Colormaps
To create a colormap for a screen, use XCreateColormap.
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Colormap XCreateColormap( *display, w, *visual, alloc);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
visual Specifies a visual type supported on the screen. If the visual
type is not one supported by the screen, a BadMatch error
results.
alloc Specifies the colormap entries to be allocated. You can pass
AllocNone or AllocAll.
The XCreateColormap function creates a colormap of the specified visual type for
the screen on which the specified window resides and returns the colormap ID asso-
ciated with it. Note that the specified window is only used to determine the screen.
The initial values of the colormap entries are undefined for the visual classes GrayS-
cale, PseudoColor, and DirectColor. For StaticGray, StaticColor, and TrueColor, the
entries have defined values, but those values are specific to the visual and are not
defined by X. For StaticGray, StaticColor, and TrueColor, alloc must be AllocNone,
or a BadMatch error results. For the other visual classes, if alloc is AllocNone, the
colormap initially has no allocated entries, and clients can allocate them. For infor-
mation about the visual types, see section 3.1.
If alloc is AllocAll, the entire colormap is allocated writable. The initial values of
all allocated entries are undefined. For GrayScale and PseudoColor, the effect is
as if an XAllocColorCells call returned all pixel values from zero to N - 1, where
N is the colormap entries value in the specified visual. For DirectColor, the effect
is as if an XAllocColorPlanes call returned a pixel value of zero and red_mask,
green_mask, and blue_mask values containing the same bits as the corresponding
masks in the specified visual. However, in all cases, none of these entries can be
freed by using XFreeColors.
XCreateColormap can generate BadAlloc, BadMatch, BadValue, and BadWindow er-
rors.
To create a new colormap when the allocation out of a previously shared colormap
has failed because of resource exhaustion, use XCopyColormapAndFree.
Colormap XCopyColormapAndFree( *display, colormap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
The XCopyColormapAndFree function creates a colormap of the same visual type
and for the same screen as the specified colormap and returns the new colormap
ID. It also moves all of the client's existing allocation from the specified colormap
to the new colormap with their color values intact and their read-only or writable
characteristics intact and frees those entries in the specified colormap. Color values
in other entries in the new colormap are undefined. If the specified colormap was
created by the client with alloc set to AllocAll, the new colormap is also created
with AllocAll, all color values for all entries are copied from the specified colormap,
and then all entries in the specified colormap are freed. If the specified colormap
was not created by the client with AllocAll, the allocations to be moved are all those
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pixels and planes that have been allocated by the client using XAllocColor, XAl-
locNamedColor, XAllocColorCells, or XAllocColorPlanes and that have not been
freed since they were allocated.
XCopyColormapAndFree can generate BadAlloc and BadColor errors.
To destroy a colormap, use XFreeColormap.
XFreeColormap( *display, colormap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap (Cm.
The XFreeColormap function deletes the association between the colormap resource
ID and the colormap and frees the colormap storage. However, this function has no
effect on the default colormap for a screen. If the specified colormap is an installed
map for a screen, it is uninstalled (see XUninstallColormap). If the specified col-
ormap is defined as the colormap for a window (by XCreateWindow, XSetWindowCol-
ormap, or XChangeWindowAttributes), XFreeColormap changes the colormap asso-
ciated with the window to None and generates a ColormapNotify event. X does not
define the colors displayed for a window with a colormap of None.
XFreeColormap can generate a BadColor error.
Mapping Color Names to Values
To map a color name to an RGB value, use XLookupColor.
Status XLookupColor( *display, colormap, *color_name,
*screen_def_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
color_name Specifies the color name string (for example, red)
whose color definition structure you want returned.
exact_def_return Returns the exact RGB values.
screen_def_return Returns the closest RGB values provided by the hard-
ware.
The XLookupColor function looks up the string name of a color with respect to the
screen associated with the specified colormap. It returns both the exact color val-
ues and the closest values provided by the screen with respect to the visual type
of the specified colormap. If the color name is not in the Host Portable Character
Encoding, the result is implementation-dependent. Use of uppercase or lowercase
does not matter. XLookupColor returns nonzero if the name is resolved; otherwise,
it returns zero.
XLookupColor can generate a BadColor error.
To map a color name to the exact RGB value, use XParseColor.
Status XParseColor( *display, colormap, *spec, *exact_def_return);
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display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
spec Specifies the color name string; case is ignored.
exact_def_return Returns the exact color value for later use and sets
the DoRed, DoGreen, and DoBlue flags.
The XParseColor function looks up the string name of a color with respect to the
screen associated with the specified colormap. It returns the exact color value. If
the color name is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is imple-
mentation-dependent. Use of uppercase or lowercase does not matter. XParseColor
returns nonzero if the name is resolved; otherwise, it returns zero.
XParseColor can generate a BadColor error.
To map a color name to a value in an arbitrary color space, use XcmsLookupColor.
Status XcmsLookupColor( *display, colormap, *color_string,
*color_screen_return, result_format);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
color_string Specifies the color string(St.
color_exact_return Returns the color specification parsed from the color
string or parsed from the corresponding string found
in a color-name database.
color_screen_return Returns the color that can be reproduced on the
screen.
result_format Specifies the color format for the returned
color specifications (color_screen_return and
color_exact_return arguments). If the format is Xcm-
sUndefinedFormat and the color string contains a
numerical color specification, the specification is re-
turned in the format used in that numerical color
specification. If the format is XcmsUndefinedFormat
and the color string contains a color name, the spec-
ification is returned in the format used to store the
color in the database.
The XcmsLookupColor function looks up the string name of a color with respect
to the screen associated with the specified colormap. It returns both the exact col-
or values and the closest values provided by the screen with respect to the visual
type of the specified colormap. The values are returned in the format specified by
result_format. If the color name is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding,
the result is implementation-dependent. Use of uppercase or lowercase does not
matter. XcmsLookupColor returns XcmsSuccess or XcmsSuccessWithCompression
if the name is resolved; otherwise, it returns XcmsFailure. If XcmsSuccessWithCom-
pression is returned, the color specification returned in color_screen_return is the
result of gamut compression.
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Allocating and Freeing Color Cells
There are two ways of allocating color cells: explicitly as read-only entries, one
pixel value at a time, or read/write, where you can allocate a number of color cells
and planes simultaneously. A read-only cell has its RGB value set by the server.
Read/write cells do not have defined colors initially; functions described in the next
section must be used to store values into them. Although it is possible for any client
to store values into a read/write cell allocated by another client, read/write cells
normally should be considered private to the client that allocated them.
Read-only colormap cells are shared among clients. The server counts each alloca-
tion and freeing of the cell by clients. When the last client frees a shared cell, the
cell is finally deallocated. If a single client allocates the same read-only cell multiple
times, the server counts each such allocation, not just the first one.
To allocate a read-only color cell with an RGB value, use XAllocColor.
Status XAllocColor( *display, colormap, *screen_in_out);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
screen_in_out Specifies and returns the values actually used in the
colormap.
The XAllocColor function allocates a read-only colormap entry corresponding to
the closest RGB value supported by the hardware. XAllocColor returns the pixel
value of the color closest to the specified RGB elements supported by the hardware
and returns the RGB value actually used. The corresponding colormap cell is read-
only. In addition, XAllocColor returns nonzero if it succeeded or zero if it failed.
Multiple clients that request the same effective RGB value can be assigned the same
read-only entry, thus allowing entries to be shared. When the last client deallocates
a shared cell, it is deallocated. XAllocColor does not use or affect the flags in the
XColor structure.
XAllocColor can generate a BadColor error. delim %%
To allocate a read-only color cell with a color in arbitrary format, use XcmsAlloc-
Color.
Status XcmsAllocColor( *display, colormap, *color_in_out,
result_format);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
color_in_out Specifies the color to allocate and returns the pixel
and color that is actually used in the colormap.
result_format Specifies the color format for the returned color
specification.
The XcmsAllocColor function is similar to XAllocColor except the color can be
specified in any format. The XcmsAllocColor function ultimately calls XAllocColor
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to allocate a read-only color cell (colormap entry) with the specified color. XcmsAl-
locColor first converts the color specified to an RGB value and then passes this
to XAllocColor. XcmsAllocColor returns the pixel value of the color cell and the
color specification actually allocated. This returned color specification is the result
of converting the RGB value returned by XAllocColor into the format specified with
the result_format argument. If there is no interest in a returned color specification,
unnecessary computation can be bypassed if result_format is set to XcmsRGBFor-
mat. The corresponding colormap cell is read-only. If this routine returns XcmsFail-
ure, the color_in_out color specification is left unchanged.
XcmsAllocColor can generate a BadColor error.
To allocate a read-only color cell using a color name and return the closest color
supported by the hardware in RGB format, use XAllocNamedColor.
Status XAllocNamedColor( *display, colormap, *color_name,
*exact_def_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
color_name Specifies the color name string (for example, red)
whose color definition structure you want returned.
screen_def_return Returns the closest RGB values provided by the hard-
ware.
exact_def_return Returns the exact RGB values.
The XAllocNamedColor function looks up the named color with respect to the screen
that is associated with the specified colormap. It returns both the exact database
definition and the closest color supported by the screen. The allocated color cell
is read-only. The pixel value is returned in screen_def_return. If the color name
is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is implementation-de-
pendent. Use of uppercase or lowercase does not matter. If screen_def_return and
exact_def_return point to the same structure, the pixel field will be set correctly,
but the color values are undefined. XAllocNamedColor returns nonzero if a cell is
allocated; otherwise, it returns zero.
XAllocNamedColor can generate a BadColor error.
To allocate a read-only color cell using a color name and return the closest color
supported by the hardware in an arbitrary format, use XcmsAllocNamedColor.
Status XcmsAllocNamedColor( *display, colormap, *color_string,
*color_screen_return, *color_exact_return, result_format);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
color_string Specifies the color string(St.
color_screen_return Returns the pixel value of the color cell and color
specification that actually is stored for that cell.
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color_exact_return Returns the color specification parsed from the color
string or parsed from the corresponding string found
in a color-name database.
result_format Specifies the color format for the returned
color specifications (color_screen_return and
color_exact_return arguments). If the format is Xcm-
sUndefinedFormat and the color string contains a
numerical color specification, the specification is re-
turned in the format used in that numerical color
specification. If the format is XcmsUndefinedFormat
and the color string contains a color name, the spec-
ification is returned in the format used to store the
color in the database.
The XcmsAllocNamedColor function is similar to XAllocNamedColor except that the
color returned can be in any format specified. This function ultimately calls XAl-
locColor to allocate a read-only color cell with the color specified by a color string.
The color string is parsed into an XcmsColor structure (see XcmsLookupColor), con-
verted to an RGB value, and finally passed to XAllocColor. If the color name is not
in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is implementation-dependent.
Use of uppercase or lowercase does not matter.
This function returns both the color specification as a result of parsing (exact speci-
fication) and the actual color specification stored (screen specification). This screen
specification is the result of converting the RGB value returned by XAllocColor
into the format specified in result_format. If there is no interest in a returned color
specification, unnecessary computation can be bypassed if result_format is set to
XcmsRGBFormat. If color_screen_return and color_exact_return point to the same
structure, the pixel field will be set correctly, but the color values are undefined.
XcmsAllocNamedColor can generate a BadColor error.
To allocate read/write color cell and color plane combinations for a PseudoColor
model, use XAllocColorCells.
Status XAllocColorCells( *display, colormap, contig,
plane_masks_return[], nplanes, pixels_return[], npixels);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
contig Specifies a Boolean value that indicates whether the
planes must be contiguous.
plane_mask_return Returns an array of plane masks.
nplanes Specifies the number of plane masks that are to be
returned in the plane masks array.
pixels_return Returns an array of pixel values.
npixels Specifies the number of pixel values that are to be
returned in the pixels_return array.
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The XAllocColorCells function allocates read/write color cells. The number of col-
ors must be positive and the number of planes nonnegative, or a BadValue error
results. If ncolors and nplanes are requested, then ncolors pixels and nplane plane
masks are returned. No mask will have any bits set to 1 in common with any other
mask or with any of the pixels. By ORing together each pixel with zero or more
masks, ncolors 2
nplanes
distinct pixels can be produced. All of these are allocated
writable by the request. For GrayScale or PseudoColor, each mask has exactly one
bit set to 1. For DirectColor, each has exactly three bits set to 1. If contig is True
and if all masks are ORed together, a single contiguous set of bits set to 1 will be
formed for GrayScale or PseudoColor and three contiguous sets of bits set to 1 (one
within each pixel subfield) for DirectColor. The RGB values of the allocated entries
are undefined. XAllocColorCells returns nonzero if it succeeded or zero if it failed.
XAllocColorCells can generate BadColor and BadValue errors.
To allocate read/write color resources for a DirectColor model, use XAllocColor-
Planes.
Status XAllocColorPlanes( *display, colormap, contig,
pixels_return[], ncolors, nblues, *bmask_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
contig Specifies a Boolean value that indicates whether the
planes must be contiguous.
pixels_return Returns an array of pixel values. XAllocColorPlanes
returns the pixel values in this array.
ncolors Specifies the number of pixel values that are to be
returned in the pixels_return array.
nreds
ngreens
nblues Specify the number of red, green, and blue planes.
The value you pass must be nonnegative.
rmask_return
gmask_return
bmask_return Return bit masks for the red, green, and blue planes.
The specified ncolors must be positive; and nreds, ngreens, and nblues must be non-
negative, or a BadValue error results. If ncolors colors, nreds reds, ngreens greens,
and nblues blues are requested, ncolors pixels are returned; and the masks have
nreds, ngreens, and nblues bits set to 1, respectively. If contig is True, each mask
will have a contiguous set of bits set to 1. No mask will have any bits set to 1 in
common with any other mask or with any of the pixels. For DirectColor, each mask
will lie within the corresponding pixel subfield. By ORing together subsets of masks
with each pixel value, ncolors 2
(nreds+ngreens+nblues)
distinct pixel values can be
produced. All of these are allocated by the request. However, in the colormap, there
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are only ncolors 2
nreds
independent red entries, ncolors 2
ngreens
independent
green entries, and ncolors 2
nblues
independent blue entries. This is true even for
PseudoColor. When the colormap entry of a pixel value is changed (using XStore-
Colors, XStoreColor, or XStoreNamedColor), the pixel is decomposed according to
the masks, and the corresponding independent entries are updated. XAllocColor-
Planes returns nonzero if it succeeded or zero if it failed.
XAllocColorPlanes can generate BadColor and BadValue errors.
To free colormap cells, use XFreeColors.
XFreeColors( *display, colormap, pixels[], npixels, planes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
pixels Specifies an array of pixel values (Pi.
npixels Specifies the number of pixels.
planes Specifies the planes you want to free.
The XFreeColors function frees the cells represented by pixels whose values are in
the pixels array. The planes argument should not have any bits set to 1 in common
with any of the pixels. The set of all pixels is produced by ORing together subsets
of the planes argument with the pixels. The request frees all of these pixels that
were allocated by the client (using XAllocColor, XAllocNamedColor, XAllocCol-
orCells, and XAllocColorPlanes). Note that freeing an individual pixel obtained
from XAllocColorPlanes may not actually allow it to be reused until all of its relat-
ed pixels are also freed. Similarly, a read-only entry is not actually freed until it has
been freed by all clients, and if a client allocates the same read-only entry multiple
times, it must free the entry that many times before the entry is actually freed.
All specified pixels that are allocated by the client in the colormap are freed, even
if one or more pixels produce an error. If a specified pixel is not a valid index into
the colormap, a BadValue error results. If a specified pixel is not allocated by the
client (that is, is unallocated or is only allocated by another client) or if the colormap
was created with all entries writable (by passing AllocAll to XCreateColormap), a
BadAccess error results. If more than one pixel is in error, the one that gets reported
is arbitrary.
XFreeColors can generate BadAccess, BadColor, and BadValue errors.
Modifying and Querying Colormap Cells
To store an RGB value in a single colormap cell, use XStoreColor.
XStoreColor( *display, colormap, *color);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
color Specifies the pixel and RGB values.
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The XStoreColor function changes the colormap entry of the pixel value specified in
the pixel member of the XColor structure. You specified this value in the pixel mem-
ber of the XColor structure. This pixel value must be a read/write cell and a valid
index into the colormap. If a specified pixel is not a valid index into the colormap, a
BadValue error results. XStoreColor also changes the red, green, and/or blue col-
or components. You specify which color components are to be changed by setting
DoRed, DoGreen, and/or DoBlue in the flags member of the XColor structure. If the
colormap is an installed map for its screen, the changes are visible immediately.
XStoreColor can generate BadAccess, BadColor, and BadValue errors.
To store multiple RGB values in multiple colormap cells, use XStoreColors.
XStoreColors( *display, colormap, color[], ncolors);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
color Specifies an array of color definition structures to be
stored.
ncolors Specifies the number of XColor structures in the color de-
finition array.
The XStoreColors function changes the colormap entries of the pixel values spec-
ified in the pixel members of the XColor structures. You specify which color com-
ponents are to be changed by setting DoRed, DoGreen, and/or DoBlue in the flags
member of the XColor structures. If the colormap is an installed map for its screen,
the changes are visible immediately. XStoreColors changes the specified pixels if
they are allocated writable in the colormap by any client, even if one or more pix-
els generates an error. If a specified pixel is not a valid index into the colormap, a
BadValue error results. If a specified pixel either is unallocated or is allocated read-
only, a BadAccess error results. If more than one pixel is in error, the one that gets
reported is arbitrary.
XStoreColors can generate BadAccess, BadColor, and BadValue errors.
To store a color of arbitrary format in a single colormap cell, use XcmsStoreColor.
Status XcmsStoreColor( *display, colormap, *color);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
color Specifies the color cell and the color to store. Values spec-
ified in this XcmsColor structure remain unchanged on
return.
The XcmsStoreColor function converts the color specified in the XcmsColor struc-
ture into RGB values. It then uses this RGB specification in an XColor structure,
whose three flags (DoRed, DoGreen, and DoBlue) are set, in a call to XStoreColor
to change the color cell specified by the pixel member of the XcmsColor structure.
This pixel value must be a valid index for the specified colormap, and the color cell
specified by the pixel value must be a read/write cell. If the pixel value is not a valid
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index, a BadValue error results. If the color cell is unallocated or is allocated read-
only, a BadAccess error results. If the colormap is an installed map for its screen,
the changes are visible immediately.
Note that XStoreColor has no return value; therefore, an XcmsSuccess return value
from this function indicates that the conversion to RGB succeeded and the call to
XStoreColor was made. To obtain the actual color stored, use XcmsQueryColor. Be-
cause of the screen's hardware limitations or gamut compression, the color stored
in the colormap may not be identical to the color specified.
XcmsStoreColor can generate BadAccess, BadColor, and BadValue errors.
To store multiple colors of arbitrary format in multiple colormap cells, use XcmsS-
toreColors.
Status XcmsStoreColors( *display, colormap, colors[], ncolors,
compression_flags_return[]);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
colors Specifies the color specification array of XcmsColor
structures, each specifying a color cell and the color
to store in that cell. Values specified in the array re-
main unchanged upon return.
ncolors Specifies the number of XcmsColor structures in the
color-specification array.
compression_flags_return Returns an array of Boolean values indicating com-
pression status. If a non-NULL pointer is supplied,
each element of the array is set to True if the corre-
sponding color was compressed and False otherwise.
Pass NULL if the compression status is not useful.
The XcmsStoreColors function converts the colors specified in the array of Xcms-
Color structures into RGB values and then uses these RGB specifications in XColor
structures, whose three flags (DoRed, DoGreen, and DoBlue) are set, in a call to
XStoreColors to change the color cells specified by the pixel member of the corre-
sponding XcmsColor structure. Each pixel value must be a valid index for the spec-
ified colormap, and the color cell specified by each pixel value must be a read/write
cell. If a pixel value is not a valid index, a BadValue error results. If a color cell is
unallocated or is allocated read-only, a BadAccess error results. If more than one
pixel is in error, the one that gets reported is arbitrary. If the colormap is an installed
map for its screen, the changes are visible immediately.
Note that XStoreColors has no return value; therefore, an XcmsSuccess return
value from this function indicates that conversions to RGB succeeded and the call
to XStoreColors was made. To obtain the actual colors stored, use XcmsQueryCol-
ors. Because of the screen's hardware limitations or gamut compression, the colors
stored in the colormap may not be identical to the colors specified.
XcmsStoreColors can generate BadAccess, BadColor, and BadValue errors.
To store a color specified by name in a single colormap cell, use XStoreNamedColor.
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XStoreNamedColor( *display, colormap, *color, pixel, flags);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
color Specifies the color name string (for example, red).
pixel Specifies the entry in the colormap.
flags Specifies which red, green, and blue components are set.
The XStoreNamedColor function looks up the named color with respect to the screen
associated with the colormap and stores the result in the specified colormap. The
pixel argument determines the entry in the colormap. The flags argument deter-
mines which of the red, green, and blue components are set. You can set this mem-
ber to the bitwise inclusive OR of the bits DoRed, DoGreen, and DoBlue. If the col-
or name is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is implementa-
tion-dependent. Use of uppercase or lowercase does not matter. If the specified pix-
el is not a valid index into the colormap, a BadValue error results. If the specified
pixel either is unallocated or is allocated read-only, a BadAccess error results.
XStoreNamedColor can generate BadAccess, BadColor, BadName, and BadValue er-
rors.
The XQueryColor and XQueryColors functions take pixel values in the pixel member
of XColor structures and store in the structures the RGB values for those pixels from
the specified colormap. The values returned for an unallocated entry are undefined.
These functions also set the flags member in the XColor structure to all three colors.
If a pixel is not a valid index into the specified colormap, a BadValue error results.
If more than one pixel is in error, the one that gets reported is arbitrary.
To query the RGB value of a single colormap cell, use XQueryColor.
XQueryColor( *display, colormap, *def_in_out);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
def_in_out Specifies and returns the RGB values for the pixel spec-
ified in the structure.
The XQueryColor function returns the current RGB value for the pixel in the XColor
structure and sets the DoRed, DoGreen, and DoBlue flags.
XQueryColor can generate BadColor and BadValue errors.
To query the RGB values of multiple colormap cells, use XQueryColors.
XQueryColors( *display, colormap, defs_in_out[], ncolors);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
defs_in_out Specifies and returns an array of color definition struc-
tures for the pixel specified in the structure.
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ncolors Specifies the number of XColor structures in the color
definition array.
The XQueryColors function returns the RGB value for each pixel in each XColor
structure and sets the DoRed, DoGreen, and DoBlue flags in each structure.
XQueryColors can generate BadColor and BadValue errors.
To query the color of a single colormap cell in an arbitrary format, use XcmsQuery-
Color.
Status XcmsQueryColor( *display, colormap, *color_in_out,
result_format);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
color_in_out Specifies the pixel member that indicates the color
cell to query. The color specification stored for the
color cell is returned in this XcmsColor structure.
result_format Specifies the color format for the returned color
specification.
The XcmsQueryColor function obtains the RGB value for the pixel value in the pixel
member of the specified XcmsColor structure and then converts the value to the
target format as specified by the result_format argument. If the pixel is not a valid
index in the specified colormap, a BadValue error results.
XcmsQueryColor can generate BadColor and BadValue errors.
To query the color of multiple colormap cells in an arbitrary format, use XcmsQuery-
Colors.
Status XcmsQueryColors( *display, colormap, colors_in_out[], ncolors,
result_format);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
colors_in_out Specifies an array of XcmsColor structures, each pix-
el member indicating the color cell to query. The col-
or specifications for the color cells are returned in
these structures.
ncolors Specifies the number of XcmsColor structures in the
color-specification array.
result_format Specifies the color format for the returned color
specification.
The XcmsQueryColors function obtains the RGB values for pixel values in the pixel
members of XcmsColor structures and then converts the values to the target format
as specified by the result_format argument. If a pixel is not a valid index into the
specified colormap, a BadValue error results. If more than one pixel is in error, the
one that gets reported is arbitrary.
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XcmsQueryColors can generate BadColor and BadValue errors.
Color Conversion Context Functions
This section describes functions to create, modify, and query Color Conversion Con-
texts (CCCs).
Associated with each colormap is an initial CCC transparently generated by Xlib.
Therefore, when you specify a colormap as an argument to a function, you are
indirectly specifying a CCC. The CCC attributes that can be modified by the X
client are:
Client White Point
Gamut compression procedure and client data
White point adjustment procedure and client data
The initial values for these attributes are implementation specific. The CCC attrib-
utes for subsequently created CCCs can be defined by changing the CCC attributes
of the default CCC. There is a default CCC associated with each screen.
Getting and Setting the Color Conversion Context of a
Colormap
To obtain the CCC associated with a colormap, use XcmsCCCOfColormap.
XcmsCCC XcmsCCCOfColormap( *display, colormap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
The XcmsCCCOfColormap function returns the CCC associated with the specified col-
ormap. Once obtained, the CCC attributes can be queried or modified. Unless the
CCC associated with the specified colormap is changed with XcmsSetCCCOfCol-
ormap, this CCC is used when the specified colormap is used as an argument to
color functions.
To change the CCC associated with a colormap, use XcmsSetCCCOfColormap.
XcmsCCC XcmsSetCCCOfColormap( *display, colormap, ccc);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
ccc Specifies the CCC.
The XcmsSetCCCOfColormap function changes the CCC associated with the specified
colormap. It returns the CCC previously associated with the colormap. If they are
not used again in the application, CCCs should be freed by calling XcmsFreeCCC.
Several colormaps may share the same CCC without restriction; this includes the
CCCs generated by Xlib with each colormap. Xlib, however, creates a new CCC with
each new colormap.
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92
Obtaining the Default Color Conversion Context
You can change the default CCC attributes for subsequently created CCCs by chang-
ing the CCC attributes of the default CCC. A default CCC is associated with each
screen.
To obtain the default CCC for a screen, use XcmsDefaultCCC.
XcmsCCC XcmsDefaultCCC( *display, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
The XcmsDefaultCCC function returns the default CCC for the specified screen. Its
visual is the default visual of the screen. Its initial gamut compression and white
point adjustment procedures as well as the associated client data are implementa-
tion specific.
Color Conversion Context Macros
Applications should not directly modify any part of the XcmsCCC. The following lists
the C language macros, their corresponding function equivalents for other language
bindings, and what data they both can return.
DisplayOfCCC( ccc);
Display *XcmsDisplayOfCCC( ccc);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
Both return the display associated with the specified CCC.
VisualOfCCC( ccc);
Visual *XcmsVisualOfCCC( ccc);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
Both return the visual associated with the specified CCC.
ScreenNumberOfCCC( ccc);
int XcmsScreenNumberOfCCC( ccc);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
Both return the number of the screen associated with the specified CCC.
ScreenWhitePointOfCCC( ccc);
XcmsColor XcmsScreenWhitePointOfCCC( ccc);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
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93
Both return the white point of the screen associated with the specified CCC.
ClientWhitePointOfCCC( ccc);
XcmsColor *XcmsClientWhitePointOfCCC( ccc);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
Both return the Client White Point of the specified CCC.
Modifying Attributes of a Color Conversion Context
To set the Client White Point in the CCC, use XcmsSetWhitePoint.
Status XcmsSetWhitePoint( ccc, *color);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
color Specifies the new Client White Point.
The XcmsSetWhitePoint function changes the Client White Point in the specified
CCC. Note that the pixel member is ignored and that the color specification is left
unchanged upon return. The format for the new white point must be XcmsCIEXYZ-
Format, XcmsCIEuvYFormat, XcmsCIExyYFormat, or XcmsUndefinedFormat. If the
color argument is NULL, this function sets the format component of the Client White
Point specification to XcmsUndefinedFormat, indicating that the Client White Point
is assumed to be the same as the Screen White Point.
This function returns nonzero status if the format for the new white point is valid;
otherwise, it returns zero.
To set the gamut compression procedure and corresponding client data in a speci-
fied CCC, use XcmsSetCompressionProc.
XcmsCompressionProc XcmsSetCompressionProc( ccc, compression_proc,
client_data);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
compression_proc Specifies the gamut compression procedure that is
to be applied when a color lies outside the screen's
color gamut. If NULL is specified and a function us-
ing this CCC must convert a color specification to a
device-dependent format and encounters a color that
lies outside the screen's color gamut, that function
will return XcmsFailure.
client_data Specifies client data for gamut compression proce-
dure or NULL.
The XcmsSetCompressionProc function first sets the gamut compression procedure
and client data in the specified CCC with the newly specified procedure and client
data and then returns the old procedure.
To set the white point adjustment procedure and corresponding client data in a
specified CCC, use XcmsSetWhiteAdjustProc.
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XcmsWhiteAdjustProc XcmsSetWhiteAdjustProc( ccc, white_adjust_proc,
client_data);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
white_adjust_proc Specifies the white point adjustment procedure.
client_data Specifies client data for white point adjustment pro-
cedure or NULL.
The XcmsSetWhiteAdjustProc function first sets the white point adjustment proce-
dure and client data in the specified CCC with the newly specified procedure and
client data and then returns the old procedure.
Creating and Freeing a Color Conversion Context
You can explicitly create a CCC within your application by calling XcmsCreateCCC.
These created CCCs can then be used by those functions that explicitly call for a
CCC argument. Old CCCs that will not be used by the application should be freed
using XcmsFreeCCC.
To create a CCC, use XcmsCreateCCC.
XcmsCCC XcmsCreateCCC( *display, screen_number, *visual,
*client_white_point, compression_proc, compression_client_data,
white_adjust_proc, white_adjust_client_data);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
visual Specifies the visual type.
client_white_point Specifies the Client White Point. If NULL is specified,
the Client White Point is to be assumed to be the
same as the Screen White Point. Note that the pixel
member is ignored.
compression_proc Specifies the gamut compression procedure that is
to be applied when a color lies outside the screen's
color gamut. If NULL is specified and a function us-
ing this CCC must convert a color specification to a
device-dependent format and encounters a color that
lies outside the screen's color gamut, that function
will return XcmsFailure.
compression_client_data Specifies client data for use by the gamut compres-
sion procedure or NULL.
white_adjust_proc Specifies the white adjustment procedure that is to
be applied when the Client White Point differs from
the Screen White Point. NULL indicates that no white
point adjustment is desired.
white_adjust_client_data Specifies client data for use with the white point ad-
justment procedure or NULL.
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The XcmsCreateCCC function creates a CCC for the specified display, screen, and
visual.
To free a CCC, use XcmsFreeCCC.
void XcmsFreeCCC( ccc);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
The XcmsFreeCCC function frees the memory used for the specified CCC. Note that
default CCCs and those currently associated with colormaps are ignored.
Converting between Color Spaces
To convert an array of color specifications in arbitrary color formats to a single
destination format, use XcmsConvertColors.
Status XcmsConvertColors( ccc, colors_in_out[], ncolors,
target_format, compression_flags_return[]);
ccc Specifies the CCC. If conversion is between de-
vice-independent color spaces only (for example,
TekHVC to CIELuv), the CCC is necessary only to
specify the Client White Point.
colors_in_out Specifies an array of color specifications. Pixel mem-
bers are ignored and remain unchanged upon return.
ncolors Specifies the number of XcmsColor structures in the
color-specification array.
target_format Specifies the target color specification format.
compression_flags_return Returns an array of Boolean values indicating com-
pression status. If a non-NULL pointer is supplied,
each element of the array is set to True if the corre-
sponding color was compressed and False otherwise.
Pass NULL if the compression status is not useful.
The XcmsConvertColors function converts the color specifications in the specified
array of XcmsColor structures from their current format to a single target format,
using the specified CCC. When the return value is XcmsFailure, the contents of the
color specification array are left unchanged.
The array may contain a mixture of color specification formats (for example, 3
CIE XYZ, 2 CIE Luv, and so on). When the array contains both device-independent
and device-dependent color specifications and the target_format argument speci-
fies a device-dependent format (for example, XcmsRGBiFormat, XcmsRGBFormat),
all specifications are converted to CIE XYZ format and then to the target device-de-
pendent format.
Callback Functions
This section describes the gamut compression and white point adjustment call-
backs.
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The gamut compression procedure specified in the CCC is called when an attempt
to convert a color specification from XcmsCIEXYZ to a device-dependent format
(typically XcmsRGBi) results in a color that lies outside the screen's color gamut. If
the gamut compression procedure requires client data, this data is passed via the
gamut compression client data in the CCC.
During color specification conversion between device-independent and device-de-
pendent color spaces, if a white point adjustment procedure is specified in the CCC,
it is triggered when the Client White Point and Screen White Point differ. If required,
the client data is obtained from the CCC.
Prototype Gamut Compression Procedure
The gamut compression callback interface must adhere to the following:
typedef Status(*XcmsCompressionProc)( ccc, colors_in_out[], ncolors,
index, compression_flags_return[]);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
colors_in_out Specifies an array of color specifications. Pixel mem-
bers should be ignored and must remain unchanged
upon return.
ncolors Specifies the number of XcmsColor structures in the
color-specification array.
index Specifies the index into the array of XcmsColor struc-
tures for the encountered color specification that lies
outside the screen's color gamut. Valid values are 0
(for the first element) to ncolors - 1.
compression_flags_return Returns an array of Boolean values for indicating
compression status. If a non-NULL pointer is sup-
plied and a color at a given index is compressed, then
True should be stored at the corresponding index in
this array; otherwise, the array should not be modi-
fied.
When implementing a gamut compression procedure, consider the following rules
and assumptions:
The gamut compression procedure can attempt to compress one or multiple spec-
ifications at a time.
When called, elements 0 to index - 1 in the color specification array can be as-
sumed to fall within the screen's color gamut. In addition, these color specifica-
tions are already in some device-dependent format (typically XcmsRGBi). If any
modifications are made to these color specifications, they must be in their initial
device-dependent format upon return.
When called, the element in the color specification array specified by the index ar-
gument contains the color specification outside the screen's color gamut encoun-
tered by the calling routine. In addition, this color specification can be assumed to
be in XcmsCIEXYZ. Upon return, this color specification must be in XcmsCIEXYZ.
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When called, elements from index to ncolors - 1 in the color specification array
may or may not fall within the screen's color gamut. In addition, these color spec-
ifications can be assumed to be in XcmsCIEXYZ. If any modifications are made to
these color specifications, they must be in XcmsCIEXYZ upon return.
The color specifications passed to the gamut compression procedure have already
been adjusted to the Screen White Point. This means that at this point the color
specification's white point is the Screen White Point.
If the gamut compression procedure uses a device-independent color space not
initially accessible for use in the color management system, use XcmsAddColorS-
pace to ensure that it is added.
Supplied Gamut Compression Procedures
The following equations are useful in describing gamut compression functions: de-
lim %%
%CIELab~Psychometric~Chroma ~=~ sqrt(a_star sup 2 ~+~ b_star sup 2 )%
%CIELab~Psychometric~Hue ~=~ tan sup -1 left [ b_star over a_star right ]%
%CIELuv~Psychometric~Chroma ~=~ sqrt(u_star sup 2 ~+~ v_star sup 2 )%
%CIELuv~Psychometric~Hue ~=~ tan sup -1 left [ v_star over u_star right ]%
The gamut compression callback procedures provided by Xlib are as follows:
XcmsCIELabClipL
This brings the encountered out-of-gamut color specification into the screen's col-
or gamut by reducing or increasing CIE metric lightness (L*) in the CIE L*a*b*
color space until the color is within the gamut. If the Psychometric Chroma of
the color specification is beyond maximum for the Psychometric Hue Angle, then
while maintaining the same Psychometric Hue Angle, the color will be clipped to
the CIE L*a*b* coordinates of maximum Psychometric Chroma. See XcmsCIELab-
QueryMaxC. No client data is necessary.
XcmsCIELabClipab
This brings the encountered out-of-gamut color specification into the screen's col-
or gamut by reducing Psychometric Chroma, while maintaining Psychometric Hue
Angle, until the color is within the gamut. No client data is necessary.
XcmsCIELabClipLab
This brings the encountered out-of-gamut color specification into the screen's col-
or gamut by replacing it with CIE L*a*b* coordinates that fall within the color
gamut while maintaining the original Psychometric Hue Angle and whose vector
to the original coordinates is the shortest attainable. No client data is necessary.
XcmsCIELuvClipL
This brings the encountered out-of-gamut color specification into the screen's col-
or gamut by reducing or increasing CIE metric lightness (L*) in the CIE L*u*v*
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98
color space until the color is within the gamut. If the Psychometric Chroma of
the color specification is beyond maximum for the Psychometric Hue Angle, then,
while maintaining the same Psychometric Hue Angle, the color will be clipped to
the CIE L*u*v* coordinates of maximum Psychometric Chroma. See XcmsCIELu-
vQueryMaxC. No client data is necessary.
XcmsCIELuvClipuv
This brings the encountered out-of-gamut color specification into the screen's col-
or gamut by reducing Psychometric Chroma, while maintaining Psychometric Hue
Angle, until the color is within the gamut. No client data is necessary.
XcmsCIELuvClipLuv
This brings the encountered out-of-gamut color specification into the screen's col-
or gamut by replacing it with CIE L*u*v* coordinates that fall within the color
gamut while maintaining the original Psychometric Hue Angle and whose vector
to the original coordinates is the shortest attainable. No client data is necessary.
XcmsTekHVCClipV
This brings the encountered out-of-gamut color specification into the screen's col-
or gamut by reducing or increasing the Value dimension in the TekHVC color
space until the color is within the gamut. If Chroma of the color specification is
beyond maximum for the particular Hue, then, while maintaining the same Hue,
the color will be clipped to the Value and Chroma coordinates that represent max-
imum Chroma for that particular Hue. No client data is necessary.
XcmsTekHVCClipC
This brings the encountered out-of-gamut color specification into the screen's col-
or gamut by reducing the Chroma dimension in the TekHVC color space until the
color is within the gamut. No client data is necessary.
XcmsTekHVCClipVC
This brings the encountered out-of-gamut color specification into the screen's col-
or gamut by replacing it with TekHVC coordinates that fall within the color gamut
while maintaining the original Hue and whose vector to the original coordinates
is the shortest attainable. No client data is necessary.
Prototype White Point Adjustment Procedure
The white point adjustment procedure interface must adhere to the following:
typedef Status (*XcmsWhiteAdjustProc)( ccc, *initial_white_point,
*target_white_point, target_format, colors_in_out[], ncolors,
compression_flags_return[]);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
initial_white_point Specifies the initial white point.
target_white_point Specifies the target white point.
target_format Specifies the target color specification format.
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colors_in_out Specifies an array of color specifications. Pixel mem-
bers should be ignored and must remain unchanged
upon return.
ncolors Specifies the number of XcmsColor structures in the
color-specification array.
compression_flags_return Returns an array of Boolean values for indicating
compression status. If a non-NULL pointer is sup-
plied and a color at a given index is compressed, then
True should be stored at the corresponding index in
this array; otherwise, the array should not be modi-
fied.
Supplied White Point Adjustment Procedures
White point adjustment procedures provided by Xlib are as follows:
XcmsCIELabWhiteShiftColors
This uses the CIE L*a*b* color space for adjusting the chromatic character of
colors to compensate for the chromatic differences between the source and des-
tination white points. This procedure simply converts the color specifications to
XcmsCIELab using the source white point and then converts to the target speci-
fication format using the destination's white point. No client data is necessary.
XcmsCIELuvWhiteShiftColors
This uses the CIE L*u*v* color space for adjusting the chromatic character of
colors to compensate for the chromatic differences between the source and des-
tination white points. This procedure simply converts the color specifications to
XcmsCIELuv using the source white point and then converts to the target speci-
fication format using the destination's white point. No client data is necessary.
XcmsTekHVCWhiteShiftColors
This uses the TekHVC color space for adjusting the chromatic character of col-
ors to compensate for the chromatic differences between the source and destina-
tion white points. This procedure simply converts the color specifications to Xcm-
sTekHVC using the source white point and then converts to the target specifica-
tion format using the destination's white point. An advantage of this procedure
over those previously described is an attempt to minimize hue shift. No client data
is necessary.
From an implementation point of view, these white point adjustment procedures
convert the color specifications to a device-independent but white-point-dependent
color space (for example, CIE L*u*v*, CIE L*a*b*, TekHVC) using one white point
and then converting those specifications to the target color space using another
white point. In other words, the specification goes in the color space with one white
point but comes out with another white point, resulting in a chromatic shift based on
the chromatic displacement between the initial white point and target white point.
The CIE color spaces that are assumed to be white-point-independent are CIE u'v'Y,
CIE XYZ, and CIE xyY. When developing a custom white point adjustment procedure
that uses a device-independent color space not initially accessible for use in the
color management system, use XcmsAddColorSpace to ensure that it is added.
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100
As an example, if the CCC specifies a white point adjustment procedure and if the
Client White Point and Screen White Point differ, the XcmsAllocColor function will
use the white point adjustment procedure twice:
Once to convert to XcmsRGB
A second time to convert from XcmsRGB
For example, assume the specification is in XcmsCIEuvY and the adjustment proce-
dure is XcmsCIELuvWhiteShiftColors. During conversion to XcmsRGB, the call to
XcmsAllocColor results in the following series of color specification conversions:
From XcmsCIEuvY to XcmsCIELuv using the Client White Point
From XcmsCIELuv to XcmsCIEuvY using the Screen White Point
From XcmsCIEuvY to XcmsCIEXYZ (CIE u'v'Y and XYZ are white-point-indepen-
dent color spaces)
From XcmsCIEXYZ to XcmsRGBi
From XcmsRGBi to XcmsRGB
The resulting RGB specification is passed to XAllocColor, and the RGB specification
returned by XAllocColor is converted back to XcmsCIEuvY by reversing the color
conversion sequence.
Gamut Querying Functions
This section describes the gamut querying functions that Xlib provides. These func-
tions allow the client to query the boundary of the screen's color gamut in terms of
the CIE L*a*b*, CIE L*u*v*, and TekHVC color spaces. Functions are also provided
that allow you to query the color specification of:
White (full-intensity red, green, and blue)
Red (full-intensity red while green and blue are zero)
Green (full-intensity green while red and blue are zero)
Blue (full-intensity blue while red and green are zero)
Black (zero-intensity red, green, and blue)
The white point associated with color specifications passed to and returned from
these gamut querying functions is assumed to be the Screen White Point. This is
a reasonable assumption, because the client is trying to query the screen's color
gamut.
The following naming convention is used for the Max and Min functions:
Xcms<color_space>QueryMax<dimensions>
Xcms<color_space>QueryMin<dimensions>
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The <dimensions> consists of a letter or letters that identify the dimensions of the
color space that are not fixed. For example, XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxC is given a fixed
Hue and Value for which maximum Chroma is found.
Red, Green, and Blue Queries
To obtain the color specification for black (zero-intensity red, green, and blue), use
XcmsQueryBlack.
Status XcmsQueryBlack( ccc, target_format, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
target_format Specifies the target color specification format.
color_return Returns the color specification in the specified tar-
get format for (Cs. The white point associated with
the returned color specification is the Screen White
Point. The value returned in the pixel member is un-
defined.
The XcmsQueryBlack function returns the color specification in the specified target
format for zero-intensity red, green, and blue.
To obtain the color specification for blue (full-intensity blue while red and green are
zero), use XcmsQueryBlue.
Status XcmsQueryBlue( ccc, target_format, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
target_format Specifies the target color specification format.
color_return Returns the color specification in the specified tar-
get format for (Cs. The white point associated with
the returned color specification is the Screen White
Point. The value returned in the pixel member is un-
defined.
The XcmsQueryBlue function returns the color specification in the specified target
format for full-intensity blue while red and green are zero.
To obtain the color specification for green (full-intensity green while red and blue
are zero), use XcmsQueryGreen.
Status XcmsQueryGreen( ccc, target_format, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
target_format Specifies the target color specification format.
color_return Returns the color specification in the specified tar-
get format for (Cs. The white point associated with
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102
the returned color specification is the Screen White
Point. The value returned in the pixel member is un-
defined.
The XcmsQueryGreen function returns the color specification in the specified target
format for full-intensity green while red and blue are zero.
To obtain the color specification for red (full-intensity red while green and blue are
zero), use XcmsQueryRed.
Status XcmsQueryRed( ccc, target_format, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
target_format Specifies the target color specification format.
color_return Returns the color specification in the specified tar-
get format for (Cs. The white point associated with
the returned color specification is the Screen White
Point. The value returned in the pixel member is un-
defined.
The XcmsQueryRed function returns the color specification in the specified target
format for full-intensity red while green and blue are zero.
To obtain the color specification for white (full-intensity red, green, and blue), use
XcmsQueryWhite.
Status XcmsQueryWhite( ccc, target_format, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
target_format Specifies the target color specification format.
color_return Returns the color specification in the specified tar-
get format for (Cs. The white point associated with
the returned color specification is the Screen White
Point. The value returned in the pixel member is un-
defined.
The XcmsQueryWhite function returns the color specification in the specified target
format for full-intensity red, green, and blue.
CIELab Queries
The following equations are useful in describing the CIELab query functions: delim
%%

%CIELab~Psychometric~Chroma ~=~ sqrt(a_star sup 2 ~+~ b_star sup 2 )%
%CIELab~Psychometric~Hue ~=~ tan sup -1 left [ b_star over a_star right ]%
Color Management Functions
103
To obtain the CIE L*a*b* coordinates of maximum Psychometric Chroma for a given
Psychometric Hue Angle and CIE metric lightness (L*), use XcmsCIELabQueryMaxC.
Status XcmsCIELabQueryMaxC( ccc, hue_angle, L_star, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue_angle Specifies the hue angle (in degrees) at which to find
(Ha.
L_star Specifies the lightness (L*) at which to find (Ls.
color_return Returns the CIE L*a*b* coordinates of (Lc dis-
playable by the screen for the given (lC. The white
point associated with the returned color specification
is the Screen White Point. The value returned in the
pixel member is undefined.
The XcmsCIELabQueryMaxC function, given a hue angle and lightness, finds the point
of maximum chroma displayable by the screen. It returns this point in CIE L*a*b*
coordinates.
To obtain the CIE L*a*b* coordinates of maximum CIE metric lightness (L*) for a
given Psychometric Hue Angle and Psychometric Chroma, use XcmsCIELabQuery-
MaxL.
Status XcmsCIELabQueryMaxL( ccc, hue_angle, chroma, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue_angle Specifies the hue angle (in degrees) at which to find
(Ha.
chroma Specifies the chroma at which to find (Ch.
color_return Returns the CIE L*a*b* coordinates of (Lc dis-
playable by the screen for the given (lC. The white
point associated with the returned color specification
is the Screen White Point. The value returned in the
pixel member is undefined.
The XcmsCIELabQueryMaxL function, given a hue angle and chroma, finds the point
in CIE L*a*b* color space of maximum lightness (L*) displayable by the screen. It
returns this point in CIE L*a*b* coordinates. An XcmsFailure return value usually
indicates that the given chroma is beyond maximum for the given hue angle.
To obtain the CIE L*a*b* coordinates of maximum Psychometric Chroma for a given
Psychometric Hue Angle, use XcmsCIELabQueryMaxLC.
Status XcmsCIELabQueryMaxLC( ccc, hue_angle, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue_angle Specifies the hue angle (in degrees) at which to find
(Ha.
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104
color_return Returns the CIE L*a*b* coordinates of (Lc dis-
playable by the screen for the given (lC. The white
point associated with the returned color specification
is the Screen White Point. The value returned in the
pixel member is undefined.
The XcmsCIELabQueryMaxLC function, given a hue angle, finds the point of maximum
chroma displayable by the screen. It returns this point in CIE L*a*b* coordinates.
To obtain the CIE L*a*b* coordinates of minimum CIE metric lightness (L*) for a giv-
en Psychometric Hue Angle and Psychometric Chroma, use XcmsCIELabQueryMinL.
Status XcmsCIELabQueryMinL( ccc, hue_angle, chroma, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue_angle Specifies the hue angle (in degrees) at which to find
(Ha.
chroma Specifies the chroma at which to find (Ch.
color_return Returns the CIE L*a*b* coordinates of (Lc dis-
playable by the screen for the given (lC. The white
point associated with the returned color specification
is the Screen White Point. The value returned in the
pixel member is undefined.
The XcmsCIELabQueryMinL function, given a hue angle and chroma, finds the point
of minimum lightness (L*) displayable by the screen. It returns this point in CIE
L*a*b* coordinates. An XcmsFailure return value usually indicates that the given
chroma is beyond maximum for the given hue angle.
CIELuv Queries
The following equations are useful in describing the CIELuv query functions: delim
%%

%CIELuv~Psychometric~Chroma ~=~ sqrt(u_star sup 2 ~+~ v_star sup 2 )%
%CIELuv~Psychometric~Hue ~=~ tan sup -1 left [ v_star over u_star right ]%
To obtain the CIE L*u*v* coordinates of maximum Psychometric Chroma for a given
Psychometric Hue Angle and CIE metric lightness (L*), use XcmsCIELuvQueryMaxC.
Status XcmsCIELuvQueryMaxC( ccc, hue_angle, L_star, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue_angle Specifies the hue angle (in degrees) at which to find
(Ha.
L_star Specifies the lightness (L*) at which to find (Ls.
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105
color_return Returns the CIE L*u*v* coordinates of (Lc dis-
playable by the screen for the given (lC. The white
point associated with the returned color specification
is the Screen White Point. The value returned in the
pixel member is undefined.
The XcmsCIELuvQueryMaxC function, given a hue angle and lightness, finds the point
of maximum chroma displayable by the screen. It returns this point in CIE L*u*v*
coordinates.
To obtain the CIE L*u*v* coordinates of maximum CIE metric lightness (L*) for a
given Psychometric Hue Angle and Psychometric Chroma, use XcmsCIELuvQuery-
MaxL.
Status XcmsCIELuvQueryMaxL( ccc, hue_angle, chroma, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue_angle Specifies the hue angle (in degrees) at which to find
(Ha.
L_star Specifies the lightness (L*) at which to find (Ls.
color_return Returns the CIE L*u*v* coordinates of (Lc dis-
playable by the screen for the given (lC. The white
point associated with the returned color specification
is the Screen White Point. The value returned in the
pixel member is undefined.
The XcmsCIELuvQueryMaxL function, given a hue angle and chroma, finds the point
in CIE L*u*v* color space of maximum lightness (L*) displayable by the screen. It
returns this point in CIE L*u*v* coordinates. An XcmsFailure return value usually
indicates that the given chroma is beyond maximum for the given hue angle.
To obtain the CIE L*u*v* coordinates of maximum Psychometric Chroma for a given
Psychometric Hue Angle, use XcmsCIELuvQueryMaxLC.
Status XcmsCIELuvQueryMaxLC( ccc, hue_angle, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue_angle Specifies the hue angle (in degrees) at which to find
(Ha.
color_return Returns the CIE L*u*v* coordinates of (Lc dis-
playable by the screen for the given (lC. The white
point associated with the returned color specification
is the Screen White Point. The value returned in the
pixel member is undefined.
The XcmsCIELuvQueryMaxLC function, given a hue angle, finds the point of maximum
chroma displayable by the screen. It returns this point in CIE L*u*v* coordinates.
To obtain the CIE L*u*v* coordinates of minimum CIE metric lightness (L*) for a giv-
en Psychometric Hue Angle and Psychometric Chroma, use XcmsCIELuvQueryMinL.
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106
Status XcmsCIELuvQueryMinL( ccc, hue_angle, chroma, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue_angle Specifies the hue angle (in degrees) at which to find
(Ha.
chroma Specifies the chroma at which to find (Ch.
color_return Returns the CIE L*u*v* coordinates of (Lc dis-
playable by the screen for the given (lC. The white
point associated with the returned color specification
is the Screen White Point. The value returned in the
pixel member is undefined.
The XcmsCIELuvQueryMinL function, given a hue angle and chroma, finds the point
of minimum lightness (L*) displayable by the screen. It returns this point in CIE
L*u*v* coordinates. An XcmsFailure return value usually indicates that the given
chroma is beyond maximum for the given hue angle.
TekHVC Queries
To obtain the maximum Chroma for a given Hue and Value, use XcmsTekHVCQuery-
MaxC.
Status XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxC( ccc, hue, value, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue Specifies the Hue (Hu.
value Specifies the Value in which to find the (Va.
color_return Returns the (Lc at which the (lC was found. The white
point associated with the returned color specification
is the Screen White Point. The value returned in the
pixel member is undefined.
The XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxC function, given a Hue and Value, determines the maxi-
mum Chroma in TekHVC color space displayable by the screen. It returns the max-
imum Chroma along with the actual Hue and Value at which the maximum Chroma
was found.
To obtain the maximum Value for a given Hue and Chroma, use XcmsTekHVCQuery-
MaxV.
Status XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxV( ccc, hue, chroma, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue Specifies the Hue (Hu.
chroma Specifies the chroma at which to find (Ch.
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107
color_return Returns the (Lc at which the (lC was found. The white
point associated with the returned color specification
is the Screen White Point. The value returned in the
pixel member is undefined.
The XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxV function, given a Hue and Chroma, determines the max-
imum Value in TekHVC color space displayable by the screen. It returns the maxi-
mum Value and the actual Hue and Chroma at which the maximum Value was found.
To obtain the maximum Chroma and Value at which it is reached for a specified
Hue, use XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxVC.
Status XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxVC( ccc, hue, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue Specifies the Hue (Hu. XcmsTekHVC for the maxi-
mum Chroma, the Value at which \ that maximum
Chroma is reached, and the actual Hue
color_return Returns the (Lc at which the (lC was found. The white
point associated with the returned color specification
is the Screen White Point. The value returned in the
pixel member is undefined.
The XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxVC function, given a Hue, determines the maximum Chro-
ma in TekHVC color space displayable by the screen and the Value at which that
maximum Chroma is reached. It returns the maximum Chroma, the Value at which
that maximum Chroma is reached, and the actual Hue for which the maximum Chro-
ma was found.
To obtain a specified number of TekHVC specifications such that they contain max-
imum Values for a specified Hue and the Chroma at which the maximum Values are
reached, use XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxVSamples.
Status XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxVSamples( ccc, hue, colors_return[], nsam-
ples);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue Specifies the Hue (Hu.
nsamples Specifies the number of samples.
colors_return Returns nsamples of color specifications in Xcm-
sTekHVC such that the Chroma is the maximum at-
tainable for the Value and Hue. The white point as-
sociated with the returned color specification is the
Screen White Point. The value returned in the pixel
member is undefined.
The XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxVSamples returns nsamples of maximum Value, the Chro-
ma at which that maximum Value is reached, and the actual Hue for which the max-
imum Chroma was found. These sample points may then be used to plot the maxi-
Color Management Functions
108
mum Value/Chroma boundary of the screen's color gamut for the specified Hue in
TekHVC color space.
To obtain the minimum Value for a given Hue and Chroma, use XcmsTekHVC-
QueryMinV.
Status XcmsTekHVCQueryMinV( ccc, hue, chroma, *color_return);
ccc Specifies the CCC. The CCC's Client White Point and
white point adjustment procedures are ignored.
hue Specifies the Hue (Hu.
value Specifies the Value in which to find the (Va.
color_return Returns the (Lc at which the (lC was found. The white
point associated with the returned color specification
is the Screen White Point. The value returned in the
pixel member is undefined.
The XcmsTekHVCQueryMinV function, given a Hue and Chroma, determines the min-
imum Value in TekHVC color space displayable by the screen. It returns the mini-
mum Value and the actual Hue and Chroma at which the minimum Value was found.
Color Management Extensions
The Xlib color management facilities can be extended in two ways:
Device-Independent Color Spaces
Device-independent color spaces that are derivable to CIE XYZ space can be
added using the XcmsAddColorSpace function.
Color Characterization Function Set
A Color Characterization Function Set consists of device-dependent color spaces
and their functions that convert between these color spaces and the CIE XYZ color
space, bundled together for a specific class of output devices. A function set can
be added using the XcmsAddFunctionSet function.
Color Spaces
The CIE XYZ color space serves as the hub for all conversions between device-inde-
pendent and device-dependent color spaces. Therefore, the knowledge to convert
an XcmsColor structure to and from CIE XYZ format is associated with each color
space. For example, conversion from CIE L*u*v* to RGB requires the knowledge to
convert from CIE L*u*v* to CIE XYZ and from CIE XYZ to RGB. This knowledge is
stored as an array of functions that, when applied in series, will convert the Xcm-
sColor structure to or from CIE XYZ format. This color specification conversion
mechanism facilitates the addition of color spaces.
Of course, when converting between only device-independent color spaces or only
device-dependent color spaces, shortcuts are taken whenever possible. For exam-
ple, conversion from TekHVC to CIE L*u*v* is performed by intermediate conver-
sion to CIE u*v*Y and then to CIE L*u*v*, thus bypassing conversion between CIE
u*v*Y and CIE XYZ.
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109
Adding Device-Independent Color Spaces
To add a device-independent color space, use XcmsAddColorSpace.
Status XcmsAddColorSpace( *color_space);
color_space Specifies the device-independent color space to add.
The XcmsAddColorSpace function makes a device-independent color space (actual-
ly an XcmsColorSpace structure) accessible by the color management system. Be-
cause format values for unregistered color spaces are assigned at run time, they
should be treated as private to the client. If references to an unregistered color
space must be made outside the client (for example, storing color specifications in
a file using the unregistered color space), then reference should be made by color
space prefix (see XcmsFormatOfPrefix and XcmsPrefixOfFormat).
If the XcmsColorSpace structure is already accessible in the color management
system, XcmsAddColorSpace returns XcmsSuccess.
Note that added XcmsColorSpaces must be retained for reference by Xlib.
Querying Color Space Format and Prefix
To obtain the format associated with the color space associated with a specified
color string prefix, use XcmsFormatOfPrefix.
XcmsColorFormat XcmsFormatOfPrefix( *prefix);
prefix Specifies the string that contains the color space prefix.
The XcmsFormatOfPrefix function returns the format for the specified color space
prefix (for example, the string ``CIEXYZ''). The prefix is case-insensitive. If the col-
or space is not accessible in the color management system, XcmsFormatOfPrefix
returns XcmsUndefinedFormat.
To obtain the color string prefix associated with the color space specified by a color
format, use XcmsPrefixOfFormat.
char *XcmsPrefixOfFormat( format);
format Specifies the color specification format.
The XcmsPrefixOfFormat function returns the string prefix associated with the col-
or specification encoding specified by the format argument. Otherwise, if no encod-
ing is found, it returns NULL. The returned string must be treated as read-only.
Creating Additional Color Spaces
Color space specific information necessary for color space conversion and color
string parsing is stored in an XcmsColorSpace structure. Therefore, a new structure
containing this information is required for each additional color space. In the case of
device-independent color spaces, a handle to this new structure (that is, by means
of a global variable) is usually made accessible to the client program for use with
the XcmsAddColorSpace function.
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110
If a new XcmsColorSpace structure specifies a color space not registered with the
X Consortium, they should be treated as private to the client because format val-
ues for unregistered color spaces are assigned at run time. If references to an un-
registered color space must be made outside the client (for example, storing color
specifications in a file using the unregistered color space), then reference should be
made by color space prefix (see XcmsFormatOfPrefix and XcmsPrefixOfFormat).
typedef (*XcmsConversionProc)();
typedef XcmsConversionProc *XcmsFuncListPtr;
/* A NULL terminated list of function pointers*/
typedef struct _XcmsColorSpace {
char *prefix;
XcmsColorFormat format;
XcmsParseStringProc parseString;
XcmsFuncListPtr to_CIEXYZ;
XcmsFuncListPtr from_CIEXYZ;
int inverse_flag;
} XcmsColorSpace;
The prefix member specifies the prefix that indicates a color string is in this color
space's string format. For example, the strings ``ciexyz'' or ``CIEXYZ'' for CIE XYZ,
and ``rgb'' or ``RGB'' for RGB. The prefix is case insensitive. The format member
specifies the color specification format. Formats for unregistered color spaces are
assigned at run time. The parseString member contains a pointer to the function
that can parse a color string into an XcmsColor structure. This function returns
an integer (int): nonzero if it succeeded and zero otherwise. The to_CIEXYZ and
from_CIEXYZ members contain pointers, each to a NULL terminated list of function
pointers. When the list of functions is executed in series, it will convert the color
specified in an XcmsColor structure from/to the current color space format to/from
the CIE XYZ format. Each function returns an integer (int): nonzero if it succeeded
and zero otherwise. The white point to be associated with the colors is specified ex-
plicitly, even though white points can be found in the CCC. The inverse_flag member,
if nonzero, specifies that for each function listed in to_CIEXYZ, its inverse function
can be found in from_CIEXYZ such that:
Given: n = number of functions in each list
for each i, such that 0 <= i < n
from_CIEXYZ[n - i - 1] is the inverse of to_CIEXYZ[i].
This allows Xlib to use the shortest conversion path, thus bypassing CIE XYZ if
possible (for example, TekHVC to CIE L*u*v*).
Parse String Callback
The callback in the XcmsColorSpace structure for parsing a color string for the
particular color space must adhere to the following software interface specification:
Status XcmsParseStringProc( *color_string, *color_return);
Color Management Functions
111
color_string Specifies the color string to parse.
color_return Returns the color specification in the color space's
format.
Color Specification Conversion Callback
Callback functions in the XcmsColorSpace structure for converting a color specifi-
cation between device-independent spaces must adhere to the following software
interface specification:
Status ConversionProc( ccc, *white_point, *colors_in_out, ncolors);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
white_point Specifies the white point associated with color spec-
ifications. The pixel member should be ignored, and
the entire structure remain unchanged upon return.
colors_in_out Specifies an array of color specifications. Pixel mem-
bers should be ignored and must remain unchanged
upon return.
ncolors Specifies the number of XcmsColor structures in the
color-specification array.
Callback functions in the XcmsColorSpace structure for converting a color specifi-
cation to or from a device-dependent space must adhere to the following software
interface specification:
Status ConversionProc( ccc, *colors_in_out, ncolors,
compression_flags_return[]);
ccc Specifies the CCC.
colors_in_out Specifies an array of color specifications. Pixel mem-
bers should be ignored and must remain unchanged
upon return.
ncolors Specifies the number of XcmsColor structures in the
color-specification array.
compression_flags_return Returns an array of Boolean values for indicating
compression status. If a non-NULL pointer is sup-
plied and a color at a given index is compressed, then
True should be stored at the corresponding index in
this array; otherwise, the array should not be modi-
fied.
Conversion functions are available globally for use by other color spaces. The con-
version functions provided by Xlib are:
Function Converts from Converts to
XcmsCIELabToCIEXYZ XcmsCIELabFormat XcmsCIEXYZFormat
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112
Function Converts from Converts to
XcmsCIELuvToCIEuvY XcmsCIELuvFormat XcmsCIEuvYFormat
XcmsCIEXYZToCIELab XcmsCIEXYZFormat XcmsCIELabFormat
XcmsCIEXYZToCIEuvY XcmsCIEXYZFormat XcmsCIEuvYFormat
XcmsCIEXYZToCIExyY XcmsCIEXYZFormat XcmsCIExyYFormat
XcmsCIEXYZToRGBi XcmsCIEXYZFormat XcmsRGBiFormat
XcmsCIEuvYToCIELuv XcmsCIEuvYFormat XcmsCIELabFormat
XcmsCIEuvYToCIEXYZ XcmsCIEuvYFormat XcmsCIEXYZFormat
XcmsCIEuvYToTekHVC XcmsCIEuvYFormat XcmsTekHVCFormat
XcmsCIExyYToCIEXYZ XcmsCIExyYFormat XcmsCIEXYZFormat
XcmsRGBToRGBi XcmsRGBFormat XcmsRGBiFormat
XcmsRGBiToCIEXYZ XcmsRGBiFormat XcmsCIEXYZFormat
XcmsRGBiToRGB XcmsRGBiFormat XcmsRGBFormat
XcmsTekHVCToCIEuvY XcmsTekHVCFormat XcmsCIEuvYFormat
Function Sets
Functions to convert between device-dependent color spaces and CIE XYZ may dif-
fer for different classes of output devices (for example, color versus gray monitors).
Therefore, the notion of a Color Characterization Function Set has been developed.
A function set consists of device-dependent color spaces and the functions that con-
vert color specifications between these device-dependent color spaces and the CIE
XYZ color space appropriate for a particular class of output devices. The function
set also contains a function that reads color characterization data off root window
properties. It is this characterization data that will differ between devices within a
class of output devices. For details about how color characterization data is stored
in root window properties, see the section on Device Color Characterization in the
Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual. The LINEAR_RGB function set is
provided by Xlib and will support most color monitors. Function sets may require
data that differs from those needed for the LINEAR_RGB function set. In that case,
its corresponding data may be stored on different root window properties.
Adding Function Sets
To add a function set, use XcmsAddFunctionSet.
Status XcmsAddFunctionSet( *function_set);
function_set Specifies the function set to add.
The XcmsAddFunctionSet function adds a function set to the color management
system. If the function set uses device-dependent XcmsColorSpace structures not
accessible in the color management system, XcmsAddFunctionSet adds them. If an
added XcmsColorSpace structure is for a device-dependent color space not regis-
tered with the X Consortium, they should be treated as private to the client because
format values for unregistered color spaces are assigned at run time. If references
to an unregistered color space must be made outside the client (for example, stor-
ing color specifications in a file using the unregistered color space), then reference
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113
should be made by color space prefix (see XcmsFormatOfPrefix and XcmsPrefixOf-
Format).
Additional function sets should be added before any calls to other Xlib routines are
made. If not, the XcmsPerScrnInfo member of a previously created XcmsCCC does
not have the opportunity to initialize with the added function set.
Creating Additional Function Sets
The creation of additional function sets should be required only when an output
device does not conform to existing function sets or when additional device-depen-
dent color spaces are necessary. A function set consists primarily of a collection
of device-dependent XcmsColorSpace structures and a means to read and store
a screen's color characterization data. This data is stored in an XcmsFunctionSet
structure. A handle to this structure (that is, by means of global variable) is usually
made accessible to the client program for use with XcmsAddFunctionSet.
If a function set uses new device-dependent XcmsColorSpace structures, they will
be transparently processed into the color management system. Function sets can
share an XcmsColorSpace structure for a device-dependent color space. In addi-
tion, multiple XcmsColorSpace structures are allowed for a device-dependent color
space; however, a function set can reference only one of them. These XcmsColorS-
pace structures will differ in the functions to convert to and from CIE XYZ, thus
tailored for the specific function set.
typedef struct _XcmsFunctionSet {
XcmsColorSpace **DDColorSpaces;
XcmsScreenInitProc screenInitProc;
XcmsScreenFreeProc screenFreeProc;
} XcmsFunctionSet;
The DDColorSpaces member is a pointer to a NULL terminated list of pointers to
XcmsColorSpace structures for the device-dependent color spaces that are support-
ed by the function set. The screenInitProc member is set to the callback proce-
dure (see the following interface specification) that initializes the XcmsPerScrnInfo
structure for a particular screen.
The screen initialization callback must adhere to the following software interface
specification:
typedef Status (*XcmsScreenInitProc)( *display, screen_number,
*screen_info);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
screen_info Specifies the XcmsPerScrnInfo structure, which con-
tains the per screen information.
The screen initialization callback in the XcmsFunctionSet structure fetches the col-
or characterization data (device profile) for the specified screen, typically off prop-
Color Management Functions
114
erties on the screen's root window. It then initializes the specified XcmsPerScrnInfo
structure. If successful, the procedure fills in the XcmsPerScrnInfo structure as
follows:
It sets the screenData member to the address of the created device profile data
structure (contents known only by the function set).
It next sets the screenWhitePoint member.
It next sets the functionSet member to the address of the XcmsFunctionSet struc-
ture.
It then sets the state member to XcmsInitSuccess and finally returns XcmsSuc-
cess.
If unsuccessful, the procedure sets the state member to XcmsInitFailure and returns
XcmsFailure.
The XcmsPerScrnInfo structure contains:
typedef struct _XcmsPerScrnInfo {
XcmsColor screenWhitePoint;
XPointer functionSet;
XPointer screenData;
unsigned char state;
char pad[3];
} XcmsPerScrnInfo;
The screenWhitePoint member specifies the white point inherent to the screen. The
functionSet member specifies the appropriate function set. The screenData member
specifies the device profile. The state member is set to one of the following:
XcmsInitNone indicates initialization has not been previously attempted.
XcmsInitFailure indicates initialization has been previously attempted but failed.
XcmsInitSuccess indicates initialization has been previously attempted and suc-
ceeded.
The screen free callback must adhere to the following software interface specifica-
tion:
typedef void (*XcmsScreenFreeProc)( screenData);
screenData Specifies the data to be freed.
This function is called to free the screenData stored in an XcmsPerScrnInfo struc-
ture.
115
Chapter 7. Graphics Context Functions
A number of resources are used when performing graphics operations in X. Most
information about performing graphics (for example, foreground color, background
color, line style, and so on) is stored in resources called graphics contexts (GCs).
Most graphics operations (see chapter 8) take a GC as an argument. Although in
theory the X protocol permits sharing of GCs between applications, it is expected
that applications will use their own GCs when performing operations. Sharing of
GCs is highly discouraged because the library may cache GC state.
Graphics operations can be performed to either windows or pixmaps, which collec-
tively are called drawables. Each drawable exists on a single screen. A GC is created
for a specic screen and drawable depth and can only be used with drawables of
matching screen and depth.
This chapter discusses how to:
Manipulate graphics context/state
Use graphics context convenience functions
Manipulating Graphics Context/State
Most attributes of graphics operations are stored in GCs. These include line width,
line style, plane mask, foreground, background, tile, stipple, clipping region, end
style, join style, and so on. Graphics operations (for example, drawing lines) use
these values to determine the actual drawing operation. Extensions to X may add
additional components to GCs. The contents of a GC are private to Xlib.
Xlib implements a write-back cache for all elements of a GC that are not resource
IDs to allow Xlib to implement the transparent coalescing of changes to GCs. For
example, a call to XSetForeground of a GC followed by a call to XSetLineAttributes
results in only a single-change GC protocol request to the server. GCs are neither
expected nor encouraged to be shared between client applications, so this write-
back caching should present no problems. Applications cannot share GCs without
external synchronization. Therefore, sharing GCs between applications is highly
discouraged.
To set an attribute of a GC, set the appropriate member of the XGCValues structure
and OR in the corresponding value bitmask in your subsequent calls to XCreateGC.
The symbols for the value mask bits and the XGCValues structure are:
/* GC attribute value mask bits */
#define GCFunction (1L<<0)
#define GCPlaneMask (1L<<1)
#define GCForeground (1L<<2)
#define GCBackground (1L<<3)
#define GCLineWidth (1L<<4)
#define GCLineStyle (1L<<5)
#define GCCapStyle (1L<<6)
#define GCJoinStyle (1L<<7)
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116
#define GCFillStyle (1L<<8)
#define GCFillRule (1L<<9)
#define GCTile (1L<<10)
#define GCStipple (1L<<11)
#define GCTileStipXOrigin (1L<<12)
#define GCTileStipYOrigin (1L<<13)
#define GCFont (1L<<14)
#define GCSubwindowMode (1L<<15)
#define GCGraphicsExposures (1L<<16)
#define GCClipXOrigin (1L<<17)
#define GCClipYOrigin (1L<<18)
#define GCClipMask (1L<<19)
#define GCDashOffset (1L<<20)
#define GCDashList (1L<<21)
#define GCArcMode (1L<<22)
/* Values */
typedef struct {
int function; /* logical operation */
unsigned long plane_mask; /* plane mask */
unsigned long foreground; /* foreground pixel */
unsigned long background; /* background pixel */
int line_width; /* line width (in pixels) */
int line_style; /* LineSolid, LineOnOffDash, LineDoubleDash */
int cap_style; /* CapNotLast, CapButt, CapRound, CapProjecting */
int join_style; /* JoinMiter, JoinRound, JoinBevel */
int fill_style; /* FillSolid, FillTiled, FillStippled FillOpaqueStippled*/
int fill_rule; /* EvenOddRule, WindingRule */
int arc_mode; /* ArcChord, ArcPieSlice */
Pixmap tile; /* tile pixmap for tiling operations */
Pixmap stipple; /* stipple 1 plane pixmap for stippling */
int ts_x_origin; /* offset for tile or stipple operations */
int ts_y_origin
Font font; /* default text font for text operations */
int subwindow_mode; /* ClipByChildren, IncludeInferiors */
Bool graphics_exposures; /* boolean, should exposures be generated */
int clip_x_origin; /* origin for clipping */
int clip_y_origin;
Pixmap clip_mask; /* bitmap clipping; other calls for rects */
int dash_offset; /* patterned/dashed line information */
char dashes;
} XGCValues;
The default GC values are:
Component Default
function GXcopy
plane_mask All ones
foreground 0
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117
Component Default
background 1
line_width 0
line_style LineSolid
cap_style CapButt
join_style JoinMiter
fill_style FillSolid
fill_rule EvenOddRule
arc_mode ArcPieSlice
tile Pixmap of unspeci-
fied size filled with
foreground pixel
(that is, client speci-
fied pixel if any, else 0)
(subsequent changes
to foreground do not
affect this pixmap)
stipple Pixmap of unspecified
size filled with ones
ts_x_origin 0
ts_y_origin 0
font <implementa-
tion dependent>
subwindow_mode ClipByChildren
graphics_exposures True
clip_x_origin 0
clip_y_origin 0
clip_mask None
dash_offset 0
dashes 4 (that is, the list [4, 4])
Note that foreground and background are not set to any values likely to be useful
in a window.
The function attributes of a GC are used when you update a section of a drawable
(the destination) with bits from somewhere else (the source). The function in a GC
defines how the new destination bits are to be computed from the source bits and
the old destination bits. GXcopy is typically the most useful because it will work
on a color display, but special applications may use other functions, particularly in
concert with particular planes of a color display. The 16 GC functions, defined in
<X11/X.h>, are:
Function Name Value Operation
GXclear 0x0 0
GXand 0x1 src AND dst
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Function Name Value Operation
GXandReverse 0x2 src AND NOT dst
GXcopy 0x3 src
GXandInverted 0x4 (NOT src) AND dst
GXnoop 0x5 dst
GXxor 0x6 src XOR dst
GXor 0x7 src OR dst
GXnor 0x8 (NOT src) AND (NOT dst)
GXequiv 0x9 (NOT src) XOR dst
GXinvert 0xa NOT dst
GXorReverse 0xb src OR (NOT dst)
GXcopyInverted 0xc NOT src
GXorInverted 0xd (NOT src) OR dst
GXnand 0xe (NOT src) OR (NOT dst)
GXset 0xf 1
Many graphics operations depend on either pixel values or planes in a GC. The
planes attribute is of type long, and it specifies which planes of the destination are
to be modified, one bit per plane. A monochrome display has only one plane and will
be the least significant bit of the word. As planes are added to the display hardware,
they will occupy more significant bits in the plane mask.
In graphics operations, given a source and destination pixel, the result is computed
bitwise on corresponding bits of the pixels. That is, a Boolean operation is performed
in each bit plane. The plane_mask restricts the operation to a subset of planes. A
macro constant AllPlanes can be used to refer to all planes of the screen simultane-
ously. The result is computed by the following:
((src FUNC dst) AND plane-mask) OR (dst AND (NOT plane-mask))
Range checking is not performed on the values for foreground, background, or
plane_mask. They are simply truncated to the appropriate number of bits. The line-
width is measured in pixels and either can be greater than or equal to one (wide
line) or can be the special value zero (thin line).
Wide lines are drawn centered on the path described by the graphics request. Un-
less otherwise specified by the join-style or cap-style, the bounding box of a wide
line with endpoints [x1, y1], [x2, y2] and width w is a rectangle with vertices at the
following real coordinates:
[x1-(w*sn/2), y1+(w*cs/2)], [x1+(w*sn/2), y1-(w*cs/2)],
[x2-(w*sn/2), y2+(w*cs/2)], [x2+(w*sn/2), y2-(w*cs/2)]
Here sn is the sine of the angle of the line, and cs is the cosine of the angle of the
line. A pixel is part of the line and so is drawn if the center of the pixel is fully inside
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119
the bounding box (which is viewed as having infinitely thin edges). If the center
of the pixel is exactly on the bounding box, it is part of the line if and only if the
interior is immediately to its right (x increasing direction). Pixels with centers on a
horizontal edge are a special case and are part of the line if and only if the interior
or the boundary is immediately below (y increasing direction) and the interior or
the boundary is immediately to the right (x increasing direction).
Thin lines (zero line-width) are one-pixel-wide lines drawn using an unspecified,
device-dependent algorithm. There are only two constraints on this algorithm.
If a line is drawn unclipped from [x1,y1] to [x2,y2] and if another line is drawn un-
clipped from [x1+dx,y1+dy] to [x2+dx,y2+dy], a point [x,y] is touched by draw-
ing the first line if and only if the point [x+dx,y+dy] is touched by drawing the
second line.
The effective set of points comprising a line cannot be affected by clipping. That
is, a point is touched in a clipped line if and only if the point lies inside the clipping
region and the point would be touched by the line when drawn unclipped.
A wide line drawn from [x1,y1] to [x2,y2] always draws the same pixels as a wide
line drawn from [x2,y2] to [x1,y1], not counting cap-style and join-style. It is recom-
mended that this property be true for thin lines, but this is not required. A line-width
of zero may differ from a line-width of one in which pixels are drawn. This permits
the use of many manufacturers' line drawing hardware, which may run many times
faster than the more precisely specified wide lines.
In general, drawing a thin line will be faster than drawing a wide line of width one.
However, because of their different drawing algorithms, thin lines may not mix well
aesthetically with wide lines. If it is desirable to obtain precise and uniform results
across all displays, a client should always use a line-width of one rather than a line-
width of zero.
The line-style defines which sections of a line are drawn:
LineSolid The full path of the line is drawn.
LineDoubleDash The full path of the line is drawn, but the even dashes are filled
differently from the odd dashes (see fill-style) with CapButt style
used where even and odd dashes meet.
LineOnOffDash Only the even dashes are drawn, and cap-style applies to all in-
ternal ends of the individual dashes, except CapNotLast is treat-
ed as CapButt.
The cap-style defines how the endpoints of a path are drawn:
CapNotLast This is equivalent to CapButt except that for a line-width of zero
the final endpoint is not drawn.
CapButt The line is square at the endpoint (perpendicular to the slope of
the line) with no projection beyond.
CapRound The line has a circular arc with the diameter equal to the line-
width, centered on the endpoint. (This is equivalent to CapButt for
line-width of zero).
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CapProjecting The line is square at the end, but the path continues beyond the
endpoint for a distance equal to half the line-width. (This is equiv-
alent to CapButt for line-width of zero).
The join-style defines how corners are drawn for wide lines:
JoinMiter The outer edges of two lines extend to meet at an angle. However, if
the angle is less than 11 degrees, then a JoinBevel join-style is used
instead.
JoinRound The corner is a circular arc with the diameter equal to the line-width,
centered on the joinpoint.
JoinBevel The corner has CapButt endpoint styles with the triangular notch filled.
For a line with coincident endpoints (x1=x2, y1=y2), when the cap-style is applied
to both endpoints, the semantics depends on the line-width and the cap-style:
CapNotLast thin The results are de-
vice dependent, but
the desired effect is
that nothing is drawn.
CapButt thin The results are device
dependent, but the de-
sired effect is that a
single pixel is drawn.
CapRound thin The results are the same
as for CapButt /thin.
CapProjecting thin The results are the same
as for CapButt /thin.
CapButt wide Nothing is drawn.
CapRound wide The closed path is a
circle, centered at the
endpoint, and with
the diameter equal
to the line-width.
CapProjecting wide The closed path is a
square, aligned with
the coordinate axes,
centered at the end-
point, and with the sides
equal to the line-width.
For a line with coincident endpoints (x1=x2, y1=y2), when the join-style is applied
at one or both endpoints, the effect is as if the line was removed from the overall
path. However, if the total path consists of or is reduced to a single point joined with
itself, the effect is the same as when the cap-style is applied at both endpoints.
The tile/stipple represents an infinite two-dimensional plane, with the tile/stipple
replicated in all dimensions. When that plane is superimposed on the drawable for
use in a graphics operation, the upper-left corner of some instance of the tile/stipple
is at the coordinates within the drawable specified by the tile/stipple origin. The tile/
stipple and clip origins are interpreted relative to the origin of whatever destination
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121
drawable is specified in a graphics request. The tile pixmap must have the same root
and depth as the GC, or a BadMatch error results. The stipple pixmap must have
depth one and must have the same root as the GC, or a BadMatch error results. For
stipple operations where the fill-style is FillStippled but not FillOpaqueStippled, the
stipple pattern is tiled in a single plane and acts as an additional clip mask to be
ANDed with the clip-mask. Although some sizes may be faster to use than others,
any size pixmap can be used for tiling or stippling.
The fill-style defines the contents of the source for line, text, and fill requests. For
all text and fill requests (for example, XDrawText, XDrawText16, XFillRectangle,
XFillPolygon, and XFillArc); for line requests with line-style LineSolid (for ex-
ample, XDrawLine, XDrawSegments, XDrawRectangle, XDrawArc); and for the even
dashes for line requests with line-style LineOnOffDash or LineDoubleDash, the fol-
lowing apply:
FillSolid Foreground
FillTiled Tile
FillOpaqueStippled A tile with the same width and height
as stipple, but with background every-
where stipple has a zero and with fore-
ground everywhere stipple has a one
FillStippled Foreground masked by stipple
When drawing lines with line-style LineDoubleDash, the odd dashes are controlled
by the fill-style in the following manner:
FillSolid Background
FillTiled Same as for even dashes
FillOpaqueStippled Same as for even dashes
FillStippled Background masked by stipple
Storing a pixmap in a GC might or might not result in a copy being made. If the
pixmap is later used as the destination for a graphics request, the change might or
might not be reflected in the GC. If the pixmap is used simultaneously in a graphics
request both as a destination and as a tile or stipple, the results are undefined.
For optimum performance, you should draw as much as possible with the same GC
(without changing its components). The costs of changing GC components relative
to using different GCs depend on the display hardware and the server implementa-
tion. It is quite likely that some amount of GC information will be cached in display
hardware and that such hardware can only cache a small number of GCs.
The dashes value is actually a simplified form of the more general patterns that
can be set with XSetDashes. Specifying a value of N is equivalent to specifying the
two-element list [N, N] in XSetDashes. The value must be nonzero, or a BadValue
error results.
The clip-mask restricts writes to the destination drawable. If the clip-mask is set to
a pixmap, it must have depth one and have the same root as the GC, or a BadMatch
error results. If clip-mask is set to None, the pixels are always drawn regardless of
the clip origin. The clip-mask also can be set by calling the XSetClipRectangles or
XSetRegion functions. Only pixels where the clip-mask has a bit set to 1 are drawn.
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122
Pixels are not drawn outside the area covered by the clip-mask or where the clip-
mask has a bit set to 0. The clip-mask affects all graphics requests. The clip-mask
does not clip sources. The clip-mask origin is interpreted relative to the origin of
whatever destination drawable is specified in a graphics request.
You can set the subwindow-mode to ClipByChildren or IncludeInferiors. For ClipBy-
Children, both source and destination windows are additionally clipped by all view-
able InputOutput children. For IncludeInferiors, neither source nor destination win-
dow is clipped by inferiors. This will result in including subwindow contents in the
source and drawing through subwindow boundaries of the destination. The use of
IncludeInferiors on a window of one depth with mapped inferiors of differing depth
is not illegal, but the semantics are undefined by the core protocol.
The fill-rule defines what pixels are inside (drawn) for paths given in XFillPolygon
requests and can be set to EvenOddRule or WindingRule. For EvenOddRule, a point
is inside if an infinite ray with the point as origin crosses the path an odd number
of times. For WindingRule, a point is inside if an infinite ray with the point as origin
crosses an unequal number of clockwise and counterclockwise directed path seg-
ments. A clockwise directed path segment is one that crosses the ray from left to
right as observed from the point. A counterclockwise segment is one that crosses
the ray from right to left as observed from the point. The case where a directed line
segment is coincident with the ray is uninteresting because you can simply choose
a different ray that is not coincident with a segment.
For both EvenOddRule and WindingRule, a point is infinitely small, and the path is
an infinitely thin line. A pixel is inside if the center point of the pixel is inside and the
center point is not on the boundary. If the center point is on the boundary, the pixel
is inside if and only if the polygon interior is immediately to its right (x increasing
direction). Pixels with centers on a horizontal edge are a special case and are inside
if and only if the polygon interior is immediately below (y increasing direction).
The arc-mode controls filling in the XFillArcs function and can be set to ArcPieSlice
or ArcChord. For ArcPieSlice, the arcs are pie-slice filled. For ArcChord, the arcs
are chord filled.
The graphics-exposure flag controls GraphicsExpose event generation for XCopy-
Area and XCopyPlane requests (and any similar requests defined by extensions).
To create a new GC that is usable on a given screen with a depth of drawable, use
XCreateGC.
GC XCreateGC( *display, d, valuemask, values);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
valuemask Specifies which components in the GC are to be (Vm.
This argument is the bitwise inclusive OR of zero or more
of the valid GC component mask bits.
values Specifies any values as specified by the valuemask.
The XCreateGC function creates a graphics context and returns a GC. The GC can be
used with any destination drawable having the same root and depth as the specified
drawable. Use with other drawables results in a BadMatch error.
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123
XCreateGC can generate BadAlloc, BadDrawable, BadFont, BadMatch, BadPixmap,
and BadValue errors.
To copy components from a source GC to a destination GC, use XCopyGC.
XCopyGC( *display, dest, valuemask);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
src Specifies the components of the source GC.
valuemask Specifies which components in the GC are to be (Vm.
This argument is the bitwise inclusive OR of zero or more
of the valid GC component mask bits.
dest Specifies the destination GC.
The XCopyGC function copies the specified components from the source GC to the
destination GC. The source and destination GCs must have the same root and depth,
or a BadMatch error results. The valuemask specifies which component to copy, as
for XCreateGC.
XCopyGC can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, and BadMatch errors.
To change the components in a given GC, use XChangeGC.
XChangeGC( *display, gc, valuemask, *values);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
valuemask Specifies which components in the GC are to be (Vm.
This argument is the bitwise inclusive OR of zero or more
of the valid GC component mask bits.
values Specifies any values as specified by the valuemask.
The XChangeGC function changes the components specified by valuemask for the
specified GC. The values argument contains the values to be set. The values and
restrictions are the same as for XCreateGC. Changing the clip-mask overrides any
previous XSetClipRectangles request on the context. Changing the dash-offset or
dash-list overrides any previous XSetDashes request on the context. The order in
which components are verified and altered is server dependent. If an error is gen-
erated, a subset of the components may have been altered.
XChangeGC can generate BadAlloc, BadFont, BadGC, BadMatch, BadPixmap, and
BadValue errors.
To obtain components of a given GC, use XGetGCValues.
Status XGetGCValues( *display, gc, valuemask, *values_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
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valuemask Specifies which components in the GC are to be (Vm.
This argument is the bitwise inclusive OR of zero or
more of the valid GC component mask bits.
values_return Returns the GC values in the specified XGCValues
structure.
The XGetGCValues function returns the components specified by valuemask for
the specified GC. If the valuemask contains a valid set of GC mask bits (GCFunc-
tion, GCPlaneMask, GCForeground, GCBackground, GCLineWidth, GCLineStyle,
GCCapStyle, GCJoinStyle, GCFillStyle, GCFillRule, GCTile, GCStipple, GCTileStipX-
Origin, GCTileStipYOrigin, GCFont, GCSubwindowMode, GCGraphicsExposures,
GCClipXOrigin, GCClipYOrigin, GCDashOffset, or GCArcMode) and no error occurs,
XGetGCValues sets the requested components in values_return and returns a nonze-
ro status. Otherwise, it returns a zero status. Note that the clip-mask and dash-
list (represented by the GCClipMask and GCDashList bits, respectively, in the val-
uemask) cannot be requested. Also note that an invalid resource ID (with one or
more of the three most significant bits set to 1) will be returned for GCFont, GCTile,
and GCStipple if the component has never been explicitly set by the client.
To free a given GC, use XFreeGC.
XFreeGC( *display, gc);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
The XFreeGC function destroys the specified GC as well as all the associated storage.
XFreeGC can generate a BadGC error.
To obtain the GContext resource ID for a given GC, use XGContextFromGC.
GContext XGContextFromGC( gc);
gc Specifies the GC (Gc.
Xlib usually defers sending changes to the components of a GC to the server until a
graphics function is actually called with that GC. This permits batching of compo-
nent changes into a single server request. In some circumstances, however, it may
be necessary for the client to explicitly force sending the changes to the server. An
example might be when a protocol extension uses the GC indirectly, in such a way
that the extension interface cannot know what GC will be used. To force sending
GC component changes, use XFlushGC.
void XFlushGC( *display, gc);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
Using Graphics Context Convenience Routines
This section discusses how to set the:
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125
Foreground, background, plane mask, or function components
Line attributes and dashes components
Fill style and fill rule components
Fill tile and stipple components
Font component
Clip region component
Arc mode, subwindow mode, and graphics exposure components
Setting the Foreground, Background, Function, or Plane
Mask
To set the foreground, background, plane mask, and function components for a giv-
en GC, use XSetState.
XSetState( *display, gc, background, function, plane_mask);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
foreground Specifies the foreground you want to set for the speci-
fied GC.
background Specifies the background you want to set for the spec-
ified GC.
function Specifies the function you want to set for the specified
GC.
plane_mask Specifies the plane mask.
XSetState can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, and BadValue errors.
To set the foreground of a given GC, use XSetForeground.
XSetForeground( *display, gc, foreground);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
foreground Specifies the foreground you want to set for the speci-
fied GC.
XSetForeground can generate BadAlloc and BadGC errors.
To set the background of a given GC, use XSetBackground.
XSetBackground( *display, gc, background);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
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126
gc Specifies the GC.
background Specifies the background you want to set for the spec-
ified GC.
XSetBackground can generate BadAlloc and BadGC errors.
To set the display function in a given GC, use XSetFunction.
XSetFunction( *display, gc, function);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
function Specifies the function you want to set for the specified GC.
XSetFunction can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, and BadValue errors.
To set the plane mask of a given GC, use XSetPlaneMask.
XSetPlaneMask( *display, gc, plane_mask);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
plane_mask Specifies the plane mask.
XSetPlaneMask can generate BadAlloc and BadGC errors.
Setting the Line Attributes and Dashes
To set the line drawing components of a given GC, use XSetLineAttributes.
XSetLineAttributes( *display, gc, line_width, line_style, cap_style,
join_style);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
line_width Specifies the line-width you want to set for the specified
GC.
line_style Specifies the line-style you want to set for the specified
GC. You can pass LineSolid, LineOnOffDash, or Line-
DoubleDash.
cap_style Specifies the line-style and cap-style you want to set for
the specified GC. You can pass CapNotLast, CapButt,
CapRound, or CapProjecting.
join_style Specifies the line join-style you want to set for the spec-
ified GC. You can pass JoinMiter, JoinRound, or JoinBev-
el.
XSetLineAttributes can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, and BadValue errors.
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127
To set the dash-offset and dash-list for dashed line styles of a given GC, use XSet-
Dashes.
XSetDashes( *display, gc, dash_offset, dash_list[], n);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
dash_offset Specifies the phase of the pattern for the dashed line-
style you want to set for the specified GC.
dash_list Specifies the dash-list for the dashed line-style you
want to set for the specified GC.
n Specifies the number of elements in dash_list.
The XSetDashes function sets the dash-offset and dash-list attributes for dashed
line styles in the specified GC. There must be at least one element in the specified
dash_list, or a BadValue error results. The initial and alternating elements (second,
fourth, and so on) of the dash_list are the even dashes, and the others are the odd
dashes. Each element specifies a dash length in pixels. All of the elements must be
nonzero, or a BadValue error results. Specifying an odd-length list is equivalent to
specifying the same list concatenated with itself to produce an even-length list.
The dash-offset defines the phase of the pattern, specifying how many pixels into the
dash-list the pattern should actually begin in any single graphics request. Dashing
is continuous through path elements combined with a join-style but is reset to the
dash-offset between each sequence of joined lines.
The unit of measure for dashes is the same for the ordinary coordinate system.
Ideally, a dash length is measured along the slope of the line, but implementations
are only required to match this ideal for horizontal and vertical lines. Failing the
ideal semantics, it is suggested that the length be measured along the major axis
of the line. The major axis is defined as the x axis for lines drawn at an angle of
between 45 and +45 degrees or between 135 and 225 degrees from the x axis.
For all other lines, the major axis is the y axis.
XSetDashes can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, and BadValue errors.
Setting the Fill Style and Fill Rule
To set the fill-style of a given GC, use XSetFillStyle.
XSetFillStyle( *display, gc, fill_style);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
fill_style Specifies the fill-style you want to set for the specified
GC. You can pass FillSolid, FillTiled, FillStippled, or Fil-
lOpaqueStippled.
XSetFillStyle can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, and BadValue errors.
To set the fill-rule of a given GC, use XSetFillRule.
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128
XSetFillRule( *display, gc, fill_rule);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
fill_rule Specifies the fill-rule you want to set for the specified
GC. You can pass EvenOddRule or WindingRule.
XSetFillRule can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, and BadValue errors.
Setting the Fill Tile and Stipple
Some displays have hardware support for tiling or stippling with patterns of specific
sizes. Tiling and stippling operations that restrict themselves to those specific sizes
run much faster than such operations with arbitrary size patterns. Xlib provides
functions that you can use to determine the best size, tile, or stipple for the display
as well as to set the tile or stipple shape and the tile or stipple origin.
To obtain the best size of a tile, stipple, or cursor, use XQueryBestSize.
Status XQueryBestSize( *display, class, which_screen, height,
*height_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
class Specifies the class that you are interested in. You can
pass TileShape, CursorShape, or StippleShape.
which_screen Specifies any drawable on the screen.
width
height Specify the width and height.
width_return
height_return Return the width and height of the object best sup-
ported by the display hardware.
The XQueryBestSize function returns the best or closest size to the specified size.
For CursorShape, this is the largest size that can be fully displayed on the screen
specified by which_screen. For TileShape, this is the size that can be tiled fastest.
For StippleShape, this is the size that can be stippled fastest. For CursorShape, the
drawable indicates the desired screen. For TileShape and StippleShape, the draw-
able indicates the screen and possibly the window class and depth. An InputOnly
window cannot be used as the drawable for TileShape or StippleShape, or a Bad-
Match error results.
XQueryBestSize can generate BadDrawable, BadMatch, and BadValue errors.
To obtain the best fill tile shape, use XQueryBestTile.
Status XQueryBestTile( *display, which_screen, height,
*height_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
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129
which_screen Specifies any drawable on the screen.
width
height Specify the width and height.
width_return
height_return Return the width and height of the object best sup-
ported by the display hardware.
The XQueryBestTile function returns the best or closest size, that is, the size that
can be tiled fastest on the screen specified by which_screen. The drawable indicates
the screen and possibly the window class and depth. If an InputOnly window is used
as the drawable, a BadMatch error results.
XQueryBestTile can generate BadDrawable and BadMatch errors.
To obtain the best stipple shape, use XQueryBestStipple.
Status XQueryBestStipple( *display, which_screen, height,
*height_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
which_screen Specifies any drawable on the screen.
width
height Specify the width and height.
width_return
height_return Return the width and height of the object best sup-
ported by the display hardware.
The XQueryBestStipple function returns the best or closest size, that is, the size
that can be stippled fastest on the screen specified by which_screen. The drawable
indicates the screen and possibly the window class and depth. If an InputOnly win-
dow is used as the drawable, a BadMatch error results.
XQueryBestStipple can generate BadDrawable and BadMatch errors.
To set the fill tile of a given GC, use XSetTile.
XSetTile( *display, gc, tile);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
tile Specifies the fill tile you want to set for the specified GC.
The tile and GC must have the same depth, or a BadMatch error results.
XSetTile can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, BadMatch, and BadPixmap errors.
To set the stipple of a given GC, use XSetStipple.
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130
XSetStipple( *display, gc, stipple);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
stipple Specifies the stipple you want to set for the specified GC.
The stipple must have a depth of one, or a BadMatch error results.
XSetStipple can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, BadMatch, and BadPixmap errors.
To set the tile or stipple origin of a given GC, use XSetTSOrigin.
XSetTSOrigin( *display, gc, ts_y_origin);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
ts_x_origin
ts_y_origin Specify the x and y coordinates of the tile and stipple
origin.
When graphics requests call for tiling or stippling, the parent's origin will be in-
terpreted relative to whatever destination drawable is specified in the graphics re-
quest.
XSetTSOrigin can generate BadAlloc and BadGC errors.
Setting the Current Font
To set the current font of a given GC, use XSetFont.
XSetFont( *display, gc, font);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
font Specifies the font.
XSetFont can generate BadAlloc, BadFont, and BadGC errors.
Setting the Clip Region
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set the clip-origin and the clip-mask or
set the clip-mask to a list of rectangles.
To set the clip-origin of a given GC, use XSetClipOrigin.
XSetClipOrigin( *display, gc, clip_y_origin);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
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131
clip_x_origin
clip_y_origin Specify the x and y coordinates of the clip-mask ori-
gin.
The clip-mask origin is interpreted relative to the origin of whatever destination
drawable is specified in the graphics request.
XSetClipOrigin can generate BadAlloc and BadGC errors.
To set the clip-mask of a given GC to the specified pixmap, use XSetClipMask.
XSetClipMask( *display, gc, pixmap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
pixmap Specifies the pixmap or None.
If the clip-mask is set to None, the pixels are always drawn (regardless of the clip-
origin).
XSetClipMask can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, BadMatch, and BadPixmap errors.
To set the clip-mask of a given GC to the specified list of rectangles, use XSet-
ClipRectangles.
XSetClipRectangles( *display, gc, clip_y_origin, rectangles[], n,
ordering);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
clip_x_origin
clip_y_origin Specify the x and y coordinates of the clip-mask ori-
gin.
rectangles Specifies an array of rectangles that define the clip-
mask.
n Specifies the number of rectangles.
ordering Specifies the ordering relations on the rectan-
gles. You can pass Unsorted, YSorted, YXSorted, or
YXBanded.
The XSetClipRectangles function changes the clip-mask in the specified GC to the
specified list of rectangles and sets the clip origin. The output is clipped to remain
contained within the rectangles. The clip-origin is interpreted relative to the ori-
gin of whatever destination drawable is specified in a graphics request. The rec-
tangle coordinates are interpreted relative to the clip-origin. The rectangles should
be nonintersecting, or the graphics results will be undefined. Note that the list of
rectangles can be empty, which effectively disables output. This is the opposite of
passing None as the clip-mask in XCreateGC, XChangeGC, and XSetClipMask.
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132
If known by the client, ordering relations on the rectangles can be specified with the
ordering argument. This may provide faster operation by the server. If an incorrect
ordering is specified, the X server may generate a BadMatch error, but it is not re-
quired to do so. If no error is generated, the graphics results are undefined. Unsort-
ed means the rectangles are in arbitrary order. YSorted means that the rectangles
are nondecreasing in their Y origin. YXSorted additionally constrains YSorted order
in that all rectangles with an equal Y origin are nondecreasing in their X origin.
YXBanded additionally constrains YXSorted by requiring that, for every possible Y
scanline, all rectangles that include that scanline have an identical Y origins and
Y extents.
XSetClipRectangles can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, BadMatch, and BadValue er-
rors.
Xlib provides a set of basic functions for performing region arithmetic. For informa-
tion about these functions, see section 16.5.
Setting the Arc Mode, Subwindow Mode, and Graphics
Exposure
To set the arc mode of a given GC, use XSetArcMode.
XSetArcMode( *display, gc, arc_mode);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
arc_mode Specifies the arc mode. You can pass ArcChord or Ar-
cPieSlice.
XSetArcMode can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, and BadValue errors.
To set the subwindow mode of a given GC, use XSetSubwindowMode.
XSetSubwindowMode( *display, gc, subwindow_mode);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
subwindow_mode Specifies the subwindow mode. You can pass ClipBy-
Children or IncludeInferiors.
XSetSubwindowMode can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, and BadValue errors.
To set the graphics-exposures flag of a given GC, use XSetGraphicsExposures.
XSetGraphicsExposures( *display, gc, graphics_exposures);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
graphics_exposures Specifies a Boolean value that indicates whether you
want GraphicsExpose and NoExpose events to be re-
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133
ported when calling XCopyArea and XCopyPlane with
this GC.
XSetGraphicsExposures can generate BadAlloc, BadGC, and BadValue errors.
134
Chapter 8. Graphics Functions
Once you have established a connection to a display, you can use the Xlib graphics
functions to:
Clear and copy areas
Draw points, lines, rectangles, and arcs
Fill areas
Manipulate fonts
Draw text
Transfer images between clients and the server
If the same drawable and GC is used for each call, Xlib batches back-to-back calls
to XDraw- Point, XDrawLine, XDrawRectangle, XFillArc, and XFillRectangle. Note
that this reduces the total number of requests sent to the server.
Clearing Areas
Xlib provides functions that you can use to clear an area or the entire window. Be-
cause pixmaps do not have defined backgrounds, they cannot be filled by using the
functions described in this section. Instead, to accomplish an analogous operation
on a pixmap, you should use XFillRectangle, which sets the pixmap to a known
value.
To clear a rectangular area of a given window, use XClearArea.
XClearArea( *display, w, y, height, exposures);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window. and specify the upper-left corner
of the rectangle
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
exposures Specifies a Boolean value that indicates if Expose events
are to be generated.
The XClearArea function paints a rectangular area in the specified window accord-
ing to the specified dimensions with the window's background pixel or pixmap. The
subwindow-mode effectively is ClipByChildren. If width is zero, it is replaced with
the current width of the window minus x. If height is zero, it is replaced with the
current height of the window minus y. If the window has a defined background tile,
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135
the rectangle clipped by any children is filled with this tile. If the window has back-
ground None, the contents of the window are not changed. In either case, if expo-
sures is True, one or more Expose events are generated for regions of the rectangle
that are either visible or are being retained in a backing store. If you specify a win-
dow whose class is InputOnly, a BadMatch error results.
XClearArea can generate BadMatch, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.
To clear the entire area in a given window, use XClearWindow.
XClearWindow( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XClearWindow function clears the entire area in the specified window and is
equivalent to XClearArea (display, w, 0, 0, 0, 0, False). If the window has a defined
background tile, the rectangle is tiled with a plane-mask of all ones and GXcopy
function. If the window has background None, the contents of the window are not
changed. If you specify a window whose class is InputOnly, a BadMatch error re-
sults.
XClearWindow can generate BadMatch and BadWindow errors.
Copying Areas
Xlib provides functions that you can use to copy an area or a bit plane.
To copy an area between drawables of the same root and depth, use XCopyArea.
XCopyArea( *display, dest, gc, src_y, height, dest_y);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
src
dest Specify the source and destination rectangles to be com-
bined.
gc Specifies the GC.
src_x
src_y Specify the x and y coordinates, which are relative to the
origin of the source rectangle and specify its upper-left cor-
ner. and destination rectangles
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh. and specify its upper-left
corner
dest_x
dest_y Specify the x and y coordinates(Dx.
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136
The XCopyArea function combines the specified rectangle of src with the specified
rectangle of dest. The drawables must have the same root and depth, or a BadMatch
error results.
If regions of the source rectangle are obscured and have not been retained in back-
ing store or if regions outside the boundaries of the source drawable are specified,
those regions are not copied. Instead, the following occurs on all corresponding
destination regions that are either visible or are retained in backing store. If the
destination is a window with a background other than None, corresponding regions
of the destination are tiled with that background (with plane-mask of all ones and
GXcopy function). Regardless of tiling or whether the destination is a window or
a pixmap, if graphics-exposures is True, then GraphicsExpose events for all corre-
sponding destination regions are generated. If graphics-exposures is True but no
GraphicsExpose events are generated, a NoExpose event is generated. Note that
by default graphics-exposures is True in new GCs.
This function uses these GC components: function, plane-mask, subwindow-mode,
graphics-exposures, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin, and clip-mask.
XCopyArea can generate BadDrawable, BadGC, and BadMatch errors.
To copy a single bit plane of a given drawable, use XCopyPlane.
XCopyPlane( *display, dest, gc, src_y, height, dest_y, plane);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
src
dest Specify the source and destination rectangles to be com-
bined.
gc Specifies the GC.
src_x
src_y Specify the x and y coordinates, which are relative to the
origin of the source rectangle and specify its upper-left cor-
ner.
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh. and specify its upper-left
corner
dest_x
dest_y Specify the x and y coordinates(Dx.
plane Specifies the bit plane. You must set exactly one bit to 1.
The XCopyPlane function uses a single bit plane of the specified source rectangle
combined with the specified GC to modify the specified rectangle of dest. The draw-
ables must have the same root but need not have the same depth. If the drawables
do not have the same root, a BadMatch error results. If plane does not have exactly
one bit set to 1 and the value of plane is not less than %2 sup n%, where n is the
depth of src, a BadValue error results.
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137
Effectively, XCopyPlane forms a pixmap of the same depth as the rectangle of dest
and with a size specified by the source region. It uses the foreground/background
pixels in the GC (foreground everywhere the bit plane in src contains a bit set to 1,
background everywhere the bit plane in src contains a bit set to 0) and the equiv-
alent of a CopyArea protocol request is performed with all the same exposure se-
mantics. This can also be thought of as using the specified region of the source bit
plane as a stipple with a fill-style of FillOpaqueStippled for filling a rectangular area
of the destination.
This function uses these GC components: function, plane-mask, foreground, back-
ground, subwindow-mode, graphics-exposures, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin, and clip-
mask.
XCopyPlane can generate BadDrawable, BadGC, BadMatch, and BadValue errors.
Drawing Points, Lines, Rectangles, and Arcs
Xlib provides functions that you can use to draw:
A single point or multiple points
A single line or multiple lines
A single rectangle or multiple rectangles
A single arc or multiple arcs
Some of the functions described in the following sections use these structures:
typedef struct {
short x1, y1, x2, y2;
} XSegment;
typedef struct {
short x, y;
} XPoint;
typedef struct {
short x, y;
unsigned short width, height;
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138
} XRectangle;
typedef struct {
short x, y;
unsigned short width, height;
short angle1, angle2; /* Degrees * 64 */
} XArc;
All x and y members are signed integers. The width and height members are 16-bit
unsigned integers. You should be careful not to generate coordinates and sizes out
of the 16-bit ranges, because the protocol only has 16-bit fields for these values.
Drawing Single and Multiple Points

To draw a single point in a given drawable, use XDrawPoint.
XDrawPoint( *display, d, gc, y);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates where you want the point
drawn.
To draw multiple points in a given drawable, use XDrawPoints.
XDrawPoints( *display, d, gc, *points, npoints, mode);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
points Specifies an array of points.
npoints Specifies the number of points in the array.
mode Specifies the coordinate mode. You can pass CoordMode-
Origin or CoordModePrevious.
The XDrawPoint function uses the foreground pixel and function components of the
GC to draw a single point into the specified drawable; XDrawPoints draws multiple
points this way. CoordModeOrigin treats all coordinates as relative to the origin, and
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139
CoordModePrevious treats all coordinates after the first as relative to the previous
point. XDrawPoints draws the points in the order listed in the array.
Both functions use these GC components: function, plane-mask, foreground, sub-
window-mode, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin, and clip-mask.
XDrawPoint can generate BadDrawable, BadGC, and BadMatch errors. XDraw-
Points can generate BadDrawable, BadGC, BadMatch, and BadValue errors.
Drawing Single and Multiple Lines

To draw a single line between two points in a given drawable, use XDrawLine.
XDrawLine( *display, d, gc, y2);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
x1
y1
x2
y2 Specify the points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) to be connected.
To draw multiple lines in a given drawable, use XDrawLines.
XDrawLines( *display, d, gc, *points, npoints, mode);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
points Specifies an array of points.
npoints Specifies the number of points in the array.
mode Specifies the coordinate mode. You can pass CoordMode-
Origin or CoordModePrevious.
To draw multiple, unconnected lines in a given drawable, use XDrawSegments.
XDrawSegments( *display, d, gc, *segments, nsegments);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
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140
segments Specifies an array of segments.
nsegments Specifies the number of segments in the array.
The XDrawLine function uses the components of the specified GC to draw a line
between the specified set of points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2). It does not perform joining
at coincident endpoints. For any given line, XDrawLine does not draw a pixel more
than once. If lines intersect, the intersecting pixels are drawn multiple times.
The XDrawLines function uses the components of the specified GC to draw npoints-1
lines between each pair of points (point[i], point[i+1]) in the array of XPoint struc-
tures. It draws the lines in the order listed in the array. The lines join correctly at
all intermediate points, and if the first and last points coincide, the first and last
lines also join correctly. For any given line, XDrawLines does not draw a pixel more
than once. If thin (zero line-width) lines intersect, the intersecting pixels are drawn
multiple times. If wide lines intersect, the intersecting pixels are drawn only once,
as though the entire PolyLine protocol request were a single, filled shape. Coord-
ModeOrigin treats all coordinates as relative to the origin, and CoordModePrevious
treats all coordinates after the first as relative to the previous point.
The XDrawSegments function draws multiple, unconnected lines. For each segment,
XDrawSegments draws a line between (x1, y1) and (x2, y2). It draws the lines in the
order listed in the array of XSegment structures and does not perform joining at
coincident endpoints. For any given line, XDrawSegments does not draw a pixel more
than once. If lines intersect, the intersecting pixels are drawn multiple times.
All three functions use these GC components: function, plane-mask, line-width,
line-style, cap-style, fill-style, subwindow-mode, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin, and clip-
mask. The XDrawLines function also uses the join-style GC component. All three
functions also use these GC mode-dependent components: foreground, background,
tile, stipple, tile-stipple-x-origin, tile-stipple-y-origin, dash-offset, and dash-list.
XDrawLine, XDrawLines, and XDrawSegments can generate BadDrawable, BadGC,
and BadMatch errors. XDrawLines also can generate BadValue errors.
Drawing Single and Multiple Rectangles

To draw the outline of a single rectangle in a given drawable, use XDrawRectangle.
XDrawRectangle( *display, d, gc, y, height);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
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141
To draw the outline of multiple rectangles in a given drawable, use XDrawRectan-
gles.
XDrawRectangles( *display, d, gc, rectangles[], nrectangles);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
rectangles Specifies an array of rectangles.
nrectangles Specifies the number of rectangles in the array.
The XDrawRectangle and XDrawRectangles functions draw the outlines of the spec-
ified rectangle or rectangles as if a five-point PolyLine protocol request were spec-
ified for each rectangle:
[x,y] [x+width,y] [x+width,y+height] [x,y+height] [x,y]
For the specified rectangle or rectangles, these functions do not draw a pixel more
than once. XDrawRectangles draws the rectangles in the order listed in the array.
If rectangles intersect, the intersecting pixels are drawn multiple times.
Both functions use these GC components: function, plane-mask, line-width, line-
style, cap-style, join-style, fill-style, subwindow-mode, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin,
and clip-mask. They also use these GC mode-dependent components: foreground,
background, tile, stipple, tile-stipple-x-origin, tile-stipple-y-origin, dash-offset, and
dash-list.
XDrawRectangle and XDrawRectangles can generate BadDrawable, BadGC, and
BadMatch errors.
Drawing Single and Multiple Arcs

To draw a single arc in a given drawable, use XDrawArc.
XDrawArc( *display, d, gc, y, height, angle2);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC. and specify the upper-left corner of the
bounding rectangle
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
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142
angle1 Specifies the start of the arc relative to the three-o'clock
position from the center, in units of degrees * 64.
angle2 Specifies the path and extent of the arc relative to the start
of the arc, in units of degrees * 64.
To draw multiple arcs in a given drawable, use XDrawArcs.
XDrawArcs( *display, d, gc, *arcs, narcs);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
arcs Specifies an array of arcs.
narcs Specifies the number of arcs in the array.
delim %% XDrawArc draws a single circular or elliptical arc, and XDrawArcs draws
multiple circular or elliptical arcs. Each arc is specified by a rectangle and two an-
gles. The center of the circle or ellipse is the center of the rectangle, and the major
and minor axes are specified by the width and height. Positive angles indicate coun-
terclockwise motion, and negative angles indicate clockwise motion. If the magni-
tude of angle2 is greater than 360 degrees, XDrawArc or XDrawArcs truncates it to
360 degrees.
For an arc specified as %[ ~x, ~y, ~width , ~height, ~angle1, ~angle2 ]%, the origin
of the major and minor axes is at % [ x +^ {width over 2} , ~y +^ {height over
2} ]%, and the infinitely thin path describing the entire circle or ellipse intersects
the horizontal axis at % [ x, ~y +^ {height over 2} ]% and % [ x +^ width , ~y
+^ { height over 2 }] % and intersects the vertical axis at % [ x +^ { width over
2 } , ~y ]% and % [ x +^ { width over 2 }, ~y +^ height ]%. These coordinates
can be fractional and so are not truncated to discrete coordinates. The path should
be defined by the ideal mathematical path. For a wide line with line-width lw, the
bounding outlines for filling are given by the two infinitely thin paths consisting of
all points whose perpendicular distance from the path of the circle/ellipse is equal to
lw/2 (which may be a fractional value). The cap-style and join-style are applied the
same as for a line corresponding to the tangent of the circle/ellipse at the endpoint.
For an arc specified as % [ ~x, ~y, ~width, ~height, ~angle1, ~angle2 ]%, the angles
must be specified in the effectively skewed coordinate system of the ellipse (for a
circle, the angles and coordinate systems are identical). The relationship between
these angles and angles expressed in the normal coordinate system of the screen
(as measured with a protractor) is as follows:
% roman "skewed-angle" ~ = ~ atan left ( tan ( roman "normal-angle" )
* width over height right ) +^ adjust%
The skewed-angle and normal-angle are expressed in radians (rather than in de-
grees scaled by 64) in the range % [ 0 , ~2 pi ]% and where atan returns a value in
the range % [ - pi over 2 , ~pi over 2 ] % and adjust is:
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143
%0% for normal-angle in the range % [ 0 , ~pi over 2 ]%
%pi% for normal-angle in the range % [ pi over 2 , ~{3 pi} over 2 ]%
%2 pi% for normal-angle in the range % [ {3 pi} over 2 , ~2 pi ]%
For any given arc, XDrawArc and XDrawArcs do not draw a pixel more than once.
If two arcs join correctly and if the line-width is greater than zero and the arcs
intersect, XDrawArc and XDrawArcs do not draw a pixel more than once. Otherwise,
the intersecting pixels of intersecting arcs are drawn multiple times. Specifying an
arc with one endpoint and a clockwise extent draws the same pixels as specifying
the other endpoint and an equivalent counterclockwise extent, except as it affects
joins.
If the last point in one arc coincides with the first point in the following arc, the two
arcs will join correctly. If the first point in the first arc coincides with the last point
in the last arc, the two arcs will join correctly. By specifying one axis to be zero, a
horizontal or vertical line can be drawn. Angles are computed based solely on the
coordinate system and ignore the aspect ratio.
Both functions use these GC components: function, plane-mask, line-width, line-
style, cap-style, join-style, fill-style, subwindow-mode, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin,
and clip-mask. They also use these GC mode-dependent components: foreground,
background, tile, stipple, tile-stipple-x-origin, tile-stipple-y-origin, dash-offset, and
dash-list.
XDrawArc and XDrawArcs can generate BadDrawable, BadGC, and BadMatch errors.
Filling Areas
Xlib provides functions that you can use to fill:
A single rectangle or multiple rectangles
A single polygon
A single arc or multiple arcs
Filling Single and Multiple Rectangles

To fill a single rectangular area in a given drawable, use XFillRectangle.
XFillRectangle( *display, d, gc, y, height);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC. and specify the upper-left corner of the
rectangle
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
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144
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
To fill multiple rectangular areas in a given drawable, use XFillRectangles.
XFillRectangles( *display, d, gc, *rectangles, nrectangles);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
rectangles Specifies an array of rectangles.
nrectangles Specifies the number of rectangles in the array.
The XFillRectangle and XFillRectangles functions fill the specified rectangle or
rectangles as if a four-point FillPolygon protocol request were specified for each
rectangle:
[x,y] [x+width,y] [x+width,y+height] [x,y+height]
Each function uses the x and y coordinates, width and height dimensions, and GC
you specify.
XFillRectangles fills the rectangles in the order listed in the array. For any given
rectangle, XFillRectangle and XFillRectangles do not draw a pixel more than
once. If rectangles intersect, the intersecting pixels are drawn multiple times.
Both functions use these GC components: function, plane-mask, fill-style, subwin-
dow-mode, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin, and clip-mask. They also use these GC mode-
dependent components: foreground, background, tile, stipple, tile-stipple-x-origin,
and tile-stipple-y-origin.
XFillRectangle and XFillRectangles can generate BadDrawable, BadGC, and
BadMatch errors.
Filling a Single Polygon
To fill a polygon area in a given drawable, use XFillPolygon.
XFillPolygon( *display, d, gc, *points, npoints, shape, mode);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
points Specifies an array of points.
npoints Specifies the number of points in the array.
shape Specifies a shape that helps the server to improve perfor-
mance. You can pass Complex, Convex, or Nonconvex.
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mode Specifies the coordinate mode. You can pass CoordMode-
Origin or CoordModePrevious.
XFillPolygon fills the region closed by the specified path. The path is closed auto-
matically if the last point in the list does not coincide with the first point. XFillPoly-
gon does not draw a pixel of the region more than once. CoordModeOrigin treats all
coordinates as relative to the origin, and CoordModePrevious treats all coordinates
after the first as relative to the previous point.
Depending on the specified shape, the following occurs:
If shape is Complex, the path may self-intersect. Note that contiguous coincident
points in the path are not treated as self-intersection.
If shape is Convex, for every pair of points inside the polygon, the line segment
connecting them does not intersect the path. If known by the client, specifying
Convex can improve performance. If you specify Convex for a path that is not
convex, the graphics results are undefined.
If shape is Nonconvex, the path does not self-intersect, but the shape is not wholly
convex. If known by the client, specifying Nonconvex instead of Complex may
improve performance. If you specify Nonconvex for a self-intersecting path, the
graphics results are undefined.
The fill-rule of the GC controls the filling behavior of self-intersecting polygons.
This function uses these GC components: function, plane-mask, fill-style, fill-rule,
subwindow-mode, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin, and clip-mask. It also uses these GC
mode-dependent components: foreground, background, tile, stipple, tile-stipple-x-
origin, and tile-stipple-y-origin.
XFillPolygon can generate BadDrawable, BadGC, BadMatch, and BadValue errors.
Filling Single and Multiple Arcs
To fill a single arc in a given drawable, use XFillArc.
XFillArc( *display, d, gc, y, height, angle2);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC. and specify the upper-left corner of the
bounding rectangle
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
angle1 Specifies the start of the arc relative to the three-o'clock
position from the center, in units of degrees * 64.
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angle2 Specifies the path and extent of the arc relative to the start
of the arc, in units of degrees * 64.
To fill multiple arcs in a given drawable, use XFillArcs.
XFillArcs( *display, d, gc, *arcs, narcs);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
arcs Specifies an array of arcs.
narcs Specifies the number of arcs in the array.
For each arc, XFillArc or XFillArcs fills the region closed by the infinitely thin
path described by the specified arc and, depending on the arc-mode specified in
the GC, one or two line segments. For ArcChord, the single line segment joining
the endpoints of the arc is used. For ArcPieSlice, the two line segments joining the
endpoints of the arc with the center point are used. XFillArcs fills the arcs in the
order listed in the array. For any given arc, XFillArc and XFillArcs do not draw a
pixel more than once. If regions intersect, the intersecting pixels are drawn multiple
times.
Both functions use these GC components: function, plane-mask, fill-style, arc-mode,
subwindow-mode, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin, and clip-mask. They also use these GC
mode-dependent components: foreground, background, tile, stipple, tile-stipple-x-
origin, and tile-stipple-y-origin.
XFillArc and XFillArcs can generate BadDrawable, BadGC, and BadMatch errors.
Font Metrics
A font is a graphical description of a set of characters that are used to increase
efficiency whenever a set of small, similar sized patterns are repeatedly used.
This section discusses how to:
Load and free fonts
Obtain and free font names
Compute character string sizes
Compute logical extents
Query character string sizes
The X server loads fonts whenever a program requests a new font. The server can
cache fonts for quick lookup. Fonts are global across all screens in a server. Several
levels are possible when dealing with fonts. Most applications simply use XLoad-
QueryFont to load a font and query the font metrics.
Characters in fonts are regarded as masks. Except for image text requests, the only
pixels modified are those in which bits are set to 1 in the character. This means that
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it makes sense to draw text using stipples or tiles (for example, many menus gray-
out unusable entries).
The XFontStruct structure contains all of the information for the font and consists of
the font-specific information as well as a pointer to an array of XCharStruct struc-
tures for the characters contained in the font. The XFontStruct, XFontProp, and
XCharStruct structures contain:
typedef struct {
short lbearing; /* origin to left edge of raster */
short rbearing; /* origin to right edge of raster */
short width; /* advance to next char's origin */
short ascent; /* baseline to top edge of raster */
short descent; /* baseline to bottom edge of raster */
unsigned short attributes; /* per char flags (not predefined) */
} XCharStruct;
typedef struct {
Atom name;
unsigned long card32;
} XFontProp;
typedef struct { /* normal 16 bit characters are two bytes */
unsigned char byte1;
unsigned char byte2;
} XChar2b;
typedef struct {
XExtData *ext_data; /* hook for extension to hang data */
Font fid; /* Font id for this font */
unsigned direction; /* hint about the direction font is painted */
unsigned min_char_or_byte2; /* first character */
unsigned max_char_or_byte2; /* last character */
unsigned min_byte1; /* first row that exists */
unsigned max_byte1; /* last row that exists */
Bool all_chars_exist; /* flag if all characters have nonzero size */
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unsigned default_char; /* char to print for undefined character */
int n_properties; /* how many properties there are */
XFontProp *properties; /* pointer to array of additional properties */
XCharStruct min_bounds; /* minimum bounds over all existing char */
XCharStruct max_bounds; /* maximum bounds over all existing char */
XCharStruct *per_char; /* first_char to last_char information */
int ascent; /* logical extent above baseline for spacing */
int descent; /* logical descent below baseline for spacing */
} XFontStruct;
X supports single byte/character, two bytes/character matrix, and 16-bit character
text operations. Note that any of these forms can be used with a font, but a single
byte/character text request can only specify a single byte (that is, the first row of
a 2-byte font). You should view 2-byte fonts as a two-dimensional matrix of defined
characters: byte1 specifies the range of defined rows and byte2 defines the range
of defined columns of the font. Single byte/character fonts have one row defined,
and the byte2 range specified in the structure defines a range of characters.
The bounding box of a character is defined by the XCharStruct of that character.
When characters are absent from a font, the default_char is used. When fonts have
all characters of the same size, only the information in the XFontStruct min and
max bounds are used.
The members of the XFontStruct have the following semantics:
The direction member can be either FontLeftToRight or FontRightToLeft. It is just
a hint as to whether most XCharStruct elements have a positive (FontLeftToRight)
or a negative (FontRightToLeft) character width metric. The core protocol defines
no support for vertical text.
If the min_byte1 and max_byte1 members are both zero, min_char_or_byte2 spec-
ifies the linear character index corresponding to the first element of the per_char
array, and max_char_or_byte2 specifies the linear character index of the last el-
ement.
If either min_byte1 or max_byte1 are nonzero, both min_char_or_byte2 and
max_char_or_byte2 are less than 256, and the 2-byte character index values cor-
responding to the per_char array element N (counting from 0) are:
byte1 = N/D + min_byte1 byte2 = N\\D + min_char_or_byte2
where:
D = max_char_or_byte2 - min_char_or_byte2 + 1 / = integer division \\ = integer
modulus
If the per_char pointer is NULL, all glyphs between the first and last character
indexes inclusive have the same information, as given by both min_bounds and
max_bounds.
If all_chars_exist is True, all characters in the per_char array have nonzero bound-
ing boxes.
The default_char member specifies the character that will be used when an unde-
fined or nonexistent character is printed. The default_char is a 16-bit character
(not a 2-byte character). For a font using 2-byte matrix format, the default_char
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has byte1 in the most-significant byte and byte2 in the least significant byte. If the
default_char itself specifies an undefined or nonexistent character, no printing is
performed for an undefined or nonexistent character.
The min_bounds and max_bounds members contain the most extreme values of
each individual XCharStruct component over all elements of this array (and ig-
nore nonexistent characters). The bounding box of the font (the smallest rectan-
gle enclosing the shape obtained by superimposing all of the characters at the
same origin [x,y]) has its upper-left coordinate at:
[x + min_bounds.lbearing, y - max_bounds.ascent]
Its width is:
max_bounds.rbearing - min_bounds.lbearing
Its height is:
max_bounds.ascent + max_bounds.descent
The ascent member is the logical extent of the font above the baseline that is used
for determining line spacing. Specific characters may extend beyond this.
The descent member is the logical extent of the font at or below the baseline that
is used for determining line spacing. Specific characters may extend beyond this.
If the baseline is at Y-coordinate y, the logical extent of the font is inclusive be-
tween the Y-coordinate values (y - font.ascent) and (y + font.descent - 1). Typically,
the minimum interline spacing between rows of text is given by ascent + descent.
For a character origin at [x,y], the bounding box of a character (that is, the smallest
rectangle that encloses the character's shape) described in terms of XCharStruct
components is a rectangle with its upper-left corner at:
[x + lbearing, y - ascent]
Its width is:
rbearing - lbearing
Its height is:
ascent + descent
The origin for the next character is defined to be:
[x + width, y]
The lbearing member defines the extent of the left edge of the character ink from the
origin. The rbearing member defines the extent of the right edge of the character
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ink from the origin. The ascent member defines the extent of the top edge of the
character ink from the origin. The descent member defines the extent of the bottom
edge of the character ink from the origin. The width member defines the logical
width of the character.
Note that the baseline (the y position of the character origin) is logically viewed as
being the scanline just below nondescending characters. When descent is zero, only
pixels with Y-coordinates less than y are drawn, and the origin is logically viewed
as being coincident with the left edge of a nonkerned character. When lbearing is
zero, no pixels with X-coordinate less than x are drawn. Any of the XCharStruct
metric members could be negative. If the width is negative, the next character will
be placed to the left of the current origin.
The X protocol does not define the interpretation of the attributes member in the
XCharStruct structure. A nonexistent character is represented with all members of
its XCharStruct set to zero.
A font is not guaranteed to have any properties. The interpretation of the property
value (for example, long or unsigned long) must be derived from a priori knowledge
of the property. A basic set of font properties is specified in the X Consortium stan-
dard X Logical Font Description Conventions.
Loading and Freeing Fonts
Xlib provides functions that you can use to load fonts, get font information, unload
fonts, and free font information. A few font functions use a GContext resource ID
or a font ID interchangeably.
To load a given font, use XLoadFont.
Font XLoadFont( *display, *name);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
name Specifies the name of the font, which is a null-terminated
string.
The XLoadFont function loads the specified font and returns its associated font ID.
If the font name is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is im-
plementation-dependent. Use of uppercase or lowercase does not matter. When the
characters ``?'' and ``*'' are used in a font name, a pattern match is performed and
any matching font is used. In the pattern, the ``?'' character will match any single
character, and the ``*'' character will match any number of characters. A structured
format for font names is specified in the X Consortium standard X Logical Font De-
scription Conventions. If XLoadFont was unsuccessful at loading the specified font,
a BadName error results. Fonts are not associated with a particular screen and can
be stored as a component of any GC. When the font is no longer needed, call XUn-
loadFont.
XLoadFont can generate BadAlloc and BadName errors.
To return information about an available font, use XQueryFont.
XFontStruct *XQueryFont( *display, font_ID);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
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font_ID Specifies the font ID or the GContext ID.
The XQueryFont function returns a pointer to the XFontStruct structure, which con-
tains information associated with the font. You can query a font or the font stored in
a GC. The font ID stored in the XFontStruct structure will be the GContext ID, and
you need to be careful when using this ID in other functions (see XGContextFromGC).
If the font does not exist, XQueryFont returns NULL. To free this data, use XFree-
FontInfo.
To perform a XLoadFont and XQueryFont in a single operation, use XLoadQueryFont.
XFontStruct *XLoadQueryFont( *display, *name);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
name Specifies the name of the font, which is a null-terminated
string.
The XLoadQueryFont function provides the most common way for accessing a font.
XLoadQueryFont both opens (loads) the specified font and returns a pointer to the
appropriate XFontStruct structure. If the font name is not in the Host Portable Char-
acter Encoding, the result is implementation-dependent. If the font does not exist,
XLoadQueryFont returns NULL.
XLoadQueryFont can generate a BadAlloc error.
To unload the font and free the storage used by the font structure that was allocated
by XQueryFont or XLoadQueryFont, use XFreeFont.
XFreeFont( *display, *font_struct);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
font_struct Specifies the storage associated with the font.
The XFreeFont function deletes the association between the font resource ID and
the specified font and frees the XFontStruct structure. The font itself will be freed
when no other resource references it. The data and the font should not be referenced
again.
XFreeFont can generate a BadFont error.
To return a given font property, use XGetFontProperty.
Bool XGetFontProperty( *font_struct, atom, *value_return);
font_struct Specifies the storage associated with the font.
atom Specifies the atom for the property name you want
returned.
value_return Returns the value of the font property.
Given the atom for that property, the XGetFontProperty function returns the value
of the specified font property. XGetFontProperty also returns False if the property
was not defined or True if it was defined. A set of predefined atoms exists for font
properties, which can be found in <X11/Xatom.h>. This set contains the standard
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properties associated with a font. Although it is not guaranteed, it is likely that the
predefined font properties will be present.
To unload a font that was loaded by XLoadFont, use XUnloadFont.
XUnloadFont( *display, font);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
font Specifies the font.
The XUnloadFont function deletes the association between the font resource ID and
the specified font. The font itself will be freed when no other resource references
it. The font should not be referenced again.
XUnloadFont can generate a BadFont error.
Obtaining and Freeing Font Names and Information
You obtain font names and information by matching a wildcard specification when
querying a font type for a list of available sizes and so on.
To return a list of the available font names, use XListFonts.
char **XListFonts( *display, *pattern, maxnames,
*actual_count_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
pattern Specifies the null-terminated pattern string that can
contain wildcard characters.
maxnames Specifies the maximum number of names to be re-
turned.
actual_count_return Returns the actual number of font names.
The XListFonts function returns an array of available font names (as controlled by
the font search path; see XSetFontPath) that match the string you passed to the
pattern argument. The pattern string can contain any characters, but each asterisk
(*) is a wildcard for any number of characters, and each question mark (?) is a wild-
card for a single character. If the pattern string is not in the Host Portable Character
Encoding, the result is implementation-dependent. Use of uppercase or lowercase
does not matter. Each returned string is null-terminated. If the data returned by the
server is in the Latin Portable Character Encoding, then the returned strings are in
the Host Portable Character Encoding. Otherwise, the result is implementation-de-
pendent. If there are no matching font names, XListFonts returns NULL. The client
should call XFreeFontNames when finished with the result to free the memory.
To free a font name array, use XFreeFontNames.
XFreeFontNames( *list[]);
list Specifies the array of strings you want to free.
The XFreeFontNames function frees the array and strings returned by XListFonts
or XListFontsWithInfo.
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To obtain the names and information about available fonts, use XListFontsWith-
Info.
char **XListFontsWithInfo( *display, *pattern, maxnames,
*count_return, **info_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
pattern Specifies the null-terminated pattern string that can
contain wildcard characters.
maxnames Specifies the maximum number of names to be re-
turned.
count_return Returns the actual number of matched font names.
info_return Returns the font information.
The XListFontsWithInfo function returns a list of font names that match the spec-
ified pattern and their associated font information. The list of names is limited to
size specified by maxnames. The information returned for each font is identical to
what XLoadQueryFont would return except that the per-character metrics are not
returned. The pattern string can contain any characters, but each asterisk (*) is a
wildcard for any number of characters, and each question mark (?) is a wildcard
for a single character. If the pattern string is not in the Host Portable Character
Encoding, the result is implementation-dependent. Use of uppercase or lowercase
does not matter. Each returned string is null-terminated. If the data returned by the
server is in the Latin Portable Character Encoding, then the returned strings are in
the Host Portable Character Encoding. Otherwise, the result is implementation-de-
pendent. If there are no matching font names, XListFontsWithInfo returns NULL.
To free only the allocated name array, the client should call XFreeFontNames. To
free both the name array and the font information array or to free just the font
information array, the client should call XFreeFontInfo.
To free font structures and font names, use XFreeFontInfo.
XFreeFontInfo( **names, *free_info, actual_count);
names Specifies the list of font names.
free_info Specifies the font information.
actual_count Specifies the actual number of font names.
The XFreeFontInfo function frees a font structure or an array of font structures and
optionally an array of font names. If NULL is passed for names, no font names are
freed. If a font structure for an open font (returned by XLoadQueryFont) is passed,
the structure is freed, but the font is not closed; use XUnloadFont to close the font.
Computing Character String Sizes
Xlib provides functions that you can use to compute the width, the logical extents,
and the server information about 8-bit and 2-byte text strings. The width is com-
puted by adding the character widths of all the characters. It does not matter if
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the font is an 8-bit or 2-byte font. These functions return the sum of the character
metrics in pixels.
To determine the width of an 8-bit character string, use XTextWidth.
int XTextWidth( *font_struct, *string, count);
font_struct Specifies the font used for the width computation.
string Specifies the character string.
count Specifies the character count in the specified string.
To determine the width of a 2-byte character string, use XTextWidth16.
int XTextWidth16( *font_struct, *string, count);
font_struct Specifies the font used for the width computation.
string Specifies the character string.
count Specifies the character count in the specified string.
Computing Logical Extents
To compute the bounding box of an 8-bit character string in a given font, use XTex-
tExtents.
XTextExtents( *font_struct, *string, nchars, *direction_return,
*font_descent_return, *overall_return);
font_struct Specifies the XFontStruct structure.
string Specifies the character string.
nchars Specifies the number of characters in the character
string.
direction_return Returns the value of the direction hint (FontLeft-
ToRight or FontRightToLeft).
font_ascent_return Returns the font ascent.
font_descent_return Returns the font descent.
overall_return Returns the overall size in the specified XCharStruct
structure.
To compute the bounding box of a 2-byte character string in a given font, use XTex-
tExtents16.
XTextExtents16( *font_struct, *string, nchars, *direction_return,
*font_descent_return, *overall_return);
font_struct Specifies the XFontStruct structure.
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155
string Specifies the character string.
nchars Specifies the number of characters in the character
string.
direction_return Returns the value of the direction hint (FontLeft-
ToRight or FontRightToLeft).
font_ascent_return Returns the font ascent.
font_descent_return Returns the font descent.
overall_return Returns the overall size in the specified XCharStruct
structure.
The XTextExtents and XTextExtents16 functions perform the size computation
locally and, thereby, avoid the round-trip overhead of XQueryTextExtents and
XQueryTextExtents16. Both functions return an XCharStruct structure, whose
members are set to the values as follows.
The ascent member is set to the maximum of the ascent metrics of all characters in
the string. The descent member is set to the maximum of the descent metrics. The
width member is set to the sum of the character-width metrics of all characters in
the string. For each character in the string, let W be the sum of the character-width
metrics of all characters preceding it in the string. Let L be the left-side-bearing
metric of the character plus W. Let R be the right-side-bearing metric of the char-
acter plus W. The lbearing member is set to the minimum L of all characters in the
string. The rbearing member is set to the maximum R.
For fonts defined with linear indexing rather than 2-byte matrix indexing, each
XChar2b structure is interpreted as a 16-bit number with byte1 as the most signif-
icant byte. If the font has no defined default character, undefined characters in the
string are taken to have all zero metrics.
Querying Character String Sizes
To query the server for the bounding box of an 8-bit character string in a given font,
use XQueryTextExtents.
XQueryTextExtents( *display, font_ID, *string, nchars,
*direction_return, *font_descent_return, *overall_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
font_ID Specifies either the font ID or the GContext ID that
contains the font.
string Specifies the character string.
nchars Specifies the number of characters in the character
string.
direction_return Returns the value of the direction hint (FontLeft-
ToRight or FontRightToLeft).
font_ascent_return Returns the font ascent.
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font_descent_return Returns the font descent.
overall_return Returns the overall size in the specified XCharStruct
structure.
To query the server for the bounding box of a 2-byte character string in a given font,
use XQueryTextExtents16.
XQueryTextExtents16( *display, font_ID, *string, nchars,
*direction_return, *font_descent_return, *overall_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
font_ID Specifies either the font ID or the GContext ID that
contains the font.
string Specifies the character string.
nchars Specifies the number of characters in the character
string.
direction_return Returns the value of the direction hint (FontLeft-
ToRight or FontRightToLeft).
font_ascent_return Returns the font ascent.
font_descent_return Returns the font descent.
overall_return Returns the overall size in the specified XCharStruct
structure.
The XQueryTextExtents and XQueryTextExtents16 functions return the bounding
box of the specified 8-bit and 16-bit character string in the specified font or the
font contained in the specified GC. These functions query the X server and, there-
fore, suffer the round-trip overhead that is avoided by XTextExtents and XTextEx-
tents16. Both functions return a XCharStruct structure, whose members are set to
the values as follows.
The ascent member is set to the maximum of the ascent metrics of all characters in
the string. The descent member is set to the maximum of the descent metrics. The
width member is set to the sum of the character-width metrics of all characters in
the string. For each character in the string, let W be the sum of the character-width
metrics of all characters preceding it in the string. Let L be the left-side-bearing
metric of the character plus W. Let R be the right-side-bearing metric of the char-
acter plus W. The lbearing member is set to the minimum L of all characters in the
string. The rbearing member is set to the maximum R.
For fonts defined with linear indexing rather than 2-byte matrix indexing, each
XChar2b structure is interpreted as a 16-bit number with byte1 as the most signif-
icant byte. If the font has no defined default character, undefined characters in the
string are taken to have all zero metrics.
Characters with all zero metrics are ignored. If the font has no defined default_char,
the undefined characters in the string are also ignored.
XQueryTextExtents and XQueryTextExtents16 can generate BadFont and BadGC
errors.
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Drawing Text
This section discusses how to draw:
Complex text
Text characters
Image text characters
The fundamental text functions XDrawText and XDrawText16 use the following struc-
tures:
typedef struct {
char *chars; /* pointer to string */
int nchars; /* number of characters */
int delta; /* delta between strings */
Font font; /* Font to print it in, None don't change */
} XTextItem;
typedef struct {
XChar2b *chars; /* pointer to two-byte characters */
int nchars; /* number of characters */
int delta; /* delta between strings */
Font font; /* font to print it in, None don't change */
} XTextItem16;
If the font member is not None, the font is changed before printing and also is stored
in the GC. If an error was generated during text drawing, the previous items may
have been drawn. The baseline of the characters are drawn starting at the x and y
coordinates that you pass in the text drawing functions.
For example, consider the background rectangle drawn by XDrawImageString. If
you want the upper-left corner of the background rectangle to be at pixel coordinate
(x,y), pass the (x,y + ascent) as the baseline origin coordinates to the text functions.
The ascent is the font ascent, as given in the XFontStruct structure. If you want the
lower-left corner of the background rectangle to be at pixel coordinate (x,y), pass
the (x,y - descent + 1) as the baseline origin coordinates to the text functions. The
descent is the font descent, as given in the XFontStruct structure.
Drawing Complex Text

To draw 8-bit characters in a given drawable, use XDrawText.
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XDrawText( *display, d, gc, y, *items, nitems);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC. and define the origin of the first character
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
items Specifies an array of text items.
nitems Specifies the number of text items in the array.
To draw 2-byte characters in a given drawable, use XDrawText16.
XDrawText16( *display, d, gc, y, *items, nitems);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC. and define the origin of the first character
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
items Specifies an array of text items.
nitems Specifies the number of text items in the array.
The XDrawText16 function is similar to XDrawText except that it uses 2-byte or 16-bit
characters. Both functions allow complex spacing and font shifts between counted
strings.
Each text item is processed in turn. A font member other than None in an item
causes the font to be stored in the GC and used for subsequent text. A text element
delta specifies an additional change in the position along the x axis before the string
is drawn. The delta is always added to the character origin and is not dependent
on any characteristics of the font. Each character image, as defined by the font in
the GC, is treated as an additional mask for a fill operation on the drawable. The
drawable is modified only where the font character has a bit set to 1. If a text item
generates a BadFont error, the previous text items may have been drawn.
For fonts defined with linear indexing rather than 2-byte matrix indexing, each
XChar2b structure is interpreted as a 16-bit number with byte1 as the most signif-
icant byte.
Both functions use these GC components: function, plane-mask, fill-style, font, sub-
window-mode, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin, and clip-mask. They also use these GC
mode-dependent components: foreground, background, tile, stipple, tile-stipple-x-
origin, and tile-stipple-y-origin.
XDrawText and XDrawText16 can generate BadDrawable, BadFont, BadGC, and Bad-
Match errors.
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Drawing Text Characters
To draw 8-bit characters in a given drawable, use XDrawString.
XDrawString( *display, d, gc, y, *string, length);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC. and define the origin of the first character
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
string Specifies the character string.
length Specifies the number of characters in the string argument.
To draw 2-byte characters in a given drawable, use XDrawString16.
XDrawString16( *display, d, gc, y, *string, length);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC. and define the origin of the first character
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
string Specifies the character string.
length Specifies the number of characters in the string argument.
Each character image, as defined by the font in the GC, is treated as an additional
mask for a fill operation on the drawable. The drawable is modified only where the
font character has a bit set to 1. For fonts defined with 2-byte matrix indexing and
used with XDrawString16, each byte is used as a byte2 with a byte1 of zero.
Both functions use these GC components: function, plane-mask, fill-style, font, sub-
window-mode, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin, and clip-mask. They also use these GC
mode-dependent components: foreground, background, tile, stipple, tile-stipple-x-
origin, and tile-stipple-y-origin.
XDrawString and XDrawString16 can generate BadDrawable, BadGC, and Bad-
Match errors.
Drawing Image Text Characters
Some applications, in particular terminal emulators, need to print image text in
which both the foreground and background bits of each character are painted. This
prevents annoying flicker on many displays.
To draw 8-bit image text characters in a given drawable, use XDrawImageString.
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XDrawImageString( *display, d, gc, y, *string, length);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC. and define the origin of the first character
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
string Specifies the character string.
length Specifies the number of characters in the string argument.
To draw 2-byte image text characters in a given drawable, use XDrawImageString16.
XDrawImageString16( *display, d, gc, y, *string, length);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC. and define the origin of the first character
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
string Specifies the character string.
length Specifies the number of characters in the string argument.
The XDrawImageString16 function is similar to XDrawImageString except that it
uses 2-byte or 16-bit characters. Both functions also use both the foreground and
background pixels of the GC in the destination.
The effect is first to fill a destination rectangle with the background pixel defined in
the GC and then to paint the text with the foreground pixel. The upper-left corner
of the filled rectangle is at:
[x, y - font-ascent]
The width is:
overall-width
The height is:
font-ascent + font-descent
The overall-width, font-ascent, and font-descent are as would be returned by
XQueryTextExtents using gc and string. The function and fill-style defined in the
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GC are ignored for these functions. The effective function is GXcopy, and the effec-
tive fill-style is FillSolid.
For fonts defined with 2-byte matrix indexing and used with XDrawImageString,
each byte is used as a byte2 with a byte1 of zero.
Both functions use these GC components: plane-mask, foreground, background,
font, subwindow-mode, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin, and clip-mask.
XDrawImageString and XDrawImageString16 can generate BadDrawable, BadGC,
and BadMatch errors.
Transferring Images between Client and Server
Xlib provides functions that you can use to transfer images between a client and the
server. Because the server may require diverse data formats, Xlib provides an im-
age object that fully describes the data in memory and that provides for basic oper-
ations on that data. You should reference the data through the image object rather
than referencing the data directly. However, some implementations of the Xlib li-
brary may efficiently deal with frequently used data formats by replacing functions
in the procedure vector with special case functions. Supported operations include
destroying the image, getting a pixel, storing a pixel, extracting a subimage of an
image, and adding a constant to an image (see section 16.8).
All the image manipulation functions discussed in this section make use of the XI-
mage structure, which describes an image as it exists in the client's memory.
typedef struct _XImage {
int width, height; /* size of image */
int xoffset; /* number of pixels offset in X direction */
int format; /* XYBitmap, XYPixmap, ZPixmap */
char *data; /* pointer to image data */
int byte_order; /* data byte order, LSBFirst, MSBFirst */
int bitmap_unit; /* quant. of scanline 8, 16, 32 */
int bitmap_bit_order; /* LSBFirst, MSBFirst */
int bitmap_pad; /* 8, 16, 32 either XY or ZPixmap */
int depth; /* depth of image */
int bytes_per_line; /* accelerator to next scanline */
int bits_per_pixel; /* bits per pixel (ZPixmap) */
unsigned long red_mask; /* bits in z arrangement */
unsigned long green_mask;
unsigned long blue_mask;
XPointer obdata; /* hook for the object routines to hang on */
struct funcs { /* image manipulation routines */
struct _XImage *(*create_image)();
int (*destroy_image)();
unsigned long (*get_pixel)();
int (*put_pixel)();
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struct _XImage *(*sub_image)();
int (*add_pixel)();
} f;
} XImage;
To initialize the image manipulation routines of an image structure, use XInitImage.
Status XInitImage( *image);
ximage Specifies the image.
The XInitImage function initializes the internal image manipulation routines of
an image structure, based on the values of the various structure members. All
fields other than the manipulation routines must already be initialized. If the
bytes_per_line member is zero, XInitImage will assume the image data is contigu-
ous in memory and set the bytes_per_line member to an appropriate value based on
the other members; otherwise, the value of bytes_per_line is not changed. All of the
manipulation routines are initialized to functions that other Xlib image manipulation
functions need to operate on the type of image specified by the rest of the structure.
This function must be called for any image constructed by the client before passing
it to any other Xlib function. Image structures created or returned by Xlib do not
need to be initialized in this fashion.
This function returns a nonzero status if initialization of the structure is successful.
It returns zero if it detected some error or inconsistency in the structure, in which
case the image is not changed.
To combine an image with a rectangle of a drawable on the display, use XPutImage.
XPutImage( *display, d, gc, *image, src_y, dest_y, height);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
image Specifies the image you want combined with the rectangle.
src_x Specifies the offset in X from the left edge of the image
defined by the XImage structure.
src_y Specifies the offset in Y from the top edge of the image
defined by the XImage structure. and are the coordinates
of the subimage
dest_x
dest_y Specify the x and y coordinates(Dx.
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
The XPutImage function combines an image with a rectangle of the specified draw-
able. The section of the image defined by the src_x, src_y, width, and height argu-
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ments is drawn on the specified part of the drawable. If XYBitmap format is used,
the depth of the image must be one, or a BadMatch error results. The foreground
pixel in the GC defines the source for the one bits in the image, and the background
pixel defines the source for the zero bits. For XYPixmap and ZPixmap, the depth of
the image must match the depth of the drawable, or a BadMatch error results.
If the characteristics of the image (for example, byte_order and bitmap_unit) dif-
fer from what the server requires, XPutImage automatically makes the appropriate
conversions.
This function uses these GC components: function, plane-mask, subwindow-mode,
clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin, and clip-mask. It also uses these GC mode-dependent
components: foreground and background.
XPutImage can generate BadDrawable, BadGC, BadMatch, and BadValue errors.
To return the contents of a rectangle in a given drawable on the display, use XGetI-
mage. This function specifically supports rudimentary screen dumps.
XImage *XGetImage( *display, d, y, height, plane_mask, format);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable. and define the upper-left corner
of the rectangle
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
plane_mask Specifies the plane mask.
format Specifies the format for the image. You can pass XYP-
ixmap or ZPixmap.
The XGetImage function returns a pointer to an XImage structure. This structure
provides you with the contents of the specified rectangle of the drawable in the
format you specify. If the format argument is XYPixmap, the image contains only the
bit planes you passed to the plane_mask argument. If the plane_mask argument only
requests a subset of the planes of the display, the depth of the returned image will
be the number of planes requested. If the format argument is ZPixmap, XGetImage
returns as zero the bits in all planes not specified in the plane_mask argument.
The function performs no range checking on the values in plane_mask and ignores
extraneous bits.
XGetImage returns the depth of the image to the depth member of the XImage struc-
ture. The depth of the image is as specified when the drawable was created, except
when getting a subset of the planes in XYPixmap format, when the depth is given
by the number of bits set to 1 in plane_mask.
If the drawable is a pixmap, the given rectangle must be wholly contained within the
pixmap, or a BadMatch error results. If the drawable is a window, the window must
be viewable, and it must be the case that if there were no inferiors or overlapping
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164
windows, the specified rectangle of the window would be fully visible on the screen
and wholly contained within the outside edges of the window, or a BadMatch error
results. Note that the borders of the window can be included and read with this
request. If the window has backing-store, the backing-store contents are returned
for regions of the window that are obscured by noninferior windows. If the window
does not have backing-store, the returned contents of such obscured regions are
undefined. The returned contents of visible regions of inferiors of a different depth
than the specified window's depth are also undefined. The pointer cursor image
is not included in the returned contents. If a problem occurs, XGetImage returns
NULL.
XGetImage can generate BadDrawable, BadMatch, and BadValue errors.
To copy the contents of a rectangle on the display to a location within a preexisting
image structure, use XGetSubImage.
XImage *XGetSubImage( *display, d, y, height, plane_mask, format,
*dest_image, dest_y);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable. and define the upper-left corner
of the rectangle
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
plane_mask Specifies the plane mask.
format Specifies the format for the image. You can pass XYP-
ixmap or ZPixmap.
dest_image Specifies the destination image. specify its upper-left
corner, and determine where the subimage \ is placed
in the destination image
dest_x
dest_y Specify the x and y coordinates(Dx.
The XGetSubImage function updates dest_image with the specified subimage in the
same manner as XGetImage. If the format argument is XYPixmap, the image contains
only the bit planes you passed to the plane_mask argument. If the format argument
is ZPixmap, XGetSubImage returns as zero the bits in all planes not specified in the
plane_mask argument. The function performs no range checking on the values in
plane_mask and ignores extraneous bits. As a convenience, XGetSubImage returns
a pointer to the same XImage structure specified by dest_image.
The depth of the destination XImage structure must be the same as that of the
drawable. If the specified subimage does not fit at the specified location on the des-
tination image, the right and bottom edges are clipped. If the drawable is a pixmap,
the given rectangle must be wholly contained within the pixmap, or a BadMatch
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165
error results. If the drawable is a window, the window must be viewable, and it must
be the case that if there were no inferiors or overlapping windows, the specified
rectangle of the window would be fully visible on the screen and wholly contained
within the outside edges of the window, or a BadMatch error results. If the window
has backing-store, then the backing-store contents are returned for regions of the
window that are obscured by noninferior windows. If the window does not have
backing-store, the returned contents of such obscured regions are undefined. The
returned contents of visible regions of inferiors of a different depth than the speci-
fied window's depth are also undefined. If a problem occurs, XGetSubImage returns
NULL.
XGetSubImage can generate BadDrawable, BadGC, BadMatch, and BadValue errors.
166
Chapter 9. Window and Session
Manager Functions
Although it is difcult to categorize functions as exclusively for an application, a
window man- ager, or a session manager, the functions in this chapter are most
often used by window managers and session managers. It is not expected that these
functions will be used by most application programs. Xlib provides management
functions to:
Change the parent of a window
Control the lifetime of a window
Manage installed colormaps
Set and retrieve the font search path
Grab the server
Kill a client
Control the screen saver
Control host access
Changing the Parent of a Window
To change a window's parent to another window on the same screen, use XRepar-
entWindow. There is no way to move a window between screens.
XReparentWindow( *display, w, parent, y);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
parent Specifies the parent window.
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
If the specified window is mapped, XReparentWindow automatically performs an
UnmapWindow request on it, removes it from its current position in the hierarchy, and
inserts it as the child of the specified parent. The window is placed in the stacking
order on top with respect to sibling windows.
After reparenting the specified window, XReparentWindow causes the X server to
generate a ReparentNotify event. The override_redirect member returned in this
event is set to the window's corresponding attribute. Window manager clients usu-
ally should ignore this window if this member is set to True. Finally, if the specified
window was originally mapped, the X server automatically performs a MapWindow
request on it.
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Manager Functions
167
The X server performs normal exposure processing on formerly obscured windows.
The X server might not generate Expose events for regions from the initial Unmap-
Window request that are immediately obscured by the final MapWindow request. A
BadMatch error results if:
The new parent window is not on the same screen as the old parent window.
The new parent window is the specified window or an inferior of the specified
window.
The new parent is InputOnly, and the window is not.
The specified window has a ParentRelative background, and the new parent win-
dow is not the same depth as the specified window.
XReparentWindow can generate BadMatch and BadWindow errors.
Controlling the Lifetime of a Window
The save-set of a client is a list of other clients' windows that, if they are inferiors of
one of the client's windows at connection close, should not be destroyed and should
be remapped if they are unmapped. For further information about close-connection
processing, see section 2.6. To allow an application's window to survive when a win-
dow manager that has reparented a window fails, Xlib provides the save-set func-
tions that you can use to control the longevity of subwindows that are normally de-
stroyed when the parent is destroyed. For example, a window manager that wants
to add decoration to a window by adding a frame might reparent an application's
window. When the frame is destroyed, the application's window should not be de-
stroyed but be returned to its previous place in the window hierarchy.
The X server automatically removes windows from the save-set when they are de-
stroyed.
To add or remove a window from the client's save-set, use XChangeSaveSet.
XChangeSaveSet( *display, w, change_mode);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
change_mode Specifies the mode. You can pass SetModeInsert or
SetModeDelete.
Depending on the specified mode, XChangeSaveSet either inserts or deletes the
specified window from the client's save-set. The specified window must have been
created by some other client, or a BadMatch error results.
XChangeSaveSet can generate BadMatch, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.
To add a window to the client's save-set, use XAddToSaveSet.
XAddToSaveSet( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
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The XAddToSaveSet function adds the specified window to the client's save-set. The
specified window must have been created by some other client, or a BadMatch error
results.
XAddToSaveSet can generate BadMatch and BadWindow errors.
To remove a window from the client's save-set, use XRemoveFromSaveSet.
XRemoveFromSaveSet( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
The XRemoveFromSaveSet function removes the specified window from the client's
save-set. The specified window must have been created by some other client, or a
BadMatch error results.
XRemoveFromSaveSet can generate BadMatch and BadWindow errors.
Managing Installed Colormaps
The X server maintains a list of installed colormaps. Windows using these colormaps
are guaranteed to display with correct colors; windows using other colormaps may
or may not display with correct colors. Xlib provides functions that you can use to
install a colormap, uninstall a colormap, and obtain a list of installed colormaps.
At any time, there is a subset of the installed maps that is viewed as an ordered list
and is called the required list. The length of the required list is at most M, where
M is the minimum number of installed colormaps specified for the screen in the
connection setup. The required list is maintained as follows. When a colormap is
specified to XInstallColormap, it is added to the head of the list; the list is truncated
at the tail, if necessary, to keep its length to at most M. When a colormap is specified
to XUninstallColormap and it is in the required list, it is removed from the list. A
colormap is not added to the required list when it is implicitly installed by the X
server, and the X server cannot implicitly uninstall a colormap that is in the required
list.
To install a colormap, use XInstallColormap.
XInstallColormap( *display, colormap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
The XInstallColormap function installs the specified colormap for its associated
screen. All windows associated with this colormap immediately display with true
colors. You associated the windows with this colormap when you created them
by calling XCreateWindow, XCreateSimpleWindow, XChangeWindowAttributes, or
XSetWindowColormap.
If the specified colormap is not already an installed colormap, the X server generates
a ColormapNotify event on each window that has that colormap. In addition, for
every other colormap that is installed as a result of a call to XInstallColormap, the
X server generates a ColormapNotify event on each window that has that colormap.
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169
XInstallColormap can generate a BadColor error.
To uninstall a colormap, use XUninstallColormap.
XUninstallColormap( *display, colormap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
colormap Specifies the colormap.
The XUninstallColormap function removes the specified colormap from the re-
quired list for its screen. As a result, the specified colormap might be uninstalled,
and the X server might implicitly install or uninstall additional colormaps. Which
colormaps get installed or uninstalled is server dependent except that the required
list must remain installed.
If the specified colormap becomes uninstalled, the X server generates a Colormap-
Notify event on each window that has that colormap. In addition, for every other
colormap that is installed or uninstalled as a result of a call to XUninstallColormap,
the X server generates a ColormapNotify event on each window that has that col-
ormap.
XUninstallColormap can generate a BadColor error.
To obtain a list of the currently installed colormaps for a given screen, use XListIn-
stalledColormaps.
Colormap *XListInstalledColormaps( *display, w, *num_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
num_return Returns the number of currently installed colormaps.
The XListInstalledColormaps function returns a list of the currently installed col-
ormaps for the screen of the specified window. The order of the colormaps in the list
is not significant and is no explicit indication of the required list. When the allocated
list is no longer needed, free it by using XFree.
XListInstalledColormaps can generate a BadWindow error.
Setting and Retrieving the Font Search Path
The set of fonts available from a server depends on a font search path. Xlib provides
functions to set and retrieve the search path for a server.
To set the font search path, use XSetFontPath.
XSetFontPath( *display, **directories, ndirs);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
directories Specifies the directory path used to look for a font.
Setting the path to the empty list restores the default
path defined for the X server.
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170
ndirs Specifies the number of directories in the path.
The XSetFontPath function defines the directory search path for font lookup. There
is only one search path per X server, not one per client. The encoding and interpre-
tation of the strings are implementation-dependent, but typically they specify direc-
tories or font servers to be searched in the order listed. An X server is permitted to
cache font information internally; for example, it might cache an entire font from a
file and not check on subsequent opens of that font to see if the underlying font file
has changed. However, when the font path is changed, the X server is guaranteed
to flush all cached information about fonts for which there currently are no explicit
resource IDs allocated. The meaning of an error from this request is implementa-
tion-dependent.
XSetFontPath can generate a BadValue error.
To get the current font search path, use XGetFontPath.
char **XGetFontPath( *display, *npaths_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
npaths_return Returns the number of strings in the font path array.
The XGetFontPath function allocates and returns an array of strings containing the
search path. The contents of these strings are implementation-dependent and are
not intended to be interpreted by client applications. When it is no longer needed,
the data in the font path should be freed by using XFreeFontPath.
To free data returned by XGetFontPath, use XFreeFontPath.
XFreeFontPath( **list);
list Specifies the array of strings you want to free.
The XFreeFontPath function frees the data allocated by XGetFontPath.
Grabbing the Server
Xlib provides functions that you can use to grab and ungrab the server. These func-
tions can be used to control processing of output on other connections by the win-
dow system server. While the server is grabbed, no processing of requests or close
downs on any other connection will occur. A client closing its connection automat-
ically ungrabs the server. Although grabbing the server is highly discouraged, it
is sometimes necessary.
To grab the server, use XGrabServer.
XGrabServer( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XGrabServer function disables processing of requests and close downs on all
other connections than the one this request arrived on. You should not grab the X
server any more than is absolutely necessary.
To ungrab the server, use XUngrabServer.
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171
XUngrabServer( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XUngrabServer function restarts processing of requests and close downs on
other connections. You should avoid grabbing the X server as much as possible.
Killing Clients
Xlib provides a function to cause the connection to a client to be closed and its
resources to be destroyed. To destroy a client, use XKillClient.
XKillClient( *display, resource);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
resource Specifies any resource associated with the client that you
want to destroy or AllTemporary.
The XKillClient function forces a close down of the client that created the resource
if a valid resource is specified. If the client has already terminated in either Retain-
Permanent or RetainTemporary mode, all of the client's resources are destroyed.
If AllTemporary is specified, the resources of all clients that have terminated in
RetainTemporary are destroyed (see section 2.5). This permits implementation of
window manager facilities that aid debugging. A client can set its close-down mode
to RetainTemporary. If the client then crashes, its windows would not be destroyed.
The programmer can then inspect the application's window tree and use the win-
dow manager to destroy the zombie windows.
XKillClient can generate a BadValue error.
Controlling the Screen Saver
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set or reset the mode of the screen saver,
to force or activate the screen saver, or to obtain the current screen saver values.
To set the screen saver mode, use XSetScreenSaver.
XSetScreenSaver( *display, interval, prefer_blanking,
allow_exposures);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
timeout Specifies the timeout, in seconds, until the screen
saver turns on.
interval Specifies the interval, in seconds, between screen
saver alterations.
prefer_blanking Specifies how to enable screen blanking. You can
pass DontPreferBlanking, PreferBlanking, or De-
faultBlanking.
allow_exposures Specifies the screen save control values. You can pass
DontAllowExposures, AllowExposures, or DefaultEx-
posures.
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Manager Functions
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Timeout and interval are specified in seconds. A timeout of 0 disables the screen
saver (but an activated screen saver is not deactivated), and a timeout of 1 restores
the default. Other negative values generate a BadValue error. If the timeout value
is nonzero, XSetScreenSaver enables the screen saver. An interval of 0 disables
the random-pattern motion. If no input from devices (keyboard, mouse, and so on)
is generated for the specified number of timeout seconds once the screen saver is
enabled, the screen saver is activated.
For each screen, if blanking is preferred and the hardware supports video blanking,
the screen simply goes blank. Otherwise, if either exposures are allowed or the
screen can be regenerated without sending Expose events to clients, the screen
is tiled with the root window background tile randomly re-origined each interval
seconds. Otherwise, the screens' state do not change, and the screen saver is not
activated. The screen saver is deactivated, and all screen states are restored at the
next keyboard or pointer input or at the next call to XForceScreenSaver with mode
ScreenSaverReset.
If the server-dependent screen saver method supports periodic change, the interval
argument serves as a hint about how long the change period should be, and zero
hints that no periodic change should be made. Examples of ways to change the
screen include scrambling the colormap periodically, moving an icon image around
the screen periodically, or tiling the screen with the root window background tile,
randomly re-origined periodically.
XSetScreenSaver can generate a BadValue error.
To force the screen saver on or off, use XForceScreenSaver.
XForceScreenSaver( *display, mode);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
mode Specifies the mode that is to be applied. You can pass
ScreenSaverActive or ScreenSaverReset.
If the specified mode is ScreenSaverActive and the screen saver currently is deac-
tivated, XForceScreenSaver activates the screen saver even if the screen saver had
been disabled with a timeout of zero. If the specified mode is ScreenSaverReset and
the screen saver currently is enabled, XForceScreenSaver deactivates the screen
saver if it was activated, and the activation timer is reset to its initial state (as if
device input had been received).
XForceScreenSaver can generate a BadValue error.
To activate the screen saver, use XActivateScreenSaver.
XActivateScreenSaver( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
To reset the screen saver, use XResetScreenSaver.
XResetScreenSaver( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
To get the current screen saver values, use XGetScreenSaver.
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173
XGetScreenSaver( *display, *interval_return, *prefer_blanking_return,
*allow_exposures_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
timeout_return Returns the timeout, in seconds, until the screen
saver turns on.
interval_return Returns the interval between screen saver invoca-
tions.
prefer_blanking_return Returns the current screen blanking preference
(DontPreferBlanking, PreferBlanking, or Default-
Blanking).
allow_exposures_return Returns the current screen save control value (Don-
tAllowExposures, AllowExposures, or DefaultExpo-
sures).
Controlling Host Access
This section discusses how to:
Add, get, or remove hosts from the access control list
Change, enable, or disable access
X does not provide any protection on a per-window basis. If you find out the re-
source ID of a resource, you can manipulate it. To provide some minimal level of
protection, however, connections are permitted only from machines you trust. This
is adequate on single-user workstations but obviously breaks down on timesharing
machines. Although provisions exist in the X protocol for proper connection authen-
tication, the lack of a standard authentication server leaves host-level access con-
trol as the only common mechanism.
The initial set of hosts allowed to open connections typically consists of:
The host the window system is running on.
On POSIX-conformant systems, each host listed in the /etc/X?.hosts file. The ?
indicates the number of the display. This file should consist of host names sepa-
rated by newlines. DECnet nodes must terminate in :: to distinguish them from
Internet hosts.
If a host is not in the access control list when the access control mechanism is
enabled and if the host attempts to establish a connection, the server refuses the
connection. To change the access list, the client must reside on the same host as
the server and/or must have been granted permission in the initial authorization at
connection setup.
Servers also can implement other access control policies in addition to or in place
of this host access facility. For further information about other access control im-
plementations, see ``X Window System Protocol.''
Window and Session
Manager Functions
174
Adding, Getting, or Removing Hosts
Xlib provides functions that you can use to add, get, or remove hosts from the access
control list. All the host access control functions use the XHostAddress structure,
which contains:
typedef struct {
int family; /* for example FamilyInternet */
int length; /* length of address, in bytes */
char *address; /* pointer to where to find the address */
} XHostAddress;
The family member specifies which protocol address family to use (for example,
TCP/IP or DECnet) and can be FamilyInternet, FamilyInternet6, FamilyServerInter-
preted, FamilyDECnet, or FamilyChaos. The length member specifies the length of
the address in bytes. The address member specifies a pointer to the address.
For TCP/IP, the address should be in network byte order. For IP version 4 addresses,
the family should be FamilyInternet and the length should be 4 bytes. For IP version
6 addresses, the family should be FamilyInternet6 and the length should be 16 bytes.
For the DECnet family, the server performs no automatic swapping on the address
bytes. A Phase IV address is 2 bytes long. The first byte contains the least significant
8 bits of the node number. The second byte contains the most significant 2 bits of
the node number in the least significant 2 bits of the byte and the area in the most
significant 6 bits of the byte.
For the ServerInterpreted family, the length is ignored and the address member is
a pointer to a XServerInterpretedAddress structure, which contains:
typedef struct {
int typelength; /* length of type string, in bytes */
int valuelength; /* length of value string, in bytes */
char *type; /* pointer to where to find the type string */
char *value; /* pointer to where to find the address */
} XServerInterpretedAddress;
The type and value members point to strings representing the type and value of the
server interpreted entry. These strings may not be NULL-terminated so care should
be used when accessing them. The typelength and valuelength members specify the
length in byte of the type and value strings.
To add a single host, use XAddHost.
XAddHost( *display, *host);
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Manager Functions
175
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
host Specifies the host that is to be (Ho.
The XAddHost function adds the specified host to the access control list for that
display. The server must be on the same host as the client issuing the command,
or a BadAccess error results.
XAddHost can generate BadAccess and BadValue errors.
To add multiple hosts at one time, use XAddHosts.
XAddHosts( *display, *hosts, num_hosts);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
hosts Specifies each host that is to be (Ho.
num_hosts Specifies the number of hosts.
The XAddHosts function adds each specified host to the access control list for that
display. The server must be on the same host as the client issuing the command,
or a BadAccess error results.
XAddHosts can generate BadAccess and BadValue errors.
To obtain a host list, use XListHosts.
XHostAddress *XListHosts( *display, *nhosts_return, *state_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
nhosts_return Returns the number of hosts currently in the access
control list.
state_return Returns the state of the access control.
The XListHosts function returns the current access control list as well as whether
the use of the list at connection setup was enabled or disabled. XListHosts allows a
program to find out what machines can make connections. It also returns a pointer
to a list of host structures that were allocated by the function. When no longer
needed, this memory should be freed by calling XFree.
To remove a single host, use XRemoveHost.
XRemoveHost( *display, *host);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
host Specifies the host that is to be (Ho.
The XRemoveHost function removes the specified host from the access control list
for that display. The server must be on the same host as the client process, or a
BadAccess error results. If you remove your machine from the access list, you can
no longer connect to that server, and this operation cannot be reversed unless you
reset the server.
XRemoveHost can generate BadAccess and BadValue errors.
Window and Session
Manager Functions
176
To remove multiple hosts at one time, use XRemoveHosts.
XRemoveHosts( *display, *hosts, num_hosts);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
hosts Specifies each host that is to be (Ho.
num_hosts Specifies the number of hosts.
The XRemoveHosts function removes each specified host from the access control list
for that display. The X server must be on the same host as the client process, or a
BadAccess error results. If you remove your machine from the access list, you can
no longer connect to that server, and this operation cannot be reversed unless you
reset the server.
XRemoveHosts can generate BadAccess and BadValue errors.
Changing, Enabling, or Disabling Access Control
Xlib provides functions that you can use to enable, disable, or change access control.
For these functions to execute successfully, the client application must reside on
the same host as the X server and/or have been given permission in the initial au-
thorization at connection setup.
To change access control, use XSetAccessControl.
XSetAccessControl( *display, mode);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
mode Specifies the mode. You can pass EnableAccess or Dis-
ableAccess.
The XSetAccessControl function either enables or disables the use of the access
control list at each connection setup.
XSetAccessControl can generate BadAccess and BadValue errors.
To enable access control, use XEnableAccessControl.
XEnableAccessControl( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XEnableAccessControl function enables the use of the access control list at
each connection setup.
XEnableAccessControl can generate a BadAccess error.
To disable access control, use XDisableAccessControl.
XDisableAccessControl( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Window and Session
Manager Functions
177
The XDisableAccessControl function disables the use of the access control list at
each connection setup.
XDisableAccessControl can generate a BadAccess error.
178
Chapter 10. Events
A client application communicates with the X server through the connection you
establish with the XOpenDisplay function. A client application sends requests to
the X server over this con- nection. These requests are made by the Xlib functions
that are called in the client application. Many Xlib functions cause the X server to
generate events, and the users typing or moving the pointer can generate events
asynchronously. The X server returns events to the client on the same connection.
This chapter discusses the following topics associated with events:
Event types
Event structures
Event masks
Event processing
Functions for handling events are dealt with in the next chapter.
Event Types
An event is data generated asynchronously by the X server as a result of some
device activity or as side effects of a request sent by an Xlib function. Device-related
events propagate from the source window to ancestor windows until some client
application has selected that event type or until the event is explicitly discarded.
The X server generally sends an event to a client application only if the client has
specifically asked to be informed of that event type, typically by setting the event-
mask attribute of the window. The mask can also be set when you create a window
or by changing the window's event-mask. You can also mask out events that would
propagate to ancestor windows by manipulating the do-not-propagate mask of the
window's attributes. However, MappingNotify events are always sent to all clients.
An event type describes a specific event generated by the X server. For each event
type, a corresponding constant name is defined in <X11/X.h>, which is used when
referring to an event type. The following table lists the event category and its asso-
ciated event type or types. The processing associated with these events is discussed
in section 10.5.
Event Category Event Type
Keyboard events KeyPress, KeyRelease
Pointer events ButtonPress, Button-
Release, MotionNotify
Window crossing events EnterNotify, LeaveNotify
Input focus events FocusIn, FocusOut
Keymap state notification event KeymapNotify
Exposure events Expose, GraphicsExpose, NoExpose
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179
Event Category Event Type
Structure control events CirculateRequest, ConfigureRequest,
MapRequest, ResizeRequest
Window state notification events CirculateNotify, ConfigureNotify, Cre-
ateNotify, DestroyNotify, GravityNoti-
fy, MapNotify, MappingNotify, Repar-
entNotify, UnmapNotify, VisibilityNotify
Colormap state notification event ColormapNotify
Client communication events ClientMessage, PropertyNo-
tify, SelectionClear, Selec-
tionNotify, SelectionRequest
Event Structures
For each event type, a corresponding structure is declared in <X11/Xlib.h>. All
the event structures have the following common members:
typedef struct {
int type;
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window;
} XAnyEvent;
The type member is set to the event type constant name that uniquely identifies it.
For example, when the X server reports a GraphicsExpose event to a client appli-
cation, it sends an XGraphicsExposeEvent structure with the type member set to
GraphicsExpose. The display member is set to a pointer to the display the event was
read on. The send_event member is set to True if the event came from a SendEvent
protocol request. The serial member is set from the serial number reported in the
protocol but expanded from the 16-bit least-significant bits to a full 32-bit value.
The window member is set to the window that is most useful to toolkit dispatchers.
The X server can send events at any time in the input stream. Xlib stores any events
received while waiting for a reply in an event queue for later use. Xlib also provides
functions that allow you to check events in the event queue (see section 11.3).
In addition to the individual structures declared for each event type, the XEvent
structure is a union of the individual structures declared for each event type. De-
pending on the type, you should access members of each event by using the XEvent
union.
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180
typedef union _XEvent {
int type; /* must not be changed */
XAnyEvent xany;
XKeyEvent xkey;
XButtonEvent xbutton;
XMotionEvent xmotion;
XCrossingEvent xcrossing;
XFocusChangeEvent xfocus;
XExposeEvent xexpose;
XGraphicsExposeEvent xgraphicsexpose;
XNoExposeEvent xnoexpose;
XVisibilityEvent xvisibility;
XCreateWindowEvent xcreatewindow;
XDestroyWindowEvent xdestroywindow;
XUnmapEvent xunmap;
XMapEvent xmap;
XMapRequestEvent xmaprequest;
XReparentEvent xreparent;
XConfigureEvent xconfigure;
XGravityEvent xgravity;
XResizeRequestEvent xresizerequest;
XConfigureRequestEvent xconfigurerequest;
XCirculateEvent xcirculate;
XCirculateRequestEvent xcirculaterequest;
XPropertyEvent xproperty;
XSelectionClearEvent xselectionclear;
XSelectionRequestEvent xselectionrequest;
XSelectionEvent xselection;
XColormapEvent xcolormap;
XClientMessageEvent xclient;
XMappingEvent xmapping;
XErrorEvent xerror;
XKeymapEvent xkeymap;
long pad[24];
} XEvent;
An XEvent structure's first entry always is the type member, which is set to the
event type. The second member always is the serial number of the protocol request
that generated the event. The third member always is send_event, which is a Bool
that indicates if the event was sent by a different client. The fourth member always
is a display, which is the display that the event was read from. Except for keymap
events, the fifth member always is a window, which has been carefully selected to
be useful to toolkit dispatchers. To avoid breaking toolkits, the order of these first
five entries is not to change. Most events also contain a time member, which is the
time at which an event occurred. In addition, a pointer to the generic event must
be cast before it is used to access any other information in the structure.
Event Masks
Clients select event reporting of most events relative to a window. To do this, pass an
event mask to an Xlib event-handling function that takes an event_mask argument.
The bits of the event mask are defined in <X11/X.h>. Each bit in the event mask
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181
maps to an event mask name, which describes the event or events you want the X
server to return to a client application.
Unless the client has specifically asked for them, most events are not reported
to clients when they are generated. Unless the client suppresses them by setting
graphics-exposures in the GC to False, GraphicsExpose and NoExpose are report-
ed by default as a result of XCopyPlane and XCopyArea. SelectionClear, Selection-
Request, SelectionNotify, or ClientMessage cannot be masked. Selection-related
events are only sent to clients cooperating with selections (see section 4.5). When
the keyboard or pointer mapping is changed, MappingNotify is always sent to
clients.
The following table lists the event mask constants you can pass to the event_mask
argument and the circumstances in which you would want to specify the event mask:
Event Mask Circumstances
NoEventMask No events wanted
KeyPressMask Keyboard down events wanted
KeyReleaseMask Keyboard up events wanted
ButtonPressMask Pointer button down events wanted
ButtonReleaseMask Pointer button up events wanted
EnterWindowMask Pointer window entry events wanted
LeaveWindowMask Pointer window leave events wanted
PointerMotionMask Pointer motion events wanted
PointerMotionHintMask Pointer motion hints wanted
Button1MotionMask Pointer motion while button 1 down
Button2MotionMask Pointer motion while button 2 down
Button3MotionMask Pointer motion while button 3 down
Button4MotionMask Pointer motion while button 4 down
Button5MotionMask Pointer motion while button 5 down
ButtonMotionMask Pointer motion while any button down
KeymapStateMask Keyboard state wanted at
window entry and focus in
ExposureMask Any exposure wanted
VisibilityChangeMask Any change in visibility wanted
StructureNotifyMask Any change in window structure wanted
ResizeRedirectMask Redirect resize of this window
SubstructureNotifyMask Substructure notification wanted
SubstructureRedirectMask Redirect structure requests on children
FocusChangeMask Any change in input focus wanted
PropertyChangeMask Any change in property wanted
ColormapChangeMask Any change in colormap wanted
OwnerGrabButtonMask Automatic grabs should activate
with owner_events set to True
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182
Event Processing Overview
The event reported to a client application during event processing depends on which
event masks you provide as the event-mask attribute for a window. For some event
masks, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the event mask constant and
the event type constant. For example, if you pass the event mask ButtonPressMask,
the X server sends back only ButtonPress events. Most events contain a time mem-
ber, which is the time at which an event occurred.
In other cases, one event mask constant can map to several event type constants. For
example, if you pass the event mask SubstructureNotifyMask, the X server can send
back CirculateNotify, ConfigureNotify, CreateNotify, DestroyNotify, GravityNotify,
MapNotify, ReparentNotify, or UnmapNotify events.
In another case, two event masks can map to one event type. For example, if you
pass either PointerMotionMask or ButtonMotionMask, the X server sends back a
MotionNotify event.
The following table lists the event mask, its associated event type or types, and the
structure name associated with the event type. Some of these structures actually
are typedefs to a generic structure that is shared between two event types. Note
that N.A. appears in columns for which the information is not applicable.
Event Mask Event Type Structure Generic
Structure
ButtonMotionMask MotionNotify XPointer-
MovedEvent
XMotionEvent
Button1MotionMask
Button2MotionMask
Button3MotionMask
Button4MotionMask
Button5MotionMask
ButtonPressMask ButtonPress XButton-
PressedEvent
XButtonEvent
ButtonRe-
leaseMask
ButtonRelease XButtonRe-
leasedEvent
XButtonEvent
ColormapChange-
Mask
ColormapNotify XColormapEvent
EnterWindowMask EnterNotify XEnterWin-
dowEvent
XCrossingEvent
LeaveWindowMask LeaveNotify XLeaveWin-
dowEvent
XCrossingEvent
ExposureMask Expose XExposeEvent
GCGraphicsEx-
posures in GC
GraphicsExpose XGraphicsEx-
poseEvent
NoExpose XNoExposeEvent
FocusChangeMask FocusIn XFocusInEvent XFo-
cusChangeEvent
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183
Event Mask Event Type Structure Generic
Structure
FocusOut XFocusOutEvent XFo-
cusChangeEvent
KeymapStateMask KeymapNotify XKeymapEvent
KeyPressMask KeyPress XKeyPressedEvent XKeyEvent
KeyReleaseMask KeyRelease XKeyRe-
leasedEvent
XKeyEvent
OwnerGrab-
ButtonMask
N.A. N.A.
PointerMotionMask MotionNotify XPointer-
MovedEvent
XMotionEvent
PointerMo-
tionHintMask
N.A. N.A.
Property-
ChangeMask
PropertyNotify XPropertyEvent
ResizeRedi-
rectMask
ResizeRequest XResiz-
eRequestEvent
StructureNo-
tifyMask
CirculateNotify XCirculateEvent
ConfigureNotify XConfigureEvent
DestroyNotify XDestroyWin-
dowEvent
GravityNotify XGravityEvent
MapNotify XMapEvent
ReparentNotify XReparentEvent
UnmapNotify XUnmapEvent
Substruc-
tureNotifyMask
CirculateNotify XCirculateEvent
ConfigureNotify XConfigureEvent
CreateNotify XCreateWin-
dowEvent
DestroyNotify XDestroyWin-
dowEvent
GravityNotify XGravityEvent
MapNotify XMapEvent
ReparentNotify XReparentEvent
UnmapNotify XUnmapEvent
Substructur-
eRedirectMask
CirculateRequest XCircu-
lateRequestEvent
ConfigureRequest XConfigur-
eRequestEvent
MapRequest XMapRequestEvent
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184
Event Mask Event Type Structure Generic
Structure
N.A. ClientMessage XClientMes-
sageEvent
N.A. MappingNotify XMappingEvent
N.A. SelectionClear XSelection-
ClearEvent
N.A. SelectionNotify XSelectionEvent
N.A. SelectionRequest XSelectionRe-
questEvent
Visibility-
ChangeMask
VisibilityNotify XVisibilityEvent
_
The sections that follow describe the processing that occurs when you select the
different event masks. The sections are organized according to these processing
categories:
Keyboard and pointer events
Window crossing events
Input focus events
Keymap state notification events
Exposure events
Window state notification events
Structure control events
Colormap state notification events
Client communication events
Keyboard and Pointer Events
This section discusses:
Pointer button events
Keyboard and pointer events
Pointer Button Events
The following describes the event processing that occurs when a pointer button
press is processed with the pointer in some window w and when no active pointer
grab is in progress.
The X server searches the ancestors of w from the root down, looking for a passive
grab to activate. If no matching passive grab on the button exists, the X server
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185
automatically starts an active grab for the client receiving the event and sets the
last-pointer-grab time to the current server time. The effect is essentially equivalent
to an XGrabButton with these client passed arguments:
Argument Value
w The event window
event_mask The client's selected pointer
events on the event window
pointer_mode GrabModeAsync
keyboard_mode GrabModeAsync
owner_events True, if the client has selected
OwnerGrabButtonMask on the
event window, otherwise False
confine_to None
cursor None
The active grab is automatically terminated when the logical state of the pointer has
all buttons released. Clients can modify the active grab by calling XUngrabPointer
and XChangeActivePointerGrab.
Keyboard and Pointer Events
This section discusses the processing that occurs for the keyboard events Key-
Press and KeyRelease and the pointer events ButtonPress, ButtonRelease, and Mo-
tionNotify. For information about the keyboard event-handling utilities, see chapter
11.
The X server reports KeyPress or KeyRelease events to clients wanting information
about keys that logically change state. Note that these events are generated for
all keys, even those mapped to modifier bits. The X server reports ButtonPress
or ButtonRelease events to clients wanting information about buttons that logically
change state.
The X server reports MotionNotify events to clients wanting information about
when the pointer logically moves. The X server generates this event whenever the
pointer is moved and the pointer motion begins and ends in the window. The gran-
ularity of MotionNotify events is not guaranteed, but a client that selects this event
type is guaranteed to receive at least one event when the pointer moves and then
rests.
The generation of the logical changes lags the physical changes if device event
processing is frozen.
To receive KeyPress, KeyRelease, ButtonPress, and ButtonRelease events, set Key-
PressMask, KeyReleaseMask, ButtonPressMask, and ButtonReleaseMask bits in the
event-mask attribute of the window.
To receive MotionNotify events, set one or more of the following event masks bits
in the event-mask attribute of the window.
Button1MotionMask - Button5MotionMask
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186
The client application receives MotionNotify events only when one or more of the
specified buttons is pressed.
ButtonMotionMask
The client application receives MotionNotify events only when at least one button
is pressed.
PointerMotionMask
The client application receives MotionNotify events independent of the state of
the pointer buttons.
PointerMotionHintMask
If PointerMotionHintMask is selected in combination with one or more of the
above masks, the X server is free to send only one MotionNotify event (with the
is_hint member of the XPointerMovedEvent structure set to NotifyHint) to the
client for the event window, until either the key or button state changes, the point-
er leaves the event window, or the client calls XQueryPointer or XGetMotion-
Events. The server still may send MotionNotify events without is_hint set to No-
tifyHint.
The source of the event is the viewable window that the pointer is in. The window
used by the X server to report these events depends on the window's position in the
window hierarchy and whether any intervening window prohibits the generation of
these events. Starting with the source window, the X server searches up the window
hierarchy until it locates the first window specified by a client as having an interest
in these events. If one of the intervening windows has its do-not-propagate-mask set
to prohibit generation of the event type, the events of those types will be suppressed.
Clients can modify the actual window used for reporting by performing active grabs
and, in the case of keyboard events, by using the focus window.
The structures for these event types contain:
typedef struct {
int type; /* ButtonPress or ButtonRelease */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window; /* ``event'' window it is reported relative to */
Window root; /* root window that the event occurred on */
Window subwindow; /* child window */
Time time; /* milliseconds */
int x, y; /* pointer x, y coordinates in event window */
int x_root, y_root; /* coordinates relative to root */
unsigned int state; /* key or button mask */
unsigned int button; /* detail */
Bool same_screen; /* same screen flag */
} XButtonEvent;
typedef XButtonEvent XButtonPressedEvent;
typedef XButtonEvent XButtonReleasedEvent;
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187
typedef struct {
int type; /* KeyPress or KeyRelease */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window; /* ``event'' window it is reported relative to */
Window root; /* root window that the event occurred on */
Window subwindow; /* child window */
Time time; /* milliseconds */
int x, y; /* pointer x, y coordinates in event window */
int x_root, y_root; /* coordinates relative to root */
unsigned int state; /* key or button mask */
unsigned int keycode; /* detail */
Bool same_screen; /* same screen flag */
} XKeyEvent;
typedef XKeyEvent XKeyPressedEvent;
typedef XKeyEvent XKeyReleasedEvent;
typedef struct {
int type; /* MotionNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window; /* ``event'' window reported relative to */
Window root; /* root window that the event occurred on */
Window subwindow; /* child window */
Time time; /* milliseconds */
int x, y; /* pointer x, y coordinates in event window */
int x_root, y_root; /* coordinates relative to root */
unsigned int state; /* key or button mask */
char is_hint; /* detail */
Bool same_screen; /* same screen flag */
} XMotionEvent;
typedef XMotionEvent XPointerMovedEvent;
These structures have the following common members: window, root, subwindow,
time, x, y, x_root, y_root, state, and same_screen. The window member is set to the
window on which the event was generated and is referred to as the event window.
As long as the conditions previously discussed are met, this is the window used by
the X server to report the event. The root member is set to the source window's root
window. The x_root and y_root members are set to the pointer's coordinates relative
to the root window's origin at the time of the event.
The same_screen member is set to indicate whether the event window is on the
same screen as the root window and can be either True or False. If True, the event
and root windows are on the same screen. If False, the event and root windows are
not on the same screen.
If the source window is an inferior of the event window, the subwindow member of
the structure is set to the child of the event window that is the source window or
the child of the event window that is an ancestor of the source window. Otherwise,
the X server sets the subwindow member to None. The time member is set to the
time when the event was generated and is expressed in milliseconds.
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188
If the event window is on the same screen as the root window, the x and y members
are set to the coordinates relative to the event window's origin. Otherwise, these
members are set to zero.
The state member is set to indicate the logical state of the pointer buttons
and modifier keys just prior to the event, which is the bitwise inclusive OR of
one or more of the button or modifier key masks: Button1Mask, Button2Mask,
Button3Mask, Button4Mask, Button5Mask, ShiftMask, LockMask, ControlMask,
Mod1Mask, Mod2Mask, Mod3Mask, Mod4Mask, and Mod5Mask.
Each of these structures also has a member that indicates the detail. For the XKey-
PressedEvent and XKeyReleasedEvent structures, this member is called a keycode.
It is set to a number that represents a physical key on the keyboard. The keycode is
an arbitrary representation for any key on the keyboard (see sections 12.7 and 16.1).
For the XButtonPressedEvent and XButtonReleasedEvent structures, this member
is called button. It represents the pointer button that changed state and can be the
Button1, Button2, Button3, Button4, or Button5 value. For the XPointerMovedEvent
structure, this member is called is_hint. It can be set to NotifyNormal or NotifyHint.
Some of the symbols mentioned in this section have fixed values, as follows:
Symbol Value
Button1MotionMask (1L<<8)
Button2MotionMask (1L<<9)
Button3MotionMask (1L<<10)
Button4MotionMask (1L<<11)
Button5MotionMask (1L<<12)
Button1Mask (1<<8)
Button2Mask (1<<9)
Button3Mask (1<<10)
Button4Mask (1<<11)
Button5Mask (1<<12)
ShiftMask (1<<0)
LockMask (1<<1)
ControlMask (1<<2)
Mod1Mask (1<<3)
Mod2Mask (1<<4)
Mod3Mask (1<<5)
Mod4Mask (1<<6)
Mod5Mask (1<<7)
Button1 1
Button2 2
Button3 3
Button4 4
Button5 5
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189
Window Entry/Exit Events
This section describes the processing that occurs for the window crossing events
EnterNotify and LeaveNotify. If a pointer motion or a window hierarchy change
causes the pointer to be in a different window than before, the X server reports
EnterNotify or LeaveNotify events to clients who have selected for these events. All
EnterNotify and LeaveNotify events caused by a hierarchy change are generated
after any hierarchy event (UnmapNotify, MapNotify, ConfigureNotify, GravityNotify,
CirculateNotify) caused by that change; however, the X protocol does not constrain
the ordering of EnterNotify and LeaveNotify events with respect to FocusOut, Vis-
ibilityNotify, and Expose events.
This contrasts with MotionNotify events, which are also generated when the pointer
moves but only when the pointer motion begins and ends in a single window. An
EnterNotify or LeaveNotify event also can be generated when some client applica-
tion calls XGrabPointer and XUngrabPointer.
To receive EnterNotify or LeaveNotify events, set the EnterWindowMask or
LeaveWindowMask bits of the event-mask attribute of the window.
The structure for these event types contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* EnterNotify or LeaveNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window; /* ``event'' window reported relative to */
Window root; /* root window that the event occurred on */
Window subwindow; /* child window */
Time time; /* milliseconds */
int x, y; /* pointer x, y coordinates in event window */
int x_root, y_root; /* coordinates relative to root */
int mode; /* NotifyNormal, NotifyGrab, NotifyUngrab */
int detail;
/*
* NotifyAncestor, NotifyVirtual, NotifyInferior,
* NotifyNonlinear,NotifyNonlinearVirtual
*/
Bool same_screen; /* same screen flag */
Bool focus; /* boolean focus */
unsigned int state; /* key or button mask */
} XCrossingEvent;
typedef XCrossingEvent XEnterWindowEvent;
typedef XCrossingEvent XLeaveWindowEvent;
The window member is set to the window on which the EnterNotify or LeaveNotify
event was generated and is referred to as the event window. This is the window
used by the X server to report the event, and is relative to the root window on which
the event occurred. The root member is set to the root window of the screen on
which the event occurred.
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For a LeaveNotify event, if a child of the event window contains the initial position of
the pointer, the subwindow component is set to that child. Otherwise, the X server
sets the subwindow member to None. For an EnterNotify event, if a child of the
event window contains the final pointer position, the subwindow component is set
to that child or None.
The time member is set to the time when the event was generated and is expressed
in milliseconds. The x and y members are set to the coordinates of the pointer posi-
tion in the event window. This position is always the pointer's final position, not its
initial position. If the event window is on the same screen as the root window, x and
y are the pointer coordinates relative to the event window's origin. Otherwise, x and
y are set to zero. The x_root and y_root members are set to the pointer's coordinates
relative to the root window's origin at the time of the event.
The same_screen member is set to indicate whether the event window is on the
same screen as the root window and can be either True or False. If True, the event
and root windows are on the same screen. If False, the event and root windows are
not on the same screen.
The focus member is set to indicate whether the event window is the focus window
or an inferior of the focus window. The X server can set this member to either True
or False. If True, the event window is the focus window or an inferior of the focus
window. If False, the event window is not the focus window or an inferior of the
focus window.
The state member is set to indicate the state of the pointer buttons and modifi-
er keys just prior to the event. The X server can set this member to the bitwise
inclusive OR of one or more of the button or modifier key masks: Button1Mask,
Button2Mask, Button3Mask, Button4Mask, Button5Mask, ShiftMask, LockMask,
ControlMask, Mod1Mask, Mod2Mask, Mod3Mask, Mod4Mask, Mod5Mask.
The mode member is set to indicate whether the events are normal events, pseu-
do-motion events when a grab activates, or pseudo-motion events when a grab de-
activates. The X server can set this member to NotifyNormal, NotifyGrab, or Noti-
fyUngrab.
The detail member is set to indicate the notify detail and can be NotifyAncestor,
NotifyVirtual, NotifyInferior, NotifyNonlinear, or NotifyNonlinearVirtual.
Normal Entry/Exit Events
EnterNotify and LeaveNotify events are generated when the pointer moves from one
window to another window. Normal events are identified by XEnterWindowEvent
or XLeaveWindowEvent structures whose mode member is set to NotifyNormal.
When the pointer moves from window A to window B and A is an inferior of B,
the X server does the following:
It generates a LeaveNotify event on window A, with the detail member of the
XLeaveWindowEvent structure set to NotifyAncestor.
It generates a LeaveNotify event on each window between window A and window
B, exclusive, with the detail member of each XLeaveWindowEvent structure set
to NotifyVirtual.
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It generates an EnterNotify event on window B, with the detail member of the
XEnterWindowEvent structure set to NotifyInferior.
When the pointer moves from window A to window B and B is an inferior of A,
the X server does the following:
It generates a LeaveNotify event on window A, with the detail member of the
XLeaveWindowEvent structure set to NotifyInferior.
It generates an EnterNotify event on each window between window A and window
B, exclusive, with the detail member of each XEnterWindowEvent structure set
to NotifyVirtual.
It generates an EnterNotify event on window B, with the detail member of the
XEnterWindowEvent structure set to NotifyAncestor.
When the pointer moves from window A to window B and window C is their least
common ancestor, the X server does the following:
It generates a LeaveNotify event on window A, with the detail member of the
XLeaveWindowEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinear.
It generates a LeaveNotify event on each window between window A and window
C, exclusive, with the detail member of each XLeaveWindowEvent structure set
to NotifyNonlinearVirtual.
It generates an EnterNotify event on each window between window C and window
B, exclusive, with the detail member of each XEnterWindowEvent structure set
to NotifyNonlinearVirtual.
It generates an EnterNotify event on window B, with the detail member of the
XEnterWindowEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinear.
When the pointer moves from window A to window B on different screens, the X
server does the following:
It generates a LeaveNotify event on window A, with the detail member of the
XLeaveWindowEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinear.
If window A is not a root window, it generates a LeaveNotify event on each window
above window A up to and including its root, with the detail member of each
XLeaveWindowEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinearVirtual.
If window B is not a root window, it generates an EnterNotify event on each win-
dow from window B's root down to but not including window B, with the detail
member of each XEnterWindowEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinearVirtual.
It generates an EnterNotify event on window B, with the detail member of the
XEnterWindowEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinear.
Grab and Ungrab Entry/Exit Events
Pseudo-motion mode EnterNotify and LeaveNotify events are generated when a
pointer grab activates or deactivates. Events in which the pointer grab activates are
identified by XEnterWindowEvent or XLeaveWindowEvent structures whose mode
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member is set to NotifyGrab. Events in which the pointer grab deactivates are iden-
tified by XEnterWindowEvent or XLeaveWindowEvent structures whose mode mem-
ber is set to NotifyUngrab (see XGrabPointer).
When a pointer grab activates after any initial warp into a confine_to window and
before generating any actual ButtonPress event that activates the grab, G is the
grab_window for the grab, and P is the window the pointer is in, the X server does
the following:
It generates EnterNotify and LeaveNotify events (see section 10.6.1) with the
mode members of the XEnterWindowEvent and XLeaveWindowEvent structures
set to NotifyGrab. These events are generated as if the pointer were to suddenly
warp from its current position in P to some position in G. However, the pointer
does not warp, and the X server uses the pointer position as both the initial and
final positions for the events.
When a pointer grab deactivates after generating any actual ButtonRelease event
that deactivates the grab, G is the grab_window for the grab, and P is the window
the pointer is in, the X server does the following:
It generates EnterNotify and LeaveNotify events (see section 10.6.1) with the
mode members of the XEnterWindowEvent and XLeaveWindowEvent structures
set to NotifyUngrab. These events are generated as if the pointer were to suddenly
warp from some position in G to its current position in P. However, the pointer
does not warp, and the X server uses the current pointer position as both the
initial and final positions for the events.
Input Focus Events
This section describes the processing that occurs for the input focus events FocusIn
and FocusOut. The X server can report FocusIn or FocusOut events to clients
wanting information about when the input focus changes. The keyboard is always
attached to some window (typically, the root window or a top-level window), which is
called the focus window. The focus window and the position of the pointer determine
the window that receives keyboard input. Clients may need to know when the input
focus changes to control highlighting of areas on the screen.
To receive FocusIn or FocusOut events, set the FocusChangeMask bit in the event-
mask attribute of the window.
The structure for these event types contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* FocusIn or FocusOut */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window; /* window of event */
int mode; /* NotifyNormal, NotifyGrab, NotifyUngrab */
int detail;
/*
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193
* NotifyAncestor, NotifyVirtual, NotifyInferior,
* NotifyNonlinear,NotifyNonlinearVirtual, NotifyPointer,
* NotifyPointerRoot, NotifyDetailNone
*/
} XFocusChangeEvent;
typedef XFocusChangeEvent XFocusInEvent;
typedef XFocusChangeEvent XFocusOutEvent;
The window member is set to the window on which the FocusIn or FocusOut event
was generated. This is the window used by the X server to report the event. The
mode member is set to indicate whether the focus events are normal focus events,
focus events while grabbed, focus events when a grab activates, or focus events
when a grab deactivates. The X server can set the mode member to NotifyNormal,
NotifyWhileGrabbed, NotifyGrab, or NotifyUngrab.
All FocusOut events caused by a window unmap are generated after any Unmap-
Notify event; however, the X protocol does not constrain the ordering of FocusOut
events with respect to generated EnterNotify, LeaveNotify, VisibilityNotify, and Ex-
pose events.
Depending on the event mode, the detail member is set to indicate the notify de-
tail and can be NotifyAncestor, NotifyVirtual, NotifyInferior, NotifyNonlinear, Noti-
fyNonlinearVirtual, NotifyPointer, NotifyPointerRoot, or NotifyDetailNone.
Normal Focus Events and Focus Events While Grabbed
Normal focus events are identified by XFocusInEvent or XFocusOutEvent structures
whose mode member is set to NotifyNormal. Focus events while grabbed are identi-
fied by XFocusInEvent or XFocusOutEvent structures whose mode member is set to
NotifyWhileGrabbed. The X server processes normal focus and focus events while
grabbed according to the following:
When the focus moves from window A to window B, A is an inferior of B, and the
pointer is in window P, the X server does the following:
It generates a FocusOut event on window A, with the detail member of the XFo-
cusOutEvent structure set to NotifyAncestor.
It generates a FocusOut event on each window between window A and window
B, exclusive, with the detail member of each XFocusOutEvent structure set to
NotifyVirtual.
It generates a FocusIn event on window B, with the detail member of the XFocu-
sOutEvent structure set to NotifyInferior.
If window P is an inferior of window B but window P is not window A or an inferi-
or or ancestor of window A, it generates a FocusIn event on each window below
window B, down to and including window P, with the detail member of each XFo-
cusInEvent structure set to NotifyPointer.
When the focus moves from window A to window B, B is an inferior of A, and the
pointer is in window P, the X server does the following:
If window P is an inferior of window A but P is not an inferior of window B or an
ancestor of B, it generates a FocusOut event on each window from window P up
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to but not including window A, with the detail member of each XFocusOutEvent
structure set to NotifyPointer.
It generates a FocusOut event on window A, with the detail member of the XFo-
cusOutEvent structure set to NotifyInferior.
It generates a FocusIn event on each window between window A and window B,
exclusive, with the detail member of each XFocusInEvent structure set to Noti-
fyVirtual.
It generates a FocusIn event on window B, with the detail member of the XFo-
cusInEvent structure set to NotifyAncestor.
When the focus moves from window A to window B, window C is their least com-
mon ancestor, and the pointer is in window P, the X server does the following:
If window P is an inferior of window A, it generates a FocusOut event on each
window from window P up to but not including window A, with the detail member
of the XFocusOutEvent structure set to NotifyPointer.
It generates a FocusOut event on window A, with the detail member of the XFo-
cusOutEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinear.
It generates a FocusOut event on each window between window A and window
C, exclusive, with the detail member of each XFocusOutEvent structure set to
NotifyNonlinearVirtual.
It generates a FocusIn event on each window between C and B, exclusive, with the
detail member of each XFocusInEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinearVirtual.
It generates a FocusIn event on window B, with the detail member of the XFo-
cusInEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinear.
If window P is an inferior of window B, it generates a FocusIn event on each
window below window B down to and including window P, with the detail member
of the XFocusInEvent structure set to NotifyPointer.
When the focus moves from window A to window B on different screens and the
pointer is in window P, the X server does the following:
If window P is an inferior of window A, it generates a FocusOut event on each
window from window P up to but not including window A, with the detail member
of each XFocusOutEvent structure set to NotifyPointer.
It generates a FocusOut event on window A, with the detail member of the XFo-
cusOutEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinear.
If window A is not a root window, it generates a FocusOut event on each window
above window A up to and including its root, with the detail member of each
XFocusOutEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinearVirtual.
If window B is not a root window, it generates a FocusIn event on each window
from window B's root down to but not including window B, with the detail member
of each XFocusInEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinearVirtual.
It generates a FocusIn event on window B, with the detail member of each XFo-
cusInEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinear.
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195
If window P is an inferior of window B, it generates a FocusIn event on each
window below window B down to and including window P, with the detail member
of each XFocusInEvent structure set to NotifyPointer.
When the focus moves from window A to PointerRoot (events sent to the window
under the pointer) or None (discard), and the pointer is in window P, the X server
does the following:
If window P is an inferior of window A, it generates a FocusOut event on each
window from window P up to but not including window A, with the detail member
of each XFocusOutEvent structure set to NotifyPointer.
It generates a FocusOut event on window A, with the detail member of the XFo-
cusOutEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinear.
If window A is not a root window, it generates a FocusOut event on each window
above window A up to and including its root, with the detail member of each
XFocusOutEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinearVirtual.
It generates a FocusIn event on the root window of all screens, with the detail
member of each XFocusInEvent structure set to NotifyPointerRoot (or NotifyDe-
tailNone).
If the new focus is PointerRoot, it generates a FocusIn event on each window from
window P's root down to and including window P, with the detail member of each
XFocusInEvent structure set to NotifyPointer.
When the focus moves from PointerRoot (events sent to the window under the
pointer) or None to window A, and the pointer is in window P, the X server does
the following:
If the old focus is PointerRoot, it generates a FocusOut event on each window
from window P up to and including window P's root, with the detail member of
each XFocusOutEvent structure set to NotifyPointer.
It generates a FocusOut event on all root windows, with the detail member of each
XFocusOutEvent structure set to NotifyPointerRoot (or NotifyDetailNone).
If window A is not a root window, it generates a FocusIn event on each window
from window A's root down to but not including window A, with the detail member
of each XFocusInEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinearVirtual.
It generates a FocusIn event on window A, with the detail member of the XFo-
cusInEvent structure set to NotifyNonlinear.
If window P is an inferior of window A, it generates a FocusIn event on each
window below window A down to and including window P, with the detail member
of each XFocusInEvent structure set to NotifyPointer.
When the focus moves from PointerRoot (events sent to the window under the
pointer) to None (or vice versa), and the pointer is in window P, the X server does
the following:
If the old focus is PointerRoot, it generates a FocusOut event on each window
from window P up to and including window P's root, with the detail member of
each XFocusOutEvent structure set to NotifyPointer.
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It generates a FocusOut event on all root windows, with the detail member of each
XFocusOutEvent structure set to either NotifyPointerRoot or NotifyDetailNone.
It generates a FocusIn event on all root windows, with the detail member of each
XFocusInEvent structure set to NotifyDetailNone or NotifyPointerRoot.
If the new focus is PointerRoot, it generates a FocusIn event on each window from
window P's root down to and including window P, with the detail member of each
XFocusInEvent structure set to NotifyPointer.
Focus Events Generated by Grabs
Focus events in which the keyboard grab activates are identified by XFocusInEvent
or XFocusOutEvent structures whose mode member is set to NotifyGrab. Focus
events in which the keyboard grab deactivates are identified by XFocusInEvent
or XFocusOutEvent structures whose mode member is set to NotifyUngrab (see
XGrabKeyboard).
When a keyboard grab activates before generating any actual KeyPress event that
activates the grab, G is the grab_window, and F is the current focus, the X server
does the following:
It generates FocusIn and FocusOut events, with the mode members of the XFo-
cusInEvent and XFocusOutEvent structures set to NotifyGrab. These events are
generated as if the focus were to change from F to G.
When a keyboard grab deactivates after generating any actual KeyRelease event
that deactivates the grab, G is the grab_window, and F is the current focus, the
X server does the following:
It generates FocusIn and FocusOut events, with the mode members of the XFo-
cusInEvent and XFocusOutEvent structures set to NotifyUngrab. These events
are generated as if the focus were to change from G to F.
Key Map State Notification Events
The X server can report KeymapNotify events to clients that want information
about changes in their keyboard state.
To receive KeymapNotify events, set the KeymapStateMask bit in the event-mask
attribute of the window. The X server generates this event immediately after every
EnterNotify and FocusIn event.
The structure for this event type contains:
/* generated on EnterWindow and FocusIn when KeymapState selected */
typedef struct {
int type; /* KeymapNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
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197
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window;
char key_vector[32];
} XKeymapEvent;
The window member is not used but is present to aid some toolkits. The key_vector
member is set to the bit vector of the keyboard. Each bit set to 1 indicates that the
corresponding key is currently pressed. The vector is represented as 32 bytes. Byte
N (from 0) contains the bits for keys 8N to 8N + 7 with the least significant bit in
the byte representing key 8N.
Exposure Events
The X protocol does not guarantee to preserve the contents of window regions when
the windows are obscured or reconfigured. Some implementations may preserve
the contents of windows. Other implementations are free to destroy the contents of
windows when exposed. X expects client applications to assume the responsibility
for restoring the contents of an exposed window region. (An exposed window region
describes a formerly obscured window whose region becomes visible.) Therefore,
the X server sends Expose events describing the window and the region of the win-
dow that has been exposed. A naive client application usually redraws the entire
window. A more sophisticated client application redraws only the exposed region.
Expose Events
The X server can report Expose events to clients wanting information about when
the contents of window regions have been lost. The circumstances in which the X
server generates Expose events are not as definite as those for other events. How-
ever, the X server never generates Expose events on windows whose class you spec-
ified as InputOnly. The X server can generate Expose events when no valid contents
are available for regions of a window and either the regions are visible, the regions
are viewable and the server is (perhaps newly) maintaining backing store on the
window, or the window is not viewable but the server is (perhaps newly) honoring
the window's backing-store attribute of Always or WhenMapped. The regions de-
compose into an (arbitrary) set of rectangles, and an Expose event is generated for
each rectangle. For any given window, the X server guarantees to report contigu-
ously all of the regions exposed by some action that causes Expose events, such as
raising a window.
To receive Expose events, set the ExposureMask bit in the event-mask attribute of
the window.
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* Expose */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
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198
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window;
int x, y;
int width, height;
int count; /* if nonzero, at least this many more */
} XExposeEvent;
The window member is set to the exposed (damaged) window. The x and y members
are set to the coordinates relative to the window's origin and indicate the upper-left
corner of the rectangle. The width and height members are set to the size (extent)
of the rectangle. The count member is set to the number of Expose events that are
to follow. If count is zero, no more Expose events follow for this window. However, if
count is nonzero, at least that number of Expose events (and possibly more) follow
for this window. Simple applications that do not want to optimize redisplay by dis-
tinguishing between subareas of its window can just ignore all Expose events with
nonzero counts and perform full redisplays on events with zero counts.
GraphicsExpose and NoExpose Events
The X server can report GraphicsExpose events to clients wanting information
about when a destination region could not be computed during certain graphics
requests: XCopyArea or XCopyPlane. The X server generates this event whenever a
destination region could not be computed because of an obscured or out-of-bounds
source region. In addition, the X server guarantees to report contiguously all of
the regions exposed by some graphics request (for example, copying an area of a
drawable to a destination drawable).
The X server generates a NoExpose event whenever a graphics request that might
produce a GraphicsExpose event does not produce any. In other words, the client is
really asking for a GraphicsExpose event but instead receives a NoExpose event.
To receive GraphicsExpose or NoExpose events, you must first set the graphics-ex-
posure attribute of the graphics context to True. You also can set the graphics-ex-
pose attribute when creating a graphics context using XCreateGC or by calling XSet-
GraphicsExposures.
The structures for these event types contain:
typedef struct {
int type; /* GraphicsExpose */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Drawable drawable;
int x, y;
int width, height;
int count; /* if nonzero, at least this many more */
int major_code; /* core is CopyArea or CopyPlane */
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199
int minor_code; /* not defined in the core */
} XGraphicsExposeEvent;
typedef struct {
int type; /* NoExpose */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Drawable drawable;
int major_code; /* core is CopyArea or CopyPlane */
int minor_code; /* not defined in the core */
} XNoExposeEvent;
Both structures have these common members: drawable, major_code, and
minor_code. The drawable member is set to the drawable of the destination region
on which the graphics request was to be performed. The major_code member is
set to the graphics request initiated by the client and can be either X_CopyArea
or X_CopyPlane. If it is X_CopyArea, a call to XCopyArea initiated the request. If
it is X_CopyPlane, a call to XCopyPlane initiated the request. These constants are
defined in <X11/Xproto.h>. The minor_code member, like the major_code mem-
ber, indicates which graphics request was initiated by the client. However, the
minor_code member is not defined by the core X protocol and will be zero in these
cases, although it may be used by an extension.
The XGraphicsExposeEvent structure has these additional members: x, y, width,
height, and count. The x and y members are set to the coordinates relative to the
drawable's origin and indicate the upper-left corner of the rectangle. The width and
height members are set to the size (extent) of the rectangle. The count member
is set to the number of GraphicsExpose events to follow. If count is zero, no more
GraphicsExpose events follow for this window. However, if count is nonzero, at least
that number of GraphicsExpose events (and possibly more) are to follow for this
window.
Window State Change Events
The following sections discuss:
CirculateNotify events
ConfigureNotify events
CreateNotify events
DestroyNotify events
GravityNotify events
MapNotify events
MappingNotify events
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200
ReparentNotify events
UnmapNotify events
VisibilityNotify events
CirculateNotify Events
The X server can report CirculateNotify events to clients wanting information about
when a window changes its position in the stack. The X server generates this event
type whenever a window is actually restacked as a result of a client application
calling XCirculateSubwindows, XCirculateSubwindowsUp, or XCirculateSubwin-
dowsDown.
To receive CirculateNotify events, set the StructureNotifyMask bit in the event-
mask attribute of the window or the SubstructureNotifyMask bit in the event-mask
attribute of the parent window (in which case, circulating any child generates an
event).
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* CirculateNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window event;
Window window;
int place; /* PlaceOnTop, PlaceOnBottom */
} XCirculateEvent;
The event member is set either to the restacked window or to its parent, depending
on whether StructureNotify or SubstructureNotify was selected. The window
member is set to the window that was restacked. The place member is set to the
window's position after the restack occurs and is either PlaceOnTop or PlaceOnBot-
tom. If it is PlaceOnTop, the window is now on top of all siblings. If it is PlaceOn-
Bottom, the window is now below all siblings.
ConfigureNotify Events
The X server can report ConfigureNotify events to clients wanting information
about actual changes to a window's state, such as size, position, border, and stack-
ing order. The X server generates this event type whenever one of the following
configure window requests made by a client application actually completes:
A window's size, position, border, and/or stacking order is reconfigured by calling
XConfigureWindow.
The window's position in the stacking order is changed by calling XLowerWindow,
XRaiseWindow, or XRestackWindows.
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201
A window is moved by calling XMoveWindow.
A window's size is changed by calling XResizeWindow.
A window's size and location is changed by calling XMoveResizeWindow.
A window is mapped and its position in the stacking order is changed by calling
XMapRaised.
A window's border width is changed by calling XSetWindowBorderWidth.
To receive ConfigureNotify events, set the StructureNotifyMask bit in the event-
mask attribute of the window or the SubstructureNotifyMask bit in the event-mask
attribute of the parent window (in which case, configuring any child generates an
event).
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* ConfigureNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window event;
Window window;
int x, y;
int width, height;
int border_width;
Window above;
Bool override_redirect;
} XConfigureEvent;
The event member is set either to the reconfigured window or to its parent, de-
pending on whether StructureNotify or SubstructureNotify was selected. The
window member is set to the window whose size, position, border, and/or stacking
order was changed.
The x and y members are set to the coordinates relative to the parent window's
origin and indicate the position of the upper-left outside corner of the window. The
width and height members are set to the inside size of the window, not including
the border. The border_width member is set to the width of the window's border,
in pixels.
The above member is set to the sibling window and is used for stacking operations.
If the X server sets this member to None, the window whose state was changed is
on the bottom of the stack with respect to sibling windows. However, if this member
is set to a sibling window, the window whose state was changed is placed on top
of this sibling window.
The override_redirect member is set to the override-redirect attribute of the
window. Window manager clients normally should ignore this window if the
override_redirect member is True.
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202
CreateNotify Events
The X server can report CreateNotify events to clients wanting information about
creation of windows. The X server generates this event whenever a client applica-
tion creates a window by calling XCreateWindow or XCreateSimpleWindow.
To receive CreateNotify events, set the SubstructureNotifyMask bit in the event-
mask attribute of the window. Creating any children then generates an event.
The structure for the event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* CreateNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window parent; /* parent of the window */
Window window; /* window id of window created */
int x, y; /* window location */
int width, height; /* size of window */
int border_width; /* border width */
Bool override_redirect; /* creation should be overridden */
} XCreateWindowEvent;
The parent member is set to the created window's parent. The window member
specifies the created window. The x and y members are set to the created window's
coordinates relative to the parent window's origin and indicate the position of the
upper-left outside corner of the created window. The width and height members are
set to the inside size of the created window (not including the border) and are al-
ways nonzero. The border_width member is set to the width of the created window's
border, in pixels. The override_redirect member is set to the override-redirect at-
tribute of the window. Window manager clients normally should ignore this window
if the override_redirect member is True.
DestroyNotify Events
The X server can report DestroyNotify events to clients wanting information about
which windows are destroyed. The X server generates this event whenever a client
application destroys a window by calling XDestroyWindow or XDestroySubwindows.
The ordering of the DestroyNotify events is such that for any given window, De-
stroyNotify is generated on all inferiors of the window before being generated on
the window itself. The X protocol does not constrain the ordering among siblings
and across subhierarchies.
To receive DestroyNotify events, set the StructureNotifyMask bit in the event-mask
attribute of the window or the SubstructureNotifyMask bit in the event-mask at-
tribute of the parent window (in which case, destroying any child generates an
event).
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The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* DestroyNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window event;
Window window;
} XDestroyWindowEvent;
The event member is set either to the destroyed window or to its parent, depending
on whether StructureNotify or SubstructureNotify was selected. The window
member is set to the window that is destroyed.
GravityNotify Events
The X server can report GravityNotify events to clients wanting information about
when a window is moved because of a change in the size of its parent. The X server
generates this event whenever a client application actually moves a child window
as a result of resizing its parent by calling XConfigureWindow, XMoveResizeWindow,
or XResizeWindow.
To receive GravityNotify events, set the StructureNotifyMask bit in the event-mask
attribute of the window or the SubstructureNotifyMask bit in the event-mask at-
tribute of the parent window (in which case, any child that is moved because its
parent has been resized generates an event).
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* GravityNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window event;
Window window;
int x, y;
} XGravityEvent;
The event member is set either to the window that was moved or to its parent,
depending on whether StructureNotify or SubstructureNotify was selected. The
window member is set to the child window that was moved. The x and y members
are set to the coordinates relative to the new parent window's origin and indicate
the position of the upper-left outside corner of the window.
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MapNotify Events
The X server can report MapNotify events to clients wanting information about
which windows are mapped. The X server generates this event type whenever a
client application changes the window's state from unmapped to mapped by calling
XMapWindow, XMapRaised, XMapSubwindows, XReparentWindow, or as a result of save-
set processing.
To receive MapNotify events, set the StructureNotifyMask bit in the event-mask at-
tribute of the window or the SubstructureNotifyMask bit in the event-mask attribute
of the parent window (in which case, mapping any child generates an event).
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* MapNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window event;
Window window;
Bool override_redirect; /* boolean, is override set... */
} XMapEvent;
The event member is set either to the window that was mapped or to its parent,
depending on whether StructureNotify or SubstructureNotify was selected. The
window member is set to the window that was mapped. The override_redirect mem-
ber is set to the override-redirect attribute of the window. Window manager clients
normally should ignore this window if the override-redirect attribute is True, be-
cause these events usually are generated from pop-ups, which override structure
control.
MappingNotify Events
The X server reports MappingNotify events to all clients. There is no mechanism to
express disinterest in this event. The X server generates this event type whenever
a client application successfully calls:
XSetModifierMapping to indicate which KeyCodes are to be used as modifiers
XChangeKeyboardMapping to change the keyboard mapping
XSetPointerMapping to set the pointer mapping
The structure for this event type contains:
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205
typedef struct {
int type; /* MappingNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window; /* unused */
int request; /* one of MappingModifier, MappingKeyboard,
MappingPointer */
int first_keycode; /* first keycode */
int count; /* defines range of change w. first_keycode*/
} XMappingEvent;
The request member is set to indicate the kind of mapping change that occurred
and can be MappingModifier, MappingKeyboard, or MappingPointer. If it is Map-
pingModifier, the modifier mapping was changed. If it is MappingKeyboard, the
keyboard mapping was changed. If it is MappingPointer, the pointer button map-
ping was changed. The first_keycode and count members are set only if the request
member was set to MappingKeyboard. The number in first_keycode represents the
first number in the range of the altered mapping, and count represents the number
of keycodes altered.
To update the client application's knowledge of the keyboard, you should call XRe-
freshKeyboardMapping.
ReparentNotify Events
The X server can report ReparentNotify events to clients wanting information about
changing a window's parent. The X server generates this event whenever a client
application calls XReparentWindow and the window is actually reparented.
To receive ReparentNotify events, set the StructureNotifyMask bit in the event-
mask attribute of the window or the SubstructureNotifyMask bit in the event-mask
attribute of either the old or the new parent window (in which case, reparenting
any child generates an event).
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* ReparentNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window event;
Window window;
Window parent;
int x, y;
Bool override_redirect;
} XReparentEvent;
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The event member is set either to the reparented window or to the old or the new
parent, depending on whether StructureNotify or SubstructureNotify was se-
lected. The window member is set to the window that was reparented. The parent
member is set to the new parent window. The x and y members are set to the re-
parented window's coordinates relative to the new parent window's origin and de-
fine the upper-left outer corner of the reparented window. The override_redirect
member is set to the override-redirect attribute of the window specified by the win-
dow member. Window manager clients normally should ignore this window if the
override_redirect member is True.
UnmapNotify Events
The X server can report UnmapNotify events to clients wanting information about
which windows are unmapped. The X server generates this event type whenever a
client application changes the window's state from mapped to unmapped.
To receive UnmapNotify events, set the StructureNotifyMask bit in the event-mask
attribute of the window or the SubstructureNotifyMask bit in the event-mask at-
tribute of the parent window (in which case, unmapping any child window gener-
ates an event).
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* UnmapNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window event;
Window window;
Bool from_configure;
} XUnmapEvent;
The event member is set either to the unmapped window or to its parent, depend-
ing on whether StructureNotify or SubstructureNotify was selected. This is the
window used by the X server to report the event. The window member is set to the
window that was unmapped. The from_configure member is set to True if the event
was generated as a result of a resizing of the window's parent when the window
itself had a win_gravity of UnmapGravity.
VisibilityNotify Events
The X server can report VisibilityNotify events to clients wanting any change in the
visibility of the specified window. A region of a window is visible if someone looking
at the screen can actually see it. The X server generates this event whenever the
visibility changes state. However, this event is never generated for windows whose
class is InputOnly.
All VisibilityNotify events caused by a hierarchy change are generated after any
hierarchy event (UnmapNotify, MapNotify, ConfigureNotify, GravityNotify, Circu-
Events
207
lateNotify) caused by that change. Any VisibilityNotify event on a given window is
generated before any Expose events on that window, but it is not required that all
VisibilityNotify events on all windows be generated before all Expose events on all
windows. The X protocol does not constrain the ordering of VisibilityNotify events
with respect to FocusOut, EnterNotify, and LeaveNotify events.
To receive VisibilityNotify events, set the VisibilityChangeMask bit in the event-
mask attribute of the window.
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* VisibilityNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window;
int state;
} XVisibilityEvent;
The window member is set to the window whose visibility state changes. The state
member is set to the state of the window's visibility and can be VisibilityUnobscured,
VisibilityPartiallyObscured, or VisibilityFullyObscured. The X server ignores all of
a window's subwindows when determining the visibility state of the window and
processes VisibilityNotify events according to the following:
When the window changes state from partially obscured, fully obscured, or not
viewable to viewable and completely unobscured, the X server generates the
event with the state member of the XVisibilityEvent structure set to Visibili-
tyUnobscured.
When the window changes state from viewable and completely unobscured or not
viewable to viewable and partially obscured, the X server generates the event
with the state member of the XVisibilityEvent structure set to VisibilityPartially-
Obscured.
When the window changes state from viewable and completely unobscured, view-
able and partially obscured, or not viewable to viewable and fully obscured, the
X server generates the event with the state member of the XVisibilityEvent struc-
ture set to VisibilityFullyObscured.
Structure Control Events
This section discusses:
CirculateRequest events
ConfigureRequest events
MapRequest events
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208
ResizeRequest events
CirculateRequest Events
The X server can report CirculateRequest events to clients wanting information
about when another client initiates a circulate window request on a specified win-
dow. The X server generates this event type whenever a client initiates a circulate
window request on a window and a subwindow actually needs to be restacked. The
client initiates a circulate window request on the window by calling XCirculateSub-
windows, XCirculateSubwindowsUp, or XCirculateSubwindowsDown.
To receive CirculateRequest events, set the SubstructureRedirectMask in the event-
mask attribute of the window. Then, in the future, the circulate window request
for the specified window is not executed, and thus, any subwindow's position in
the stack is not changed. For example, suppose a client application calls XCircu-
lateSubwindowsUp to raise a subwindow to the top of the stack. If you had select-
ed SubstructureRedirectMask on the window, the X server reports to you a Circu-
lateRequest event and does not raise the subwindow to the top of the stack.
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* CirculateRequest */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window parent;
Window window;
int place; /* PlaceOnTop, PlaceOnBottom */
} XCirculateRequestEvent;
The parent member is set to the parent window. The window member is set to the
subwindow to be restacked. The place member is set to what the new position in
the stacking order should be and is either PlaceOnTop or PlaceOnBottom. If it is
PlaceOnTop, the subwindow should be on top of all siblings. If it is PlaceOnBottom,
the subwindow should be below all siblings.
ConfigureRequest Events
The X server can report ConfigureRequest events to clients wanting information
about when a different client initiates a configure window request on any child
of a specified window. The configure window request attempts to reconfigure a
window's size, position, border, and stacking order. The X server generates this
event whenever a different client initiates a configure window request on a window
by calling XConfigureWindow, XLowerWindow, XRaiseWindow, XMapRaised, XMoveRe-
sizeWindow, XMoveWindow, XResizeWindow, XRestackWindows, or XSetWindowBor-
derWidth.
To receive ConfigureRequest events, set the SubstructureRedirectMask bit in the
event-mask attribute of the window. ConfigureRequest events are generated when
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209
a ConfigureWindow protocol request is issued on a child window by another client.
For example, suppose a client application calls XLowerWindow to lower a window. If
you had selected SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent window and if the over-
ride-redirect attribute of the window is set to False, the X server reports a Config-
ureRequest event to you and does not lower the specified window.
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* ConfigureRequest */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window parent;
Window window;
int x, y;
int width, height;
int border_width;
Window above;
int detail; /* Above, Below, TopIf, BottomIf, Opposite */
unsigned long value_mask;
} XConfigureRequestEvent;
The parent member is set to the parent window. The window member is set to the
window whose size, position, border width, and/or stacking order is to be reconfig-
ured. The value_mask member indicates which components were specified in the
ConfigureWindow protocol request. The corresponding values are reported as giv-
en in the request. The remaining values are filled in from the current geometry of
the window, except in the case of above (sibling) and detail (stack-mode), which are
reported as None and Above, respectively, if they are not given in the request.
MapRequest Events
The X server can report MapRequest events to clients wanting information about
a different client's desire to map windows. A window is considered mapped when
a map window request completes. The X server generates this event whenever a
different client initiates a map window request on an unmapped window whose
override_redirect member is set to False. Clients initiate map window requests by
calling XMapWindow, XMapRaised, or XMapSubwindows.
To receive MapRequest events, set the SubstructureRedirectMask bit in the event-
mask attribute of the window. This means another client's attempts to map a child
window by calling one of the map window request functions is intercepted, and
you are sent a MapRequest instead. For example, suppose a client application calls
XMapWindow to map a window. If you (usually a window manager) had selected Sub-
structureRedirectMask on the parent window and if the override-redirect attribute
of the window is set to False, the X server reports a MapRequest event to you and
does not map the specified window. Thus, this event gives your window manager
client the ability to control the placement of subwindows.
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210
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* MapRequest */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window parent;
Window window;
} XMapRequestEvent;
The parent member is set to the parent window. The window member is set to the
window to be mapped.
ResizeRequest Events
The X server can report ResizeRequest events to clients wanting information about
another client's attempts to change the size of a window. The X server generates
this event whenever some other client attempts to change the size of the specified
window by calling XConfigureWindow, XResizeWindow, or XMoveResizeWindow.
To receive ResizeRequest events, set the ResizeRedirect bit in the event-mask at-
tribute of the window. Any attempts to change the size by other clients are then
redirected.
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* ResizeRequest */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window;
int width, height;
} XResizeRequestEvent;
The window member is set to the window whose size another client attempted to
change. The width and height members are set to the inside size of the window,
excluding the border.
Colormap State Change Events
The X server can report ColormapNotify events to clients wanting information
about when the colormap changes and when a colormap is installed or uninstalled.
The X server generates this event type whenever a client application:
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211
Changes the colormap member of the XSetWindowAttributes structure by calling
XChangeWindowAttributes, XFreeColormap, or XSetWindowColormap
Installs or uninstalls the colormap by calling XInstallColormap or XUninstall-
Colormap
To receive ColormapNotify events, set the ColormapChangeMask bit in the event-
mask attribute of the window.
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* ColormapNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window;
Colormap colormap; /* colormap or None */
Bool new;
int state; /* ColormapInstalled, ColormapUninstalled */
} XColormapEvent;
The window member is set to the window whose associated colormap is changed,
installed, or uninstalled. For a colormap that is changed, installed, or uninstalled,
the colormap member is set to the colormap associated with the window. For a col-
ormap that is changed by a call to XFreeColormap, the colormap member is set to
None. The new member is set to indicate whether the colormap for the specified
window was changed or installed or uninstalled and can be True or False. If it is
True, the colormap was changed. If it is False, the colormap was installed or unin-
stalled. The state member is always set to indicate whether the colormap is installed
or uninstalled and can be ColormapInstalled or ColormapUninstalled.
Client Communication Events
This section discusses:
ClientMessage events
PropertyNotify events
SelectionClear events
SelectionNotify events
SelectionRequest events
ClientMessage Events
The X server generates ClientMessage events only when a client calls the function
XSendEvent.
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212
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* ClientMessage */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window;
Atom message_type;
int format;
union {
char b[20];
short s[10];
long l[5];
} data;
} XClientMessageEvent;
The message_type member is set to an atom that indicates how the data should
be interpreted by the receiving client. The format member is set to 8, 16, or 32
and specifies whether the data should be viewed as a list of bytes, shorts, or longs.
The data member is a union that contains the members b, s, and l. The b, s, and
l members represent data of twenty 8-bit values, ten 16-bit values, and five 32-
bit values. Particular message types might not make use of all these values. The X
server places no interpretation on the values in the window, message_type, or data
members.
PropertyNotify Events
The X server can report PropertyNotify events to clients wanting information about
property changes for a specified window.
To receive PropertyNotify events, set the PropertyChangeMask bit in the event-
mask attribute of the window.
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* PropertyNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window;
Atom atom;
Time time;
int state; /* PropertyNewValue or PropertyDelete */
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213
} XPropertyEvent;
The window member is set to the window whose associated property was changed.
The atom member is set to the property's atom and indicates which property was
changed or desired. The time member is set to the server time when the prop-
erty was changed. The state member is set to indicate whether the property was
changed to a new value or deleted and can be PropertyNewValue or PropertyDelete.
The state member is set to PropertyNewValue when a property of the window is
changed using XChangeProperty or XRotateWindowProperties (even when adding
zero-length data using XChangeProperty) and when replacing all or part of a prop-
erty with identical data using XChangeProperty or XRotateWindowProperties. The
state member is set to PropertyDelete when a property of the window is deleted
using XDeleteProperty or, if the delete argument is True, XGetWindowProperty.
SelectionClear Events
The X server reports SelectionClear events to the client losing ownership of a se-
lection. The X server generates this event type when another client asserts owner-
ship of the selection by calling XSetSelectionOwner.
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* SelectionClear */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window window;
Atom selection;
Time time;
} XSelectionClearEvent;
The selection member is set to the selection atom. The time member is set to the
last change time recorded for the selection. The window member is the window that
was specified by the current owner (the owner losing the selection) in its XSetS-
electionOwner call.
SelectionRequest Events
The X server reports SelectionRequest events to the owner of a selection. The X
server generates this event whenever a client requests a selection conversion by
calling XConvertSelection for the owned selection.
The structure for this event type contains:
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214
typedef struct {
int type; /* SelectionRequest */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window owner;
Window requestor;
Atom selection;
Atom target;
Atom property;
Time time;
} XSelectionRequestEvent;
The owner member is set to the window that was specified by the current owner in
its XSetSelectionOwner call. The requestor member is set to the window requesting
the selection. The selection member is set to the atom that names the selection. For
example, PRIMARY is used to indicate the primary selection. The target member
is set to the atom that indicates the type the selection is desired in. The property
member can be a property name or None. The time member is set to the timestamp
or CurrentTime value from the ConvertSelection request.
The owner should convert the selection based on the specified target type and send
a SelectionNotify event back to the requestor. A complete specification for using
selections is given in the X Consortium standard Inter-Client Communication Con-
ventions Manual.
SelectionNotify Events
This event is generated by the X server in response to a ConvertSelection protocol
request when there is no owner for the selection. When there is an owner, it should
be generated by the owner of the selection by using XSendEvent. The owner of a
selection should send this event to a requestor when a selection has been converted
and stored as a property or when a selection conversion could not be performed
(which is indicated by setting the property member to None).
If None is specified as the property in the ConvertSelection protocol request, the
owner should choose a property name, store the result as that property on the re-
questor window, and then send a SelectionNotify giving that actual property name.
The structure for this event type contains:
typedef struct {
int type; /* SelectionNotify */
unsigned long serial; /* # of last request processed by server */
Bool send_event; /* true if this came from a SendEvent request */
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
Window requestor;
Atom selection;
Atom target;
Atom property; /* atom or None */
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215
Time time;
} XSelectionEvent;
The requestor member is set to the window associated with the requestor of the
selection. The selection member is set to the atom that indicates the selection. For
example, PRIMARY is used for the primary selection. The target member is set to the
atom that indicates the converted type. For example, PIXMAP is used for a pixmap.
The property member is set to the atom that indicates which property the result
was stored on. If the conversion failed, the property member is set to None. The
time member is set to the time the conversion took place and can be a timestamp
or CurrentTime.
216
Chapter 11. Event Handling Functions
This chapter discusses the Xlib functions you can use to:
Select events
Handle the output buffer and the event queue
Select events from the event queue
Send and get events
Handle protocol errors
Note
Some toolkits use their own event-handling functions and do not allow you
to interchange these event-handling functions with those in Xlib. For further
information, see the documentation supplied with the toolkit.
Most applications simply are event loops: they wait for an event, decide what to
do with it, execute some amount of code that results in changes to the display, and
then wait for the next event.
Selecting Events
There are two ways to select the events you want reported to your client application.
One way is to set the event_mask member of the XSetWindowAttributes structure
when you call XCreateWindow and XChangeWindowAttributes. Another way is to
use XSelectInput.
XSelectInput( *display, w, event_mask);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
event_mask Specifies the event mask.
The XSelectInput function requests that the X server report the events associat-
ed with the specified event mask. Initially, X will not report any of these events.
Events are reported relative to a window. If a window is not interested in a device
event, it usually propagates to the closest ancestor that is interested, unless the
do_not_propagate mask prohibits it.
Setting the event-mask attribute of a window overrides any previous call for the
same window but not for other clients. Multiple clients can select for the same
events on the same window with the following restrictions:
Multiple clients can select events on the same window because their event masks
are disjoint. When the X server generates an event, it reports it to all interested
clients.
Event Handling Functions
217
Only one client at a time can select CirculateRequest, ConfigureRequest, or
MapRequest events, which are associated with the event mask SubstructureRedi-
rectMask.
Only one client at a time can select a ResizeRequest event, which is associated
with the event mask ResizeRedirectMask.
Only one client at a time can select a ButtonPress event, which is associated with
the event mask ButtonPressMask.
The server reports the event to all interested clients.
XSelectInput can generate a BadWindow error.
Handling the Output Buffer
The output buffer is an area used by Xlib to store requests. The functions described
in this section flush the output buffer if the function would block or not return an
event. That is, all requests residing in the output buffer that have not yet been sent
are transmitted to the X server. These functions differ in the additional tasks they
might perform.
To flush the output buffer, use XFlush.
XFlush( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XFlush function flushes the output buffer. Most client applications need not use
this function because the output buffer is automatically flushed as needed by calls
to XPending, XNextEvent, and XWindowEvent. Events generated by the server may
be enqueued into the library's event queue.
To flush the output buffer and then wait until all requests have been processed, use
XSync.
XSync( *display, discard);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
discard Specifies a Boolean value that indicates whether XSync dis-
cards all events on the event queue.
The XSync function flushes the output buffer and then waits until all requests have
been received and processed by the X server. Any errors generated must be handled
by the error handler. For each protocol error received by Xlib, XSync calls the client
application's error handling routine (see section 11.8.2). Any events generated by
the server are enqueued into the library's event queue.
Finally, if you passed False, XSync does not discard the events in the queue. If you
passed True, XSync discards all events in the queue, including those events that
were on the queue before XSync was called. Client applications seldom need to call
XSync.
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218
Event Queue Management
Xlib maintains an event queue. However, the operating system also may be buffering
data in its network connection that is not yet read into the event queue.
To check the number of events in the event queue, use XEventsQueued.
int XEventsQueued( *display, mode);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
mode Specifies the mode. You can pass QueuedAlready,
QueuedAfterFlush, or QueuedAfterReading.
If mode is QueuedAlready, XEventsQueued returns the number of events already in
the event queue (and never performs a system call). If mode is QueuedAfterFlush,
XEventsQueued returns the number of events already in the queue if the number
is nonzero. If there are no events in the queue, XEventsQueued flushes the output
buffer, attempts to read more events out of the application's connection, and returns
the number read. If mode is QueuedAfterReading, XEventsQueued returns the num-
ber of events already in the queue if the number is nonzero. If there are no events
in the queue, XEventsQueued attempts to read more events out of the application's
connection without flushing the output buffer and returns the number read.
XEventsQueued always returns immediately without I/O if there are events already
in the queue. XEventsQueued with mode QueuedAfterFlush is identical in behavior
to XPending. XEventsQueued with mode QueuedAlready is identical to the XQLength
function.
To return the number of events that are pending, use XPending.
int XPending( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XPending function returns the number of events that have been received from
the X server but have not been removed from the event queue. XPending is identical
to XEventsQueued with the mode QueuedAfterFlush specified.
Manipulating the Event Queue
Xlib provides functions that let you manipulate the event queue. This section dis-
cusses how to:
Obtain events, in order, and remove them from the queue
Peek at events in the queue without removing them
Obtain events that match the event mask or the arbitrary predicate procedures
that you provide
Returning the Next Event
To get the next event and remove it from the queue, use XNextEvent.
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219
XNextEvent( *display, *event_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event_return Returns the next event in the queue.
The XNextEvent function copies the first event from the event queue into the spec-
ified XEvent structure and then removes it from the queue. If the event queue is
empty, XNextEvent flushes the output buffer and blocks until an event is received.
To peek at the event queue, use XPeekEvent.
XPeekEvent( *display, *event_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event_return Returns a copy of the matched event's associated
structure.
The XPeekEvent function returns the first event from the event queue, but it does
not remove the event from the queue. If the queue is empty, XPeekEvent flushes the
output buffer and blocks until an event is received. It then copies the event into the
client-supplied XEvent structure without removing it from the event queue.
Selecting Events Using a Predicate Procedure
Each of the functions discussed in this section requires you to pass a predicate
procedure that determines if an event matches what you want. Your predicate pro-
cedure must decide if the event is useful without calling any Xlib functions. If the
predicate directly or indirectly causes the state of the event queue to change, the
result is not defined. If Xlib has been initialized for threads, the predicate is called
with the display locked and the result of a call by the predicate to any Xlib function
that locks the display is not defined unless the caller has first called XLockDisplay.
The predicate procedure and its associated arguments are:
Bool( *display, *event, arg);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event Specifies the XEvent structure.
arg Specifies the argument passed in from the XIfEvent,
XCheckIfEvent, or XPeekIfEvent function.
The predicate procedure is called once for each event in the queue until it finds a
match. After finding a match, the predicate procedure must return True. If it did
not find a match, it must return False.
To check the event queue for a matching event and, if found, remove the event from
the queue, use XIfEvent.
XIfEvent( *display, *event_return, (*predicate)(), arg);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
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220
event_return Returns the matched event's associated structure.
predicate Specifies the procedure that is to be called to deter-
mine if the next event in the queue matches what you
want.
arg Specifies the user-supplied argument that will be
passed to the predicate procedure.
The XIfEvent function completes only when the specified predicate procedure re-
turns True for an event, which indicates an event in the queue matches. XIfEvent
flushes the output buffer if it blocks waiting for additional events. XIfEvent removes
the matching event from the queue and copies the structure into the client-supplied
XEvent structure.
To check the event queue for a matching event without blocking, use XCheck-
IfEvent.
Bool XCheckIfEvent( *display, *event_return, (*predicate)(), arg);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event_return Returns a copy of the matched event's associated
structure.
predicate Specifies the procedure that is to be called to deter-
mine if the next event in the queue matches what you
want.
arg Specifies the user-supplied argument that will be
passed to the predicate procedure.
When the predicate procedure finds a match, XCheckIfEvent copies the matched
event into the client-supplied XEvent structure and returns True. (This event is re-
moved from the queue.) If the predicate procedure finds no match, XCheckIfEvent
returns False, and the output buffer will have been flushed. All earlier events stored
in the queue are not discarded.
To check the event queue for a matching event without removing the event from
the queue, use XPeekIfEvent.
XPeekIfEvent( *display, *event_return, (*predicate)(), arg);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event_return Returns a copy of the matched event's associated
structure.
predicate Specifies the procedure that is to be called to deter-
mine if the next event in the queue matches what you
want.
arg Specifies the user-supplied argument that will be
passed to the predicate procedure.
The XPeekIfEvent function returns only when the specified predicate procedure re-
turns True for an event. After the predicate procedure finds a match, XPeekIfEvent
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221
copies the matched event into the client-supplied XEvent structure without remov-
ing the event from the queue. XPeekIfEvent flushes the output buffer if it blocks
waiting for additional events.
Selecting Events Using a Window or Event Mask
The functions discussed in this section let you select events by window or event
types, allowing you to process events out of order.
To remove the next event that matches both a window and an event mask, use XWin-
dowEvent.
XWindowEvent( *display, w, event_mask, *event_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
event_mask Specifies the event mask.
event_return Returns the matched event's associated structure.
The XWindowEvent function searches the event queue for an event that matches
both the specified window and event mask. When it finds a match, XWindowEvent
removes that event from the queue and copies it into the specified XEvent structure.
The other events stored in the queue are not discarded. If a matching event is not in
the queue, XWindowEvent flushes the output buffer and blocks until one is received.
To remove the next event that matches both a window and an event mask (if any),
use XCheckWindowEvent. This function is similar to XWindowEvent except that it
never blocks and it returns a Bool indicating if the event was returned.
Bool XCheckWindowEvent( *display, w, event_mask, *event_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
event_mask Specifies the event mask.
event_return Returns the matched event's associated structure.
The XCheckWindowEvent function searches the event queue and then the events
available on the server connection for the first event that matches the specified
window and event mask. If it finds a match, XCheckWindowEvent removes that event,
copies it into the specified XEvent structure, and returns True. The other events
stored in the queue are not discarded. If the event you requested is not available,
XCheckWindowEvent returns False, and the output buffer will have been flushed.
To remove the next event that matches an event mask, use XMaskEvent.
XMaskEvent( *display, event_mask, *event_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event_mask Specifies the event mask.
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222
event_return Returns the matched event's associated structure.
The XMaskEvent function searches the event queue for the events associated with
the specified mask. When it finds a match, XMaskEvent removes that event and
copies it into the specified XEvent structure. The other events stored in the queue
are not discarded. If the event you requested is not in the queue, XMaskEvent flushes
the output buffer and blocks until one is received.
To return and remove the next event that matches an event mask (if any), use
XCheckMaskEvent. This function is similar to XMaskEvent except that it never blocks
and it returns a Bool indicating if the event was returned.
Bool XCheckMaskEvent( *display, event_mask, *event_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event_mask Specifies the event mask.
event_return Returns the matched event's associated structure.
The XCheckMaskEvent function searches the event queue and then any events avail-
able on the server connection for the first event that matches the specified mask.
If it finds a match, XCheckMaskEvent removes that event, copies it into the speci-
fied XEvent structure, and returns True. The other events stored in the queue are
not discarded. If the event you requested is not available, XCheckMaskEvent returns
False, and the output buffer will have been flushed.
To return and remove the next event in the queue that matches an event type, use
XCheckTypedEvent.
Bool XCheckTypedEvent( *display, event_type, *event_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event_type Specifies the event type to be compared.
event_return Returns the matched event's associated structure.
The XCheckTypedEvent function searches the event queue and then any events
available on the server connection for the first event that matches the specified
type. If it finds a match, XCheckTypedEvent removes that event, copies it into the
specified XEvent structure, and returns True. The other events in the queue are not
discarded. If the event is not available, XCheckTypedEvent returns False, and the
output buffer will have been flushed.
To return and remove the next event in the queue that matches an event type and
a window, use XCheckTypedWindowEvent.
Bool XCheckTypedWindowEvent( *display, w, event_type, *event_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
event_type Specifies the event type to be compared.
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223
event_return Returns the matched event's associated structure.
The XCheckTypedWindowEvent function searches the event queue and then any
events available on the server connection for the first event that matches the spec-
ified type and window. If it finds a match, XCheckTypedWindowEvent removes the
event from the queue, copies it into the specified XEvent structure, and returns
True. The other events in the queue are not discarded. If the event is not avail-
able, XCheckTypedWindowEvent returns False, and the output buffer will have been
flushed.
Putting an Event Back into the Queue
To push an event back into the event queue, use XPutBackEvent.
XPutBackEvent( *display, *event);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event Specifies the event.
The XPutBackEvent function pushes an event back onto the head of the display's
event queue by copying the event into the queue. This can be useful if you read an
event and then decide that you would rather deal with it later. There is no limit to
the number of times in succession that you can call XPutBackEvent.
Sending Events to Other Applications
To send an event to a specified window, use XSendEvent. This function is often used
in selection processing. For example, the owner of a selection should use XSendE-
vent to send a SelectionNotify event to a requestor when a selection has been con-
verted and stored as a property.
Status XSendEvent( *display, w, propagate, event_mask, *event_send);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window the event is to be sent to, or Point-
erWindow, or InputFocus.
propagate Specifies a Boolean value.
event_mask Specifies the event mask.
event_send Specifies the event that is to be sent.
The XSendEvent function identifies the destination window, determines which
clients should receive the specified events, and ignores any active grabs. This func-
tion requires you to pass an event mask. For a discussion of the valid event mask
names, see section 10.3. This function uses the w argument to identify the destina-
tion window as follows:
If w is PointerWindow, the destination window is the window that contains the
pointer.
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224
If w is InputFocus and if the focus window contains the pointer, the destination
window is the window that contains the pointer; otherwise, the destination win-
dow is the focus window.
To determine which clients should receive the specified events, XSendEvent uses
the propagate argument as follows:
If event_mask is the empty set, the event is sent to the client that created the
destination window. If that client no longer exists, no event is sent.
If propagate is False, the event is sent to every client selecting on destination any
of the event types in the event_mask argument.
If propagate is True and no clients have selected on destination any of the event
types in event-mask, the destination is replaced with the closest ancestor of des-
tination for which some client has selected a type in event-mask and for which no
intervening window has that type in its do-not-propagate-mask. If no such window
exists or if the window is an ancestor of the focus window and InputFocus was
originally specified as the destination, the event is not sent to any clients. Other-
wise, the event is reported to every client selecting on the final destination any
of the types specified in event_mask.
The event in the XEvent structure must be one of the core events or one of the
events defined by an extension (or a BadValue error results) so that the X server
can correctly byte-swap the contents as necessary. The contents of the event are
otherwise unaltered and unchecked by the X server except to force send_event to
True in the forwarded event and to set the serial number in the event correctly;
therefore these fields and the display field are ignored by XSendEvent.
XSendEvent returns zero if the conversion to wire protocol format failed and returns
nonzero otherwise.
XSendEvent can generate BadValue and BadWindow errors.
Getting Pointer Motion History
Some X server implementations will maintain a more complete history of pointer
motion than is reported by event notification. The pointer position at each pointer
hardware interrupt may be stored in a buffer for later retrieval. This buffer is called
the motion history buffer. For example, a few applications, such as paint programs,
want to have a precise history of where the pointer traveled. However, this historical
information is highly excessive for most applications.
To determine the approximate maximum number of elements in the motion buffer,
use XDisplayMotionBufferSize.
unsigned long( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The server may retain the recent history of the pointer motion and do so to a finer
granularity than is reported by MotionNotify events. The XGetMotionEvents func-
tion makes this history available.
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225
To get the motion history for a specified window and time, use XGetMotionEvents.
XTimeCoord *XGetMotionEvents( *display, w, stop, *nevents_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
start
stop Specify the time interval in which the events are re-
turned from the motion history buffer. You can pass
a timestamp or CurrentTime.
nevents_return Returns the number of events from the motion histo-
ry buffer.
The XGetMotionEvents function returns all events in the motion history buffer that
fall between the specified start and stop times, inclusive, and that have coordinates
that lie within the specified window (including its borders) at its present placement.
If the server does not support motion history, if the start time is later than the stop
time, or if the start time is in the future, no events are returned; XGetMotionEvents
returns NULL. If the stop time is in the future, it is equivalent to specifying Cur-
rentTime. The return type for this function is a structure defined as follows:
typedef struct {
Time time;
short x, y;
} XTimeCoord;
The time member is set to the time, in milliseconds. The x and y members are set to
the coordinates of the pointer and are reported relative to the origin of the specified
window. To free the data returned from this call, use XFree.
XGetMotionEvents can generate a BadWindow error.
Handling Protocol Errors
Xlib provides functions that you can use to enable or disable synchronization and
to use the default error handlers.
Enabling or Disabling Synchronization
When debugging X applications, it often is very convenient to require Xlib to behave
synchronously so that errors are reported as they occur. The following function lets
you disable or enable synchronous behavior. Note that graphics may occur 30 or
more times more slowly when synchronization is enabled. On POSIX-conformant
systems, there is also a global variable _Xdebug that, if set to nonzero before starting
a program under a debugger, will force synchronous library behavior.
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226
After completing their work, all Xlib functions that generate protocol requests call
what is known as an after function. XSetAfterFunction sets which function is to
be called.
int( *display, (*procedure)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
procedure Specifies the procedure to be called.
The specified procedure is called with only a display pointer. XSetAfterFunction
returns the previous after function.
To enable or disable synchronization, use XSynchronize.
int( *display, onoff);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
onoff Specifies a Boolean value that indicates whether to enable
or disable synchronization.
The XSynchronize function returns the previous after function. If onoff is True,
XSynchronize turns on synchronous behavior. If onoff is False, XSynchronize turns
off synchronous behavior.
Using the Default Error Handlers
There are two default error handlers in Xlib: one to handle typically fatal conditions
(for example, the connection to a display server dying because a machine crashed)
and one to handle protocol errors from the X server. These error handlers can be
changed to user-supplied routines if you prefer your own error handling and can
be changed as often as you like. If either function is passed a NULL pointer, it
will reinvoke the default handler. The action of the default handlers is to print an
explanatory message and exit.
To set the error handler, use XSetErrorHandler.
int *XSetErrorHandler( *handler);
handler Specifies the program's supplied error handler.
Xlib generally calls the program's supplied error handler whenever an error is re-
ceived. It is not called on BadName errors from OpenFont, LookupColor, or Alloc-
NamedColor protocol requests or on BadFont errors from a QueryFont protocol re-
quest. These errors generally are reflected back to the program through the proce-
dural interface. Because this condition is not assumed to be fatal, it is acceptable
for your error handler to return; the returned value is ignored. However, the error
handler should not call any functions (directly or indirectly) on the display that will
generate protocol requests or that will look for input events. The previous error
handler is returned.
The XErrorEvent structure contains:
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227
typedef struct {
int type;
Display *display; /* Display the event was read from */
unsigned long serial; /* serial number of failed request */
unsigned char error_code; /* error code of failed request */
unsigned char request_code; /* Major op-code of failed request */
unsigned char minor_code; /* Minor op-code of failed request */
XID resourceid; /* resource id */
} XErrorEvent;
The serial member is the number of requests, starting from one, sent over the net-
work connection since it was opened. It is the number that was the value of NextRe-
quest immediately before the failing call was made. The request_code member is a
protocol request of the procedure that failed, as defined in < X11/Xproto.h .> The
following error codes can be returned by the functions described in this chapter:
Error Code Description
BadAccess A client attempts to grab a key/
button combination already
grabbed by another client.
A client attempts to free a colormap
entry that it had not already allocated
or to free an entry in a colormap that
was created with all entries writable.
A client attempts to store into a read-
only or unallocated colormap entry.
A client attempts to modify the ac-
cess control list from other than the
local (or otherwise authorized) host.
A client attempts to select an event type
that another client has already selected.
BadAlloc The server fails to allocate the request-
ed resource. Note that the explicit list-
ing of BadAlloc errors in requests only
covers allocation errors at a very coarse
level and is not intended to (nor can
it in practice hope to) cover all cases
of a server running out of allocation
space in the middle of service. The se-
mantics when a server runs out of allo-
cation space are left unspecified, but
a server may generate a BadAlloc er-
ror on any request for this reason, and
clients should be prepared to receive
such errors and handle or discard them.
BadAtom A value for an atom argument
does not name a defined atom.
BadColor A value for a colormap argument
does not name a defined colormap.
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228
Error Code Description
BadCursor A value for a cursor argument
does not name a defined cursor.
BadDrawable A value for a drawable argument does
not name a defined window or pixmap.
BadFont A value for a font argument
does not name a defined font
(or, in some cases, GContext).
BadGC A value for a GContext argument
does not name a defined GContext.
BadIDChoice The value chosen for a resource iden-
tifier either is not included in the
range assigned to the client or is al-
ready in use. Under normal circum-
stances, this cannot occur and should
be considered a server or Xlib error.
BadImplementation The server does not implement some as-
pect of the request. A server that gen-
erates this error for a core request is
deficient. As such, this error is not list-
ed for any of the requests, but clients
should be prepared to receive such
errors and handle or discard them.
BadLength The length of a request is short-
er or longer than that required
to contain the arguments. This is
an internal Xlib or server error.
The length of a request ex-
ceeds the maximum length
accepted by the server.
BadMatch In a graphics request, the root and
depth of the graphics context do
not match those of the drawable.
An InputOnly window
is used as a drawable.
Some argument or pair of argu-
ments has the correct type and
range, but it fails to match in some
other way required by the request.
An InputOnly window
lacks this attribute.
BadName A font or color of the spec-
ified name does not exist.
BadPixmap A value for a pixmap argument
does not name a defined pixmap.
BadRequest The major or minor opcode does
not specify a valid request. This
usually is an Xlib or server error.
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229
Error Code Description
BadValue Some numeric value falls outside of
the range of values accepted by the re-
quest. Unless a specific range is spec-
ified for an argument, the full range
defined by the argument's type is ac-
cepted. Any argument defined as a
set of alternatives typically can gener-
ate this error (due to the encoding).
BadWindow A value for a window argument
does not name a defined window.
Note
The BadAtom, BadColor, BadCursor, BadDrawable, BadFont, BadGC, Bad-
Pixmap, and BadWindow errors are also used when the argument type is
extended by a set of fixed alternatives.
To obtain textual descriptions of the specified error code, use XGetErrorText.
XGetErrorText( *display, code, *buffer_return, length);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
code Specifies the error code for which you want to obtain
a description.
buffer_return Returns the error description.
length Specifies the size of the buffer.
The XGetErrorText function copies a null-terminated string describing the speci-
fied error code into the specified buffer. The returned text is in the encoding of
the current locale. It is recommended that you use this function to obtain an error
description because extensions to Xlib may define their own error codes and error
strings.
To obtain error messages from the error database, use XGetErrorDatabaseText.
XGetErrorDatabaseText( *display, *message, *default_string,
*buffer_return, length);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
name Specifies the name of the application.
message Specifies the type of the error message.
default_string Specifies the default error message if none is found
in the database.
buffer_return Returns the error description.
length Specifies the size of the buffer.
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230
The XGetErrorDatabaseText function returns a null-terminated message (or the
default message) from the error message database. Xlib uses this function internally
to look up its error messages. The text in the default_string argument is assumed
to be in the encoding of the current locale, and the text stored in the buffer_return
argument is in the encoding of the current locale.
The name argument should generally be the name of your application. The message
argument should indicate which type of error message you want. If the name and
message are not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is implemen-
tation-dependent. Xlib uses three predefined ``application names'' to report errors.
In these names, uppercase and lowercase matter.
XProtoError The protocol error number is used as a string for the
message argument.
XlibMessage These are the message strings that are used internally
by the library.
XRequest For a core protocol request, the major request pro-
tocol number is used for the message argument. For
an extension request, the extension name (as given by
InitExtension) followed by a period (.) and the minor
request protocol number is used for the message ar-
gument. If no string is found in the error database, the
default_string is returned to the buffer argument.
To report an error to the user when the requested display does not exist, use XDis-
playName.
char *XDisplayName( *string);
string Specifies the character string.
The XDisplayName function returns the name of the display that XOpenDisplay
would attempt to use. If a NULL string is specified, XDisplayName looks in the en-
vironment for the display and returns the display name that XOpenDisplay would
attempt to use. This makes it easier to report to the user precisely which display
the program attempted to open when the initial connection attempt failed.
To handle fatal I/O errors, use XSetIOErrorHandler.
int( *));
handler Specifies the program's supplied error handler.
The XSetIOErrorHandler sets the fatal I/O error handler. Xlib calls the program's
supplied error handler if any sort of system call error occurs (for example, the con-
nection to the server was lost). This is assumed to be a fatal condition, and the called
routine should not return. If the I/O error handler does return, the client process
exits.
Note that the previous error handler is returned.
231
Chapter 12. Input Device Functions
You can use the Xlib input device functions to:
Grab the pointer and individual buttons on the pointer
Grab the keyboard and individual keys on the keyboard
Resume event processing
Move the pointer
Set the input focus
Manipulate the keyboard and pointer settings
Manipulate the keyboard encoding
Pointer Grabbing
Xlib provides functions that you can use to control input from the pointer, which
usually is a mouse. Usually, as soon as keyboard and mouse events occur, the X
server delivers them to the appropriate client, which is determined by the window
and input focus. The X server provides sufficient control over event delivery to allow
window managers to support mouse ahead and various other styles of user inter-
face. Many of these user interfaces depend on synchronous delivery of events. The
delivery of pointer and keyboard events can be controlled independently.
When mouse buttons or keyboard keys are grabbed, events will be sent to the grab-
bing client rather than the normal client who would have received the event. If the
keyboard or pointer is in asynchronous mode, further mouse and keyboard events
will continue to be processed. If the keyboard or pointer is in synchronous mode,
no further events are processed until the grabbing client allows them (see XAl-
lowEvents). The keyboard or pointer is considered frozen during this interval. The
event that triggered the grab can also be replayed.
Note that the logical state of a device (as seen by client applications) may lag the
physical state if device event processing is frozen.
There are two kinds of grabs: active and passive. An active grab occurs when a
single client grabs the keyboard and/or pointer explicitly (see XGrabPointer and
XGrabKeyboard). A passive grab occurs when clients grab a particular keyboard
key or pointer button in a window, and the grab will activate when the key or button
is actually pressed. Passive grabs are convenient for implementing reliable pop-up
menus. For example, you can guarantee that the pop-up is mapped before the up
pointer button event occurs by grabbing a button requesting synchronous behavior.
The down event will trigger the grab and freeze further processing of pointer events
until you have the chance to map the pop-up window. You can then allow further
event processing. The up event will then be correctly processed relative to the pop-
up window.
For many operations, there are functions that take a time argument. The X server
includes a timestamp in various events. One special time, called CurrentTime,
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232
represents the current server time. The X server maintains the time when the input
focus was last changed, when the keyboard was last grabbed, when the pointer was
last grabbed, or when a selection was last changed. Your application may be slow
reacting to an event. You often need some way to specify that your request should
not occur if another application has in the meanwhile taken control of the keyboard,
pointer, or selection. By providing the timestamp from the event in the request, you
can arrange that the operation not take effect if someone else has performed an
operation in the meanwhile.
A timestamp is a time value, expressed in milliseconds. It typically is the time since
the last server reset. Timestamp values wrap around (after about 49.7 days). The
server, given its current time is represented by timestamp T, always interprets time-
stamps from clients by treating half of the timestamp space as being later in time
than T. One timestamp value, named CurrentTime, is never generated by the server.
This value is reserved for use in requests to represent the current server time.
For many functions in this section, you pass pointer event mask bits.
The valid pointer event mask bits are: ButtonPressMask, ButtonRelease-
Mask, EnterWindowMask, LeaveWindowMask, PointerMotionMask, PointerMo-
tionHintMask, Button1MotionMask, Button2MotionMask, Button3MotionMask,
Button4MotionMask, Button5MotionMask, ButtonMotionMask, and KeymapS-
tateMask. For other functions in this section, you pass keymask bits. The valid
keymask bits are: ShiftMask, LockMask, ControlMask, Mod1Mask, Mod2Mask,
Mod3Mask, Mod4Mask, and Mod5Mask.
To grab the pointer, use XGrabPointer.
int XGrabPointer( *display, grab_window, owner_events, event_mask,
keyboard_mode, confine_to, cursor, time);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
grab_window Specifies the grab window.
owner_events Specifies a Boolean value that indicates whether the
pointer events are to be reported as usual or reported
with respect to the grab window if selected by the
event mask.
event_mask Specifies which pointer events are reported to the
client. The mask is the bitwise inclusive OR of the
valid pointer event mask bits.
pointer_mode Specifies further processing of pointer events. You
can pass GrabModeSync or GrabModeAsync.
keyboard_mode Specifies further processing of keyboard events. You
can pass GrabModeSync or GrabModeAsync.
confine_to Specifies the window to confine the pointer in or
None.
cursor Specifies the cursor that is to be displayed during the
grab or None.
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233
time Specifies the time. You can pass either a timestamp
or CurrentTime.
The XGrabPointer function actively grabs control of the pointer and returns
GrabSuccess if the grab was successful. Further pointer events are reported only to
the grabbing client. XGrabPointer overrides any active pointer grab by this client.
If owner_events is False, all generated pointer events are reported with respect to
grab_window and are reported only if selected by event_mask. If owner_events is
True and if a generated pointer event would normally be reported to this client, it is
reported as usual. Otherwise, the event is reported with respect to the grab_window
and is reported only if selected by event_mask. For either value of owner_events,
unreported events are discarded.
If the pointer_mode is GrabModeAsync, pointer event processing continues as usu-
al. If the pointer is currently frozen by this client, the processing of events for the
pointer is resumed. If the pointer_mode is GrabModeSync, the state of the pointer,
as seen by client applications, appears to freeze, and the X server generates no fur-
ther pointer events until the grabbing client calls XAllowEvents or until the pointer
grab is released. Actual pointer changes are not lost while the pointer is frozen;
they are simply queued in the server for later processing.
If the keyboard_mode is GrabModeAsync, keyboard event processing is unaffected
by activation of the grab. If the keyboard_mode is GrabModeSync, the state of the
keyboard, as seen by client applications, appears to freeze, and the X server gen-
erates no further keyboard events until the grabbing client calls XAllowEvents or
until the pointer grab is released. Actual keyboard changes are not lost while the
pointer is frozen; they are simply queued in the server for later processing.
If a cursor is specified, it is displayed regardless of what window the pointer is in. If
None is specified, the normal cursor for that window is displayed when the pointer
is in grab_window or one of its subwindows; otherwise, the cursor for grab_window
is displayed.
If a confine_to window is specified, the pointer is restricted to stay contained in that
window. The confine_to window need have no relationship to the grab_window. If
the pointer is not initially in the confine_to window, it is warped automatically to the
closest edge just before the grab activates and enter/leave events are generated as
usual. If the confine_to window is subsequently reconfigured, the pointer is warped
automatically, as necessary, to keep it contained in the window.
The time argument allows you to avoid certain circumstances that come up if ap-
plications take a long time to respond or if there are long network delays. Consid-
er a situation where you have two applications, both of which normally grab the
pointer when clicked on. If both applications specify the timestamp from the event,
the second application may wake up faster and successfully grab the pointer before
the first application. The first application then will get an indication that the other
application grabbed the pointer before its request was processed.
XGrabPointer generates EnterNotify and LeaveNotify events.
Either if grab_window or confine_to window is not viewable or if the confine_to
window lies completely outside the boundaries of the root window, XGrabPointer
fails and returns GrabNotViewable. If the pointer is actively grabbed by some other
client, it fails and returns AlreadyGrabbed. If the pointer is frozen by an active grab
of another client, it fails and returns GrabFrozen. If the specified time is earlier than
Input Device Functions
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the last-pointer-grab time or later than the current X server time, it fails and returns
GrabInvalidTime. Otherwise, the last-pointer-grab time is set to the specified time
(CurrentTime is replaced by the current X server time).
XGrabPointer can generate BadCursor, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.
To ungrab the pointer, use XUngrabPointer.
XUngrabPointer( *display, time);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
time Specifies the time. You can pass either a timestamp or Cur-
rentTime.
The XUngrabPointer function releases the pointer and any queued events if this
client has actively grabbed the pointer from XGrabPointer, XGrabButton, or from a
normal button press. XUngrabPointer does not release the pointer if the specified
time is earlier than the last-pointer-grab time or is later than the current X server
time. It also generates EnterNotify and LeaveNotify events. The X server performs
an UngrabPointer request automatically if the event window or confine_to window
for an active pointer grab becomes not viewable or if window reconfiguration causes
the confine_to window to lie completely outside the boundaries of the root window.
To change an active pointer grab, use XChangeActivePointerGrab.
XChangeActivePointerGrab( *display, event_mask, cursor, time);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event_mask Specifies which pointer events are reported to the
client. The mask is the bitwise inclusive OR of the valid
pointer event mask bits.
cursor Specifies the cursor that is to be displayed or None.
time Specifies the time. You can pass either a timestamp or
CurrentTime.
The XChangeActivePointerGrab function changes the specified dynamic parame-
ters if the pointer is actively grabbed by the client and if the specified time is no
earlier than the last-pointer-grab time and no later than the current X server time.
This function has no effect on the passive parameters of an XGrabButton. The inter-
pretation of event_mask and cursor is the same as described in XGrabPointer.
XChangeActivePointerGrab can generate BadCursor and BadValue errors.
To grab a pointer button, use XGrabButton.
XGrabButton( *display, button, modifiers, grab_window, owner_events,
event_mask, keyboard_mode, confine_to, cursor);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
button Specifies the pointer button that is to be (Bu or Any-
Button.
Input Device Functions
235
modifiers Specifies the set of keymasks or AnyModifier. The
mask is the bitwise inclusive OR of the valid keymask
bits.
grab_window Specifies the grab window.
owner_events Specifies a Boolean value that indicates whether the
pointer events are to be reported as usual or reported
with respect to the grab window if selected by the
event mask.
event_mask Specifies which pointer events are reported to the
client. The mask is the bitwise inclusive OR of the
valid pointer event mask bits.
pointer_mode Specifies further processing of pointer events. You
can pass GrabModeSync or GrabModeAsync.
keyboard_mode Specifies further processing of keyboard events. You
can pass GrabModeSync or GrabModeAsync.
confine_to Specifies the window to confine the pointer in or
None.
cursor Specifies the cursor that is to be displayed or None.
The XGrabButton function establishes a passive grab. In the future, the pointer is
actively grabbed (as for XGrabPointer), the last-pointer-grab time is set to the time
at which the button was pressed (as transmitted in the ButtonPress event), and the
ButtonPress event is reported if all of the following conditions are true:
The pointer is not grabbed, and the specified button is logically pressed when the
specified modifier keys are logically down, and no other buttons or modifier keys
are logically down.
The grab_window contains the pointer.
The confine_to window (if any) is viewable.
A passive grab on the same button/key combination does not exist on any ancestor
of grab_window.
The interpretation of the remaining arguments is as for XGrabPointer. The active
grab is terminated automatically when the logical state of the pointer has all buttons
released (independent of the state of the logical modifier keys).
Note that the logical state of a device (as seen by client applications) may lag the
physical state if device event processing is frozen.
This request overrides all previous grabs by the same client on the same button/key
combinations on the same window. A modifiers of AnyModifier is equivalent to is-
suing the grab request for all possible modifier combinations (including the combi-
nation of no modifiers). It is not required that all modifiers specified have currently
assigned KeyCodes. A button of AnyButton is equivalent to issuing the request for
Input Device Functions
236
all possible buttons. Otherwise, it is not required that the specified button currently
be assigned to a physical button.
If some other client has already issued an XGrabButton with the same button/key
combination on the same window, a BadAccess error results. When using AnyMod-
ifier or AnyButton, the request fails completely, and a BadAccess error results (no
grabs are established) if there is a conflicting grab for any combination. XGrabBut-
ton has no effect on an active grab.
XGrabButton can generate BadCursor, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.
To ungrab a pointer button, use XUngrabButton.
XUngrabButton( *display, button, modifiers, grab_window);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
button Specifies the pointer button that is to be (Bu or Any-
Button.
modifiers Specifies the set of keymasks or AnyModifier. The
mask is the bitwise inclusive OR of the valid keymask
bits.
grab_window Specifies the grab window.
The XUngrabButton function releases the passive button/key combination on the
specified window if it was grabbed by this client. A modifiers of AnyModifier is equiv-
alent to issuing the ungrab request for all possible modifier combinations, including
the combination of no modifiers. A button of AnyButton is equivalent to issuing the
request for all possible buttons. XUngrabButton has no effect on an active grab.
XUngrabButton can generate BadValue and BadWindow errors.
Keyboard Grabbing
Xlib provides functions that you can use to grab or ungrab the keyboard as well as
allow events.
For many functions in this section, you pass keymask bits. The valid keymask
bits are: ShiftMask, LockMask, ControlMask, Mod1Mask, Mod2Mask, Mod3Mask,
Mod4Mask, and Mod5Mask.
To grab the keyboard, use XGrabKeyboard.
int XGrabKeyboard( *display, grab_window, owner_events,
keyboard_mode, time);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
grab_window Specifies the grab window.
owner_events Specifies a Boolean value that indicates whether the
keyboard events are to be reported as usual.
Input Device Functions
237
pointer_mode Specifies further processing of pointer events. You
can pass GrabModeSync or GrabModeAsync.
keyboard_mode Specifies further processing of keyboard events. You
can pass GrabModeSync or GrabModeAsync.
time Specifies the time. You can pass either a timestamp
or CurrentTime.
The XGrabKeyboard function actively grabs control of the keyboard and gener-
ates FocusIn and FocusOut events. Further key events are reported only to the
grabbing client. XGrabKeyboard overrides any active keyboard grab by this client.
If owner_events is False, all generated key events are reported with respect to
grab_window. If owner_events is True and if a generated key event would normally
be reported to this client, it is reported normally; otherwise, the event is reported
with respect to the grab_window. Both KeyPress and KeyRelease events are always
reported, independent of any event selection made by the client.
If the keyboard_mode argument is GrabModeAsync, keyboard event processing con-
tinues as usual. If the keyboard is currently frozen by this client, then processing
of keyboard events is resumed. If the keyboard_mode argument is GrabModeSync,
the state of the keyboard (as seen by client applications) appears to freeze, and the
X server generates no further keyboard events until the grabbing client issues a
releasing XAllowEvents call or until the keyboard grab is released. Actual keyboard
changes are not lost while the keyboard is frozen; they are simply queued in the
server for later processing.
If pointer_mode is GrabModeAsync, pointer event processing is unaffected by acti-
vation of the grab. If pointer_mode is GrabModeSync, the state of the pointer (as
seen by client applications) appears to freeze, and the X server generates no further
pointer events until the grabbing client issues a releasing XAllowEvents call or until
the keyboard grab is released. Actual pointer changes are not lost while the pointer
is frozen; they are simply queued in the server for later processing.
If the keyboard is actively grabbed by some other client, XGrabKeyboard fails and
returns AlreadyGrabbed. If grab_window is not viewable, it fails and returns Grab-
NotViewable. If the keyboard is frozen by an active grab of another client, it fails
and returns GrabFrozen. If the specified time is earlier than the last-keyboard-grab
time or later than the current X server time, it fails and returns GrabInvalidTime.
Otherwise, the last-keyboard-grab time is set to the specified time (CurrentTime is
replaced by the current X server time).
XGrabKeyboard can generate BadValue and BadWindow errors.
To ungrab the keyboard, use XUngrabKeyboard.
XUngrabKeyboard( *display, time);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
time Specifies the time. You can pass either a timestamp or Cur-
rentTime.
The XUngrabKeyboard function releases the keyboard and any queued events if this
client has it actively grabbed from either XGrabKeyboard or XGrabKey. XUngrabKey-
Input Device Functions
238
board does not release the keyboard and any queued events if the specified time is
earlier than the last-keyboard-grab time or is later than the current X server time. It
also generates FocusIn and FocusOut events. The X server automatically performs
an UngrabKeyboard request if the event window for an active keyboard grab be-
comes not viewable.
To passively grab a single key of the keyboard, use XGrabKey.
XGrabKey( *display, keycode, modifiers, grab_window, owner_events,
keyboard_mode);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
keycode Specifies the KeyCode or AnyKey.
modifiers Specifies the set of keymasks or AnyModifier. The
mask is the bitwise inclusive OR of the valid keymask
bits.
grab_window Specifies the grab window.
owner_events Specifies a Boolean value that indicates whether the
keyboard events are to be reported as usual.
pointer_mode Specifies further processing of pointer events. You
can pass GrabModeSync or GrabModeAsync.
keyboard_mode Specifies further processing of keyboard events. You
can pass GrabModeSync or GrabModeAsync.
The XGrabKey function establishes a passive grab on the keyboard. In the future, the
keyboard is actively grabbed (as for XGrabKeyboard), the last-keyboard-grab time is
set to the time at which the key was pressed (as transmitted in the KeyPress event),
and the KeyPress event is reported if all of the following conditions are true:
The keyboard is not grabbed and the specified key (which can itself be a modifier
key) is logically pressed when the specified modifier keys are logically down, and
no other modifier keys are logically down.
Either the grab_window is an ancestor of (or is) the focus window, or the
grab_window is a descendant of the focus window and contains the pointer.
A passive grab on the same key combination does not exist on any ancestor of
grab_window.
The interpretation of the remaining arguments is as for XGrabKeyboard. The active
grab is terminated automatically when the logical state of the keyboard has the
specified key released (independent of the logical state of the modifier keys).
Note that the logical state of a device (as seen by client applications) may lag the
physical state if device event processing is frozen.
A modifiers argument of AnyModifier is equivalent to issuing the request for all
possible modifier combinations (including the combination of no modifiers). It is not
required that all modifiers specified have currently assigned KeyCodes. A keycode
argument of AnyKey is equivalent to issuing the request for all possible KeyCodes.
Input Device Functions
239
Otherwise, the specified keycode must be in the range specified by min_keycode
and max_keycode in the connection setup, or a BadValue error results.
If some other client has issued a XGrabKey with the same key combination on the
same window, a BadAccess error results. When using AnyModifier or AnyKey, the
request fails completely, and a BadAccess error results (no grabs are established)
if there is a conflicting grab for any combination.
XGrabKey can generate BadAccess, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.
To ungrab a key, use XUngrabKey.
XUngrabKey( *display, keycode, modifiers, grab_window);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
keycode Specifies the KeyCode or AnyKey.
modifiers Specifies the set of keymasks or AnyModifier. The
mask is the bitwise inclusive OR of the valid keymask
bits.
grab_window Specifies the grab window.
The XUngrabKey function releases the key combination on the specified window if
it was grabbed by this client. It has no effect on an active grab. A modifiers of
AnyModifier is equivalent to issuing the request for all possible modifier combina-
tions (including the combination of no modifiers). A keycode argument of AnyKey is
equivalent to issuing the request for all possible key codes.
XUngrabKey can generate BadValue and BadWindow errors.
Resuming Event Processing
The previous sections discussed grab mechanisms with which processing of events
by the server can be temporarily suspended. This section describes the mechanism
for resuming event processing.
To allow further events to be processed when the device has been frozen, use XAl-
lowEvents.
XAllowEvents( *display, event_mode, time);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event_mode Specifies the event mode. You can pass AsyncPointer,
SyncPointer, AsyncKeyboard, SyncKeyboard, Replay-
Pointer, ReplayKeyboard, AsyncBoth, or SyncBoth.
time Specifies the time. You can pass either a timestamp or
CurrentTime.
The XAllowEvents function releases some queued events if the client has caused a
device to freeze. It has no effect if the specified time is earlier than the last-grab
time of the most recent active grab for the client or if the specified time is later than
Input Device Functions
240
the current X server time. Depending on the event_mode argument, the following
occurs:
AsyncPointer If the pointer is frozen by the client,
pointer event processing continues as
usual. If the pointer is frozen twice by
the client on behalf of two separate
grabs, AsyncPointer thaws for both.
AsyncPointer has no effect if the pointer
is not frozen by the client, but the point-
er need not be grabbed by the client.
SyncPointer If the pointer is frozen and actively
grabbed by the client, pointer event
processing continues as usual until
the next ButtonPress or ButtonRe-
lease event is reported to the client.
At this time, the pointer again appears
to freeze. However, if the reported
event causes the pointer grab to be
released, the pointer does not freeze.
SyncPointer has no effect if the point-
er is not frozen by the client or if the
pointer is not grabbed by the client.
ReplayPointer If the pointer is actively grabbed by
the client and is frozen as the result
of an event having been sent to the
client (either from the activation of
an XGrabButton or from a previous
XAllowEvents with mode SyncPoint-
er but not from an XGrabPointer),
the pointer grab is released and that
event is completely reprocessed. This
time, however, the function ignores
any passive grabs at or above (to-
ward the root of) the grab_window of
the grab just released. The request
has no effect if the pointer is not
grabbed by the client or if the pointer
is not frozen as the result of an event.
AsyncKeyboard If the keyboard is frozen by the client,
keyboard event processing con-
tinues as usual. If the keyboard is
frozen twice by the client on behalf
of two separate grabs, AsyncKey-
board thaws for both. AsyncKeyboard
has no effect if the keyboard is not
frozen by the client, but the keyboard
need not be grabbed by the client.
SyncKeyboard If the keyboard is frozen and actively
grabbed by the client, keyboard event
processing continues as usual until
the next KeyPress or KeyRelease event
Input Device Functions
241
is reported to the client. At this time,
the keyboard again appears to freeze.
However, if the reported event caus-
es the keyboard grab to be released,
the keyboard does not freeze. SyncK-
eyboard has no effect if the keyboard
is not frozen by the client or if the key-
board is not grabbed by the client.
ReplayKeyboard If the keyboard is actively grabbed by
the client and is frozen as the result
of an event having been sent to the
client (either from the activation of
an XGrabKey or from a previous XAl-
lowEvents with mode SyncKeyboard
but not from an XGrabKeyboard), the
keyboard grab is released and that
event is completely reprocessed. This
time, however, the function ignores
any passive grabs at or above (to-
ward the root of) the grab_window of
the grab just released. The request
has no effect if the keyboard is not
grabbed by the client or if the keyboard
is not frozen as the result of an event.
SyncBoth If both pointer and keyboard are frozen
by the client, event processing for
both devices continues as usual until
the next ButtonPress, ButtonRelease,
KeyPress, or KeyRelease event is re-
ported to the client for a grabbed de-
vice (button event for the pointer, key
event for the keyboard), at which time
the devices again appear to freeze.
However, if the reported event caus-
es the grab to be released, then the
devices do not freeze (but if the oth-
er device is still grabbed, then a sub-
sequent event for it will still cause
both devices to freeze). SyncBoth has
no effect unless both pointer and key-
board are frozen by the client. If the
pointer or keyboard is frozen twice
by the client on behalf of two sepa-
rate grabs, SyncBoth thaws for both
(but a subsequent freeze for SyncBoth
will only freeze each device once).
AsyncBoth If the pointer and the keyboard are
frozen by the client, event process-
ing for both devices continues as usu-
al. If a device is frozen twice by the
client on behalf of two separate grabs,
AsyncBoth thaws for both. AsyncBoth
Input Device Functions
242
has no effect unless both pointer and
keyboard are frozen by the client.
AsyncPointer, SyncPointer, and ReplayPointer have no effect on the processing of
keyboard events. AsyncKeyboard, SyncKeyboard, and ReplayKeyboard have no ef-
fect on the processing of pointer events. It is possible for both a pointer grab and
a keyboard grab (by the same or different clients) to be active simultaneously. If a
device is frozen on behalf of either grab, no event processing is performed for the
device. It is possible for a single device to be frozen because of both grabs. In this
case, the freeze must be released on behalf of both grabs before events can again be
processed. If a device is frozen twice by a single client, then a single XAllowEvents
releases both.
XAllowEvents can generate a BadValue error.
Moving the Pointer
Although movement of the pointer normally should be left to the control of the end
user, sometimes it is necessary to move the pointer to a new position under program
control.
To move the pointer to an arbitrary point in a window, use XWarpPointer.
XWarpPointer( *display, dest_w, src_y, src_height, dest_y);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
src_w Specifies the source window or None.
dest_w Specifies the destination window or None.
src_x
src_y
src_width
src_height Specify a rectangle in the source window.
dest_x
dest_y Specify the x and y coordinates within the destination
window.
If dest_w is None, XWarpPointer moves the pointer by the offsets (dest_x, dest_y)
relative to the current position of the pointer. If dest_w is a window, XWarpPointer
moves the pointer to the offsets (dest_x, dest_y) relative to the origin of dest_w.
However, if src_w is a window, the move only takes place if the window src_w con-
tains the pointer and if the specified rectangle of src_w contains the pointer.
The src_x and src_y coordinates are relative to the origin of src_w. If src_height is
zero, it is replaced with the current height of src_w minus src_y. If src_width is zero,
it is replaced with the current width of src_w minus src_x.
There is seldom any reason for calling this function. The pointer should normally be
left to the user. If you do use this function, however, it generates events just as if the
user had instantaneously moved the pointer from one position to another. Note that
Input Device Functions
243
you cannot use XWarpPointer to move the pointer outside the confine_to window
of an active pointer grab. An attempt to do so will only move the pointer as far as
the closest edge of the confine_to window.
XWarpPointer can generate a BadWindow error.
Controlling Input Focus
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set and get the input focus. The input
focus is a shared resource, and cooperation among clients is required for correct
interaction. See the Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual for input fo-
cus policy.
To set the input focus, use XSetInputFocus.
XSetInputFocus( *display, focus, revert_to, time);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
focus Specifies the window, PointerRoot, or None.
revert_to Specifies where the input focus reverts to if the window
becomes not viewable. You can pass RevertToParent, Re-
vertToPointerRoot, or RevertToNone.
time Specifies the time. You can pass either a timestamp or
CurrentTime.
The XSetInputFocus function changes the input focus and the last-focus-change
time. It has no effect if the specified time is earlier than the current last-fo-
cus-change time or is later than the current X server time. Otherwise, the last-fo-
cus-change time is set to the specified time (CurrentTime is replaced by the current
X server time). XSetInputFocus causes the X server to generate FocusIn and Focu-
sOut events.
Depending on the focus argument, the following occurs:
If focus is None, all keyboard events are discarded until a new focus window is
set, and the revert_to argument is ignored.
If focus is a window, it becomes the keyboard's focus window. If a generated key-
board event would normally be reported to this window or one of its inferiors,
the event is reported as usual. Otherwise, the event is reported relative to the
focus window.
If focus is PointerRoot, the focus window is dynamically taken to be the root win-
dow of whatever screen the pointer is on at each keyboard event. In this case, the
revert_to argument is ignored.
The specified focus window must be viewable at the time XSetInputFocus is called,
or a BadMatch error results. If the focus window later becomes not viewable, the
X server evaluates the revert_to argument to determine the new focus window as
follows:
If revert_to is RevertToParent, the focus reverts to the parent (or the closest view-
able ancestor), and the new revert_to value is taken to be RevertToNone.
Input Device Functions
244
If revert_to is RevertToPointerRoot or RevertToNone, the focus reverts to Point-
erRoot or None, respectively. When the focus reverts, the X server generates Fo-
cusIn and FocusOut events, but the last-focus-change time is not affected.
XSetInputFocus can generate BadMatch, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.
To obtain the current input focus, use XGetInputFocus.
XGetInputFocus( *display, *focus_return, *revert_to_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
focus_return Returns the focus window, PointerRoot, or None.
revert_to_return Returns the current focus state (RevertToParent, Re-
vertToPointerRoot, or RevertToNone).
The XGetInputFocus function returns the focus window and the current focus state.
Manipulating the Keyboard and Pointer Set-
tings
Xlib provides functions that you can use to change the keyboard control, obtain a
list of the auto-repeat keys, turn keyboard auto-repeat on or off, ring the bell, set
or obtain the pointer button or keyboard mapping, and obtain a bit vector for the
keyboard.
This section discusses the user-preference options of bell, key click, pointer be-
havior, and so on. The default values for many of these options are server dependent.
Not all implementations will actually be able to control all of these parameters.
The XChangeKeyboardControl function changes control of a keyboard and operates
on a XKeyboardControl structure:
/* Mask bits for ChangeKeyboardControl */
#define KBBellPercent (1L<<0)
#define KBBellPitch (1L<<1)
#define KBBellDuration (1L<<2)
#define KBLed (1L<<3)
#define KBLedMode (1L<<4)
#define KBKey (1L<<5)
#define KBAutoRepeatMode (1L<<6)
/* Values */
typedef struct {
int key_click_percent;
int bell_percent;
int bell_pitch;
int bell_duration;
Input Device Functions
245
int led;
int led_mode; /* LedModeOn, LedModeOff */
int key;
int auto_repeat_mode; /* AutoRepeatModeOff, AutoRepeatModeOn,
AutoRepeatModeDefault */
} XKeyboardControl;
The key_click_percent member sets the volume for key clicks between 0 (off) and
100 (loud) inclusive, if possible. A setting of -1 restores the default. Other negative
values generate a BadValue error.
The bell_percent sets the base volume for the bell between 0 (off) and 100 (loud)
inclusive, if possible. A setting of -1 restores the default. Other negative values gen-
erate a BadValue error. The bell_pitch member sets the pitch (specified in Hz) of the
bell, if possible. A setting of -1 restores the default. Other negative values generate
a BadValue error. The bell_duration member sets the duration of the bell specified in
milliseconds, if possible. A setting of -1 restores the default. Other negative values
generate a BadValue error.
If both the led_mode and led members are specified, the state of that LED is
changed, if possible. The led_mode member can be set to LedModeOn or LedMod-
eOff. If only led_mode is specified, the state of all LEDs are changed, if possible.
At most 32 LEDs numbered from one are supported. No standard interpretation of
LEDs is defined. If led is specified without led_mode, a BadMatch error results.
If both the auto_repeat_mode and key members are specified, the auto_repeat_mode
of that key is changed (according to AutoRepeatModeOn, AutoRepeatModeOff, or
AutoRepeatModeDefault), if possible. If only auto_repeat_mode is specified, the
global auto_repeat_mode for the entire keyboard is changed, if possible, and does
not affect the per-key settings. If a key is specified without an auto_repeat_mode,
a BadMatch error results. Each key has an individual mode of whether or not it
should auto-repeat and a default setting for the mode. In addition, there is a global
mode of whether auto-repeat should be enabled or not and a default setting for that
mode. When global mode is AutoRepeatModeOn, keys should obey their individual
auto-repeat modes. When global mode is AutoRepeatModeOff, no keys should au-
to-repeat. An auto-repeating key generates alternating KeyPress and KeyRelease
events. When a key is used as a modifier, it is desirable for the key not to auto-re-
peat, regardless of its auto-repeat setting.
A bell generator connected with the console but not directly on a keyboard is treated
as if it were part of the keyboard. The order in which controls are verified and
altered is server-dependent. If an error is generated, a subset of the controls may
have been altered.
XChangeKeyboardControl( *display, value_mask, *values);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
value_mask Specifies which controls to change. This mask is the
bitwise inclusive OR of the valid control mask bits.
values Specifies one value for each bit set to 1 in the mask.
Input Device Functions
246
The XChangeKeyboardControl function controls the keyboard characteristics de-
fined by the XKeyboardControl structure. The value_mask argument specifies which
values are to be changed.
XChangeKeyboardControl can generate BadMatch and BadValue errors.
To obtain the current control values for the keyboard, use XGetKeyboardControl.
XGetKeyboardControl( *display, *values_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
values_return Returns the current keyboard controls in the speci-
fied XKeyboardState structure.
The XGetKeyboardControl function returns the current control values for the key-
board to the XKeyboardState structure.

typedef struct {
int key_click_percent;
int bell_percent;
unsigned int bell_pitch, bell_duration;
unsigned long led_mask;
int global_auto_repeat;
char auto_repeats[32];
} XKeyboardState;
For the LEDs, the least significant bit of led_mask corresponds to LED one, and each
bit set to 1 in led_mask indicates an LED that is lit. The global_auto_repeat member
can be set to AutoRepeatModeOn or AutoRepeatModeOff. The auto_repeats mem-
ber is a bit vector. Each bit set to 1 indicates that auto-repeat is enabled for the
corresponding key. The vector is represented as 32 bytes. Byte N (from 0) contains
the bits for keys 8N to 8N + 7 with the least significant bit in the byte representing
key 8N.
To turn on keyboard auto-repeat, use XAutoRepeatOn.
XAutoRepeatOn( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XAutoRepeatOn function turns on auto-repeat for the keyboard on the specified
display.
To turn off keyboard auto-repeat, use XAutoRepeatOff.
XAutoRepeatOff( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XAutoRepeatOff function turns off auto-repeat for the keyboard on the specified
display.
Input Device Functions
247
To ring the bell, use XBell.
XBell( *display, percent);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
percent Specifies the volume for the bell, which can range from
-100 to 100 inclusive.
The XBell function rings the bell on the keyboard on the specified display, if pos-
sible. The specified volume is relative to the base volume for the keyboard. If the
value for the percent argument is not in the range -100 to 100 inclusive, a BadVal-
ue error results. The volume at which the bell rings when the percent argument is
nonnegative is:
base - [(base * percent) / 100] + percent
The volume at which the bell rings when the percent argument is negative is:
base + [(base * percent) / 100]
To change the base volume of the bell, use XChangeKeyboardControl.
XBell can generate a BadValue error.
To obtain a bit vector that describes the state of the keyboard, use XQueryKeymap.
XQueryKeymap( *display, keys_return[32]);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
keys_return Returns an array of bytes that identifies which keys
are pressed down. Each bit represents one key of the
keyboard.
The XQueryKeymap function returns a bit vector for the logical state of the keyboard,
where each bit set to 1 indicates that the corresponding key is currently pressed
down. The vector is represented as 32 bytes. Byte N (from 0) contains the bits for
keys 8N to 8N + 7 with the least significant bit in the byte representing key 8N.
Note that the logical state of a device (as seen by client applications) may lag the
physical state if device event processing is frozen.
To set the mapping of the pointer buttons, use XSetPointerMapping.
int XSetPointerMapping( *display, map[], nmap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
map Specifies the mapping list.
nmap Specifies the number of items in the mapping list.
The XSetPointerMapping function sets the mapping of the pointer. If it succeeds,
the X server generates a MappingNotify event, and XSetPointerMapping returns
MappingSuccess. Element map[i] defines the logical button number for the physical
button i+1. The length of the list must be the same as XGetPointerMapping would
Input Device Functions
248
return, or a BadValue error results. A zero element disables a button, and elements
are not restricted in value by the number of physical buttons. However, no two
elements can have the same nonzero value, or a BadValue error results. If any of the
buttons to be altered are logically in the down state, XSetPointerMapping returns
MappingBusy, and the mapping is not changed.
XSetPointerMapping can generate a BadValue error.
To get the pointer mapping, use XGetPointerMapping.
int XGetPointerMapping( *display, map_return[], nmap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
map_return Returns the mapping list.
nmap Specifies the number of items in the mapping list.
The XGetPointerMapping function returns the current mapping of the pointer.
Pointer buttons are numbered starting from one. XGetPointerMapping returns the
number of physical buttons actually on the pointer. The nominal mapping for a
pointer is map[i]=i+1. The nmap argument specifies the length of the array where
the pointer mapping is returned, and only the first nmap elements are returned in
map_return.
To control the pointer's interactive feel, use XChangePointerControl.
XChangePointerControl( *display, do_threshold, accel_denominator,
threshold);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
do_accel Specifies a Boolean value that controls whether the
values for the accel_numerator or accel_denominator
are used.
do_threshold Specifies a Boolean value that controls whether the
value for the threshold is used.
accel_numerator Specifies the numerator for the acceleration multi-
plier.
accel_denominator Specifies the denominator for the acceleration mul-
tiplier.
threshold Specifies the acceleration threshold.
The XChangePointerControl function defines how the pointing device moves. The
acceleration, expressed as a fraction, is a multiplier for movement. For example,
specifying 3/1 means the pointer moves three times as fast as normal. The fraction
may be rounded arbitrarily by the X server. Acceleration only takes effect if the
pointer moves more than threshold pixels at once and only applies to the amount
beyond the value in the threshold argument. Setting a value to -1 restores the de-
fault. The values of the do_accel and do_threshold arguments must be True for the
pointer values to be set, or the parameters are unchanged. Negative values (other
than -1) generate a BadValue error, as does a zero value for the accel_denominator
argument.
Input Device Functions
249
XChangePointerControl can generate a BadValue error.
To get the current pointer parameters, use XGetPointerControl.
XGetPointerControl( *display, *accel_denominator_return,
*threshold_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
accel_numerator_return Returns the numerator for the acceleration multipli-
er.
accel_denominator_return Returns the denominator for the acceleration multi-
plier.
threshold_return Returns the acceleration threshold.
The XGetPointerControl function returns the pointer's current acceleration mul-
tiplier and acceleration threshold.
Manipulating the Keyboard Encoding
A KeyCode represents a physical (or logical) key. KeyCodes lie in the inclusive range
[8,255]. A KeyCode value carries no intrinsic information, although server imple-
mentors may attempt to encode geometry (for example, matrix) information in some
fashion so that it can be interpreted in a server-dependent fashion. The mapping
between keys and KeyCodes cannot be changed.
A KeySym is an encoding of a symbol on the cap of a key. The set of defined KeySyms
includes the ISO Latin character sets (1-4), Katakana, Arabic, Cyrillic, Greek, Tech-
nical, Special, Publishing, APL, Hebrew, Thai, Korean and a miscellany of keys found
on keyboards (Return, Help, Tab, and so on). To the extent possible, these sets are
derived from international standards. In areas where no standards exist, some of
these sets are derived from Digital Equipment Corporation standards. The list of
defined symbols can be found in <X11/keysymdef.h>. Unfortunately, some C pre-
processors have limits on the number of defined symbols. If you must use KeySyms
not in the Latin 1-4, Greek, and miscellaneous classes, you may have to define a
symbol for those sets. Most applications usually only include <X11/keysym.h>,
which defines symbols for ISO Latin 1-4, Greek, and miscellaneous.
A list of KeySyms is associated with each KeyCode. The list is intended to convey
the set of symbols on the corresponding key. If the list (ignoring trailing NoSymbol
entries) is a single KeySym ``K'', then the list is treated as if it were the list ``K
NoSymbol K NoSymbol''. If the list (ignoring trailing NoSymbol entries) is a pair
of KeySyms ``K1 K2'', then the list is treated as if it were the list ``K1 K2 K1 K2''.
If the list (ignoring trailing NoSymbol entries) is a triple of KeySyms ``K1 K2 K3'',
then the list is treated as if it were the list ``K1 K2 K3 NoSymbol''. When an explicit
``void'' element is desired in the list, the value VoidSymbol can be used.
The first four elements of the list are split into two groups of KeySyms. Group 1 con-
tains the first and second KeySyms; Group 2 contains the third and fourth KeySyms.
Within each group, if the second element of the group is NoSymbol, then the group
should be treated as if the second element were the same as the first element, ex-
cept when the first element is an alphabetic KeySym ``K'' for which both lowercase
and uppercase forms are defined. In that case, the group should be treated as if
Input Device Functions
250
the first element were the lowercase form of ``K'' and the second element were the
uppercase form of ``K''.
The standard rules for obtaining a KeySym from a KeyPress event make use of on-
ly the Group 1 and Group 2 KeySyms; no interpretation of other KeySyms in the
list is given. Which group to use is determined by the modifier state. Switching be-
tween groups is controlled by the KeySym named MODE SWITCH, by attaching that
KeySym to some KeyCode and attaching that KeyCode to any one of the modifiers
Mod1 through Mod5. This modifier is called the group modifier. For any KeyCode,
Group 1 is used when the group modifier is off, and Group 2 is used when the group
modifier is on.
The Lock modifier is interpreted as CapsLock when the KeySym named
XK_Caps_Lock is attached to some KeyCode and that KeyCode is attached to the
Lock modifier. The Lock modifier is interpreted as ShiftLock when the KeySym
named XK_Shift_Lock is attached to some KeyCode and that KeyCode is attached to
the Lock modifier. If the Lock modifier could be interpreted as both CapsLock and
ShiftLock, the CapsLock interpretation is used.
The operation of keypad keys is controlled by the KeySym named XK_Num_Lock,
by attaching that KeySym to some KeyCode and attaching that KeyCode to any one
of the modifiers Mod1 through Mod5. This modifier is called the numlock modifier.
The standard KeySyms with the prefix ``XK_KP_'' in their name are called keypad
KeySyms; these are KeySyms with numeric value in the hexadecimal range 0xFF80
to 0xFFBD inclusive. In addition, vendor-specific KeySyms in the hexadecimal range
0x11000000 to 0x1100FFFF are also keypad KeySyms.
Within a group, the choice of KeySym is determined by applying the first rule that
is satisfied from the following list:
The numlock modifier is on and the second KeySym is a keypad KeySym. In this
case, if the Shift modifier is on, or if the Lock modifier is on and is interpreted as
ShiftLock, then the first KeySym is used, otherwise the second KeySym is used.
The Shift and Lock modifiers are both off. In this case, the first KeySym is used.
The Shift modifier is off, and the Lock modifier is on and is interpreted as Cap-
sLock. In this case, the first KeySym is used, but if that KeySym is lowercase al-
phabetic, then the corresponding uppercase KeySym is used instead.
The Shift modifier is on, and the Lock modifier is on and is interpreted as Cap-
sLock. In this case, the second KeySym is used, but if that KeySym is lowercase
alphabetic, then the corresponding uppercase KeySym is used instead.
The Shift modifier is on, or the Lock modifier is on and is interpreted as ShiftLock,
or both. In this case, the second KeySym is used.
No spatial geometry of the symbols on the key is defined by their order in the
KeySym list, although a geometry might be defined on a server-specific basis. The X
server does not use the mapping between KeyCodes and KeySyms. Rather, it merely
stores it for reading and writing by clients.
To obtain the legal KeyCodes for a display, use XDisplayKeycodes.
XDisplayKeycodes( *display, *max_keycodes_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Input Device Functions
251
min_keycodes_return Returns the minimum number of KeyCodes.
max_keycodes_return Returns the maximum number of KeyCodes.
The XDisplayKeycodes function returns the min-keycodes and max-keycodes sup-
ported by the specified display. The minimum number of KeyCodes returned is never
less than 8, and the maximum number of KeyCodes returned is never greater than
255. Not all KeyCodes in this range are required to have corresponding keys.
To obtain the symbols for the specified KeyCodes, use XGetKeyboardMapping.
KeySym *XGetKeyboardMapping( *display, first_keycode, keycode_count,
*keysyms_per_keycode_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
first_keycode Specifies the first KeyCode that is to be (Kc.
keycode_count Specifies the number of KeyCodes that are to be re-
turned.
keysyms_per_keycode_return Returns the number of KeySyms per KeyCode.
The XGetKeyboardMapping function returns the symbols for the specified number
of KeyCodes starting with first_keycode. The value specified in first_keycode must
be greater than or equal to min_keycode as returned by XDisplayKeycodes, or a
BadValue error results. In addition, the following expression must be less than or
equal to max_keycode as returned by XDisplayKeycodes:
first_keycode + keycode_count - 1
If this is not the case, a BadValue error results. The number of elements in the
KeySyms list is:
keycode_count * keysyms_per_keycode_return
KeySym number N, counting from zero, for KeyCode K has the following index in
the list, counting from zero:
(K - first_code) * keysyms_per_code_return + N
The X server arbitrarily chooses the keysyms_per_keycode_return value to be large
enough to report all requested symbols. A special KeySym value of NoSymbol is
used to fill in unused elements for individual KeyCodes. To free the storage returned
by XGetKeyboardMapping, use XFree.
XGetKeyboardMapping can generate a BadValue error.
To change the keyboard mapping, use XChangeKeyboardMapping.
XChangeKeyboardMapping( *display, first_keycode, keysyms_per_keycode,
*keysyms, num_codes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Input Device Functions
252
first_keycode Specifies the first KeyCode that is to be (Kc.
keysyms_per_keycode Specifies the number of KeySyms per KeyCode.
keysyms Specifies an array of KeySyms.
num_codes Specifies the number of KeyCodes that are to be
changed.
The XChangeKeyboardMapping function defines the symbols for the specified num-
ber of KeyCodes starting with first_keycode. The symbols for KeyCodes outside this
range remain unchanged. The number of elements in keysyms must be:
num_codes * keysyms_per_keycode
The specified first_keycode must be greater than or equal to min_keycode returned
by XDisplayKeycodes, or a BadValue error results. In addition, the following ex-
pression must be less than or equal to max_keycode as returned by XDisplayKey-
codes, or a BadValue error results:
first_keycode + num_codes - 1
KeySym number N, counting from zero, for KeyCode K has the following index in
keysyms, counting from zero:
(K - first_keycode) * keysyms_per_keycode + N
The specified keysyms_per_keycode can be chosen arbitrarily by the client to be
large enough to hold all desired symbols. A special KeySym value of NoSymbol
should be used to fill in unused elements for individual KeyCodes. It is legal for
NoSymbol to appear in nontrailing positions of the effective list for a KeyCode.
XChangeKeyboardMapping generates a MappingNotify event.
There is no requirement that the X server interpret this mapping. It is merely stored
for reading and writing by clients.
XChangeKeyboardMapping can generate BadAlloc and BadValue errors.
The next six functions make use of the XModifierKeymap data structure, which con-
tains:
typedef struct {
int max_keypermod; /* This server's max number of keys per modifier */
KeyCode *modifiermap; /* An 8 by max_keypermod array of the modifiers */
} XModifierKeymap;
To create an XModifierKeymap structure, use XNewModifiermap.
XModifierKeymap *XNewModifiermap( max_keys_per_mod);
Input Device Functions
253
max_keys_per_mod Specifies the number of KeyCode entries preallocat-
ed to the modifiers in the map.
The XNewModifiermap function returns a pointer to XModifierKeymap structure for
later use.
To add a new entry to an XModifierKeymap structure, use XInsertModifiermapEn-
try.
XModifierKeymap *XInsertModifiermapEntry( *modmap, keycode_entry, mod-
ifier);
modmap Specifies the XModifierKeymap structure.
keycode_entry Specifies the KeyCode.
modifier Specifies the modifier.
The XInsertModifiermapEntry function adds the specified KeyCode to the set that
controls the specified modifier and returns the resulting XModifierKeymap struc-
ture (expanded as needed).
To delete an entry from an XModifierKeymap structure, use XDeleteModi-
fiermapEntry.
XModifierKeymap *XDeleteModifiermapEntry( *modmap, keycode_entry, mod-
ifier);
modmap Specifies the XModifierKeymap structure.
keycode_entry Specifies the KeyCode.
modifier Specifies the modifier.
The XDeleteModifiermapEntry function deletes the specified KeyCode from the set
that controls the specified modifier and returns a pointer to the resulting XModi-
fierKeymap structure.
To destroy an XModifierKeymap structure, use XFreeModifiermap.
XFreeModifiermap( *modmap);
modmap Specifies the XModifierKeymap structure.
The XFreeModifiermap function frees the specified XModifierKeymap structure.
To set the KeyCodes to be used as modifiers, use XSetModifierMapping.
int XSetModifierMapping( *display, *modmap);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
modmap Specifies the XModifierKeymap structure.
The XSetModifierMapping function specifies the KeyCodes of the keys (if any) that
are to be used as modifiers. If it succeeds, the X server generates a MappingNo-
tify event, and XSetModifierMapping returns MappingSuccess. X permits at most
Input Device Functions
254
8 modifier keys. If more than 8 are specified in the XModifierKeymap structure, a
BadLength error results.
The modifiermap member of the XModifierKeymap structure contains 8 sets of
max_keypermod KeyCodes, one for each modifier in the order Shift, Lock, Control,
Mod1, Mod2, Mod3, Mod4, and Mod5. Only nonzero KeyCodes have meaning in
each set, and zero KeyCodes are ignored. In addition, all of the nonzero KeyCodes
must be in the range specified by min_keycode and max_keycode in the Display
structure, or a BadValue error results.
An X server can impose restrictions on how modifiers can be changed, for example,
if certain keys do not generate up transitions in hardware, if auto-repeat cannot
be disabled on certain keys, or if multiple modifier keys are not supported. If some
such restriction is violated, the status reply is MappingFailed, and none of the mod-
ifiers are changed. If the new KeyCodes specified for a modifier differ from those
currently defined and any (current or new) keys for that modifier are in the logically
down state, XSetModifierMapping returns MappingBusy, and none of the modifiers
is changed.
XSetModifierMapping can generate BadAlloc and BadValue errors.
To obtain the KeyCodes used as modifiers, use XGetModifierMapping.
XModifierKeymap *XGetModifierMapping( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XGetModifierMapping function returns a pointer to a newly created XModi-
fierKeymap structure that contains the keys being used as modifiers. The structure
should be freed after use by calling XFreeModifiermap. If only zero values appear
in the set for any modifier, that modifier is disabled.
255
Chapter 13. Locales and
Internationalized Text Functions
An internationalized application is one that is adaptable to the requirements of dif-
ferent native languages, local customs, and character string encodings. The process
of adapting the operation to a particular native language, local custom, or string
encoding is called localization. A goal of internationalization is to permit localization
without program source modications or recompila- tion.
As one of the localization mechanisms, Xlib provides an X Input Method (XIM) func-
tional inter- face for internationalized text input and an X Output Method (XOM)
functional interface for internationalized text output.
Internationalization in X is based on the concept of a locale. A locale denes the
localized behavior of a program at run time. Locales affect Xlib in its:
Encoding and processing of input method text
Encoding of resource les and values
Encoding and imaging of text strings
Encoding and decoding for inter-client text communication
Encoding and decoding for inter-client text communication Characters from var-
ious languages are represented in a computer using an encoding. Different lan-
guages have different encodings, and there are even different encodings for the
same charac- ters in the same language.
This chapter denes support for localized text imaging and text input and describes
the locale mechanism that controls all locale-dependent Xlib functions. Sets of func-
tions are provided for multibyte (char *) text as well as wide character (wchar_t)
text in the form supported by the host C language environment. The multibyte and
wide character functions are equivalent except for the form of the text argument.
The Xlib internationalization functions are not meant to provide support for multi-
lingual applica- tions (mixing multiple languages within a single piece of text), but
they make it possible to imple- ment applications that work in limited fashion with
more than one language in independent con- texts.
The remainder of this chapter discusses:
X locale management
Locale and modier dependencies
Variable argument lists
Output methods
Input methods
String constants
Locales and Internation-
alized Text Functions
256
X Locale Management
X supports one or more of the locales defined by the host environment. On imple-
mentations that conform to the ANSI C library, the locale announcement method is
setlocale. This function configures the locale operation of both the host C library
and Xlib. The operation of Xlib is governed by the LC_CTYPE category; this is called
the current locale. An implementation is permitted to provide implementation-de-
pendent mechanisms for announcing the locale in addition to setlocale.
On implementations that do not conform to the ANSI C library, the locale announce-
ment method is Xlib implementation-dependent.
The mechanism by which the semantic operation of Xlib is defined for a specific
locale is implementation-dependent.
X is not required to support all the locales supported by the host. To determine if
the current locale is supported by X, use XSupportsLocale.
Bool XSupportsLocale()
The XSupportsLocale function returns True if Xlib functions are capable of op-
erating under the current locale. If it returns False, Xlib locale-dependent func-
tions for which the XLocaleNotSupported return status is defined will return XLo-
caleNotSupported. Other Xlib locale-dependent routines will operate in the ``C''
locale.
The client is responsible for selecting its locale and X modifiers. Clients should pro-
vide a means for the user to override the clients' locale selection at client invocation.
Most single-display X clients operate in a single locale for both X and the host pro-
cessing environment. They will configure the locale by calling three functions: the
host locale configuration function, XSupportsLocale, and XSetLocaleModifiers.
The semantics of certain categories of X internationalization capabilities can be
configured by setting modifiers. Modifiers are named by implementation-dependent
and locale-specific strings. The only standard use for this capability at present is
selecting one of several styles of keyboard input method.
To configure Xlib locale modifiers for the current locale, use XSetLocaleModifiers.
char *XSetLocaleModifiers( *modifier_list);
modifier_list Specifies the modifiers.
The XSetLocaleModifiers function sets the X modifiers for the current lo-
cale setting. The modifier_list argument is a null-terminated string of the
form ``{@category=value}'', that is, having zero or more concatenated
``@category=value'' entries, where category is a category name and value is the
(possibly empty) setting for that category. The values are encoded in the current lo-
cale. Category names are restricted to the POSIX Portable Filename Character Set.
The local host X locale modifiers announcer (on POSIX-compliant systems, the
XMODIFIERS environment variable) is appended to the modifier_list to provide de-
fault values on the local host. If a given category appears more than once in the
list, the first setting in the list is used. If a given category is not included in the
full modifier list, the category is set to an implementation-dependent default for the
current locale. An empty value for a category explicitly specifies the implementa-
tion-dependent default.
Locales and Internation-
alized Text Functions
257
If the function is successful, it returns a pointer to a string. The contents of the
string are such that a subsequent call with that string (in the same locale) will re-
store the modifiers to the same settings. If modifier_list is a NULL pointer, XSetLo-
caleModifiers also returns a pointer to such a string, and the current locale mod-
ifiers are not changed.
If invalid values are given for one or more modifier categories supported by the
locale, a NULL pointer is returned, and none of the current modifiers are changed.
At program startup, the modifiers that are in effect are unspecified until the first
successful call to set them. Whenever the locale is changed, the modifiers that are in
effect become unspecified until the next successful call to set them. Clients should
always call XSetLocaleModifiers with a non-NULL modifier_list after setting the
locale before they call any locale-dependent Xlib routine.
The only standard modifier category currently defined is ``im'', which identifies the
desired input method. The values for input method are not standardized. A single
locale may use multiple input methods, switching input method under user control.
The modifier may specify the initial input method in effect or an ordered list of input
methods. Multiple input methods may be specified in a single im value string in an
implementation-dependent manner.
The returned modifiers string is owned by Xlib and should not be modified or freed
by the client. It may be freed by Xlib after the current locale or modifiers are
changed. Until freed, it will not be modified by Xlib.
The recommended procedure for clients initializing their locale and modifiers is to
obtain locale and modifier announcers separately from one of the following priori-
tized sources:
A command line option
A resource
The empty string ("")
The first of these that is defined should be used. Note that when a locale command
line option or locale resource is defined, the effect should be to set all categories
to the specified locale, overriding any category-specific settings in the local host
environment.
Locale and Modifier Dependencies
The internationalized Xlib functions operate in the current locale configured by the
host environment and X locale modifiers set by XSetLocaleModifiers or in the lo-
cale and modifiers configured at the time some object supplied to the function was
created. For each locale-dependent function, the following table describes the lo-
cale (and modifiers) dependency:
Locale from Affects the Function In
Locale Query/
Configuration:
setlocale XSupportsLocale Locale queried
XSetLocaleModifiers Locale modified

Locales and Internation-

alized Text Functions
258
Locale from Affects the Function In
Resources:
setlocale XrmGetFileDatabase Locale of XrmDatabase
XrmGetStringDatabase
XrmDatabase XrmPutFileDatabase Locale of XrmDatabase
XrmLocaleOfDatabase

Setting Stan-
dard Properties:
setlocale XmbSetWMProperties Encoding of supplied/re-
turned text (some
WM_ property text in
environment locale)
setlocale XmbTextProper-
tyToTextList
Encoding of sup-
plied/returned text
XwcTextProper-
tyToTextList
XmbTextListTo-
TextProperty
XwcTextListTo-
TextProperty

Text Input:
setlocale XOpenIM XIM input
method selection
XRegisterIMIn-
stantiateCallback
XIM selection
XUnregisterIMIn-
stantiateCallback
XIM selection
XIM XCreateIC XIC input method
configuration
XLocaleOfIM, and so on Queried locale
XIC XmbLookupString Keyboard layout
XwcLookupString Encoding of returned text

Text Drawing:
setlocale XOpenOM XOM output
method selection
XCreateFontSet Charsets of fonts
in XFontSet
XOM XCreateOC XOC output method
configuration
XLocaleOfOM, and so on Queried locale
Locales and Internation-
alized Text Functions
259
Locale from Affects the Function In
XFontSet XmbDrawText, Locale of supplied text
XwcDrawText, and so on Locale of supplied text
XExtentsOf-
FontSet, and so on
Locale-dependent metrics
XmbTextExtents,
XwcTextEx-
tents, and so on

Xlib Errors:
setlocale XGetErrorDatabaseText Locale of error message
XGetErrorText
Clients may assume that a locale-encoded text string returned by an X function can
be passed to a C library routine, or vice versa, if the locale is the same at the two
calls.
All text strings processed by internationalized Xlib functions are assumed to begin
in the initial state of the encoding of the locale, if the encoding is state-dependent.
All Xlib functions behave as if they do not change the current locale or X modifier
setting. (This means that if they do change locale or call XSetLocaleModifiers with
a non-NULL argument, they must save and restore the current state on entry and
exit.) Also, Xlib functions on implementations that conform to the ANSI C library
do not alter the global state associated with the ANSI C functions mblen, mbtowc,
wctomb, and strtok.
Variable Argument Lists
Various functions in this chapter have arguments that conform to the ANSI C vari-
able argument list calling convention. Each function denoted with an argument of
the form ``...'' takes a variable-length list of name and value pairs, where each name
is a string and each value is of type XPointer. A name argument that is NULL iden-
tifies the end of the list.
A variable-length argument list may contain a nested list. If the name XNVaNest-
edList is specified in place of an argument name, then the following value is inter-
preted as an XVaNestedList value that specifies a list of values logically inserted into
the original list at the point of declaration. A NULL identifies the end of a nested list.
To allocate a nested variable argument list dynamically, use XVaCreateNestedList.
XVaNestedList XVaCreateNestedList( dummy);
dummy Specifies an unused argument (required by ANSI C).
... Specifies the variable length argument list(Al.
The XVaCreateNestedList function allocates memory and copies its arguments into
a single list pointer, which may be used as a value for arguments requiring a list
value. Any entries are copied as specified. Data passed by reference is not copied;
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the caller must ensure data remains valid for the lifetime of the nested list. The list
should be freed using XFree when it is no longer needed.
Output Methods
This section provides discussions of the following X Output Method (XOM) topics:
Output method overview
Output method functions
Output method values
Output context functions
Output context values
Creating and freeing a font set
Obtaining font set metrics
Drawing text using font sets
Output Method Overview
Locale-dependent text may include one or more text components, each of which may
require different fonts and character set encodings. In some languages, each com-
ponent might have a different drawing direction, and some components might con-
tain context-dependent characters that change shape based on relationships with
neighboring characters.
When drawing such locale-dependent text, some locale-specific knowledge is re-
quired; for example, what fonts are required to draw the text, how the text can be
separated into components, and which fonts are selected to draw each component.
Further, when bidirectional text must be drawn, the internal representation order
of the text must be changed into the visual representation order to be drawn.
An X Output Method provides a functional interface so that clients do not have
to deal directly with such locale-dependent details. Output methods provide the
following capabilities:
Creating a set of fonts required to draw locale-dependent text.
Drawing locale-dependent text with a font set without the caller needing to be
aware of locale dependencies.
Obtaining the escapement and extents in pixels of locale-dependent text.
Determining if bidirectional or context-dependent drawing is required in a specific
locale with a specific font set.
Two different abstractions are used in the representation of the output method for
clients.
The abstraction used to communicate with an output method is an opaque data
structure represented by the XOM data type. The abstraction for representing the
state of a particular output thread is called an output context. The Xlib representa-
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tion of an output context is an XOC, which is compatible with XFontSet in terms of
its functional interface, but is a broader, more generalized abstraction.
Output Method Functions
To open an output method, use XOpenOM.
XOM XOpenOM( *display, db, *res_name, *res_class);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
db Specifies a pointer to the resource database.
res_name Specifies the full resource name of the application.
res_class Specifies the full class name of the application.
The XOpenOM function opens an output method matching the current locale and mod-
ifiers specification. The current locale and modifiers are bound to the output method
when XOpenOM is called. The locale associated with an output method cannot be
changed.
The specific output method to which this call will be routed is identified on the
basis of the current locale and modifiers. XOpenOM will identify a default output
method corresponding to the current locale. That default can be modified using
XSetLocaleModifiers to set the output method modifier.
The db argument is the resource database to be used by the output method for
looking up resources that are private to the output method. It is not intended that
this database be used to look up values that can be set as OC values in an output
context. If db is NULL, no database is passed to the output method.
The res_name and res_class arguments specify the resource name and class of the
application. They are intended to be used as prefixes by the output method when
looking up resources that are common to all output contexts that may be created
for this output method. The characters used for resource names and classes must
be in the X Portable Character Set. The resources looked up are not fully specified
if res_name or res_class is NULL.
The res_name and res_class arguments are not assumed to exist beyond the call
to XOpenOM. The specified resource database is assumed to exist for the lifetime of
the output method.
XOpenOM returns NULL if no output method could be opened.
To close an output method, use XCloseOM.
Status XCloseOM( om);
om Specifies the output method.
The XCloseOM function closes the specified output method.
To set output method attributes, use XSetOMValues.
char *XSetOMValues( om);
om Specifies the output method.
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... Specifies the variable-length argument list(Al.
The XSetOMValues function presents a variable argument list programming inter-
face for setting properties or features of the specified output method. This function
returns NULL if it succeeds; otherwise, it returns the name of the first argument
that could not be obtained.
No standard arguments are currently defined by Xlib.
To query an output method, use XGetOMValues.
char *XGetOMValues( om);
om Specifies the output method.
... Specifies the variable-length argument list(Al.
The XGetOMValues function presents a variable argument list programming inter-
face for querying properties or features of the specified output method. This func-
tion returns NULL if it succeeds; otherwise, it returns the name of the first argu-
ment that could not be obtained.
To obtain the display associated with an output method, use XDisplayOfOM.
Display *XDisplayOfOM( om);
om Specifies the output method.
The XDisplayOfOM function returns the display associated with the specified output
method.
To get the locale associated with an output method, use XLocaleOfOM.
char *XLocaleOfOM( om);
om Specifies the output method.
The XLocaleOfOM returns the locale associated with the specified output method.
X Output Method Values
The following table describes how XOM values are interpreted by an output method.
The first column lists the XOM values. The second column indicates how each of the
XOM values are treated by a particular output style.
The following key applies to this table.
Key Explanation
G This value may be read
using XGetOMValues.
XOM Value Key
XNRequiredCharSet G
XNQueryOrientation G
XNDirectionalDependentDrawing G
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XOM Value Key
XNContextualDrawing G
Required Char Set
The XNRequiredCharSet argument returns the list of charsets that are required for
loading the fonts needed for the locale. The value of the argument is a pointer to
a structure of type XOMCharSetList.
The XOMCharSetList structure is defined as follows:
typedef struct {
int charset_count;
char **charset_list;
} XOMCharSetList;
The charset_list member is a list of one or more null-terminated charset names, and
the charset_count member is the number of charset names.
The required charset list is owned by Xlib and should not be modified or freed by the
client. It will be freed by a call to XCloseOM with the associated XOM. Until freed,
its contents will not be modified by Xlib.
Query Orientation
The XNQueryOrientation argument returns the global orientation of text when
drawn. Other than XOMOrientation_LTR_TTB, the set of orientations supported is
locale-dependent. The value of the argument is a pointer to a structure of type XO-
MOrientation. Clients are responsible for freeing the XOMOrientation structure by
using XFree; this also frees the contents of the structure.
typedef struct {
int num_orientation;
XOrientation *orientation; /* Input Text description */
} XOMOrientation;
typedef enum {
XOMOrientation_LTR_TTB,
XOMOrientation_RTL_TTB,
XOMOrientation_TTB_LTR,
XOMOrientation_TTB_RTL,
XOMOrientation_Context
} XOrientation;
The possible value for XOrientation may be:
XOMOrientation_LTR_TTB left-to-right, top-to-bottom global orientation
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XOMOrientation_RTL_TTB right-to-left, top-to-bottom global orientation
XOMOrientation_TTB_LTR top-to-bottom, left-to-right global orientation
XOMOrientation_TTB_RTL top-to-bottom, right-to-left global orientation
XOMOrientation_Context contextual global orientation
Directional Dependent Drawing
The XNDirectionalDependentDrawing argument indicates whether the text render-
ing functions implement implicit handling of directional text. If this value is True,
the output method has knowledge of directional dependencies and reorders text as
necessary when rendering text. If this value is False, the output method does not
implement any directional text handling, and all character directions are assumed
to be left-to-right.
Regardless of the rendering order of characters, the origins of all characters are on
the primary draw direction side of the drawing origin.
This OM value presents functionality identical to the XDirectionalDependentDraw-
ing function.
Context Dependent Drawing
The XNContextualDrawing argument indicates whether the text rendering func-
tions implement implicit context-dependent drawing. If this value is True, the out-
put method has knowledge of context dependencies and performs character shape
editing, combining glyphs to present a single character as necessary. The actual
shape editing is dependent on the locale implementation and the font set used.
This OM value presents functionality identical to the XContextualDrawing function.
Output Context Functions
An output context is an abstraction that contains both the data required by an output
method and the information required to display that data. There can be multiple
output contexts for one output method. The programming interfaces for creating,
reading, or modifying an output context use a variable argument list. The name
elements of the argument lists are referred to as XOC values. It is intended that
output methods be controlled by these XOC values. As new XOC values are created,
they should be registered with the X Consortium. An XOC can be used anywhere
an XFontSet can be used, and vice versa; XFontSet is retained for compatibility
with previous releases. The concepts of output methods and output contexts include
broader, more generalized abstraction than font set, supporting complex and more
intelligent text display, and dealing not only with multiple fonts but also with context
dependencies. However, XFontSet is widely used in several interfaces, so XOC is
defined as an upward compatible type of XFontSet.
To create an output context, use XCreateOC.
XOC XCreateOC( om);
om Specifies the output method.
... Specifies the variable-length argument list(Al.
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The XCreateOC function creates an output context within the specified output
method.
The base font names argument is mandatory at creation time, and the output context
will not be created unless it is provided. All other output context values can be set
later.
XCreateOC returns NULL if no output context could be created. NULL can be re-
turned for any of the following reasons:
A required argument was not set.
A read-only argument was set.
An argument name is not recognized.
The output method encountered an output method implementation-dependent er-
ror.
XCreateOC can generate a BadAtom error.
To destroy an output context, use XDestroyOC.
void XDestroyOC( oc);
oc Specifies the output context.
The XDestroyOC function destroys the specified output context.
To get the output method associated with an output context, use XOMOfOC.
XOM XOMOfOC( oc);
oc Specifies the output context.
The XOMOfOC function returns the output method associated with the specified out-
put context.
Xlib provides two functions for setting and reading output context values, respec-
tively, XSetOCValues and XGetOCValues. Both functions have a variable-length ar-
gument list. In that argument list, any XOC value's name must be denoted with a
character string using the X Portable Character Set.
To set XOC values, use XSetOCValues.
char *XSetOCValues( oc);
oc Specifies the output context.
... Specifies the variable-length argument list(Al.
The XSetOCValues function returns NULL if no error occurred; otherwise, it returns
the name of the first argument that could not be set. An argument might not be set
for any of the following reasons:
The argument is read-only.
The argument name is not recognized.
An implementation-dependent error occurs.
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Each value to be set must be an appropriate datum, matching the data type imposed
by the semantics of the argument.
XSetOCValues can generate a BadAtom error.
To obtain XOC values, use XGetOCValues.
char *XGetOCValues( oc);
oc Specifies the output context.
... Specifies the variable-length argument list(Al.
The XGetOCValues function returns NULL if no error occurred; otherwise, it returns
the name of the first argument that could not be obtained. An argument might not
be obtained for any of the following reasons:
The argument name is not recognized.
An implementation-dependent error occurs.
Each argument value following a name must point to a location where the value is
to be stored.
Output Context Values
The following table describes how XOC values are interpreted by an output method.
The first column lists the XOC values. The second column indicates the alternative
interfaces that function identically and are provided for compatibility with previous
releases. The third column indicates how each of the XOC values is treated.
The following keys apply to this table.
Key Explanation
C This value must be set with XCreateOC.
D This value may be set using XCreateOC.
If it is not set,a default is provided.
G This value may be read
using XGetOCValues.
S This value must be set
using XSetOCValues.
XOC Value Alternative Interface Key
BaseFontName XCreateFontSet C-G
MissingCharSet XCreateFontSet G
DefaultString XCreateFontSet G
Orientation - D-S-G
ResourceName - S-G
ResourceClass - S-G
FontInfo XFontsOfFontSet G
OMAutomatic - G
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Base Font Name
The XNBaseFontName argument is a list of base font names that Xlib uses to load
the fonts needed for the locale. The base font names are a comma-separated list.
The string is null-terminated and is assumed to be in the Host Portable Character
Encoding; otherwise, the result is implementation-dependent. White space immedi-
ately on either side of a separating comma is ignored.
Use of XLFD font names permits Xlib to obtain the fonts needed for a variety of
locales from a single locale-independent base font name. The single base font name
should name a family of fonts whose members are encoded in the various charsets
needed by the locales of interest.
An XLFD base font name can explicitly name a charset needed for the locale. This
allows the user to specify an exact font for use with a charset required by a locale,
fully controlling the font selection.
If a base font name is not an XLFD name, Xlib will attempt to obtain an XLFD name
from the font properties for the font. If Xlib is successful, the XGetOCValues function
will return this XLFD name instead of the client-supplied name.
This argument must be set at creation time and cannot be changed. If no fonts exist
for any of the required charsets, or if the locale definition in Xlib requires that a
font exist for a particular charset and a font is not found for that charset, XCreateOC
returns NULL.
When querying for the XNBaseFontName XOC value, XGetOCValues returns a null-
terminated string identifying the base font names that Xlib used to load the fonts
needed for the locale. This string is owned by Xlib and should not be modified or
freed by the client. The string will be freed by a call to XDestroyOC with the associ-
ated XOC. Until freed, the string contents will not be modified by Xlib.
Missing CharSet
The XNMissingCharSet argument returns the list of required charsets that are miss-
ing from the font set. The value of the argument is a pointer to a structure of type
XOMCharSetList.
If fonts exist for all of the charsets required by the current locale, charset_list is set
to NULL and charset_count is set to zero. If no fonts exist for one or more of the
required charsets, charset_list is set to a list of one or more null-terminated charset
names for which no fonts exist, and charset_count is set to the number of missing
charsets. The charsets are from the list of the required charsets for the encoding
of the locale and do not include any charsets to which Xlib may be able to remap
a required charset.
The missing charset list is owned by Xlib and should not be modified or freed by the
client. It will be freed by a call to XDestroyOC with the associated XOC. Until freed,
its contents will not be modified by Xlib.
Default String
When a drawing or measuring function is called with an XOC that has missing
charsets, some characters in the locale will not be drawable. The XNDefaultString
argument returns a pointer to a string that represents the glyphs that are drawn
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with this XOC when the charsets of the available fonts do not include all glyphs
required to draw a character. The string does not necessarily consist of valid char-
acters in the current locale and is not necessarily drawn with the fonts loaded for
the font set, but the client can draw or measure the default glyphs by including this
string in a string being drawn or measured with the XOC.
If the XNDefaultString argument returned the empty string (""), no glyphs are
drawn and the escapement is zero. The returned string is null-terminated. It is
owned by Xlib and should not be modified or freed by the client. It will be freed
by a call to XDestroyOC with the associated XOC. Until freed, its contents will not
be modified by Xlib.
Orientation
The XNOrientation argument specifies the current orientation of text when drawn.
The value of this argument is one of the values returned by the XGetOMValues func-
tion with the XNQueryOrientation argument specified in the XOrientation list. The
value of the argument is of type XOrientation. When XNOrientation is queried, the
value specifies the current orientation. When XNOrientation is set, a value is used
to set the current orientation.
When XOMOrientation_Context is set, the text orientation of the text is determined
according to an implementation-defined method (for example, ISO 6429 control se-
quences), and the initial text orientation for locale-dependent Xlib functions is as-
sumed to be XOMOrientation_LTR_TTB.
The XNOrientation value does not change the prime drawing direction for Xlib draw-
ing functions.
Resource Name and Class
The XNResourceName and XNResourceClass arguments are strings that specify
the full name and class used by the client to obtain resources for the display of the
output context. These values should be used as prefixes for name and class when
looking up resources that may vary according to the output context. If these values
are not set, the resources will not be fully specified.
It is not intended that values that can be set as XOM values be set as resources.
When querying for the XNResourceName or XNResourceClass XOC value, XGetOC-
Values returns a null-terminated string. This string is owned by Xlib and should not
be modified or freed by the client. The string will be freed by a call to XDestroyOC
with the associated XOC or when the associated value is changed via XSetOCValues.
Until freed, the string contents will not be modified by Xlib.
Font Info
The XNFontInfo argument specifies a list of one or more XFontStruct structures and
font names for the fonts used for drawing by the given output context. The value of
the argument is a pointer to a structure of type XOMFontInfo.
typedef struct {
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int num_font;
XFontStruct **font_struct_list;
char **font_name_list;
} XOMFontInfo;
A list of pointers to the XFontStruct structures is returned to font_struct_list. A list
of pointers to null-terminated, fully-specified font name strings in the locale of the
output context is returned to font_name_list. The font_name_list order corresponds
to the font_struct_list order. The number of XFontStruct structures and font names
is returned to num_font.
Because it is not guaranteed that a given character will be imaged using a single
font glyph, there is no provision for mapping a character or default string to the font
properties, font ID, or direction hint for the font for the character. The client may
access the XFontStruct list to obtain these values for all the fonts currently in use.
Xlib does not guarantee that fonts are loaded from the server at the creation of
an XOC. Xlib may choose to cache font data, loading it only as needed to draw
text or compute text dimensions. Therefore, existence of the per_char metrics in
the XFontStruct structures in the XFontStructSet is undefined. Also, note that all
properties in the XFontStruct structures are in the STRING encoding.
The client must not free the XOMFontInfo struct itself; it will be freed when the
XOC is closed.
OM Automatic
The XNOMAutomatic argument returns whether the associated output context was
created by XCreateFontSet or not. Because the XFreeFontSet function not only
destroys the output context but also closes the implicit output method associated
with it, XFreeFontSet should be used with any output context created by XCreate-
FontSet. However, it is possible that a client does not know how the output con-
text was created. Before a client destroys the output context, it can query whether
XNOMAutomatic is set to determine whether XFreeFontSet or XDestroyOC should
be used to destroy the output context.
Creating and Freeing a Font Set
Xlib international text drawing is done using a set of one or more fonts, as needed
for the locale of the text. Fonts are loaded according to a list of base font names
supplied by the client and the charsets required by the locale. The XFontSet is an
opaque type representing the state of a particular output thread and is equivalent
to the type XOC.
The XCreateFontSet function is a convenience function for creating an output con-
text using only default values. The returned XFontSet has an implicitly created
XOM. This XOM has an OM value XNOMAutomatic automatically set to True so that
the output context self indicates whether it was created by XCreateOC or XCreate-
FontSet.
XFontSet XCreateFontSet( *display, *base_font_name_list,
***missing_charset_list_return, *missing_charset_count_return,
**def_string_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
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base_font_name_list Specifies the base font names.
missing_charset_list_return Returns the missing charsets.
missing_charset_count_returnReturns the number of missing charsets.
def_string_return Returns the string drawn for missing charsets.
The XCreateFontSet function creates a font set for the specified display. The font
set is bound to the current locale when XCreateFontSet is called. The font set may
be used in subsequent calls to obtain font and character information and to image
text in the locale of the font set.
The base_font_name_list argument is a list of base font names that Xlib uses to load
the fonts needed for the locale. The base font names are a comma-separated list.
The string is null-terminated and is assumed to be in the Host Portable Character
Encoding; otherwise, the result is implementation-dependent. White space immedi-
ately on either side of a separating comma is ignored.
Use of XLFD font names permits Xlib to obtain the fonts needed for a variety of
locales from a single locale-independent base font name. The single base font name
should name a family of fonts whose members are encoded in the various charsets
needed by the locales of interest.
An XLFD base font name can explicitly name a charset needed for the locale. This
allows the user to specify an exact font for use with a charset required by a locale,
fully controlling the font selection.
If a base font name is not an XLFD name, Xlib will attempt to obtain an XLFD name
from the font properties for the font. If this action is successful in obtaining an
XLFD name, the XBaseFontNameListOfFontSet function will return this XLFD name
instead of the client-supplied name.
Xlib uses the following algorithm to select the fonts that will be used to display text
with the XFontSet.
For each font charset required by the locale, the base font name list is searched
for the first appearance of one of the following cases that names a set of fonts that
exist at the server:
The first XLFD-conforming base font name that specifies the required charset or
a superset of the required charset in its CharSetRegistry and CharSetEncoding
fields. The implementation may use a base font name whose specified charset is
a superset of the required charset, for example, an ISO8859-1 font for an ASCII
charset.
The first set of one or more XLFD-conforming base font names that specify one
or more charsets that can be remapped to support the required charset. The Xlib
implementation may recognize various mappings from a required charset to one
or more other charsets and use the fonts for those charsets. For example, JIS
Roman is ASCII with tilde and backslash replaced by yen and overbar; Xlib may
load an ISO8859-1 font to support this character set if a JIS Roman font is not
available.
The first XLFD-conforming font name or the first non-XLFD font name for which an
XLFD font name can be obtained, combined with the required charset (replacing
the CharSetRegistry and CharSetEncoding fields in the XLFD font name). As in
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case 1, the implementation may use a charset that is a superset of the required
charset.
The first font name that can be mapped in some implementation-dependent man-
ner to one or more fonts that support imaging text in the charset.
For example, assume that a locale required the charsets:
ISO8859-1
JISX0208.1983
JISX0201.1976
GB2312-1980.0
The user could supply a base_font_name_list that explicitly specifies the charsets,
ensuring that specific fonts are used if they exist. For example:
"-JIS-Fixed-Medium-R-Normal--26-180-100-100-C-240-JISX0208.1983-0,\\
-JIS-Fixed-Medium-R-Normal--26-180-100-100-C-120-JISX0201.1976-0,\\
-GB-Fixed-Medium-R-Normal--26-180-100-100-C-240-GB2312-1980.0,\\
-Adobe-Courier-Bold-R-Normal--25-180-75-75-M-150-ISO8859-1"
Alternatively, the user could supply a base_font_name_list that omits the charsets,
letting Xlib select font charsets required for the locale. For example:
"-JIS-Fixed-Medium-R-Normal--26-180-100-100-C-240,\\
-JIS-Fixed-Medium-R-Normal--26-180-100-100-C-120,\\
-GB-Fixed-Medium-R-Normal--26-180-100-100-C-240,\\
-Adobe-Courier-Bold-R-Normal--25-180-100-100-M-150"
Alternatively, the user could simply supply a single base font name that allows Xlib
to select from all available fonts that meet certain minimum XLFD property require-
ments. For example:
"-*-*-*-R-Normal--*-180-100-100-*-*"
If XCreateFontSet is unable to create the font set, either because there is
insufficient memory or because the current locale is not supported, XCre-
ateFontSet returns NULL, missing_charset_list_return is set to NULL, and
missing_charset_count_return is set to zero. If fonts exist for all of the charsets
required by the current locale, XCreateFontSet returns a valid XFontSet,
missing_charset_list_return is set to NULL, and missing_charset_count_return is set
to zero.
If no font exists for one or more of the required charsets, XCreateFontSet sets
missing_charset_list_return to a list of one or more null-terminated charset names
for which no font exists and sets missing_charset_count_return to the number of
missing fonts. The charsets are from the list of the required charsets for the encod-
ing of the locale and do not include any charsets to which Xlib may be able to remap
a required charset.
If no font exists for any of the required charsets or if the locale definition in
Xlib requires that a font exist for a particular charset and a font is not found for
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that charset, XCreateFontSet returns NULL. Otherwise, XCreateFontSet returns
a valid XFontSet to font_set.
When an Xmb/wc drawing or measuring function is called with an XFontSet that
has missing charsets, some characters in the locale will not be drawable. If
def_string_return is non-NULL, XCreateFontSet returns a pointer to a string that
represents the glyphs that are drawn with this XFontSet when the charsets of the
available fonts do not include all font glyphs required to draw a codepoint. The
string does not necessarily consist of valid characters in the current locale and is
not necessarily drawn with the fonts loaded for the font set, but the client can draw
and measure the default glyphs by including this string in a string being drawn or
measured with the XFontSet.
If the string returned to def_string_return is the empty string (""), no glyphs are
drawn, and the escapement is zero. The returned string is null-terminated. It is
owned by Xlib and should not be modified or freed by the client. It will be freed by
a call to XFreeFontSet with the associated XFontSet. Until freed, its contents will
not be modified by Xlib.
The client is responsible for constructing an error message from the missing charset
and default string information and may choose to continue operation in the case
that some fonts did not exist.
The returned XFontSet and missing charset list should be freed with XFreeFontSet
and XFreeStringList, respectively. The client-supplied base_font_name_list may be
freed by the client after calling XCreateFontSet.
To obtain a list of XFontStruct structures and full font names given an XFontSet,
use XFontsOfFontSet.
int XFontsOfFontSet( font_set, ***font_struct_list_return,
***font_name_list_return);
font_set Specifies the font set.
font_struct_list_return Returns the list of font structs.
font_name_list_return Returns the list of font names.
The XFontsOfFontSet function returns a list of one or more XFontStructs and font
names for the fonts used by the Xmb and Xwc layers for the given font set. A list of
pointers to the XFontStruct structures is returned to font_struct_list_return. A list
of pointers to null-terminated, fully specified font name strings in the locale of the
font set is returned to font_name_list_return. The font_name_list order corresponds
to the font_struct_list order. The number of XFontStruct structures and font names
is returned as the value of the function.
Because it is not guaranteed that a given character will be imaged using a single
font glyph, there is no provision for mapping a character or default string to the font
properties, font ID, or direction hint for the font for the character. The client may
access the XFontStruct list to obtain these values for all the fonts currently in use.
Xlib does not guarantee that fonts are loaded from the server at the creation of an
XFontSet. Xlib may choose to cache font data, loading it only as needed to draw
text or compute text dimensions. Therefore, existence of the per_char metrics in
the XFontStruct structures in the XFontStructSet is undefined. Also, note that all
properties in the XFontStruct structures are in the STRING encoding.
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The XFontStruct and font name lists are owned by Xlib and should not be modified or
freed by the client. They will be freed by a call to XFreeFontSet with the associated
XFontSet. Until freed, their contents will not be modified by Xlib.
To obtain the base font name list and the selected font name list given an XFontSet,
use XBaseFontNameListOfFontSet.
char *XBaseFontNameListOfFontSet( font_set);
font_set Specifies the font set.
The XBaseFontNameListOfFontSet function returns the original base font name list
supplied by the client when the XFontSet was created. A null-terminated string con-
taining a list of comma-separated font names is returned as the value of the func-
tion. White space may appear immediately on either side of separating commas.
If XCreateFontSet obtained an XLFD name from the font properties for the font
specified by a non-XLFD base name, the XBaseFontNameListOfFontSet function
will return the XLFD name instead of the non-XLFD base name.
The base font name list is owned by Xlib and should not be modified or freed by the
client. It will be freed by a call to XFreeFontSet with the associated XFontSet. Until
freed, its contents will not be modified by Xlib.
To obtain the locale name given an XFontSet, use XLocaleOfFontSet.
char *XLocaleOfFontSet( font_set);
font_set Specifies the font set.
The XLocaleOfFontSet function returns the name of the locale bound to the speci-
fied XFontSet, as a null-terminated string.
The returned locale name string is owned by Xlib and should not be modified or
freed by the client. It may be freed by a call to XFreeFontSet with the associated
XFontSet. Until freed, it will not be modified by Xlib.
The XFreeFontSet function is a convenience function for freeing an output context.
XFreeFontSet also frees its associated XOM if the output context was created by
XCreateFontSet.
void XFreeFontSet( *display, font_set);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
font_set Specifies the font set.
The XFreeFontSet function frees the specified font set. The associated base font
name list, font name list, XFontStruct list, and XFontSetExtents, if any, are freed.
Obtaining Font Set Metrics
Metrics for the internationalized text drawing functions are defined in terms of a
primary draw direction, which is the default direction in which the character origin
advances for each succeeding character in the string. The Xlib interface is currently
defined to support only a left-to-right primary draw direction. The drawing origin
is the position passed to the drawing function when the text is drawn. The baseline
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is a line drawn through the drawing origin parallel to the primary draw direction.
Character ink is the pixels painted in the foreground color and does not include
interline or intercharacter spacing or image text background pixels.
The drawing functions are allowed to implement implicit text directionality control,
reversing the order in which characters are rendered along the primary draw di-
rection in response to locale-specific lexical analysis of the string.
Regardless of the character rendering order, the origins of all characters are on
the primary draw direction side of the drawing origin. The screen location of a par-
ticular character image may be determined with XmbTextPerCharExtents or Xwc-
TextPerCharExtents.
The drawing functions are allowed to implement context-dependent rendering,
where the glyphs drawn for a string are not simply a concatenation of the glyphs
that represent each individual character. A string of two characters drawn with
XmbDrawString may render differently than if the two characters were drawn with
separate calls to XmbDrawString. If the client appends or inserts a character in a
previously drawn string, the client may need to redraw some adjacent characters
to obtain proper rendering.
To find out about direction-dependent rendering, use XDirectionalDependent-
Drawing.
Bool XDirectionalDependentDrawing( font_set);
font_set Specifies the font set.
The XDirectionalDependentDrawing function returns True if the drawing functions
implement implicit text directionality; otherwise, it returns False.
To find out about context-dependent rendering, use XContextualDrawing.
Bool XContextualDrawing( font_set);
font_set Specifies the font set.
The XContextualDrawing function returns True if text drawn with the font set might
include context-dependent drawing; otherwise, it returns False.
To find out about context-dependent or direction-dependent rendering, use XCon-
textDependentDrawing.
Bool XContextDependentDrawing( font_set);
font_set Specifies the font set.
The XContextDependentDrawing function returns True if the drawing functions im-
plement implicit text directionality or if text drawn with the font_set might include
context-dependent drawing; otherwise, it returns False.
The drawing functions do not interpret newline, tab, or other control characters.
The behavior when nonprinting characters other than space are drawn is imple-
mentation-dependent. It is the client's responsibility to interpret control characters
in a text stream.
The maximum character extents for the fonts that are used by the text drawing
layers can be accessed by the XFontSetExtents structure:
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typedef struct {
XRectangle max_ink_extent; /* over all drawable characters */
XRectangle max_logical_extent; /* over all drawable characters */
} XFontSetExtents;
The XRectangle structures used to return font set metrics are the usual Xlib screen-
oriented rectangles with x, y giving the upper left corner, and width and height
always positive.
The max_ink_extent member gives the maximum extent, over all drawable char-
acters, of the rectangles that bound the character glyph image drawn in the fore-
ground color, relative to a constant origin. See XmbTextExtents and XwcTextEx-
tents for detailed semantics.
The max_logical_extent member gives the maximum extent, over all drawable char-
acters, of the rectangles that specify minimum spacing to other graphical features,
relative to a constant origin. Other graphical features drawn by the client, for
example, a border surrounding the text, should not intersect this rectangle. The
max_logical_extent member should be used to compute minimum interline spacing
and the minimum area that must be allowed in a text field to draw a given number
of arbitrary characters.
Due to context-dependent rendering, appending a given character to a string may
change the string's extent by an amount other than that character's individual ex-
tent.
The rectangles for a given character in a string can be obtained from XmbTextPer-
CharExtents or XwcTextPerCharExtents.
To obtain the maximum extents structure given an XFontSet, use XExtentsOf-
FontSet.
XFontSetExtents *XExtentsOfFontSet( font_set);
font_set Specifies the font set.
The XExtentsOfFontSet function returns an XFontSetExtents structure for the
fonts used by the Xmb and Xwc layers for the given font set.
The XFontSetExtents structure is owned by Xlib and should not be modified or freed
by the client. It will be freed by a call to XFreeFontSet with the associated XFontSet.
Until freed, its contents will not be modified by Xlib.
To obtain the escapement in pixels of the specified text as a value, use XmbTex-
tEscapement or XwcTextEscapement.
int XmbTextEscapement( font_set, *string, num_bytes);
int XwcTextEscapement( font_set, *string, num_wchars);
font_set Specifies the font set.
string Specifies the character string.
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num_bytes Specifies the number of bytes in the string argument.
num_wchars Specifies the number of characters in the string argu-
ment.
The XmbTextEscapement and XwcTextEscapement functions return the escapement
in pixels of the specified string as a value, using the fonts loaded for the specified
font set. The escapement is the distance in pixels in the primary draw direction from
the drawing origin to the origin of the next character to be drawn, assuming that
the rendering of the next character is not dependent on the supplied string.
Regardless of the character rendering order, the escapement is always positive.
To obtain the overall_ink_return and overall_logical_return arguments, the overall
bounding box of the string's image, and a logical bounding box, use XmbTextExtents
or XwcTextExtents.
int XmbTextExtents( font_set, *string, num_bytes,
*overall_ink_return, *overall_logical_return);
int XwcTextExtents( font_set, *string, num_wchars,
*overall_ink_return, *overall_logical_return);
font_set Specifies the font set.
string Specifies the character string.
num_bytes Specifies the number of bytes in the string argument.
num_wchars Specifies the number of characters in the string ar-
gument.
overall_ink_return Returns the overall ink dimensions.
overall_logical_return Returns the overall logical dimensions.
The XmbTextExtents and XwcTextExtents functions set the components of the spec-
ified overall_ink_return and overall_logical_return arguments to the overall bound-
ing box of the string's image and a logical bounding box for spacing purposes,
respectively. They return the value returned by XmbTextEscapement or XwcTex-
tEscapement. These metrics are relative to the drawing origin of the string, using
the fonts loaded for the specified font set.
If the overall_ink_return argument is non-NULL, it is set to the bounding box
of the string's character ink. The overall_ink_return for a nondescending, hori-
zontally drawn Latin character is conventionally entirely above the baseline; that
is, overall_ink_return.height <= -overall_ink_return.y. The overall_ink_return for
a nonkerned character is entirely at, and to the right of, the origin; that is,
overall_ink_return.x >= 0. A character consisting of a single pixel at the origin
would set overall_ink_return fields y = 0, x = 0, width = 1, and height = 1.
If the overall_logical_return argument is non-NULL, it is set to the bounding box
that provides minimum spacing to other graphical features for the string. Other
graphical features, for example, a border surrounding the text, should not intersect
this rectangle.
When the XFontSet has missing charsets, metrics for each unavailable character
are taken from the default string returned by XCreateFontSet so that the metrics
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represent the text as it will actually be drawn. The behavior for an invalid codepoint
is undefined.
To determine the effective drawing origin for a character in a drawn string, the
client should call XmbTextPerCharExtents on the entire string, then on the charac-
ter, and subtract the x values of the returned rectangles for the character. This is
useful to redraw portions of a line of text or to justify words, but for context-depen-
dent rendering, the client should not assume that it can redraw the character by
itself and get the same rendering.
To obtain per-character information for a text string, use XmbTextPerCharExtents
or XwcTextPerCharExtents.
Status XmbTextPerCharExtents( font_set, *string, num_bytes,
*ink_array_return, *logical_array_return, array_size,
*num_chars_return, *overall_ink_return, *overall_logical_return);
Status XwcTextPerCharExtents( font_set, *string, num_wchars,
*ink_array_return, *logical_array_return, array_size,
*num_chars_return, *overall_ink_return, *overall_logical_return);
font_set Specifies the font set.
string Specifies the character string.
num_bytes Specifies the number of bytes in the string argument.
num_wchars Specifies the number of characters in the string ar-
gument.
ink_array_return Returns the ink dimensions for each character.
logical_array_return Returns the logical dimensions for each character.
array_size Specifies the size of ink_array_return and
logical_array_return. The caller must pass in arrays
of this size.
num_chars_return Returns the number of characters in the string argu-
ment.
overall_ink_return Returns the overall ink dimensions.
overall_logical_return Returns the overall logical dimensions.
The XmbTextPerCharExtents and XwcTextPerCharExtents functions return the
text dimensions of each character of the specified text, using the fonts loaded
for the specified font set. Each successive element of ink_array_return and
logical_array_return is set to the successive character's drawn metrics, relative to
the drawing origin of the string and one rectangle for each character in the supplied
text string. The number of elements of ink_array_return and logical_array_return
that have been set is returned to num_chars_return.
Each element of ink_array_return is set to the bounding box of the corresponding
character's drawn foreground color. Each element of logical_array_return is set to
the bounding box that provides minimum spacing to other graphical features for
the corresponding character. Other graphical features should not intersect any of
the logical_array_return rectangles.
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Note that an XRectangle represents the effective drawing dimensions of the char-
acter, regardless of the number of font glyphs that are used to draw the character
or the direction in which the character is drawn. If multiple characters map to a
single character glyph, the dimensions of all the XRectangles of those characters
are the same.
When the XFontSet has missing charsets, metrics for each unavailable character
are taken from the default string returned by XCreateFontSet so that the metrics
represent the text as it will actually be drawn. The behavior for an invalid codepoint
is undefined.
If the array_size is too small for the number of characters in the supplied text, the
functions return zero and num_chars_return is set to the number of rectangles re-
quired. Otherwise, the functions return a nonzero value.
If the overall_ink_return or overall_logical_return argument is non-NULL, Xmb-
TextPerCharExtents and XwcTextPerCharExtents return the maximum extent of
the string's metrics to overall_ink_return or overall_logical_return, as returned by
XmbTextExtents or XwcTextExtents.
Drawing Text Using Font Sets
The functions defined in this section draw text at a specified location in a drawable.
They are similar to the functions XDrawText, XDrawString, and XDrawImageString
except that they work with font sets instead of single fonts and interpret the text
based on the locale of the font set instead of treating the bytes of the string as direct
font indexes. See section 8.6 for details of the use of Graphics Contexts (GCs) and
possible protocol errors. If a BadFont error is generated, characters prior to the
offending character may have been drawn.
The text is drawn using the fonts loaded for the specified font set; the font in the
GC is ignored and may be modified by the functions. No validation that all fonts
conform to some width rule is performed.
The text functions XmbDrawText and XwcDrawText use the following structures:
typedef struct {
char *chars; /* pointer to string */
int nchars; /* number of bytes */
int delta; /* pixel delta between strings */
XFontSet font_set; /* fonts, None means don't change */
} XmbTextItem;
typedef struct {
wchar_t *chars; /* pointer to wide char string */
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int nchars; /* number of wide characters */
int delta; /* pixel delta between strings */
XFontSet font_set; /* fonts, None means don't change */
} XwcTextItem;
To draw text using multiple font sets in a given drawable, use XmbDrawText or Xw-
cDrawText.
void XmbDrawText( *display, d, gc, y, *items, nitems);
void XwcDrawText( *display, d, gc, y, *items, nitems);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
items Specifies an array of text items.
nitems Specifies the number of text items in the array.
The XmbDrawText and XwcDrawText functions allow complex spacing and font set
shifts between text strings. Each text item is processed in turn, with the origin of
a text element advanced in the primary draw direction by the escapement of the
previous text item. A text item delta specifies an additional escapement of the text
item drawing origin in the primary draw direction. A font_set member other than
None in an item causes the font set to be used for this and subsequent text items
in the text_items list. Leading text items with a font_set member set to None will
not be drawn.
XmbDrawText and XwcDrawText do not perform any context-dependent rendering
between text segments. Clients may compute the drawing metrics by passing each
text segment to XmbTextExtents and XwcTextExtents or XmbTextPerCharExtents
and XwcTextPerCharExtents. When the XFontSet has missing charsets, each un-
available character is drawn with the default string returned by XCreateFontSet.
The behavior for an invalid codepoint is undefined.
To draw text using a single font set in a given drawable, use XmbDrawString or
XwcDrawString.
void XmbDrawString( *display, d, font_set, gc, y, *string,
num_bytes);
void XwcDrawString( *display, d, font_set, gc, y, *string,
num_wchars);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
font_set Specifies the font set.
gc Specifies the GC.
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x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
string Specifies the character string.
num_bytes Specifies the number of bytes in the string argument.
num_wchars Specifies the number of characters in the string argu-
ment.
The XmbDrawString and XwcDrawString functions draw the specified text with the
foreground pixel. When the XFontSet has missing charsets, each unavailable char-
acter is drawn with the default string returned by XCreateFontSet. The behavior
for an invalid codepoint is undefined.
To draw image text using a single font set in a given drawable, use XmbDrawI-
mageString or XwcDrawImageString.
void XmbDrawImageString( *display, d, font_set, gc, y, *string,
num_bytes);
void XwcDrawImageString( *display, d, font_set, gc, y, *string,
num_wchars);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
font_set Specifies the font set.
gc Specifies the GC.
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
string Specifies the character string.
num_bytes Specifies the number of bytes in the string argument.
num_wchars Specifies the number of characters in the string argu-
ment.
The XmbDrawImageString and XwcDrawImageString functions fill a destination
rectangle with the background pixel defined in the GC and then paint the text
with the foreground pixel. The filled rectangle is the rectangle returned to
overall_logical_return by XmbTextExtents or XwcTextExtents for the same text and
XFontSet.
When the XFontSet has missing charsets, each unavailable character is drawn with
the default string returned by XCreateFontSet. The behavior for an invalid code-
point is undefined.
Input Methods
This section provides discussions of the following X Input Method (XIM) topics:
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Input method overview
Input method management
Input method functions
Input method values
Input context functions
Input context values
Input method callback semantics
Event filtering
Getting keyboard input
Input method conventions
Input Method Overview
This section provides definitions for terms and concepts used for internationalized
text input and a brief overview of the intended use of the mechanisms provided by
Xlib.
A large number of languages in the world use alphabets consisting of a small set of
symbols (letters) to form words. To enter text into a computer in an alphabetic lan-
guage, a user usually has a keyboard on which there exist key symbols correspond-
ing to the alphabet. Sometimes, a few characters of an alphabetic language are miss-
ing on the keyboard. Many computer users who speak a Latin-alphabet-based lan-
guage only have an English-based keyboard. They need to hit a combination of key-
strokes to enter a character that does not exist directly on the keyboard. A number
of algorithms have been developed for entering such characters. These are known
as European input methods, compose input methods, or dead-key input methods.
Japanese is an example of a language with a phonetic symbol set, where each sym-
bol represents a specific sound. There are two phonetic symbol sets in Japanese:
Katakana and Hiragana. In general, Katakana is used for words that are of foreign
origin, and Hiragana is used for writing native Japanese words. Collectively, the two
systems are called Kana. Each set consists of 48 characters.
Korean also has a phonetic symbol set, called Hangul. Each of the 24 basic phonetic
symbols (14 consonants and 10 vowels) represents a specific sound. A syllable is
composed of two or three parts: the initial consonants, the vowels, and the optional
last consonants. With Hangul, syllables can be treated as the basic units on which
text processing is done. For example, a delete operation may work on a phonetic
symbol or a syllable. Korean code sets include several thousands of these syllables.
A user types the phonetic symbols that make up the syllables of the words to be
entered. The display may change as each phonetic symbol is entered. For example,
when the second phonetic symbol of a syllable is entered, the first phonetic symbol
may change its shape and size. Likewise, when the third phonetic symbol is entered,
the first two phonetic symbols may change their shape and size.
Not all languages rely solely on alphabetic or phonetic systems. Some languages,
including Japanese and Korean, employ an ideographic writing system. In an ideo-
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graphic system, rather than taking a small set of symbols and combining them in
different ways to create words, each word consists of one unique symbol (or, occa-
sionally, several symbols). The number of symbols can be very large: approximately
50,000 have been identified in Hanzi, the Chinese ideographic system.
Two major aspects of ideographic systems impact their use with computers. First,
the standard computer character sets in Japan, China, and Korea include roughly
8,000 characters, while sets in Taiwan have between 15,000 and 30,000 characters.
This makes it necessary to use more than one byte to represent a character. Second,
it obviously is impractical to have a keyboard that includes all of a given language's
ideographic symbols. Therefore, a mechanism is required for entering characters so
that a keyboard with a reasonable number of keys can be used. Those input methods
are usually based on phonetics, but there also exist methods based on the graphical
properties of characters.
In Japan, both Kana and the ideographic system Kanji are used. In Korea, Hangul
and sometimes the ideographic system Hanja are used. Now consider entering ideo-
graphs in Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan.
In Japan, either Kana or English characters are typed and then a region is selected
(sometimes automatically) for conversion to Kanji. Several Kanji characters may
have the same phonetic representation. If that is the case with the string entered,
a menu of characters is presented and the user must choose the appropriate one. If
no choice is necessary or a preference has been established, the input method does
the substitution directly. When Latin characters are converted to Kana or Kanji, it
is called a romaji conversion.
In Korea, it is usually acceptable to keep Korean text in Hangul form, but some
people may choose to write Hanja-originated words in Hanja rather than in Hangul.
To change Hangul to Hanja, the user selects a region for conversion and then follows
the same basic method as that described for Japanese.
Probably because there are well-accepted phonetic writing systems for Japanese
and Korean, computer input methods in these countries for entering ideographs are
fairly standard. Keyboard keys have both English characters and phonetic symbols
engraved on them, and the user can switch between the two sets.
The situation is different for Chinese. While there is a phonetic system called Pinyin
promoted by authorities, there is no consensus for entering Chinese text. Some ven-
dors use a phonetic decomposition (Pinyin or another), others use ideographic de-
composition of Chinese words, with various implementations and keyboard layouts.
There are about 16 known methods, none of which is a clear standard.
Also, there are actually two ideographic sets used: Traditional Chinese (the original
written Chinese) and Simplified Chinese. Several years ago, the People's Republic of
China launched a campaign to simplify some ideographic characters and eliminate
redundancies altogether. Under the plan, characters would be streamlined every
five years. Characters have been revised several times now, resulting in the smaller,
simpler set that makes up Simplified Chinese.
Input Method Architecture
As shown in the previous section, there are many different input methods in use
today, each varying with language, culture, and history. A common feature of many
input methods is that the user may type multiple keystrokes to compose a single
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character (or set of characters). The process of composing characters from key-
strokes is called preediting. It may require complex algorithms and large dictionar-
ies involving substantial computer resources.
Input methods may require one or more areas in which to show the feedback of the
actual keystrokes, to propose disambiguation to the user, to list dictionaries, and so
on. The input method areas of concern are as follows:
The status area is a logical extension of the LEDs that exist on the physical key-
board. It is a window that is intended to present the internal state of the input
method that is critical to the user. The status area may consist of text data and
bitmaps or some combination.
The preedit area displays the intermediate text for those languages that are com-
posing prior to the client handling the data.
The auxiliary area is used for pop-up menus and customizing dialogs that may be
required for an input method. There may be multiple auxiliary areas for an input
method. Auxiliary areas are managed by the input method independent of the
client. Auxiliary areas are assumed to be separate dialogs, which are maintained
by the input method.
There are various user interaction styles used for preediting. The ones supported
by Xlib are as follows:
For on-the-spot input methods, preediting data will be displayed directly in the
application window. Application data is moved to allow preedit data to appear at
the point of insertion.
Over-the-spot preediting means that the data is displayed in a preedit window
that is placed over the point of insertion.
Off-the-spot preediting means that the preedit window is inside the application
window but not at the point of insertion. Often, this type of window is placed at
the bottom of the application window.
Root-window preediting refers to input methods that use a preedit window that
is the child of RootWindow.
It would require a lot of computing resources if portable applications had to include
input methods for all the languages in the world. To avoid this, a goal of the Xlib
design is to allow an application to communicate with an input method placed in a
separate process. Such a process is called an input server. The server to which the
application should connect is dependent on the environment when the application is
started up, that is, the user language and the actual encoding to be used for it. The
input method connection is said to be locale-dependent. It is also user-dependent.
For a given language, the user can choose, to some extent, the user interface style
of input method (if choice is possible among several).
Using an input server implies communication overhead, but applications can be
migrated without relinking. Input methods can be implemented either as a stub
communicating to an input server or as a local library.
An input method may be based on a front-end or a back-end architecture. In a front-
end architecture, there are two separate connections to the X server: keystrokes go
directly from the X server to the input method on one connection and other events to
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the regular client connection. The input method is then acting as a filter and sends
composed strings to the client. A front-end architecture requires synchronization
between the two connections to avoid lost key events or locking issues.
In a back-end architecture, a single X server connection is used. A dispatching mech-
anism must decide on this channel to delegate appropriate keystrokes to the input
method. For instance, it may retain a Help keystroke for its own purpose. In the
case where the input method is a separate process (that is, a server), there must be
a special communication protocol between the back-end client and the input server.
A front-end architecture introduces synchronization issues and a filtering mech-
anism for noncharacter keystrokes (Function keys, Help, and so on). A back-end
architecture sometimes implies more communication overhead and more process
switching. If all three processes (X server, input server, client) are running on a
single workstation, there are two process switches for each keystroke in a back-end
architecture, but there is only one in a front-end architecture.
The abstraction used by a client to communicate with an input method is an opaque
data structure represented by the XIM data type. This data structure is returned by
the XOpenIM function, which opens an input method on a given display. Subsequent
operations on this data structure encapsulate all communication between client and
input method. There is no need for an X client to use any networking library or
natural language package to use an input method.
A single input server may be used for one or more languages, supporting one or
more encoding schemes. But the strings returned from an input method will always
be encoded in the (single) locale associated with the XIM object.
Input Contexts
Xlib provides the ability to manage a multi-threaded state for text input. A client may
be using multiple windows, each window with multiple text entry areas, and the user
possibly switching among them at any time. The abstraction for representing the
state of a particular input thread is called an input context. The Xlib representation
of an input context is an XIC.
An input context is the abstraction retaining the state, properties, and semantics of
communication between a client and an input method. An input context is a combi-
nation of an input method, a locale specifying the encoding of the character strings
to be returned, a client window, internal state information, and various layout or
appearance characteristics. The input context concept somewhat matches for input
the graphics context abstraction defined for graphics output.
One input context belongs to exactly one input method. Different input contexts may
be associated with the same input method, possibly with the same client window. An
XIC is created with the XCreateIC function, providing an XIM argument and affili-
ating the input context to the input method for its lifetime. When an input method
is closed with XCloseIM, all of its affiliated input contexts should not be used any
more (and should preferably be destroyed before closing the input method).
Considering the example of a client window with multiple text entry areas, the ap-
plication programmer could, for example, choose to implement as follows:
As many input contexts are created as text entry areas, and the client will get the
input accumulated on each context each time it looks up in that context.
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A single context is created for a top-level window in the application. If such a
window contains several text entry areas, each time the user moves to another
text entry area, the client has to indicate changes in the context.
A range of choices can be made by application designers to use either a single or
multiple input contexts, according to the needs of their application.
Getting Keyboard Input
To obtain characters from an input method, a client must call the function Xm-
bLookupString or XwcLookupString with an input context created from that input
method. Both a locale and display are bound to an input method when it is opened,
and an input context inherits this locale and display. Any strings returned by Xm-
bLookupString or XwcLookupString will be encoded in that locale.
Focus Management
For each text entry area in which the XmbLookupString or XwcLookupString func-
tions are used, there will be an associated input context.
When the application focus moves to a text entry area, the application must set the
input context focus to the input context associated with that area. The input context
focus is set by calling XSetICFocus with the appropriate input context.
Also, when the application focus moves out of a text entry area, the application
should unset the focus for the associated input context by calling XUnsetICFocus.
As an optimization, if XSetICFocus is called successively on two different input con-
texts, setting the focus on the second will automatically unset the focus on the first.
To set and unset the input context focus correctly, it is necessary to track applica-
tion-level focus changes. Such focus changes do not necessarily correspond to X
server focus changes.
If a single input context is being used to do input for multiple text entry areas, it
will also be necessary to set the focus window of the input context whenever the
focus window changes (see section 13.5.6.3).
Geometry Management
In most input method architectures (on-the-spot being the notable exception), the
input method will perform the display of its own data. To provide better visual lo-
cality, it is often desirable to have the input method areas embedded within a client.
To do this, the client may need to allocate space for an input method. Xlib provides
support that allows the size and position of input method areas to be provided by
a client. The input method areas that are supported for geometry management are
the status area and the preedit area.
The fundamental concept on which geometry management for input method win-
dows is based is the proper division of responsibilities between the client (or toolkit)
and the input method. The division of responsibilities is as follows:
The client is responsible for the geometry of the input method window.
The input method is responsible for the contents of the input method window.
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An input method is able to suggest a size to the client, but it cannot suggest a
placement. Also the input method can only suggest a size. It does not determine the
size, and it must accept the size it is given.
Before a client provides geometry management for an input method, it must de-
termine if geometry management is needed. The input method indicates the need
for geometry management by setting XIMPreeditArea or XIMStatusArea in its
XIMStyles value returned by XGetIMValues. When a client has decided that it will
provide geometry management for an input method, it indicates that decision by
setting the XNInputStyle value in the XIC.
After a client has established with the input method that it will do geometry man-
agement, the client must negotiate the geometry with the input method. The geom-
etry is negotiated by the following steps:
The client suggests an area to the input method by setting the XNAreaNeeded
value for that area. If the client has no constraints for the input method, it either
will not suggest an area or will set the width and height to zero. Otherwise, it will
set one of the values.
The client will get the XIC value XNAreaNeeded. The input method will return
its suggested size in this value. The input method should pay attention to any
constraints suggested by the client.
The client sets the XIC value XNArea to inform the input method of the geometry
of its window. The client should try to honor the geometry requested by the input
method. The input method must accept this geometry.
Clients doing geometry management must be aware that setting other XIC values
may affect the geometry desired by an input method. For example, XNFontSet and
XNLineSpace may change the geometry desired by the input method.
The table of XIC values (see section 13.5.6) indicates the values that can cause the
desired geometry to change when they are set. It is the responsibility of the client
to renegotiate the geometry of the input method window when it is needed.
In addition, a geometry management callback is provided by which an input method
can initiate a geometry change.
Event Filtering
A filtering mechanism is provided to allow input methods to capture X events trans-
parently to clients. It is expected that toolkits (or clients) using XmbLookupString
or XwcLookupString will call this filter at some point in the event processing mech-
anism to make sure that events needed by an input method can be filtered by that
input method.
If there were no filter, a client could receive and discard events that are necessary
for the proper functioning of an input method. The following provides a few exam-
ples of such events:
Expose events on preedit window in local mode.
Events may be used by an input method to communicate with an input server.
Such input server protocol-related events have to be intercepted if one does not
want to disturb client code.
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Key events can be sent to a filter before they are bound to translations such as
those the X Toolkit Intrinsics library provides.
Clients are expected to get the XIC value XNFilterEvents and augment the event
mask for the client window with that event mask. This mask may be zero.
Callbacks
When an on-the-spot input method is implemented, only the client can insert or
delete preedit data in place and possibly scroll existing text. This means that the
echo of the keystrokes has to be achieved by the client itself, tightly coupled with
the input method logic.
When the user enters a keystroke, the client calls XmbLookupString or Xw-
cLookupString. At this point, in the on-the-spot case, the echo of the keystroke in
the preedit has not yet been done. Before returning to the client logic that handles
the input characters, the look-up function must call the echoing logic to insert the
new keystroke. If the keystrokes entered so far make up a character, the keystrokes
entered need to be deleted, and the composed character will be returned. Hence,
what happens is that, while being called by client code, the input method logic has
to call back to the client before it returns. The client code, that is, a callback proce-
dure, is called from the input method logic.
There are a number of cases where the input method logic has to call back the
client. Each of those cases is associated with a well-defined callback action. It is
possible for the client to specify, for each input context, what callback is to be called
for each action.
There are also callbacks provided for feedback of status information and a callback
to initiate a geometry request for an input method.
Visible Position Feedback Masks
In the on-the-spot input style, there is a problem when attempting to draw preedit
strings that are longer than the available space. Once the display area is exceeded,
it is not clear how best to display the preedit string. The visible position feedback
masks of XIMText help resolve this problem by allowing the input method to specify
hints that indicate the essential portions of the preedit string. For example, such
hints can help developers implement scrolling of a long preedit string within a short
preedit display area.
Preedit String Management
As highlighted before, the input method architecture provides preediting, which
supports a type of preprocessor input composition. In this case, composition con-
sists of interpreting a sequence of key events and returning a committed string via
XmbLookupString or XwcLookupString. This provides the basics for input methods.
In addition to preediting based on key events, a general framework is provided
to give a client that desires it more advanced preediting based on the text within
the client. This framework is called string conversion and is provided using XIC
values. The fundamental concept of string conversion is to allow the input method
to manipulate the client's text independent of any user preediting operation.
The need for string conversion is based on language needs and input method capa-
bilities. The following are some examples of string conversion:
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Transliteration conversion provides language-specific conversions within the in-
put method. In the case of Korean input, users wish to convert a Hangul string
into a Hanja string while in preediting, after preediting, or in other situations
(for example, on a selected string). The conversion is triggered when the user
presses a Hangul-to-Hanja key sequence (which may be input method specific).
Sometimes the user may want to invoke the conversion after finishing preediting
or on a user-selected string. Thus, the string to be converted is in an application
buffer, not in the preedit area of the input method. The string conversion services
allow the client to request this transliteration conversion from the input method.
There are many other transliteration conversions defined for various languages,
for example, Kana-to-Kanji conversion in Japanese. The key to remember is that
transliteration conversions are triggered at the request of the user and returned
to the client immediately without affecting the preedit area of the input method.
Reconversion of a previously committed string or a selected string is supported
by many input methods as a convenience to the user. For example, a user tends to
mistype the commit key while preediting. In that case, some input methods pro-
vide a special key sequence to request a ``reconvert'' operation on the committed
string, similiar to the undo facility provided by most text editors. Another example
is where the user is proofreading a document that has some misconversions from
preediting and wants to correct the misconverted text. Such reconversion is again
triggered by the user invoking some special action, but reconversions should not
affect the state of the preedit area.
Context-sensitive conversion is required for some languages and input methods
that need to retrieve text that surrounds the current spot location (cursor posi-
tion) of the client's buffer. Such text is needed when the preediting operation
depends on some surrounding characters (usually preceding the spot location).
For example, in Thai language input, certain character sequences may be invalid
and the input method may want to check whether characters constitute a valid
word. Input methods that do such context-dependent checking need to retrieve
the characters surrounding the current cursor position to obtain complete words.
Unlike other conversions, this conversion is not explicitly requested by the user.
Input methods that provide such context-sensitive conversion continuously need
to request context from the client, and any change in the context of the spot lo-
cation may affect such conversions. The client's context would be needed if the
user moves the cursor and starts editing again. For this reason, an input method
supporting this type of conversion should take notice of when the client calls Xm-
bResetIC or XwcResetIC, which is usually an indication of a context change.
Context-sensitive conversions just need a copy of the client's text, while other con-
versions replace the client's text with new text to achieve the reconversion or
transliteration. Yet in all cases the result of a conversion, either immediately or via
preediting, is returned by the XmbLookupString and XwcLookupString functions.
String conversion support is dependent on the availability of the XNStringConver-
sion or XNStringConversionCallback XIC values. Because the input method may not
support string conversions, clients have to query the availability of string conver-
sion operations by checking the supported XIC values list by calling XGetIMValues
with the XNQueryICValuesList IM value.
The difference between these two values is whether the conversion is invoked by
the client or the input method. The XNStringConversion XIC value is used by clients
to request a string conversion from the input method. The client is responsible for
determining which events are used to trigger the string conversion and whether
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the string to be converted should be copied or deleted. The type of conversion is
determined by the input method; the client can only pass the string to be converted.
The client is guaranteed that no XNStringConversionCallback will be issued when
this value is set; thus, the client need only set one of these values.
The XNStringConversionCallback XIC value is used by the client to notify the input
method that it will accept requests from the input method for string conversion. If
this value is set, it is the input method's responsibility to determine which events
are used to trigger the string conversion. When such events occur, the input method
issues a call to the client-supplied procedure to retrieve the string to be converted.
The client's callback procedure is notified whether to copy or delete the string and
is provided with hints as to the amount of text needed. The XIMStringConversion-
CallbackStruct specifies which text should be passed back to the input method.
Finally, the input method may call the client's XNStringConversionCallback proce-
dure multiple times if the string returned from the callback is not sufficient to per-
form a successful conversion. The arguments to the client's procedure allow the
input method to define a position (in character units) relative to the client's cursor
position and the size of the text needed. By varying the position and size of the de-
sired text in subsequent callbacks, the input method can retrieve additional text.
Input Method Management
The interface to input methods might appear to be simply creating an input method
(XOpenIM) and freeing an input method (XCloseIM). However, input methods may re-
quire complex communication with input method servers (IM servers), for example:
If the X server, IM server, and X clients are started asynchronously, some clients
may attempt to connect to the IM server before it is fully operational, and fail.
Therefore, some mechanism is needed to allow clients to detect when an IM server
has started.
It is up to clients to decide what should be done when an IM server is not available
(for example, wait, or use some other IM server).
Some input methods may allow the underlying IM server to be switched. Such
customization may be desired without restarting the entire client.
To support management of input methods in these cases, the following functions
are provided:
XRegisterIMInstantiateCallback This function allows clients to
register a callback procedure to
be called when Xlib detects that
an IM server is up and available.
XOpenIM A client calls this function as a result
of the callback procedure being called.
XSetIMValues, XSetICValues These functions use the XIM and XIC
values, XNDestroyCallback, to allow
a client to register a callback proce-
dure to be called when Xlib detects
that an IM server that was associat-
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ed with an opened input method is no
longer available. In addition, this func-
tion can be used to switch IM servers
for those input methods that support
such functionality. The IM value for
switching IM servers is implementa-
tion-dependent; see the description
below about switching IM servers.
XUnregisterIMInstantiateCallback This function removes a callback
procedure registered by the client.
Input methods that support switching of IM servers may exhibit some side-effects:
The input method will ensure that any new IM server supports any of the input
styles being used by input contexts already associated with the input method.
However, the list of supported input styles may be different.
Geometry management requests on previously created input contexts may be ini-
tiated by the new IM server.
Hot Keys
Some clients need to guarantee which keys can be used to escape from the input
method, regardless of the input method state; for example, the client-specific Help
key or the keys to move the input focus. The HotKey mechanism allows clients to
specify a set of keys for this purpose. However, the input method might not allow
clients to specify hot keys. Therefore, clients have to query support of hot keys
by checking the supported XIC values list by calling XGetIMValues with the XN-
QueryICValuesList IM value. When the hot keys specified conflict with the key bind-
ings of the input method, hot keys take precedence over the key bindings of the
input method.
Preedit State Operation
An input method may have several internal states, depending on its implementation
and the locale. However, one state that is independent of locale and implementation
is whether the input method is currently performing a preediting operation. Xlib
provides the ability for an application to manage the preedit state programmatical-
ly. Two methods are provided for retrieving the preedit state of an input context.
One method is to query the state by calling XGetICValues with the XNPreeditState
XIC value. Another method is to receive notification whenever the preedit state is
changed. To receive such notification, an application needs to register a callback by
calling XSetICValues with the XNPreeditStateNotifyCallback XIC value. In order
to change the preedit state programmatically, an application needs to call XSetIC-
Values with XNPreeditState.
Availability of the preedit state is input method dependent. The input method may
not provide the ability to set the state or to retrieve the state programmatically.
Therefore, clients have to query availability of preedit state operations by checking
the supported XIC values list by calling XGetIMValues with the XNQueryICValues-
List IM value.
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Input Method Functions
To open a connection, use XOpenIM.
XIM XOpenIM( *display, db, *res_name, *res_class);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
db Specifies a pointer to the resource database.
res_name Specifies the full resource name of the application.
res_class Specifies the full class name of the application.
The XOpenIM function opens an input method, matching the current locale and mod-
ifiers specification. Current locale and modifiers are bound to the input method
at opening time. The locale associated with an input method cannot be changed
dynamically. This implies that the strings returned by XmbLookupString or Xw-
cLookupString, for any input context affiliated with a given input method, will be
encoded in the locale current at the time the input method is opened.
The specific input method to which this call will be routed is identified on the basis
of the current locale. XOpenIM will identify a default input method corresponding
to the current locale. That default can be modified using XSetLocaleModifiers for
the input method modifier.
The db argument is the resource database to be used by the input method for look-
ing up resources that are private to the input method. It is not intended that this
database be used to look up values that can be set as IC values in an input context.
If db is NULL, no database is passed to the input method.
The res_name and res_class arguments specify the resource name and class of the
application. They are intended to be used as prefixes by the input method when
looking up resources that are common to all input contexts that may be created
for this input method. The characters used for resource names and classes must be
in the X Portable Character Set. The resources looked up are not fully specified if
res_name or res_class is NULL.
The res_name and res_class arguments are not assumed to exist beyond the call
to XOpenIM. The specified resource database is assumed to exist for the lifetime of
the input method.
XOpenIM returns NULL if no input method could be opened.
To close a connection, use XCloseIM.
Status XCloseIM( im);
im Specifies the input method.
The XCloseIM function closes the specified input method.
To set input method attributes, use XSetIMValues.
char *XSetIMValues( im);
im Specifies the input method.
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... Specifies the variable-length argument list(Al.
The XSetIMValues function presents a variable argument list programming inter-
face for setting attributes of the specified input method. It returns NULL if it suc-
ceeds; otherwise, it returns the name of the first argument that could not be set.
Xlib does not attempt to set arguments from the supplied list that follow the failed
argument; all arguments in the list preceding the failed argument have been set
correctly.
To query an input method, use XGetIMValues.
char *XGetIMValues( im);
im Specifies the input method.
... Specifies the variable length argument list(Al.
The XGetIMValues function presents a variable argument list programming inter-
face for querying properties or features of the specified input method. This function
returns NULL if it succeeds; otherwise, it returns the name of the first argument
that could not be obtained.
Each XIM value argument (following a name) must point to a location where the
XIM value is to be stored. That is, if the XIM value is of type T, the argument must
be of type T*. If T itself is a pointer type, then XGetIMValues allocates memory to
store the actual data, and the client is responsible for freeing this data by calling
XFree with the returned pointer.
To obtain the display associated with an input method, use XDisplayOfIM.
Display *XDisplayOfIM( im);
im Specifies the input method.
The XDisplayOfIM function returns the display associated with the specified input
method.
To get the locale associated with an input method, use XLocaleOfIM.
char *XLocaleOfIM( im);
im Specifies the input method.
The XLocaleOfIM function returns the locale associated with the specified input
method.
To register an input method instantiate callback, use XRegisterIMInstantiate-
Callback.
Bool XRegisterIMInstantiateCallback( *display, db, *res_name,
*res_class, callback, *client_data);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
db Specifies a pointer to the resource database.
res_name Specifies the full resource name of the application.
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res_class Specifies the full class name of the application.
callback Specifies a pointer to the input method instantiate
callback.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
The XRegisterIMInstantiateCallback function registers a callback to be invoked
whenever a new input method becomes available for the specified display that
matches the current locale and modifiers.
The function returns True if it succeeds; otherwise, it returns False.
The generic prototype is as follows:
void IMInstantiateCallback( *display, client_data, call_data);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Not used for this callback and always passed as NULL.
To unregister an input method instantiation callback, use XUnregisterIMInstan-
tiateCallback.
Bool XUnregisterIMInstantiateCallback( *display, db, *res_name,
*res_class, callback, *client_data);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
db Specifies a pointer to the resource database.
res_name Specifies the full resource name of the application.
res_class Specifies the full class name of the application.
callback Specifies a pointer to the input method instantiate
callback.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
The XUnregisterIMInstantiateCallback function removes an input method in-
stantiation callback previously registered. The function returns True if it succeeds;
otherwise, it returns False.
Input Method Values
The following table describes how XIM values are interpreted by an input method.
The first column lists the XIM values. The second column indicates how each of the
XIM values are treated by that input style.
The following keys apply to this table.
Key Explanation
D This value may be set using XSetIMVal-
ues. If it is not set, a default is provided.
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Key Explanation
S This value may be set
using XSetIMValues.
G This value may be read
using XGetIMValues.
XIM Value Key
XNQueryInputStyle G
XNResourceName D-S-G
XNResourceClass D-S-G
XNDestroyCallback D-S-G
XNQueryIMValuesList G
XNQueryICValuesList G
XNVisiblePosition G
XNR6PreeditCallback D-S-G
XNR6PreeditCallback is obsolete and its use is not recommended (see section
13.5.4.6).
Query Input Style
A client should always query the input method to determine which input styles are
supported. The client should then find an input style it is capable of supporting.
If the client cannot find an input style that it can support, it should negotiate with
the user the continuation of the program (exit, choose another input method, and
so on).
The argument value must be a pointer to a location where the returned value will
be stored. The returned value is a pointer to a structure of type XIMStyles. Clients
are responsible for freeing the XIMStyles structure. To do so, use XFree.
The XIMStyles structure is defined as follows:
typedef unsigned long XIMStyle;
#define XIMPreeditArea 0x0001L
#define XIMPreeditCallbacks 0x0002L
#define XIMPreeditPosition 0x0004L
#define XIMPreeditNothing 0x0008L
#define XIMPreeditNone 0x0010L
#define XIMStatusArea 0x0100L
#define XIMStatusCallbacks 0x0200L
#define XIMStatusNothing 0x0400L
#define XIMStatusNone 0x0800L
typedef struct {
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unsigned short count_styles;
XIMStyle * supported_styles;
} XIMStyles;
An XIMStyles structure contains the number of input styles supported in its
count_styles field. This is also the size of the supported_styles array.
The supported styles is a list of bitmask combinations, which indicate the combina-
tion of styles for each of the areas supported. These areas are described later. Each
element in the list should select one of the bitmask values for each area. The list
describes the complete set of combinations supported. Only these combinations are
supported by the input method.
The preedit category defines what type of support is provided by the input method
for preedit information.
XIMPreeditArea If chosen, the input method
would require the client to pro-
vide some area values for it to do
its preediting. Refer to XIC val-
ues XNArea and XNAreaNeeded.
XIMPreeditPosition If chosen, the input method would
require the client to provide posi-
tional values. Refer to XIC values
XNSpotLocation and XNFocusWindow.
XIMPreeditCallbacks If chosen, the input method would re-
quire the client to define the set of
preedit callbacks. Refer to XIC values
XNPreeditStartCallback, XNPreedit-
DoneCallback, XNPreeditDrawCall-
back, and XNPreeditCaretCallback.
XIMPreeditNothing If chosen, the input method can
function without any preedit values.
XIMPreeditNone The input method does not provide any
preedit feedback. Any preedit value
is ignored. This style is mutually ex-
clusive with the other preedit styles.
The status category defines what type of support is provided by the input method
for status information.
XIMStatusArea The input method requires the
client to provide some area val-
ues for it to do its status feedback.
See XNArea and XNAreaNeeded.
XIMStatusCallbacks The input method requires the client to
define the set of status callbacks, XNS-
tatusStartCallback, XNStatusDoneCall-
back, and XNStatusDrawCallback.
XIMStatusNothing The input method can func-
tion without any status values.
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XIMStatusNone The input method does not provide any
status feedback. If chosen, any status
value is ignored. This style is mutually
exclusive with the other status styles.
Resource Name and Class
The XNResourceName and XNResourceClass arguments are strings that specify
the full name and class used by the input method. These values should be used as
prefixes for the name and class when looking up resources that may vary accord-
ing to the input method. If these values are not set, the resources will not be fully
specified.
It is not intended that values that can be set as XIM values be set as resources.
Destroy Callback
The XNDestroyCallback argument is a pointer to a structure of type XIMCallback.
XNDestroyCallback is triggered when an input method stops its service for any rea-
son. After the callback is invoked, the input method is closed and the associated in-
put context(s) are destroyed by Xlib. Therefore, the client should not call XCloseIM
or XDestroyIC.
The generic prototype of this callback function is as follows:
void DestroyCallback( im, client_data, call_data);
im Specifies the input method.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Not used for this callback and always passed as NULL.
A DestroyCallback is always called with a NULL call_data argument.
Query IM/IC Values List
XNQueryIMValuesList and XNQueryICValuesList are used to query about XIM and
XIC values supported by the input method.
The argument value must be a pointer to a location where the returned value will be
stored. The returned value is a pointer to a structure of type XIMValuesList. Clients
are responsible for freeing the XIMValuesList structure. To do so, use XFree.
The XIMValuesList structure is defined as follows:
typedef struct {
unsigned short count_values;
char **supported_values;
} XIMValuesList;
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Visible Position
The XNVisiblePosition argument indicates whether the visible position masks of
XIMFeedback in XIMText are available.
The argument value must be a pointer to a location where the returned value will
be stored. The returned value is of type Bool. If the returned value is True, the input
method uses the visible position masks of XIMFeedback in XIMText; otherwise, the
input method does not use the masks.
Because this XIM value is optional, a client should call XGetIMValues with argument
XNQueryIMValuesList before using this argument. If the XNVisiblePosition does not
exist in the IM values list returned from XNQueryIMValuesList, the visible position
masks of XIMFeedback in XIMText are not used to indicate the visible position.
Preedit Callback Behavior
The XNR6PreeditCallback argument originally included in the X11R6 specification
has been deprecated.\(dg During formulation of the X11R6 specification, the behav-
ior of the R6 PreeditDrawCallbacks was going to differ significantly from that of the
R5 callbacks. Late changes to the specification converged the R5 and R6 behaviors,
eliminating the need for XNR6PreeditCallback. Unfortunately, this argument was
not removed from the R6 specification before it was published.
The XNR6PreeditCallback argument indicates whether the behavior of preedit call-
backs regarding XIMPreeditDrawCallbackStruct values follows Release 5 or Re-
lease 6 semantics.
The value is of type Bool. When querying for XNR6PreeditCallback, if the returned
value is True, the input method uses the Release 6 behavior; otherwise, it uses the
Release 5 behavior. The default value is False. In order to use Release 6 semantics,
the value of XNR6PreeditCallback must be set to True.
Because this XIM value is optional, a client should call XGetIMValues with argument
XNQueryIMValuesList before using this argument. If the XNR6PreeditCallback does
not exist in the IM values list returned from XNQueryIMValuesList, the PreeditCall-
back behavior is Release 5 semantics.
Input Context Functions
An input context is an abstraction that is used to contain both the data required (if
any) by an input method and the information required to display that data. There
may be multiple input contexts for one input method. The programming interfaces
for creating, reading, or modifying an input context use a variable argument list. The
name elements of the argument lists are referred to as XIC values. It is intended that
input methods be controlled by these XIC values. As new XIC values are created,
they should be registered with the X Consortium.
To create an input context, use XCreateIC.
XIC XCreateIC( im);
im Specifies the input method.
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... Specifies the variable length argument list(Al.
The XCreateIC function creates a context within the specified input method.
Some of the arguments are mandatory at creation time, and the input context will
not be created if those arguments are not provided. The mandatory arguments are
the input style and the set of text callbacks (if the input style selected requires
callbacks). All other input context values can be set later.
XCreateIC returns a NULL value if no input context could be created. A NULL value
could be returned for any of the following reasons:
A required argument was not set.
A read-only argument was set (for example, XNFilterEvents).
The argument name is not recognized.
The input method encountered an input method implementation-dependent error.
XCreateIC can generate BadAtom, BadColor, BadPixmap, and BadWindow errors.
To destroy an input context, use XDestroyIC.
void XDestroyIC( ic);
ic Specifies the input context.
XDestroyIC destroys the specified input context.
To communicate to and synchronize with input method for any changes in keyboard
focus from the client side, use XSetICFocus and XUnsetICFocus.
void XSetICFocus( ic);
ic Specifies the input context.
The XSetICFocus function allows a client to notify an input method that the focus
window attached to the specified input context has received keyboard focus. The
input method should take action to provide appropriate feedback. Complete feed-
back specification is a matter of user interface policy.
Calling XSetICFocus does not affect the focus window value.
void XUnsetICFocus( ic);
ic Specifies the input context.
The XUnsetICFocus function allows a client to notify an input method that the spec-
ified input context has lost the keyboard focus and that no more input is expected
on the focus window attached to that input context. The input method should take
action to provide appropriate feedback. Complete feedback specification is a matter
of user interface policy.
Calling XUnsetICFocus does not affect the focus window value; the client may still
receive events from the input method that are directed to the focus window.
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To reset the state of an input context to its initial state, use XmbResetIC or XwcRe-
setIC.
char *XmbResetIC( ic);
wchar_t *XwcResetIC( ic);
ic Specifies the input context.
When XNResetState is set to XIMInitialState, XmbResetIC and XwcResetIC reset an
input context to its initial state; when XNResetState is set to XIMPreserveState,
the current input context state is preserved. In both cases, any input pending on
that context is deleted. The input method is required to clear the preedit area, if
any, and update the status accordingly. Calling XmbResetIC or XwcResetIC does not
change the focus.
The return value of XmbResetIC is its current preedit string as a multibyte string. If
there is any preedit text drawn or visible to the user, then these procedures must
return a non-NULL string. If there is no visible preedit text, then it is input method
implementation-dependent whether these procedures return a non-NULL string or
NULL.
The client should free the returned string by calling XFree.
To get the input method associated with an input context, use XIMOfIC.
XIM XIMOfIC( ic);
ic Specifies the input context.
The XIMOfIC function returns the input method associated with the specified input
context.
Xlib provides two functions for setting and reading XIC values, respectively, XSetIC-
Values and XGetICValues. Both functions have a variable-length argument list. In
that argument list, any XIC value's name must be denoted with a character string
using the X Portable Character Set.
To set XIC values, use XSetICValues.
char *XSetICValues( ic);
ic Specifies the input context.
... Specifies the variable length argument list(Al.
The XSetICValues function returns NULL if no error occurred; otherwise, it returns
the name of the first argument that could not be set. An argument might not be set
for any of the following reasons:
The argument is read-only (for example, XNFilterEvents).
The argument name is not recognized.
An implementation-dependent error occurs.
Each value to be set must be an appropriate datum, matching the data type imposed
by the semantics of the argument.
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XSetICValues can generate BadAtom, BadColor, BadCursor, BadPixmap, and Bad-
Window errors.
To obtain XIC values, use XGetICValues.
char *XGetICValues( ic);
ic Specifies the input context.
... Specifies the variable length argument list(Al.
The XGetICValues function returns NULL if no error occurred; otherwise, it returns
the name of the first argument that could not be obtained. An argument could not
be obtained for any of the following reasons:
The argument name is not recognized.
The input method encountered an implementation-dependent error.
Each IC attribute value argument (following a name) must point to a location where
the IC value is to be stored. That is, if the IC value is of type T, the argument must
be of type T*. If T itself is a pointer type, then XGetICValues allocates memory to
store the actual data, and the client is responsible for freeing this data by calling
XFree with the returned pointer. The exception to this rule is for an IC value of type
XVaNestedList (for preedit and status attributes). In this case, the argument must
also be of type XVaNestedList. Then, the rule of changing type T to T* and freeing
the allocated data applies to each element of the nested list.
Input Context Values
The following tables describe how XIC values are interpreted by an input method
depending on the input style chosen by the user.
The first column lists the XIC values. The second column indicates which values
are involved in affecting, negotiating, and setting the geometry of the input method
windows. The subentries under the third column indicate the different input styles
that are supported. Each of these columns indicates how each of the XIC values are
treated by that input style.
The following keys apply to these tables.
Key Explanation
C This value must be set with XCreateIC.
D This value may be set us-
ing XCreateIC.> If it is not
set,> a default is provided.
G This value may be read
using XGetICValues.
GN This value may cause geometry ne-
gotiation when its value is set by
means of XCreateIC or XSetICValues.
GR This value will be the re-
sponse of the input method
when any GN value is changed.
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Key Explanation
GS This value will cause the geometry of
the input method window to be set.
O This value must be set once and only
once. It need not be set at create time.
S This value may be set
with XSetICValues.
Ignored This value is ignored by the input
method for the given input style.
XIC Value Geometry
Mange-
ment
Preedit
Callback
Preedit
Position
Input
Style
Preed-
it Area
Preedit
Nothing
Preed-
it None
Input
Style
C-G C-G C-G C-G C-G
Client
Window
O-G O-G O-G O-G Ignored
Focus
Window
GN D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Resource
Name
Ignored D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Resource
Class
Ignored D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Geometry
Callback
Ignored Ignored D-S-G Ignored Ignored
Filter
Events
G G G G Ignored
Destroy
Callback
D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G
String
Conver-
sion Call-
back
S-G S-G S-G S-G S-G
String
Con-
version
D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G
Reset
State
D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
HotKey S-G S-G S-G S-G Ignored
HotKeyS-
tate
D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Preedit
Area GS Ignored D-S-G D-S-G Ignored Ignored
Area
Needed
GN-GR Ignored Ignored S-G Ignored Ignored
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Spot Lo-
cation
Ignored D-S-G Ignored Ignored Ignored
Colormap Ignored D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Fore-
ground
Ignored D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Back-
ground
Ignored D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Back-
ground
Pixmap
Ignored D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Font Set GN Ignored D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Line
Spacing
GN Ignored D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Cursor Ignored D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Preed-
it State
D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Preed-
it State
Notify
Callback
S-G S-G S-G S-G Ignored
Preedit
Callbacks
C-S-G Ignored Ignored Ignored Ignored
XIC Value Geomen-
try Man-
agement
Status
Callback
Status Area Status
Nothing
Status
None
Input Style C-G C-G C-G C-G
Client
Window
O-G O-G O-G Ignored
Focus
Window
GN D-S-G D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Resource
Name
Ignored D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Resource
Class
Ignored D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Geometry
Callback
Ignored D-S-G Ignored Ignored
Filter
Events
G G G G
Status
Area GS Ignored D-S-G Ignored Ignored
Area
Needed
GN-GR Ignored S-G Ignored Ignored
Colormap Ignored D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Foreground Ignored D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
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XIC Value Geomen-
try Man-
agement
Status
Callback
Status Area Status
Nothing
Status
None
Background Ignored D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Background
Pixmap
Ignored D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Font Set GN Ignored D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Line
Spacing
GN Ignored D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Cursor Ignored D-S-G D-S-G Ignored
Status
Callbacks
C-S-G Ignored Ignored Ignored
Input Style
The XNInputStyle argument specifies the input style to be used. The value of this
argument must be one of the values returned by the XGetIMValues function with
the XNQueryInputStyle argument specified in the supported_styles list.
Note that this argument must be set at creation time and cannot be changed.
Client Window
The XNClientWindow argument specifies to the input method the client window in
which the input method can display data or create subwindows. Geometry values
for input method areas are given with respect to the client window. Dynamic change
of client window is not supported. This argument may be set only once and should
be set before any input is done using this input context. If it is not set, the input
method may not operate correctly.
If an attempt is made to set this value a second time with XSetICValues, the string
XNClientWindow will be returned by XSetICValues, and the client window will not
be changed.
If the client window is not a valid window ID on the display attached to the input
method, a BadWindow error can be generated when this value is used by the input
method.
Focus Window
The XNFocusWindow argument specifies the focus window. The primary purpose
of the XNFocusWindow is to identify the window that will receive the key event
when input is composed. In addition, the input method may possibly affect the focus
window as follows:
Select events on it
Send events to it
Modify its properties
Grab the keyboard within that window
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The associated value must be of type Window. If the focus window is not a valid
window ID on the display attached to the input method, a BadWindow error can be
generated when this value is used by the input method.
When this XIC value is left unspecified, the input method will use the client window
as the default focus window.
Resource Name and Class
The XNResourceName and XNResourceClass arguments are strings that specify
the full name and class used by the client to obtain resources for the client win-
dow. These values should be used as prefixes for name and class when looking up
resources that may vary according to the input context. If these values are not set,
the resources will not be fully specified.
It is not intended that values that can be set as XIC values be set as resources.
Geometry Callback
The XNGeometryCallback argument is a structure of type XIMCallback (see section
13.5.6.13.12).
The XNGeometryCallback argument specifies the geometry callback that a client
can set. This callback is not required for correct operation of either an input method
or a client. It can be set for a client whose user interface policy permits an input
method to request the dynamic change of that input method's window. An input
method that does dynamic change will need to filter any events that it uses to initiate
the change.
Filter Events
The XNFilterEvents argument returns the event mask that an input method needs
to have selected for. The client is expected to augment its own event mask for the
client window with this one.
This argument is read-only, is set by the input method at create time, and is never
changed.
The type of this argument is unsigned long. Setting this value will cause an error.
Destroy Callback
The XNDestroyCallback argument is a pointer to a structure of type XIMCallback
(see section 13.5.6.13.12). This callback is triggered when the input method stops
its service for any reason; for example, when a connection to an IM server is broken.
After the destroy callback is called, the input context is destroyed and the input
method is closed. Therefore, the client should not call XDestroyIC and XCloseIM.
String Conversion Callback
The XNStringConversionCallback argument is a structure of type XIMCallback (see
section 13.5.6.13.12).
The XNStringConversionCallback argument specifies a string conversion callback.
This callback is not required for correct operation of either the input method or the
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client. It can be set by a client to support string conversions that may be requested
by the input method. An input method that does string conversions will filter any
events that it uses to initiate the conversion.
Because this XIC value is optional, a client should call XGetIMValues with argument
XNQueryICValuesList before using this argument.
String Conversion
The XNStringConversion argument is a structure of type XIMStringConversionText.
The XNStringConversion argument specifies the string to be converted by an input
method. This argument is not required for correct operation of either the input
method or the client.
String conversion facilitates the manipulation of text independent of preediting. It
is essential for some input methods and clients to manipulate text by performing
context-sensitive conversion, reconversion, or transliteration conversion on it.
Because this XIC value is optional, a client should call XGetIMValues with argument
XNQueryICValuesList before using this argument.
The XIMStringConversionText structure is defined as follows:
typedef struct _XIMStringConversionText {
unsigned short length;
XIMStringConversionFeedback *feedback;
Bool encoding_is_wchar;
union {
char *mbs;
wchar_t *wcs;
} string;
} XIMStringConversionText;
typedef unsigned long XIMStringConversionFeedback;
The feedback member is reserved for future use. The text to be converted is defined
by the string and length members. The length is indicated in characters. To prevent
the library from freeing memory pointed to by an uninitialized pointer, the client
should set the feedback element to NULL.
Reset State
The XNResetState argument specifies the state the input context will return to after
calling XmbResetIC or XwcResetIC.
The XIC state may be set to its initial state, as specified by the XNPreeditState value
when XCreateIC was called, or it may be set to preserve the current state.
The valid masks for XIMResetState are as follows:

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typedef unsigned long XIMResetState;
#define XIMInitialState (1L)
#define XIMPreserveState (1L<<1)
If XIMInitialState is set, then XmbResetIC and XwcResetIC will return to the initial
XNPreeditState state of the XIC.
If XIMPreserveState is set, then XmbResetIC and XwcResetIC will preserve the cur-
rent state of the XIC.
If XNResetState is left unspecified, the default is XIMInitialState.
XIMResetState values other than those specified above will default to XIMInitialS-
tate.
Because this XIC value is optional, a client should call XGetIMValues with argument
XNQueryICValuesList before using this argument.
Hot Keys
The XNHotKey argument specifies the hot key list to the XIC. The hot key list is a
pointer to the structure of type XIMHotKeyTriggers, which specifies the key events
that must be received without any interruption of the input method. For the hot key
list set with this argument to be utilized, the client must also set XNHotKeyState
to XIMHotKeyStateON.
Because this XIC value is optional, a client should call XGetIMValues with argument
XNQueryICValuesList before using this functionality.
The value of the argument is a pointer to a structure of type XIMHotKeyTriggers.
If an event for a key in the hot key list is found, then the process will receive the
event and it will be processed inside the client.
typedef struct {
KeySym keysym;
unsigned int modifier;
unsigned int modifier_mask;
} XIMHotKeyTrigger;
typedef struct {
int num_hot_key;
XIMHotKeyTrigger *key;
} XIMHotKeyTriggers;
The combination of modifier and modifier_mask are used to represent one of three
states for each modifier: either the modifier must be on, or the modifier must be
off, or the modifier is a ``don't care'' - it may be on or off. When a modifier_mask bit
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is set to 0, the state of the associated modifier is ignored when evaluating whether
the key is hot or not.
Modifier Bit Mask Bit Meaning
0 1 The modifier must be off.
1 1 The modifier must be on.
n/a 0 Do not care if the
modifier is on or off.
Hot Key State
The XNHotKeyState argument specifies the hot key state of the input method. This
is usually used to switch the input method between hot key operation and normal
input processing.
The value of the argument is a pointer to a structure of type XIMHotKeyState .
typedef unsigned long XIMHotKeyState;
#define XIMHotKeyStateON (0x0001L)
#define XIMHotKeyStateOFF (0x0002L)
If not specified, the default is XIMHotKeyStateOFF.
Preedit and Status Attributes
The XNPreeditAttributes and XNStatusAttributes arguments specify to an input
method the attributes to be used for the preedit and status areas, if any. Those
attributes are passed to XSetICValues or XGetICValues as a nested variable-length
list. The names to be used in these lists are described in the following sections.
Area
The value of the XNArea argument must be a pointer to a structure of type XRectan-
gle. The interpretation of the XNArea argument is dependent on the input method
style that has been set.
If the input method style is XIMPreeditPosition, XNArea specifies the clipping re-
gion within which preediting will take place. If the focus window has been set, the
coordinates are assumed to be relative to the focus window. Otherwise, the coordi-
nates are assumed to be relative to the client window. If neither has been set, the
results are undefined.
If XNArea is not specified, is set to NULL, or is invalid, the input method will default
the clipping region to the geometry of the XNFocusWindow. If the area specified is
NULL or invalid, the results are undefined.
If the input style is XIMPreeditArea or XIMStatusArea, XNArea specifies the geom-
etry provided by the client to the input method. The input method may use this area
to display its data, either preedit or status depending on the area designated. The
input method may create a window as a child of the client window with dimensions
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that fit the XNArea. The coordinates are relative to the client window. If the client
window has not been set yet, the input method should save these values and apply
them when the client window is set. If XNArea is not specified, is set to NULL, or
is invalid, the results are undefined.
Area Needed
When set, the XNAreaNeeded argument specifies the geometry suggested by the
client for this area (preedit or status). The value associated with the argument must
be a pointer to a structure of type XRectangle. Note that the x, y values are not
used and that nonzero values for width or height are the constraints that the client
wishes the input method to respect.
When read, the XNAreaNeeded argument specifies the preferred geometry desired
by the input method for the area.
This argument is only valid if the input style is XIMPreeditArea or XIMStatusArea.
It is used for geometry negotiation between the client and the input method and
has no other effect on the input method (see section 13.5.1.5).
Spot Location
The XNSpotLocation argument specifies to the input method the coordinates of the
spot to be used by an input method executing with XNInputStyle set to XIMPreed-
itPosition. When specified to any input method other than XIMPreeditPosition, this
XIC value is ignored.
The x coordinate specifies the position where the next character would be inserted.
The y coordinate is the position of the baseline used by the current text line in the
focus window. The x and y coordinates are relative to the focus window, if it has been
set; otherwise, they are relative to the client window. If neither the focus window
nor the client window has been set, the results are undefined.
The value of the argument is a pointer to a structure of type XPoint.
Colormap
Two different arguments can be used to indicate what colormap the input method
should use to allocate colors, a colormap ID, or a standard colormap name.
The XNColormap argument is used to specify a colormap ID. The argument value
is of type Colormap. An invalid argument may generate a BadColor error when it
is used by the input method.
The XNStdColormap argument is used to indicate the name of the standard col-
ormap in which the input method should allocate colors. The argument value is an
Atom that should be a valid atom for calling XGetRGBColormaps. An invalid argu-
ment may generate a BadAtom error when it is used by the input method.
If the colormap is left unspecified, the client window colormap becomes the default.
Foreground and Background
The XNForeground and XNBackground arguments specify the foreground and
background pixel, respectively. The argument value is of type unsigned long. It must
be a valid pixel in the input method colormap.
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If these values are left unspecified, the default is determined by the input method.
Background Pixmap
The XNBackgroundPixmap argument specifies a background pixmap to be used as
the background of the window. The value must be of type Pixmap. An invalid argu-
ment may generate a BadPixmap error when it is used by the input method.
If this value is left unspecified, the default is determined by the input method.
Font Set
The XNFontSet argument specifies to the input method what font set is to be used.
The argument value is of type XFontSet.
If this value is left unspecified, the default is determined by the input method.
Line Spacing
The XNLineSpace argument specifies to the input method what line spacing is to
be used in the preedit window if more than one line is to be used. This argument
is of type int.
If this value is left unspecified, the default is determined by the input method.
Cursor
The XNCursor argument specifies to the input method what cursor is to be used in
the specified window. This argument is of type Cursor.
An invalid argument may generate a BadCursor error when it is used by the in-
put method. If this value is left unspecified, the default is determined by the input
method.
Preedit State
The XNPreeditState argument specifies the state of input preediting for the input
method. Input preediting can be on or off.
The valid mask names for XNPreeditState are as follows:

typedef unsigned long XIMPreeditState;
#define XIMPreeditUnknown 0L
#define XIMPreeditEnable 1L
#define XIMPreeditDisable (1L<<1)
If a value of XIMPreeditEnable is set, then input preediting is turned on by the input
method.
If a value of XIMPreeditDisable is set, then input preediting is turned off by the
input method.
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If XNPreeditState is left unspecified, then the state will be implementation-depen-
dent.
When XNResetState is set to XIMInitialState, the XNPreeditState value specified
at the creation time will be reflected as the initial state for XmbResetIC and XwcRe-
setIC.
Because this XIC value is optional, a client should call XGetIMValues with argument
XNQueryICValuesList before using this argument.
Preedit State Notify Callback
The preedit state notify callback is triggered by the input method when the preed-
iting state has changed. The value of the XNPreeditStateNotifyCallback argument
is a pointer to a structure of type XIMCallback. The generic prototype is as follows:
void PreeditStateNotifyCallback( ic, client_data, *call_data);
ic Specifies the input context.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Specifies the current preedit state.
The XIMPreeditStateNotifyCallbackStruct structure is defined as follows:
typedef struct _XIMPreeditStateNotifyCallbackStruct {
XIMPreeditState state;
} XIMPreeditStateNotifyCallbackStruct;
Because this XIC value is optional, a client should call XGetIMValues with argument
XNQueryICValuesList before using this argument.
Preedit and Status Callbacks
A client that wants to support the input style XIMPreeditCallbacks must provide
a set of preedit callbacks to the input method. The set of preedit callbacks is as
follows:
XNPreeditStartCallback This is called when the in-
put method starts preedit.
XNPreeditDoneCallback This is called when the in-
put method stops preedit.
XNPreeditDrawCallback This is called when a number of
preedit keystrokes should be echoed.
XNPreeditCaretCallback This is called to move the text inser-
tion point within the preedit string.
A client that wants to support the input style XIMStatusCallbacks must provide a
set of status callbacks to the input method. The set of status callbacks is as follows:
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XNStatusStartCallback This is called when the input
method initializes the status area.
XNStatusDoneCallback This is called when the input method
no longer needs the status area.
XNStatusDrawCallback This is called when updating
of the status area is required.
The value of any status or preedit argument is a pointer to a structure of type XIM-
Callback.
typedef void (*XIMProc)();
typedef struct {
XPointer client_data;
XIMProc callback;
} XIMCallback;
Each callback has some particular semantics and will carry the data that expresses
the environment necessary to the client into a specific data structure. This para-
graph only describes the arguments to be used to set the callback.
Setting any of these values while doing preedit may cause unexpected results.
Input Method Callback Semantics
XIM callbacks are procedures defined by clients or text drawing packages that are
to be called from the input method when selected events occur. Most clients will use
a text editing package or a toolkit and, hence, will not need to define such callbacks.
This section defines the callback semantics, when they are triggered, and what their
arguments are. This information is mostly useful for X toolkit implementors.
Callbacks are mostly provided so that clients (or text editing packages) can imple-
ment on-the-spot preediting in their own window. In that case, the input method
needs to communicate and synchronize with the client. The input method needs to
communicate changes in the preedit window when it is under control of the client.
Those callbacks allow the client to initialize the preedit area, display a new preedit
string, move the text insertion point during preedit, terminate preedit, or update
the status area.
All callback procedures follow the generic prototype:
void CallbackPrototype( ic, client_data, call_data);
ic Specifies the input context.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Specifies data specific to the callback.
The call_data argument is a structure that expresses the arguments needed to
achieve the semantics; that is, it is a specific data structure appropriate to the call-
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back. In cases where no data is needed in the callback, this call_data argument is
NULL. The client_data argument is a closure that has been initially specified by the
client when specifying the callback and passed back. It may serve, for example, to
inherit application context in the callback.
The following paragraphs describe the programming semantics and specific data
structure associated with the different reasons.
Geometry Callback
The geometry callback is triggered by the input method to indicate that it wants the
client to negotiate geometry. The generic prototype is as follows:
void GeometryCallback( ic, client_data, call_data);
ic Specifies the input context.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Not used for this callback and always passed as NULL.
The callback is called with a NULL call_data argument.
Destroy Callback
The destroy callback is triggered by the input method when it stops service for any
reason. After the callback is invoked, the input context will be freed by Xlib. The
generic prototype is as follows:
void DestroyCallback( ic, client_data, call_data);
ic Specifies the input context.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Not used for this callback and always passed as NULL.
The callback is called with a NULL call_data argument.
String Conversion Callback
The string conversion callback is triggered by the input method to request the client
to return the string to be converted. The returned string may be either a multibyte
or wide character string, with an encoding matching the locale bound to the input
context. The callback prototype is as follows:
void StringConversionCallback( ic, client_data, *call_data);
ic Specifies the input method.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Specifies the amount of the string to be converted.
The callback is passed an XIMStringConversionCallbackStruct structure in the
call_data argument. The text member is an XIMStringConversionText structure (see
section 13.5.6.9) to be filled in by the client and describes the text to be sent to
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the input method. The data pointed to by the string and feedback elements of the
XIMStringConversionText structure will be freed using XFree by the input method
after the callback returns. So the client should not point to internal buffers that are
critical to the client. Similarly, because the feedback element is currently reserved
for future use, the client should set feedback to NULL to prevent the library from
freeing memory at some random location due to an uninitialized pointer.
The XIMStringConversionCallbackStruct structure is defined as follows:
typedef struct _XIMStringConversionCallbackStruct {
XIMStringConversionPosition position;
XIMCaretDirection direction;
short factor;
XIMStringConversionOperation operation;
XIMStringConversionText *text;
} XIMStringConversionCallbackStruct;
typedef short XIMStringConversionPosition;
typedef unsigned short XIMStringConversionOperation;
#define XIMStringConversionSubstitution (0x0001)
#define XIMStringConversionRetrieval (0x0001)
XIMStringConversionPosition specifies the starting position of the string to be re-
turned in the XIMStringConversionText structure. The value identifies a position,
in units of characters, relative to the client's cursor position in the client's buffer.
The ending position of the text buffer is determined by the direction and factor
members. Specifically, it is the character position relative to the starting point as
defined by the XIMCaretDirection. The factor member of XIMStringConversionCall-
backStruct specifies the number of XIMCaretDirection positions to be applied. For
example, if the direction specifies XIMLineEnd and factor is 1, then all characters
from the starting position to the end of the current display line are returned. If the
direction specifies XIMForwardChar or XIMBackwardChar, then the factor specifies
a relative position, indicated in characters, from the starting position.
XIMStringConversionOperation specifies whether the string to be converted should
be deleted (substitution) or copied (retrieval) from the client's buffer. When
the XIMStringConversionOperation is XIMStringConversionSubstitution, the client
must delete the string to be converted from its own buffer. When the XIMString-
ConversionOperation is XIMStringConversionRetrieval, the client must not delete
the string to be converted from its buffer. The substitute operation is typically used
for reconversion and transliteration conversion, while the retrieval operation is typ-
ically used for context-sensitive conversion.
Preedit State Callbacks
When the input method turns preediting on or off, a PreeditStartCallback() or
PreeditDoneCallback() callback is triggered to let the toolkit do the setup or the
cleanup for the preedit region.
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int PreeditStartCallback( ic, client_data, call_data);
ic Specifies the input context.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Not used for this callback and always passed as NULL.
When preedit starts on the specified input context, the callback is called with a
NULL call_data argument. PreeditStartCallback() will return the maximum size
of the preedit string. A positive number indicates the maximum number of bytes
allowed in the preedit string, and a value of -1 indicates there is no limit.
void PreeditDoneCallback( ic, client_data, call_data);
ic Specifies the input context.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Not used for this callback and always passed as NULL.
When preedit stops on the specified input context, the callback is called with a
NULL call_data argument. The client can release the data allocated by PreeditS-
tartCallback().
PreeditStartCallback() should initialize appropriate data needed for displaying
preedit information and for handling further PreeditDrawCallback() calls. Once
PreeditStartCallback() is called, it will not be called again before Preedit-
DoneCallback() has been called.
Preedit Draw Callback
This callback is triggered to draw and insert, delete or replace, preedit text in the
preedit region. The preedit text may include unconverted input text such as Japan-
ese Kana, converted text such as Japanese Kanji characters, or characters of both
kinds. That string is either a multibyte or wide character string, whose encoding
matches the locale bound to the input context. The callback prototype is as follows:
void PreeditDrawCallback( ic, client_data, *call_data);
ic Specifies the input context.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Specifies the preedit drawing information.
The callback is passed an XIMPreeditDrawCallbackStruct structure in the call_data
argument. The text member of this structure contains the text to be drawn. After
the string has been drawn, the caret should be moved to the specified location.
The XIMPreeditDrawCallbackStruct structure is defined as follows:
typedef struct _XIMPreeditDrawCallbackStruct {
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int caret; /* Cursor offset within preedit string */
int chg_first; /* Starting change position */
int chg_length; /* Length of the change in character count */
XIMText *text;
} XIMPreeditDrawCallbackStruct;
The client must keep updating a buffer of the preedit text and the callback argu-
ments referring to indexes in that buffer. The call_data fields have specific meanings
according to the operation, as follows:
To indicate text deletion, the call_data member specifies a NULL text field. The
text to be deleted is then the current text in the buffer from position chg_first
(starting at zero) on a character length of chg_length.
When text is non-NULL, it indicates insertion or replacement of text in the buffer.
The chg_length member identifies the number of characters in the current preed-
it buffer that are affected by this call. A positive chg_length indicates that
chg_length number of characters, starting at chg_first, must be deleted or must
be replaced by text, whose length is specified in the XIMText structure.
A chg_length value of zero indicates that text must be inserted right at the position
specified by chg_first. A value of zero for chg_first specifies the first character
in the buffer.
chg_length and chg_first combine to identify the modification required to the
preedit buffer; beginning at chg_first, replace chg_length number of characters
with the text in the supplied XIMText structure. For example, suppose the preedit
buffer contains the string "ABCDE".

Text: A B C D E
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
CharPos: 0 1 2 3 4 5
The CharPos in the diagram shows the location of the character position relative
to the character.
If the value of chg_first is 1 and the value of chg_length is 3, this says to replace
3 characters beginning at character position 1 with the string in the XIMText
structure. Hence, BCD would be replaced by the value in the structure.
Though chg_length and chg_first are both signed integers they will never have
a negative value.
The caret member identifies the character position before which the cursor should
be placed - after modification to the preedit buffer has been completed. For ex-
ample, if caret is zero, the cursor is at the beginning of the buffer. If the caret is
one, the cursor is between the first and second character.
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316
typedef struct _XIMText {
unsigned short length;
XIMFeedback * feedback;
Bool encoding_is_wchar;
union {
char * multi_byte;
wchar_t * wide_char;
} string;
} XIMText;
The text string passed is actually a structure specifying as follows:
The length member is the text length in characters.
The encoding_is_wchar member is a value that indicates if the text string is en-
coded in wide character or multibyte format. The text string may be passed ei-
ther as multibyte or as wide character; the input method controls in which form
data is passed. The client's callback routine must be able to handle data passed
in either form.
The string member is the text string.
The feedback member indicates rendering type for each character in the string
member. If string is NULL (indicating that only highlighting of the existing preed-
it buffer should be updated), feedback points to length highlight elements that
should be applied to the existing preedit buffer, beginning at chg_first.
The feedback member expresses the types of rendering feedback the callback
should apply when drawing text. Rendering of the text to be drawn is specified ei-
ther in generic ways (for example, primary, secondary) or in specific ways (reverse,
underline). When generic indications are given, the client is free to choose the ren-
dering style. It is necessary, however, that primary and secondary be mapped to two
distinct rendering styles.
If an input method wants to control display of the preedit string, an input method
can indicate the visibility hints using feedbacks in a specific way. The XIMVisibleTo-
Forward, XIMVisibleToBackword, and XIMVisibleToCenter masks are exclusively
used for these visibility hints. The XIMVisibleToForward mask indicates that the
preedit text is preferably displayed in the primary draw direction from the caret po-
sition in the preedit area forward. The XIMVisibleToBackword mask indicates that
the preedit text is preferably displayed from the caret position in the preedit area
backward, relative to the primary draw direction. The XIMVisibleToCenter mask
indicates that the preedit text is preferably displayed with the caret position in the
preedit area centered.
The insertion point of the preedit string could exist outside of the visible area when
visibility hints are used. Only one of the masks is valid for the entire preedit string,
and only one character can hold one of these feedbacks for a given input context
at one time. This feedback may be OR'ed together with another highlight (such
as XIMReverse). Only the most recently set feedback is valid, and any previous
feedback is automatically canceled. This is a hint to the client, and the client is free
to choose how to display the preedit string.
The feedback member also specifies how rendering of the text argument should be
performed. If the feedback is NULL, the callback should apply the same feedback
as is used for the surrounding characters in the preedit buffer; if chg_first is at
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317
a highlight boundary, the client can choose which of the two highlights to use. If
feedback is not NULL, feedback specifies an array defining the rendering for each
character of the string, and the length of the array is thus length.
If an input method wants to indicate that it is only updating the feedback of the
preedit text without changing the content of it, the XIMText structure will contain
a NULL value for the string field, the number of characters affected (relative to
chg_first) will be in the length field, and the feedback field will point to an array
of XIMFeedback.
Each element in the feedback array is a bitmask represented by a value of type
XIMFeedback. The valid mask names are as follows:

typedef unsigned long XIMFeedback;
#define XIMReverse 1L
#define XIMUnderline (1L<<1)
#define XIMHighlight (1L<<2)
#define XIMPrimary (1L<<5)*
#define XIMSecondary (1L<<6)*
#define XIMTertiary (1L<<7)*
#define XIMVisibleToForward (1L<<8)
#define XIMVisibleToBackward (1L<<9)
#define XIMVisibleToCenter (1L<<10)
* The values for XIMPrimary, XIMSecondary, and XIMTertiary were incorrectly de#ned in
the R5 speci#cation. The X Consortiums X11R5 implementation correctly implemented the val-
ues for these highlights. The value of these highlights has been corrected in this speci#cation to
agree with the values in the Consortiums X11R5 and X11R6 implementations.
Characters drawn with the XIMReverse highlight should be drawn by swapping the
foreground and background colors used to draw normal, unhighlighted characters.
Characters drawn with the XIMUnderline highlight should be underlined. Charac-
ters drawn with the XIMHighlight, XIMPrimary, XIMSecondary, and XIMTertiary
highlights should be drawn in some unique manner that must be different from
XIMReverse and XIMUnderline. The values for XIMPrimary, XIMSecondary, and
XIMTertiary were incorrectly defined in the R5 specification. The X Consortium's
X11R5 implementation correctly implemented the values for these highlights. The
value of these highlights has been corrected in this specification to agree with the
values in the Consortium's X11R5 and X11R6 implementations.
Preedit Caret Callback
An input method may have its own navigation keys to allow the user to move the
text insertion point in the preedit area (for example, to move backward or forward).
Consequently, input method needs to indicate to the client that it should move the
text insertion point. It then calls the PreeditCaretCallback.
void PreeditCaretCallback( ic, client_data, *call_data);
ic Specifies the input context.
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318
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Specifies the preedit caret information.
The input method will trigger PreeditCaretCallback to move the text insertion point
during preedit. The call_data argument contains a pointer to an XIMPreeditCaret-
CallbackStruct structure, which indicates where the caret should be moved. The
callback must move the insertion point to its new location and return, in field posi-
tion, the new offset value from the initial position.
The XIMPreeditCaretCallbackStruct structure is defined as follows:
typedef struct _XIMPreeditCaretCallbackStruct {
int position; /* Caret offset within preedit string */
XIMCaretDirection direction; /* Caret moves direction */
XIMCaretStyle style; /* Feedback of the caret */
} XIMPreeditCaretCallbackStruct;
The XIMCaretStyle structure is defined as follows:
typedef enum {
XIMIsInvisible, /* Disable caret feedback */
XIMIsPrimary, /* UI defined caret feedback */
XIMIsSecondary, /* UI defined caret feedback */
} XIMCaretStyle;
The XIMCaretDirection structure is defined as follows:
typedef enum {
XIMForwardChar, XIMBackwardChar,
XIMForwardWord, XIMBackwardWord,
XIMCaretUp, XIMCaretDown,
XIMNextLine, XIMPreviousLine,
XIMLineStart, XIMLineEnd,
XIMAbsolutePosition,
XIMDontChange,
} XIMCaretDirection;
These values are defined as follows:
XIMForwardChar Move the caret forward
one character position.
XIMBackwardChar Move the caret backward
one character position.
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319
XIMForwardWord Move the caret forward one word.
XIMBackwardWord Move the caret backward one word.
XIMCaretUp Move the caret up one line keep-
ing the current horizontal offset.
XIMCaretDown Move the caret down one line keep-
ing the current horizontal offset.
XIMPreviousLine Move the caret to the be-
ginning of the previous line.
XIMNextLine Move the caret to the be-
ginning of the next line.
XIMLineStart Move the caret to the begin-
ning of the current display
line that contains the caret.
XIMLineEnd Move the caret to the end of the cur-
rent display line that contains the caret.
XIMAbsolutePosition The callback must move to the loca-
tion specified by the position field
of the callback data, indicated in
characters, starting from the begin-
ning of the preedit text. Hence, a
value of zero means move back to
the beginning of the preedit text.
XIMDontChange The caret position does not change.
Status Callbacks
An input method may communicate changes in the status of an input context (for ex-
ample, created, destroyed, or focus changes) with three status callbacks: StatusS-
tartCallback, StatusDoneCallback, and StatusDrawCallback.
When the input context is created or gains focus, the input method calls the Sta-
tusStartCallback callback.
void StatusStartCallback( ic, client_data, call_data);
ic Specifies the input context.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Not used for this callback and always passed as NULL.
The callback should initialize appropriate data for displaying status and for respond-
ing to StatusDrawCallback calls. Once StatusStartCallback is called, it will not be
called again before StatusDoneCallback has been called.
When an input context is destroyed or when it loses focus, the input method calls
StatusDoneCallback.
void StatusDoneCallback( ic, client_data, call_data);
ic Specifies the input context.
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320
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Not used for this callback and always passed as NULL.
The callback may release any data allocated on StatusStart.
When an input context status has to be updated, the input method calls StatusDraw-
Callback.
void StatusDrawCallback( ic, client_data, *call_data);
ic Specifies the input context.
client_data Specifies the additional client data.
call_data Specifies the status drawing information.
The callback should update the status area by either drawing a string or imaging
a bitmap in the status area.
The XIMStatusDataType and XIMStatusDrawCallbackStruct structures are defined
as follows:
typedef enum {
XIMTextType,
XIMBitmapType,
} XIMStatusDataType;
typedef struct _XIMStatusDrawCallbackStruct {
XIMStatusDataType type;
union {
XIMText *text;
Pixmap bitmap;
} data;
} XIMStatusDrawCallbackStruct;
The feedback styles XIMVisibleToForward, XIMVisibleToBackword, and XIMVisible-
ToCenter are not relevant and will not appear in the XIMFeedback element of the
XIMText structure.
Event Filtering
Xlib provides the ability for an input method to register a filter internal to Xlib. This
filter is called by a client (or toolkit) by calling XFilterEvent after calling XNex-
tEvent. Any client that uses the XIM interface should call XFilterEvent to allow
input methods to process their events without knowledge of the client's dispatching
mechanism. A client's user interface policy may determine the priority of event fil-
ters with respect to other event-handling mechanisms (for example, modal grabs).
Clients may not know how many filters there are, if any, and what they do. They may
only know if an event has been filtered on return of XFilterEvent. Clients should
discard filtered events.
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321
To filter an event, use XFilterEvent.
Bool XFilterEvent( *event, w);
event Specifies the (Ev.
w Specifies the window (Wi.
If the window argument is None, XFilterEvent applies the filter to the window
specified in the XEvent structure. The window argument is provided so that layers
above Xlib that do event redirection can indicate to which window an event has
been redirected.
If XFilterEvent returns True, then some input method has filtered the event, and
the client should discard the event. If XFilterEvent returns False, then the client
should continue processing the event.
If a grab has occurred in the client and XFilterEvent returns True, the client should
ungrab the keyboard.
Getting Keyboard Input
To get composed input from an input method, use XmbLookupString or Xw-
cLookupString.
int XmbLookupString( ic, *event, *buffer_return, bytes_buffer,
*keysym_return, *status_return);
int XwcLookupString( ic, *event, *buffer_return, wchars_buffer,
*keysym_return, *status_return);
ic Specifies the input context.
event Specifies the (Ev.
buffer_return Returns a multibyte string or wide character string
(if any) from the input method.
bytes_buffer
wchars_buffer Specifies space available in the return buffer.
keysym_return Returns the KeySym computed from the event if this
argument is not NULL.
status_return Returns a value indicating what kind of data is re-
turned.
The XmbLookupString and XwcLookupString functions return the string from the
input method specified in the buffer_return argument. If no string is returned, the
buffer_return argument is unchanged.
The KeySym into which the KeyCode from the event was mapped is returned in the
keysym_return argument if it is non-NULL and the status_return argument indicates
that a KeySym was returned. If both a string and a KeySym are returned, the KeySym
value does not necessarily correspond to the string returned.
Locales and Internation-
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322
XmbLookupString returns the length of the string in bytes, and XwcLookupString
returns the length of the string in characters. Both XmbLookupString and Xw-
cLookupString return text in the encoding of the locale bound to the input method
of the specified input context.
Each string returned by XmbLookupString and XwcLookupString begins in the ini-
tial state of the encoding of the locale (if the encoding of the locale is state-depen-
dent).
Note
To insure proper input processing, it is essential that the client pass only
KeyPress events to XmbLookupString and XwcLookupString. Their behavior
when a client passes a KeyRelease event is undefined.
Clients should check the status_return argument before using the other returned
values. These two functions both return a value to status_return that indicates what
has been returned in the other arguments. The possible values returned are:
XBufferOverflow The input string to be returned is too
large for the supplied buffer_return.
The required size (XmbLookupString in
bytes; XwcLookupString in characters)
is returned as the value of the func-
tion, and the contents of buffer_return
and keysym_return are not modified.
The client should recall the function
with the same event and a buffer of
adequate size to obtain the string.
XLookupNone No consistent input has been composed
so far. The contents of buffer_return
and keysym_return are not modi-
fied, and the function returns zero.
XLookupChars Some input characters have been
composed. They are placed in the
buffer_return argument, and the string
length is returned as the value of
the function. The string is encoded
in the locale bound to the input con-
text. The content of the keysym_return
argument is not modified.
XLookupKeySym A KeySym has been returned in-
stead of a string and is returned in
keysym_return. The content of the
buffer_return argument is not mod-
ified, and the function returns zero.
XLookupBoth Both a KeySym and a string are re-
turned; XLookupChars and XLookup-
KeySym occur simultaneously.
It does not make any difference if the input context passed as an argument to Xm-
bLookupString and XwcLookupString is the one currently in possession of the focus
or not. Input may have been composed within an input context before it lost the
Locales and Internation-
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323
focus, and that input may be returned on subsequent calls to XmbLookupString or
XwcLookupString even though it does not have any more keyboard focus.
Input Method Conventions
The input method architecture is transparent to the client. However, clients should
respect a number of conventions in order to work properly. Clients must also be
aware of possible effects of synchronization between input method and library in
the case of a remote input server.
Client Conventions
A well-behaved client (or toolkit) should first query the input method style. If the
client cannot satisfy the requirements of the supported styles (in terms of geometry
management or callbacks), it should negotiate with the user continuation of the
program or raise an exception or error of some sort.
Synchronization Conventions
A KeyPress event with a KeyCode of zero is used exclusively as a signal that an
input method has composed input that can be returned by XmbLookupString or
XwcLookupString. No other use is made of a KeyPress event with KeyCode of zero.
Such an event may be generated by either a front-end or a back-end input method in
an implementation-dependent manner. Some possible ways to generate this event
include:
A synthetic event sent by an input method server
An artificial event created by a input method filter and pushed onto a client's
event queue
A KeyPress event whose KeyCode value is modified by an input method filter
When callback support is specified by the client, input methods will not take action
unless they explicitly called back the client and obtained no response (the callback
is not specified or returned invalid data).
String Constants
The following symbols for string constants are defined in <X11/Xlib.h> . Although
they are shown here with particular macro definitions, they may be implemented
as macros, as global symbols, or as a mixture of the two. The string pointer value
itself is not significant; clients must not assume that inequality of two values implies
inequality of the actual string data.
#define XNVaNestedList "XNVaNestedList"
#define XNSeparatorofNestedList "separatorofNestedList"
#define XNQueryInputStyle "queryInputStyle"
#define XNClientWindow "clientWindow"
#define XNInputStyle "inputStyle"
#define XNFocusWindow "focusWindow"
#define XNResourceName "resourceName"
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324
#define XNResourceClass "resourceClass"
#define XNGeometryCallback "geometryCallback"
#define XNDestroyCallback "destroyCallback"
#define XNFilterEvents "filterEvents"
#define XNPreeditStartCallback "preeditStartCallback"
#define XNPreeditDoneCallback "preeditDoneCallback"
#define XNPreeditDrawCallback "preeditDrawCallback"
#define XNPreeditCaretCallback "preeditCaretCallback"
#define XNPreeditStateNotifyCallback "preeditStateNotifyCallback"
#define XNPreeditAttributes "preeditAttributes"
#define XNStatusStartCallback "statusStartCallback"
#define XNStatusDoneCallback "statusDoneCallback"
#define XNStatusDrawCallback "statusDrawCallback"
#define XNStatusAttributes "statusAttributes"
#define XNArea "area"
#define XNAreaNeeded "areaNeeded"
#define XNSpotLocation "spotLocation"
#define XNColormap "colorMap"
#define XNStdColormap "stdColorMap"
#define XNForeground "foreground"
#define XNBackground "background"
#define XNBackgroundPixmap "backgroundPixmap"
#define XNFontSet "fontSet"
#define XNLineSpace "lineSpace"
#define XNCursor "cursor"
#define XNQueryIMValuesList "queryIMValuesList"
#define XNQueryICValuesList "queryICValuesList"
#define XNStringConversionCallback "stringConversionCallback"
#define XNStringConversion "stringConversion"
#define XNResetState "resetState"
#define XNHotKey "hotkey"
#define XNHotKeyState "hotkeyState"
#define XNPreeditState "preeditState"
#define XNVisiblePosition "visiblePosition"
#define XNR6PreeditCallbackBehavior "r6PreeditCallback"
#define XNRequiredCharSet "requiredCharSet"
#define XNQueryOrientation "queryOrientation"
#define XNDirectionalDependentDrawing "directionalDependentDrawing"
#define XNContextualDrawing "contextualDrawing"
#define XNBaseFontName "baseFontName"
#define XNMissingCharSet "missingCharSet"
#define XNDefaultString "defaultString"
#define XNOrientation "orientation"
#define XNFontInfo "fontInfo"
#define XNOMAutomatic "omAutomatic"
325
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 informa- tion, see the Inter-Client
Communication Conventions Manual.
Xlib provides a number of standard properties and programming interfaces that are
ICCCM com- pliant. The predened atoms for some of these properties are dened
in the <X11/Xatom.h> header le, where to avoid name conicts with user symbols
their #dene name has an XA_ pre- x. For further information about atoms and
properties, see section 4.3.
Xlibs selection and cut buffer mechanisms provide the primary programming inter-
faces by which peer client applications communicate with each other (see sections
4.5 and 16.6). The functions discussed in this chapter provide the primary program-
ming 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 applica-
tion programs
to allow window
and session man-
agers to obtain the
applications re-
sources from the
resource database.
WM_CLIENT_MACHINE TEXT The string name
of the machine
on which the
client applica-
tion is run- ning.
WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS WINDOWS 32 The list of win-
dow IDs that may
need a different
colormap from
that of their top-
level window.
WM_COMMAND TEXT The command
and arguments,
null- separated,
used to invoke
the application.
Inter-Client Commu-
nication Functions
326
Name Type Format Description
WM_HINTS WM_HINTS 32 Additional hints
set by the client
for use by the win-
dow manager. The
C type of this prop-
erty is XWMHints.
WM_ICON_NAME TEXT The name to be
used in an icon.
WM_ICON_SIZE WM_ICON_SIZE 32 The window man-
ager may set
this property on
the root window
to specify the
icon sizes it sup-
ports. The C type
of this proper-
ty is XIconSize.
WM_NAME TEXT The name of
the application.
WM_NORMAL_HINTS WM_NORMAL_HINTS 32 Size hints for a
window in its nor-
mal state. The C
type of this prop-
erty is XSizeHints.
WM_PROTOCOLS ATOM 32 List of atoms that
identify the com-
munications proto-
cols between the
client and window
manager in which
the client is will-
ing to participate.
WM_STATE WM_STATE 32 Intended for
communication
between win-
dow and session
man- agers only.
WM_TRANSIENT_FOR WINDOW 32 Set by application
programs to indi-
cate to the win-
dow manager that
a transient top-
level window, such
as a dialog box.
The remainder of this chapter discusses:
Client to window manager communication
Client to session manager communication
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nication Functions
327
Standard colormaps
Client to Window Manager Communication
This section discusses how to:
Manipulate top-level windows
Convert string lists
Set and read text properties
Set and read the WM_NAME property
Set and read the WM_ICON_NAME property
Set and read the WM_HINTS property
Set and read the WM_NORMAL_HINTS property
Set and read the WM_CLASS property
Set and read the WM_TRANSIENT_FOR property
Set and read the WM_PROTOCOLS property
Set and read the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property
Set and read the WM_ICON_SIZE property
Use window manager convenience functions
Manipulating Top-Level Windows
Xlib provides functions that you can use to change the visibility or size of top-level
windows (that is, those that were created as children of the root window). Note that
the subwindows that you create are ignored by window managers. Therefore, you
should use the basic window functions described in chapter 3 to manipulate your
application's subwindows.
To request that a top-level window be iconified, use XIconifyWindow.
Status XIconifyWindow( *display, w, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
The XIconifyWindow function sends a WM_CHANGE_STATE ClientMessage event
with a format of 32 and a first data element of IconicState (as described in section
4.1.4 of the Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual) and a window of w to
the root window of the specified screen with an event mask set to SubstructureNo-
tifyMask | SubstructureRedirectMask. Window managers may elect to receive this
message and if the window is in its normal state, may treat it as a request to change
the window's state from normal to iconic. If the WM_CHANGE_STATE property can-
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328
not be interned, XIconifyWindow does not send a message and returns a zero sta-
tus. It returns a nonzero status if the client message is sent successfully; otherwise,
it returns a zero status.
To request that a top-level window be withdrawn, use XWithdrawWindow.
Status XWithdrawWindow( *display, w, screen_number);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
The XWithdrawWindow function unmaps the specified window and sends a synthet-
ic UnmapNotify event to the root window of the specified screen. Window man-
agers may elect to receive this message and may treat it as a request to change
the window's state to withdrawn. When a window is in the withdrawn state, neither
its normal nor its iconic representations is visible. It returns a nonzero status if the
UnmapNotify event is successfully sent; otherwise, it returns a zero status.
XWithdrawWindow can generate a BadWindow error.
To request that a top-level window be reconfigured, use XReconfigureWMWindow.
Status XReconfigureWMWindow( *display, w, screen_number, value_mask,
*values);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
screen_number Specifies the appropriate screen number on the host
server.
value_mask Specifies which values are to be set using informa-
tion in the values structure. This mask is the bitwise
inclusive OR of the valid configure window values
bits.
values Specifies the XWindowChanges structure.
The XReconfigureWMWindow function issues a ConfigureWindow request on the
specified top-level window. If the stacking mode is changed and the request fails
with a BadMatch error, the error is trapped by Xlib and a synthetic Configur-
eRequestEvent containing the same configuration parameters is sent to the root of
the specified window. Window managers may elect to receive this event and treat it
as a request to reconfigure the indicated window. It returns a nonzero status if the
request or event is successfully sent; otherwise, it returns a zero status.
XReconfigureWMWindow can generate BadValue and BadWindow errors.
Converting String Lists
Many of the text properties allow a variety of types and formats. Because the data
stored in these properties are not simple null-terminated strings, an XTextProperty
Inter-Client Commu-
nication Functions
329
structure is used to describe the encoding, type, and length of the text as well as
its value. The XTextProperty structure contains:
typedef struct {
unsigned char *value; /* property data */
Atom encoding; /* type of property */
int format; /* 8, 16, or 32 */
unsigned long nitems; /* number of items in value */
} XTextProperty;
Xlib provides functions to convert localized text to or from encodings that support
the inter-client communication conventions for text. In addition, functions are pro-
vided for converting between lists of pointers to character strings and text proper-
ties in the STRING encoding.
The functions for localized text return a signed integer error status that encodes
Success as zero, specific error conditions as negative numbers, and partial conver-
sion as a count of unconvertible characters.
#define #XNoMemory -1
#define #XLocaleNotSupported -2
#define #XConverterNotFound -3
typedef enum {
XStringStyle, /* STRING */
XCompoundTextStyle, /* COMPOUND_TEXT */
XTextStyle, /* text in owner's encoding (current locale) */
XStdICCTextStyle /* STRING, else COMPOUND_TEXT */
} XICCEncodingStyle;
To convert a list of text strings to an XTextProperty structure, use XmbTextListTo-
TextProperty or XwcTextListToTextProperty.
int XmbTextListToTextProperty( *display, **list, count, style,
*text_prop_return);
int XwcTextListToTextProperty( *display, **list, count, style,
*text_prop_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
list Specifies a list of null-terminated character strings.
count Specifies the number of strings specified.
style Specifies the manner in which the property is encod-
ed.
text_prop_return Returns the XTextProperty structure.
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nication Functions
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The XmbTextListToTextProperty and XwcTextListToTextProperty functions set
the specified XTextProperty value to a set of null-separated elements representing
the concatenation of the specified list of null-terminated text strings. A final termi-
nating null is stored at the end of the value field of text_prop_return but is not in-
cluded in the nitems member.
The functions set the encoding field of text_prop_return to an Atom for the spec-
ified display naming the encoding determined by the specified style and convert
the specified text list to this encoding for storage in the text_prop_return value
field. If the style XStringStyle or XCompoundTextStyle is specified, this encoding is
``STRING'' or ``COMPOUND_TEXT'', respectively. If the style XTextStyle is spec-
ified, this encoding is the encoding of the current locale. If the style XStdICCTex-
tStyle is specified, this encoding is ``STRING'' if the text is fully convertible to
STRING, else ``COMPOUND_TEXT''.
If insufficient memory is available for the new value string, the functions re-
turn XNoMemory. If the current locale is not supported, the functions return
XLocaleNotSupported. In both of these error cases, the functions do not set
text_prop_return.
To determine if the functions are guaranteed not to return XLocaleNotSupported,
use XSupportsLocale.
If the supplied text is not fully convertible to the specified encoding, the functions
return the number of unconvertible characters. Each unconvertible character is
converted to an implementation-defined and encoding-specific default string. Oth-
erwise, the functions return Success. Note that full convertibility to all styles except
XStringStyle is guaranteed.
To free the storage for the value field, use XFree.
To obtain a list of text strings from an XTextProperty structure, use XmbTextProp-
ertyToTextList or XwcTextPropertyToTextList.
int XmbTextPropertyToTextList( *display, *text_prop, ***list_return,
*count_return);
int XwcTextPropertyToTextList( *display, *text_prop, ***list_return,
*count_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
text_prop Specifies the XTextProperty structure to be used.
list_return Returns a list of null-terminated character strings.
count_return Returns the number of (Cn.
The XmbTextPropertyToTextList and XwcTextPropertyToTextList functions re-
turn a list of text strings in the current locale representing the null-separated ele-
ments of the specified XTextProperty structure. The data in text_prop must be for-
mat 8.
Multiple elements of the property (for example, the strings in a disjoint text selec-
tion) are separated by a null byte. The contents of the property are not required to
be null-terminated; any terminating null should not be included in text_prop.nitems.
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If insufficient memory is available for the list and its elements, XmbTextProperty-
ToTextList and XwcTextPropertyToTextList return XNoMemory. If the current
locale is not supported, the functions return XLocaleNotSupported. Otherwise, if
the encoding field of text_prop is not convertible to the encoding of the current
locale, the functions return XConverterNotFound. For supported locales, existence
of a converter from COMPOUND_TEXT, STRING or the encoding of the current lo-
cale is guaranteed if XSupportsLocale returns True for the current locale (but the
actual text may contain unconvertible characters). Conversion of other encodings
is implementation-dependent. In all of these error cases, the functions do not set
any return values.
Otherwise, XmbTextPropertyToTextList and XwcTextPropertyToTextList return
the list of null-terminated text strings to list_return and the number of text strings
to count_return.
If the value field of text_prop is not fully convertible to the encoding of the current
locale, the functions return the number of unconvertible characters. Each uncon-
vertible character is converted to a string in the current locale that is specific to the
current locale. To obtain the value of this string, use XDefaultString. Otherwise,
XmbTextPropertyToTextList and XwcTextPropertyToTextList return Success.
To free the storage for the list and its contents returned by XmbTextPropertyTo-
TextList, use XFreeStringList. To free the storage for the list and its contents
returned by XwcTextPropertyToTextList, use XwcFreeStringList.
To free the in-memory data associated with the specified wide character string list,
use XwcFreeStringList.
void XwcFreeStringList( **list);
list Specifies the list of strings to be freed.
The XwcFreeStringList function frees memory allocated by XwcTextPropertyTo-
TextList.
To obtain the default string for text conversion in the current locale, use
char *XDefaultString()
The XDefaultString function returns the default string used by Xlib for text conver-
sion (for example, in XmbTextPropertyToTextList). The default string is the string
in the current locale that is output when an unconvertible character is found during
text conversion. If the string returned by XDefaultString is the empty string (""),
no character is output in the converted text. XDefaultString does not return NULL.
The string returned by XDefaultString is independent of the default string for text
drawing; see XCreateFontSet to obtain the default string for an XFontSet.
The behavior when an invalid codepoint is supplied to any Xlib function is undefined.
The returned string is null-terminated. It is owned by Xlib and should not be modi-
fied or freed by the client. It may be freed after the current locale is changed. Until
freed, it will not be modified by Xlib.
To set the specified list of strings in the STRING encoding to a XTextProperty struc-
ture, use XStringListToTextProperty.
Status XStringListToTextProperty( **list, count, *text_prop_return);
Inter-Client Commu-
nication Functions
332
list Specifies a list of null-terminated character strings.
count Specifies the number of (Cn.
text_prop_return Returns the XTextProperty structure.
The XStringListToTextProperty function sets the specified XTextProperty to be of
type STRING (format 8) with a value representing the concatenation of the specified
list of null-separated character strings. An extra null byte (which is not included in
the nitems member) is stored at the end of the value field of text_prop_return. The
strings are assumed (without verification) to be in the STRING encoding. If insuf-
ficient memory is available for the new value string, XStringListToTextProperty
does not set any fields in the XTextProperty structure and returns a zero status.
Otherwise, it returns a nonzero status. To free the storage for the value field, use
XFree.
To obtain a list of strings from a specified XTextProperty structure in the STRING
encoding, use XTextPropertyToStringList.
Status XTextPropertyToStringList( *text_prop, ***list_return,
*count_return);
text_prop Specifies the XTextProperty structure to be used.
list_return Returns a list of null-terminated character strings.
count_return Returns the number of (Cn.
The XTextPropertyToStringList function returns a list of strings representing
the null-separated elements of the specified XTextProperty structure. The data in
text_prop must be of type STRING and format 8. Multiple elements of the property
(for example, the strings in a disjoint text selection) are separated by NULL (encod-
ing 0). The contents of the property are not null-terminated. If insufficient memo-
ry is available for the list and its elements, XTextPropertyToStringList sets no
return values and returns a zero status. Otherwise, it returns a nonzero status. To
free the storage for the list and its contents, use XFreeStringList.
To free the in-memory data associated with the specified string list, use
XFreeStringList.
void XFreeStringList( **list);
list Specifies the list of strings to be freed.
The XFreeStringList function releases memory allocated by XmbTextPropertyTo-
TextList and XTextPropertyToStringList and the missing charset list allocated
by XCreateFontSet.
Setting and Reading Text Properties
Xlib provides two functions that you can use to set and read the text prop-
erties for a given window. You can use these functions to set and read those
properties of type TEXT (WM_NAME, WM_ICON_NAME, WM_COMMAND, and
WM_CLIENT_MACHINE). In addition, Xlib provides separate convenience functions
that you can use to set each of these properties. For further information about these
convenience functions, see sections 14.1.4, 14.1.5, 14.2.1, and 14.2.2, respectively.
Inter-Client Commu-
nication Functions
333
To set one of a window's text properties, use XSetTextProperty.
void XSetTextProperty( *display, w, *text_prop, property);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
text_prop Specifies the XTextProperty structure to be used.
property Specifies the property name.
The XSetTextProperty function replaces the existing specified property for the
named window with the data, type, format, and number of items determined by the
value field, the encoding field, the format field, and the nitems field, respectively, of
the specified XTextProperty structure. If the property does not already exist, XSet-
TextProperty sets it for the specified window.
XSetTextProperty can generate BadAlloc, BadAtom, BadValue, and BadWindow
errors.
To read one of a window's text properties, use XGetTextProperty.
Status XGetTextProperty( *display, w, *text_prop_return, property);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
text_prop_return Returns the XTextProperty structure.
property Specifies the property name.
The XGetTextProperty function reads the specified property from the window and
stores the data in the returned XTextProperty structure. It stores the data in the
value field, the type of the data in the encoding field, the format of the data in the
format field, and the number of items of data in the nitems field. An extra byte
containing null (which is not included in the nitems member) is stored at the end of
the value field of text_prop_return. The particular interpretation of the property's
encoding and data as text is left to the calling application. If the specified property
does not exist on the window, XGetTextProperty sets the value field to NULL, the
encoding field to None, the format field to zero, and the nitems field to zero.
If it was able to read and store the data in the XTextProperty structure, XGet-
TextProperty returns a nonzero status; otherwise, it returns a zero status.
XGetTextProperty can generate BadAtom and BadWindow errors.
Setting and Reading the WM_NAME Property
Xlib provides convenience functions that you can use to set and read the WM_NAME
property for a given window.
To set a window's WM_NAME property with the supplied convenience function, use
XSetWMName.
void XSetWMName( *display, w, *text_prop);
Inter-Client Commu-
nication Functions
334
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
text_prop Specifies the XTextProperty structure to be used.
The XSetWMName convenience function calls XSetTextProperty to set the
WM_NAME property.
To read a window's WM_NAME property with the supplied convenience function,
use XGetWMName.
Status XGetWMName( *display, w, *text_prop_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
text_prop_return Returns the XTextProperty structure.
The XGetWMName convenience function calls XGetTextProperty to obtain the
WM_NAME property. It returns a nonzero status on success; otherwise, it returns
a zero status.
The following two functions have been superseded by XSetWMName and XGetWMName,
respectively. You can use these additional convenience functions for window names
that are encoded as STRING properties.
To assign a name to a window, use XStoreName.
XStoreName( *display, w, *window_name);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
window_name Specifies the window name, which should be a null-
terminated string.
The XStoreName function assigns the name passed to window_name to the speci-
fied window. A window manager can display the window name in some prominent
place, such as the title bar, to allow users to identify windows easily. Some window
managers may display a window's name in the window's icon, although they are
encouraged to use the window's icon name if one is provided by the application. If
the string is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is implemen-
tation-dependent.
XStoreName can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
To get the name of a window, use XFetchName.
Status XFetchName( *display, w, **window_name_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
window_name_return Returns the window name, which is a null-terminated
string.
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nication Functions
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The XFetchName function returns the name of the specified window. If it succeeds,
it returns a nonzero status; otherwise, no name has been set for the window, and it
returns zero. If the WM_NAME property has not been set for this window, XFetch-
Name sets window_name_return to NULL. If the data returned by the server is in the
Latin Portable Character Encoding, then the returned string is in the Host Portable
Character Encoding. Otherwise, the result is implementation-dependent. When fin-
ished with it, a client must free the window name string using XFree.
XFetchName can generate a BadWindow error.
Setting and Reading the WM_ICON_NAME Property
Xlib provides convenience functions that you can use to set and read the
WM_ICON_NAME property for a given window.
To set a window's WM_ICON_NAME property, use XSetWMIconName.
void XSetWMIconName( *display, w, *text_prop);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
text_prop Specifies the XTextProperty structure to be used.
The XSetWMIconName convenience function calls XSetTextProperty to set the
WM_ICON_NAME property.
To read a window's WM_ICON_NAME property, use XGetWMIconName.
Status XGetWMIconName( *display, w, *text_prop_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
text_prop_return Returns the XTextProperty structure.
The XGetWMIconName convenience function calls XGetTextProperty to obtain the
WM_ICON_NAME property. It returns a nonzero status on success; otherwise, it
returns a zero status.
The next two functions have been superseded by XSetWMIconName and XGetWMIcon-
Name, respectively. You can use these additional convenience functions for window
names that are encoded as STRING properties.
To set the name to be displayed in a window's icon, use XSetIconName.
XSetIconName( *display, w, *icon_name);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
icon_name Specifies the icon name, which should be a null-termi-
nated string.
If the string is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is implemen-
tation-dependent. XSetIconName can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
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To get the name a window wants displayed in its icon, use XGetIconName.
Status XGetIconName( *display, w, **icon_name_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
icon_name_return Returns the window's icon name, which is a null-ter-
minated string.
The XGetIconName function returns the name to be displayed in the specified
window's icon. If it succeeds, it returns a nonzero status; otherwise, if no icon name
has been set for the window, it returns zero. If you never assigned a name to the
window, XGetIconName sets icon_name_return to NULL. If the data returned by the
server is in the Latin Portable Character Encoding, then the returned string is in
the Host Portable Character Encoding. Otherwise, the result is implementation-de-
pendent. When finished with it, a client must free the icon name string using XFree.
XGetIconName can generate a BadWindow error.
Setting and Reading the WM_HINTS Property
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set and read the WM_HINTS property
for a given window. These functions use the flags and the XWMHints structure, as
defined in the <X11/Xutil.h> header file.
To allocate an XWMHints structure, use XAllocWMHints.
XWMHints *XAllocWMHints()
The XAllocWMHints function allocates and returns a pointer to an XWMHints struc-
ture. Note that all fields in the XWMHints structure are initially set to zero. If in-
sufficient memory is available, XAllocWMHints returns NULL. To free the memory
allocated to this structure, use XFree.
The XWMHints structure contains:
/* Window manager hints mask bits */
#define InputHint (1L<<0)
#define StateHint (1L<<1)
#define IconPixmapHint (1L<<2)
#define IconWindowHint (1L<<3)
#define IconPositionHint (1L<<4)
#define IconMaskHint (1L<<5)
#define WindowGroupHint (1L<<6)
#define UrgencyHint (1L<<8)
#define AllHints (InputHint|StateHint|IconPixmapHint|
IconWIndowHint|IconPositionHint|
IconMaskHint|WindowGroupHint)
/* Values */
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typedef struct {
long flags; /* marks which fields in this structure are defined */
Bool input; /* does this application rely on the window manager to
get keyboard input? */
int initial_state; /* see below */
Pixmap icon_pixmap; /* pixmap to be used as icon */
Window icon_window; /* window to be used as icon */
int icon_x, icon_y; /* initial position of icon */
Pixmap icon_mask; /* pixmap to be used as mask for icon_pixmap */
XID window_group; /* id of related window group */
/* this structure may be extended in the future */
} XWMHints;
The input member is used to communicate to the window manager the input focus
model used by the application. Applications that expect input but never explicitly set
focus to any of their subwindows (that is, use the push model of focus management),
such as X Version 10 style applications that use real-estate driven focus, should set
this member to True. Similarly, applications that set input focus to their subwindows
only when it is given to their top-level window by a window manager should also set
this member to True. Applications that manage their own input focus by explicitly
setting focus to one of their subwindows whenever they want keyboard input (that
is, use the pull model of focus management) should set this member to False. Appli-
cations that never expect any keyboard input also should set this member to False.
Pull model window managers should make it possible for push model applications to
get input by setting input focus to the top-level windows of applications whose input
member is True. Push model window managers should make sure that pull model
applications do not break them by resetting input focus to PointerRoot when it is
appropriate (for example, whenever an application whose input member is False
sets input focus to one of its subwindows).
The definitions for the initial_state flag are:
#define WithdrawnState 0
#define NormalState 1 /* most applications start this way */
#define IconicState 2 /* application wants to start as an icon */
The icon_mask specifies which pixels of the icon_pixmap should be used as the icon.
This allows for nonrectangular icons. Both icon_pixmap and icon_mask must be
bitmaps. The icon_window lets an application provide a window for use as an icon
for window managers that support such use. The window_group lets you specify
that this window belongs to a group of other windows. For example, if a single ap-
plication manipulates multiple top-level windows, this allows you to provide enough
information that a window manager can iconify all of the windows rather than just
the one window.
The UrgencyHint flag, if set in the flags field, indicates that the client deems the
window contents to be urgent, requiring the timely response of the user. The window
manager will make some effort to draw the user's attention to this window while
this flag is set. The client must provide some means by which the user can cause the
urgency flag to be cleared (either mitigating the condition that made the window
urgent or merely shutting off the alarm) or the window to be withdrawn.
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To set a window's WM_HINTS property, use XSetWMHints.
XSetWMHints( *display, w, *wmhints);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
wmhints Specifies the XWMHints structure to be used.
The XSetWMHints function sets the window manager hints that include icon infor-
mation and location, the initial state of the window, and whether the application
relies on the window manager to get keyboard input.
XSetWMHints can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
To read a window's WM_HINTS property, use XGetWMHints.
XWMHints *XGetWMHints( *display, w);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
The XGetWMHints function reads the window manager hints and returns NULL if no
WM_HINTS property was set on the window or returns a pointer to an XWMHints
structure if it succeeds. When finished with the data, free the space used for it by
calling XFree.
XGetWMHints can generate a BadWindow error.
Setting and Reading the WM_NORMAL_HINTS Property
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set or read the WM_NORMAL_HINTS
property for a given window. The functions use the flags and the XSizeHints struc-
ture, as defined in the <X11/Xutil.h> header file.
The size of the XSizeHints structure may grow in future releases, as new compo-
nents are added to support new ICCCM features. Passing statically allocated in-
stances of this structure into Xlib may result in memory corruption when running
against a future release of the library. As such, it is recommended that only dynam-
ically allocated instances of the structure be used.
To allocate an XSizeHints structure, use XAllocSizeHints.
XSizeHints *XAllocSizeHints()
The XAllocSizeHints function allocates and returns a pointer to an XSizeHints
structure. Note that all fields in the XSizeHints structure are initially set to zero.
If insufficient memory is available, XAllocSizeHints returns NULL. To free the
memory allocated to this structure, use XFree.
The XSizeHints structure contains:
/* Size hints mask bits */
#define USPosition (1L<<0) /* user specified x,y */
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#define USSize (1L<<1) /* user specified width,height */
#define PPosition (1L<<2) /* program specified posistion */
#define PSize (1L<<3) /* program specified size */
#define PMinSize (1L<<4) /* program specified minimum size */
#define PMaxSize (1L<<5) /* program specified maximum size */
#define PResizeInc (1L<<5) /* program specified resize increments */
#define PAspect (1L<<6) /* program specified min and max aspect ratios */
#define PBaseSize (1L<<8)
#define PWinGravity (1L<<9)
#define PAllHints (PPosition|Psize|
PMinSize|PMaxSize|
PResizeInc|PAspect)
/* Values */
typedef struct {
long flags; /* marks which fields in this structure are defined */
int x, y; /* Obsolete */
int width, height; /* Obsolete */
int min_width, min_height;
int max_width, max_height;
int width_inc, height_inc;
struct {
int x; /* numerator */
int y; /* denominator */
} min_aspect, max_aspect;
int base_width, base_height;
int win_gravity;
/* this structure may be extended in the future */
} XSizeHints;
The x, y, width, and height members are now obsolete and are left solely for compat-
ibility reasons. The min_width and min_height members specify the minimum win-
dow size that still allows the application to be useful. The max_width and max_height
members specify the maximum window size. The width_inc and height_inc members
define an arithmetic progression of sizes (minimum to maximum) into which the win-
dow prefers to be resized. The min_aspect and max_aspect members are expressed
as ratios of x and y, and they allow an application to specify the range of aspect
ratios it prefers. The base_width and base_height members define the desired size
of the window. The window manager will interpret the position of the window and
its border width to position the point of the outer rectangle of the overall window
specified by the win_gravity member. The outer rectangle of the window includes
any borders or decorations supplied by the window manager. In other words, if the
window manager decides to place the window where the client asked, the position
on the parent window's border named by the win_gravity will be placed where the
client window would have been placed in the absence of a window manager.
Note that use of the PAllHints macro is highly discouraged.
To set a window's WM_NORMAL_HINTS property, use XSetWMNormalHints.
void XSetWMNormalHints( *display, w, *hints);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
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w Specifies the window.
hints Specifies the size hints for the window in its normal state.
The XSetWMNormalHints function replaces the size hints for the
WM_NORMAL_HINTS property on the specified window. If the property does not
already exist, XSetWMNormalHints sets the size hints for the WM_NORMAL_HINTS
property on the specified window. The property is stored with a type of
WM_SIZE_HINTS and a format of 32.
XSetWMNormalHints can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
To read a window's WM_NORMAL_HINTS property, use XGetWMNormalHints.
Status XGetWMNormalHints( *display, w, *hints_return,
*supplied_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
hints_return Returns the size hints for the window in its normal
state.
supplied_return Returns the hints that were supplied by the user.
The XGetWMNormalHints function returns the size hints stored in the
WM_NORMAL_HINTS property on the specified window. If the property is of type
WM_SIZE_HINTS, is of format 32, and is long enough to contain either an old (pre-
ICCCM) or new size hints structure, XGetWMNormalHints sets the various fields of
the XSizeHints structure, sets the supplied_return argument to the list of fields that
were supplied by the user (whether or not they contained defined values), and re-
turns a nonzero status. Otherwise, it returns a zero status.
If XGetWMNormalHints returns successfully and a pre-ICCCM size hints property is
read, the supplied_return argument will contain the following bits:
(USPosition|USSize|PPosition|PSize|PMinSize|
PMaxSize|PResizeInc|PAspect)
If the property is large enough to contain the base size and window gravity fields
as well, the supplied_return argument will also contain the following bits:
PBaseSize|PWinGravity
XGetWMNormalHints can generate a BadWindow error.
To set a window's WM_SIZE_HINTS property, use XSetWMSizeHints.
void XSetWMSizeHints( *display, w, *hints, property);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
hints Specifies the XSizeHints structure to be used.
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property Specifies the property name.
The XSetWMSizeHints function replaces the size hints for the specified property on
the named window. If the specified property does not already exist, XSetWMSize-
Hints sets the size hints for the specified property on the named window. The prop-
erty is stored with a type of WM_SIZE_HINTS and a format of 32. To set a window's
normal size hints, you can use the XSetWMNormalHints function.
XSetWMSizeHints can generate BadAlloc, BadAtom, and BadWindow errors.
To read a window's WM_SIZE_HINTS property, use XGetWMSizeHints.
Status XGetWMSizeHints( *display, w, *hints_return, *supplied_return,
property);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
hints_return Returns the XSizeHints structure.
supplied_return Returns the hints that were supplied by the user.
property Specifies the property name.
The XGetWMSizeHints function returns the size hints stored in the specified prop-
erty on the named window. If the property is of type WM_SIZE_HINTS, is of for-
mat 32, and is long enough to contain either an old (pre-ICCCM) or new size hints
structure, XGetWMSizeHints sets the various fields of the XSizeHints structure, sets
the supplied_return argument to the list of fields that were supplied by the user
(whether or not they contained defined values), and returns a nonzero status. Oth-
erwise, it returns a zero status. To get a window's normal size hints, you can use
the XGetWMNormalHints function.
If XGetWMSizeHints returns successfully and a pre-ICCCM size hints property is
read, the supplied_return argument will contain the following bits:
(USPosition|USSize|PPosition|PSize|PMinSize|
PMaxSize|PResizeInc|PAspect)
If the property is large enough to contain the base size and window gravity fields
as well, the supplied_return argument will also contain the following bits:
PBaseSize|PWinGravity
XGetWMSizeHints can generate BadAtom and BadWindow errors.
Setting and Reading the WM_CLASS Property
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set and get the WM_CLASS property for
a given window. These functions use the XClassHint structure, which is defined in
the <X11/Xutil.h> header file.
To allocate an XClassHint structure, use XAllocClassHint.
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XClassHint *XAllocClassHint()
The XAllocClassHint function allocates and returns a pointer to an XClassHint
structure. Note that the pointer fields in the XClassHint structure are initially set to
NULL. If insufficient memory is available, XAllocClassHint returns NULL. To free
the memory allocated to this structure, use XFree.
The XClassHint contains:
typedef struct {
char *res_name;
char *res_class;
} XClassHint;
The res_name member contains the application name, and the res_class member
contains the application class. Note that the name set in this property may differ
from the name set as WM_NAME. That is, WM_NAME specifies what should be dis-
played in the title bar and, therefore, can contain temporal information (for exam-
ple, the name of a file currently in an editor's buffer). On the other hand, the name
specified as part of WM_CLASS is the formal name of the application that should
be used when retrieving the application's resources from the resource database.
To set a window's WM_CLASS property, use XSetClassHint.
XSetClassHint( *display, w, *class_hints);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
class_hints Specifies the XClassHint structure that is to be used.
The XSetClassHint function sets the class hint for the specified window. If the
strings are not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is implementa-
tion-dependent.
XSetClassHint can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
To read a window's WM_CLASS property, use XGetClassHint.
Status XGetClassHint( *display, w, *class_hints_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
class_hints_return Returns the XClassHint structure.
The XGetClassHint function returns the class hint of the specified window to the
members of the supplied structure. If the data returned by the server is in the Latin
Portable Character Encoding, then the returned strings are in the Host Portable
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Character Encoding. Otherwise, the result is implementation-dependent. It returns
a nonzero status on success; otherwise, it returns a zero status. To free res_name
and res_class when finished with the strings, use XFree on each individually.
XGetClassHint can generate a BadWindow error.
Setting and Reading the WM_TRANSIENT_FOR Property
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set and read the WM_TRANSIENT_FOR
property for a given window.
To set a window's WM_TRANSIENT_FOR property, use XSetTransientForHint.
XSetTransientForHint( *display, w, prop_window);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
prop_window Specifies the window that the WM_TRANSIENT_FOR
property is to be set to.
The XSetTransientForHint function sets the WM_TRANSIENT_FOR property of
the specified window to the specified prop_window.
XSetTransientForHint can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
To read a window's WM_TRANSIENT_FOR property, use XGetTransientForHint.
Status XGetTransientForHint( *display, w, *prop_window_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
prop_window_return Returns the WM_TRANSIENT_FOR property of the
specified window.
The XGetTransientForHint function returns the WM_TRANSIENT_FOR property
for the specified window. It returns a nonzero status on success; otherwise, it re-
turns a zero status.
XGetTransientForHint can generate a BadWindow error.
Setting and Reading the WM_PROTOCOLS Property
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set and read the WM_PROTOCOLS prop-
erty for a given window.
To set a window's WM_PROTOCOLS property, use XSetWMProtocols.
Status XSetWMProtocols( *display, w, *protocols, count);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
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protocols Specifies the list of protocols.
count Specifies the number of (Cn.
The XSetWMProtocols function replaces the WM_PROTOCOLS property on the
specified window with the list of atoms specified by the protocols argument. If the
property does not already exist, XSetWMProtocols sets the WM_PROTOCOLS prop-
erty on the specified window to the list of atoms specified by the protocols argu-
ment. The property is stored with a type of ATOM and a format of 32. If it cannot
intern the WM_PROTOCOLS atom, XSetWMProtocols returns a zero status. Other-
wise, it returns a nonzero status.
XSetWMProtocols can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
To read a window's WM_PROTOCOLS property, use XGetWMProtocols.
Status XGetWMProtocols( *display, w, **protocols_return,
*count_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
protocols_return Returns the list of protocols.
count_return Returns the number of (Cn.
The XGetWMProtocols function returns the list of atoms stored in the
WM_PROTOCOLS property on the specified window. These atoms describe window
manager protocols in which the owner of this window is willing to participate. If the
property exists, is of type ATOM, is of format 32, and the atom WM_PROTOCOLS
can be interned, XGetWMProtocols sets the protocols_return argument to a list of
atoms, sets the count_return argument to the number of elements in the list, and
returns a nonzero status. Otherwise, it sets neither of the return arguments and
returns a zero status. To release the list of atoms, use XFree.
XGetWMProtocols can generate a BadWindow error.
Setting and Reading the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS
Property
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set and read the
WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property for a given window.
To set a window's WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property, use XSetWMColormapWin-
dows.
Status XSetWMColormapWindows( *display, w, *colormap_windows, count);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
colormap_windows Specifies the list of windows.
count Specifies the number of (Cn.
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The XSetWMColormapWindows function replaces the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS
property on the specified window with the list of windows specified by the
colormap_windows argument. If the property does not already exist, XSetWMCol-
ormapWindows sets the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property on the specified win-
dow to the list of windows specified by the colormap_windows argument. The prop-
erty is stored with a type of WINDOW and a format of 32. If it cannot intern the
WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS atom, XSetWMColormapWindows returns a zero status.
Otherwise, it returns a nonzero status.
XSetWMColormapWindows can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
To read a window's WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property, use XGetWMColormap-
Windows.
Status XGetWMColormapWindows( *display, w, **colormap_windows_return,
*count_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
colormap_windows_return Returns the list of windows.
count_return Returns the number of (Cn.
The XGetWMColormapWindows function returns the list of window identifiers stored
in the WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS property on the specified window. These iden-
tifiers indicate the colormaps that the window manager may need to install for
this window. If the property exists, is of type WINDOW, is of format 32, and the
atom WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS can be interned, XGetWMColormapWindows sets
the windows_return argument to a list of window identifiers, sets the count_return
argument to the number of elements in the list, and returns a nonzero status. Oth-
erwise, it sets neither of the return arguments and returns a zero status. To release
the list of window identifiers, use XFree.
XGetWMColormapWindows can generate a BadWindow error.
Setting and Reading the WM_ICON_SIZE Property
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set and read the WM_ICON_SIZE prop-
erty for a given window. These functions use the XIconSize structure, which is de-
fined in the <X11/Xutil.h> header file.
To allocate an XIconSize structure, use XAllocIconSize.
XIconSize *XAllocIconSize()
The XAllocIconSize function allocates and returns a pointer to an XIconSize struc-
ture. Note that all fields in the XIconSize structure are initially set to zero. If in-
sufficient memory is available, XAllocIconSize returns NULL. To free the memory
allocated to this structure, use XFree.
The XIconSize structure contains:
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typedef struct {
int min_width, min_height;
int max_width, max_height;
int width_inc, height_inc;
} XIconSize;
The width_inc and height_inc members define an arithmetic progression of sizes
(minimum to maximum) that represent the supported icon sizes.
To set a window's WM_ICON_SIZE property, use XSetIconSizes.
XSetIconSizes( *display, w, *size_list, count);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
size_list Specifies the size list.
count Specifies the number of items in the size list.
The XSetIconSizes function is used only by window managers to set the supported
icon sizes.
XSetIconSizes can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
To read a window's WM_ICON_SIZE property, use XGetIconSizes.
Status XGetIconSizes( *display, w, **size_list_return,
*count_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
size_list_return Returns the size list.
count_return Returns the number of items in the size list.
The XGetIconSizes function returns zero if a window manager has not set icon
sizes; otherwise, it returns nonzero. XGetIconSizes should be called by an applica-
tion that wants to find out what icon sizes would be most appreciated by the window
manager under which the application is running. The application should then use
XSetWMHints to supply the window manager with an icon pixmap or window in one
of the supported sizes. To free the data allocated in size_list_return, use XFree.
XGetIconSizes can generate a BadWindow error.
Using Window Manager Convenience Functions
The XmbSetWMProperties function stores the standard set of window manager
properties, with text properties in standard encodings for internationalized text
communication. The standard window manager properties for a given window are
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nication Functions
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WM_NAME, WM_ICON_NAME, WM_HINTS, WM_NORMAL_HINTS, WM_CLASS,
WM_COMMAND, WM_CLIENT_MACHINE, and WM_LOCALE_NAME.
void XmbSetWMProperties( *display, w, *window_name, *icon_name,
*argv[], argc, *normal_hints, *wm_hints, *class_hints);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
window_name Specifies the window name, which should be a null-
terminated string.
icon_name Specifies the icon name, which should be a null-termi-
nated string.
argv Specifies the application's argument list.
argc Specifies the number of arguments.
hints Specifies the size hints for the window in its normal
state.
wm_hints Specifies the XWMHints structure to be used.
class_hints Specifies the XClassHint structure to be used.
The XmbSetWMProperties convenience function provides a simple programming in-
terface for setting those essential window properties that are used for communicat-
ing with other clients (particularly window and session managers).
If the window_name argument is non-NULL, XmbSetWMProperties sets the
WM_NAME property. If the icon_name argument is non-NULL, XmbSetWMProper-
ties sets the WM_ICON_NAME property. The window_name and icon_name argu-
ments are null-terminated strings in the encoding of the current locale. If the argu-
ments can be fully converted to the STRING encoding, the properties are created
with type ``STRING''; otherwise, the arguments are converted to Compound Text,
and the properties are created with type ``COMPOUND_TEXT''.
If the normal_hints argument is non-NULL, XmbSetWMProperties calls XSetWMNor-
malHints, which sets the WM_NORMAL_HINTS property (see section 14.1.7). If the
wm_hints argument is non-NULL, XmbSetWMProperties calls XSetWMHints, which
sets the WM_HINTS property (see section 14.1.6).
If the argv argument is non-NULL, XmbSetWMProperties sets the WM_COMMAND
property from argv and argc. An argc of zero indicates a zero-length command.
The hostname of the machine is stored using XSetWMClientMachine (see section
14.2.2).
If the class_hints argument is non-NULL, XmbSetWMProperties sets the WM_CLASS
property. If the res_name member in the XClassHint structure is set to the NULL
pointer and the RESOURCE_NAME environment variable is set, the value of the
environment variable is substituted for res_name. If the res_name member is NULL,
the environment variable is not set, and argv and argv[0] are set, then the value of
argv[0], stripped of any directory prefixes, is substituted for res_name.
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nication Functions
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It is assumed that the supplied class_hints.res_name and argv, the
RESOURCE_NAME environment variable, and the hostname of the machine are in
the encoding of the locale announced for the LC_CTYPE category (on POSIX-compli-
ant systems, the LC_CTYPE, else LANG environment variable). The corresponding
WM_CLASS, WM_COMMAND, and WM_CLIENT_MACHINE properties are typed
according to the local host locale announcer. No encoding conversion is performed
prior to storage in the properties.
For clients that need to process the property text in a locale, XmbSetWMProperties
sets the WM_LOCALE_NAME property to be the name of the current locale. The
name is assumed to be in the Host Portable Character Encoding and is converted
to STRING for storage in the property.
XmbSetWMProperties can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
To set a window's standard window manager properties with strings in
client-specified encodings, use XSetWMProperties. The standard window man-
ager properties for a given window are WM_NAME, WM_ICON_NAME,
WM_HINTS, WM_NORMAL_HINTS, WM_CLASS, WM_COMMAND, and
WM_CLIENT_MACHINE.
void XSetWMProperties( *display, w, *window_name, *icon_name, **argv,
argc, *normal_hints, *wm_hints, *class_hints);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
window_name Specifies the window name, which should be a null-
terminated string.
icon_name Specifies the icon name, which should be a null-ter-
minated string.
argv Specifies the application's argument list.
argc Specifies the number of arguments.
normal_hints Specifies the size hints for the window in its normal
state.
wm_hints Specifies the XWMHints structure to be used.
class_hints Specifies the XClassHint structure to be used.
The XSetWMProperties convenience function provides a single programming inter-
face for setting those essential window properties that are used for communicating
with other clients (particularly window and session managers).
If the window_name argument is non-NULL, XSetWMProperties calls XSetWMName,
which, in turn, sets the WM_NAME property (see section 14.1.4). If the icon_name
argument is non-NULL, XSetWMProperties calls XSetWMIconName, which sets the
WM_ICON_NAME property (see section 14.1.5). If the argv argument is non-NULL,
XSetWMProperties calls XSetCommand, which sets the WM_COMMAND property
(see section 14.2.1). Note that an argc of zero is allowed to indicate a zero-length
command. Note also that the hostname of this machine is stored using XSetWM-
ClientMachine (see section 14.2.2).
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If the normal_hints argument is non-NULL, XSetWMProperties calls XSetWMNormal-
Hints, which sets the WM_NORMAL_HINTS property (see section 14.1.7). If the
wm_hints argument is non-NULL, XSetWMProperties calls XSetWMHints, which sets
the WM_HINTS property (see section 14.1.6).
If the class_hints argument is non-NULL, XSetWMProperties calls XSetClassHint,
which sets the WM_CLASS property (see section 14.1.8). If the res_name member
in the XClassHint structure is set to the NULL pointer and the RESOURCE_NAME
environment variable is set, then the value of the environment variable is substitut-
ed for res_name. If the res_name member is NULL, the environment variable is not
set, and argv and argv[0] are set, then the value of argv[0], stripped of any directory
prefixes, is substituted for res_name.
XSetWMProperties can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
Client to Session Manager Communication
This section discusses how to:
Set and read the WM_COMMAND property
Set and read the WM_CLIENT_MACHINE property
Setting and Reading the WM_COMMAND Property
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set and read the WM_COMMAND prop-
erty for a given window.
To set a window's WM_COMMAND property, use XSetCommand.
XSetCommand( *display, w, **argv, argc);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
argv Specifies the application's argument list.
argc Specifies the number of arguments.
The XSetCommand function sets the command and arguments used to invoke the ap-
plication. (Typically, argv is the argv array of your main program.) If the strings
are not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is implementation-de-
pendent.
XSetCommand can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
To read a window's WM_COMMAND property, use XGetCommand.
Status XGetCommand( *display, w, ***argv_return, *argc_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
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argv_return Returns the application's argument list.
argc_return Returns the number of arguments returned.
The XGetCommand function reads the WM_COMMAND property from the specified
window and returns a string list. If the WM_COMMAND property exists, it is of type
STRING and format 8. If sufficient memory can be allocated to contain the string
list, XGetCommand fills in the argv_return and argc_return arguments and returns
a nonzero status. Otherwise, it returns a zero status. If the data returned by the
server is in the Latin Portable Character Encoding, then the returned strings are in
the Host Portable Character Encoding. Otherwise, the result is implementation-de-
pendent. To free the memory allocated to the string list, use XFreeStringList.
Setting and Reading the WM_CLIENT_MACHINE Proper-
ty
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set and read the WM_CLIENT_MACHINE
property for a given window.
To set a window's WM_CLIENT_MACHINE property, use XSetWMClientMachine.
void XSetWMClientMachine( *display, w, *text_prop);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
text_prop Specifies the XTextProperty structure to be used.
The XSetWMClientMachine convenience function calls XSetTextProperty to set the
WM_CLIENT_MACHINE property.
To read a window's WM_CLIENT_MACHINE property, use XGetWMClientMachine.
Status XGetWMClientMachine( *display, w, *text_prop_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
text_prop_return Returns the XTextProperty structure.
The XGetWMClientMachine convenience function performs an XGetTextProperty
on the WM_CLIENT_MACHINE property. It returns a nonzero status on success;
otherwise, it returns a zero status.
Standard Colormaps
Applications with color palettes, smooth-shaded drawings, or digitized images de-
mand large numbers of colors. In addition, these applications often require an effi-
cient mapping from color triples to pixel values that display the appropriate colors.
As an example, consider a three-dimensional display program that wants to draw
a smoothly shaded sphere. At each pixel in the image of the sphere, the program
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351
computes the intensity and color of light reflected back to the viewer. The result of
each computation is a triple of red, green, and blue (RGB) coefficients in the range
0.0 to 1.0. To draw the sphere, the program needs a colormap that provides a large
range of uniformly distributed colors. The colormap should be arranged so that the
program can convert its RGB triples into pixel values very quickly, because drawing
the entire sphere requires many such conversions.
On many current workstations, the display is limited to 256 or fewer colors. Appli-
cations must allocate colors carefully, not only to make sure they cover the entire
range they need but also to make use of as many of the available colors as possi-
ble. On a typical X display, many applications are active at once. Most workstations
have only one hardware look-up table for colors, so only one application colormap
can be installed at a given time. The application using the installed colormap is dis-
played correctly, and the other applications go technicolor and are displayed with
false colors.
As another example, consider a user who is running an image processing program
to display earth-resources data. The image processing program needs a colormap
set up with 8 reds, 8 greens, and 4 blues, for a total of 256 colors. Because some
colors are already in use in the default colormap, the image processing program
allocates and installs a new colormap.
The user decides to alter some of the colors in the image by invoking a color palette
program to mix and choose colors. The color palette program also needs a colormap
with eight reds, eight greens, and four blues, so just like the image processing pro-
gram, it must allocate and install a new colormap.
Because only one colormap can be installed at a time, the color palette may be
displayed incorrectly whenever the image processing program is active. Conversely,
whenever the palette program is active, the image may be displayed incorrectly. The
user can never match or compare colors in the palette and image. Contention for
colormap resources can be reduced if applications with similar color needs share
colormaps.
The image processing program and the color palette program could share the same
colormap if there existed a convention that described how the colormap was set up.
Whenever either program was active, both would be displayed correctly.
The standard colormap properties define a set of commonly used colormaps. Appli-
cations that share these colormaps and conventions display true colors more often
and provide a better interface to the user.
Standard colormaps allow applications to share commonly used color resources.
This allows many applications to be displayed in true colors simultaneously, even
when each application needs an entirely filled colormap.
Several standard colormaps are described in this section. Usually, a window man-
ager creates these colormaps. Applications should use the standard colormaps if
they already exist.
To allocate an XStandardColormap structure, use XAllocStandardColormap.
XStandardColormap *XAllocStandardColormap()
The XAllocStandardColormap function allocates and returns a pointer to an XStan-
dardColormap structure. Note that all fields in the XStandardColormap structure
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are initially set to zero. If insufficient memory is available, XAllocStandardCol-
ormap returns NULL. To free the memory allocated to this structure, use XFree.
The XStandardColormap structure contains:
/* Hints */
#define ReeaseByFreeingColormap ((XID)1L)
/* Values */
typedef struct {
Colormap colormap;
unsigned long red_max;
unsigned long red_mult;
unsigned long green_max;
unsigned long green_mult;
unsigned long blue_max;
unsigned long blue_mult;
unsigned long base_pixel;
VisualID visualid;
XID killid;
} XStandardColormap;
The colormap member is the colormap created by the XCreateColormap function.
The red_max, green_max, and blue_max members give the maximum red, green,
and blue values, respectively. Each color coefficient ranges from zero to its max,
inclusive. For example, a common colormap allocation is 3/3/2 (3 planes for red, 3
planes for green, and 2 planes for blue). This colormap would have red_max = 7,
green_max = 7, and blue_max = 3. An alternate allocation that uses only 216 colors
is red_max = 5, green_max = 5, and blue_max = 5.
The red_mult, green_mult, and blue_mult members give the scale factors used to
compose a full pixel value. (See the discussion of the base_pixel members for further
information.) For a 3/3/2 allocation, red_mult might be 32, green_mult might be 4,
and blue_mult might be 1. For a 6-colors-each allocation, red_mult might be 36,
green_mult might be 6, and blue_mult might be 1.
The base_pixel member gives the base pixel value used to compose a full pixel value.
Usually, the base_pixel is obtained from a call to the XAllocColorPlanes function.
Given integer red, green, and blue coefficients in their appropriate ranges, one then
can compute a corresponding pixel value by using the following expression:
(r * red_mult + g * green_mult + b * blue_mult + base_pixel) & 0xFFFFFFFF
For GrayScale colormaps, only the colormap, red_max, red_mult, and base_pixel
members are defined. The other members are ignored. To compute a GrayScale
pixel value, use the following expression:
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nication Functions
353
(gray * red_mult + base_pixel) & 0xFFFFFFFF
Negative multipliers can be represented by converting the 2's complement repre-
sentation of the multiplier into an unsigned long and storing the result in the ap-
propriate _mult field. The step of masking by 0xFFFFFFFF effectively converts the
resulting positive multiplier into a negative one. The masking step will take place
automatically on many machine architectures, depending on the size of the integer
type used to do the computation.
The visualid member gives the ID number of the visual from which the colormap
was created. The killid member gives a resource ID that indicates whether the cells
held by this standard colormap are to be released by freeing the colormap ID or by
calling the XKillClient function on the indicated resource. (Note that this method
is necessary for allocating out of an existing colormap.)
The properties containing the XStandardColormap information have the type
RGB_COLOR_MAP.
The remainder of this section discusses standard colormap properties and atoms as
well as how to manipulate standard colormaps.
Standard Colormap Properties and Atoms
Several standard colormaps are available. Each standard colormap is defined by a
property, and each such property is identified by an atom. The following list names
the atoms and describes the colormap associated with each one. The <X11/Xatom.h>
header file contains the definitions for each of the following atoms, which are
prefixed with XA_.
RGB_DEFAULT_MAP This atom names a property. The value of the prop-
erty is an array of XStandardColormap structures.
Each entry in the array describes an RGB subset
of the default color map for the Visual specified by
visual_id.
Some applications only need a few RGB colors and
may be able to allocate them from the system default
colormap. This is the ideal situation because the few-
er colormaps that are active in the system the more
applications are displayed with correct colors at all
times.
A typical allocation for the RGB_DEFAULT_MAP on
8-plane displays is 6 reds, 6 greens, and 6 blues. This
gives 216 uniformly distributed colors (6 intensities
of 36 different hues) and still leaves 40 elements of a
256-element colormap available for special-purpose
colors for text, borders, and so on.
RGB_BEST_MAP This atom names a property. The value of the proper-
ty is an XStandardColormap.
The property defines the best RGB colormap avail-
able on the screen. (Of course, this is a subjective
Inter-Client Commu-
nication Functions
354
evaluation.) Many image processing and three-di-
mensional applications need to use all available col-
ormap cells and to distribute as many perceptually
distinct colors as possible over those cells. This im-
plies that there may be more green values available
than red, as well as more green or red than blue.
For an 8-plane PseudoColor visual, RGB_BEST_MAP
is likely to be a 3/3/2 allocation. For a 24-plane Direct-
Color visual, RGB_BEST_MAP is normally an 8/8/8 al-
location.
RGB_RED_MAP,RGB_GREEN_MAP,RGB_BLUE_MAP These atoms name properties. The value of each
property is an XStandardColormap.
The properties define all-red, all-green, and all-blue
colormaps, respectively. These maps are used by ap-
plications that want to make color-separated images.
For example, a user might generate a full-color im-
age on an 8-plane display both by rendering an image
three times (once with high color resolution in red,
once with green, and once with blue) and by multiply
exposing a single frame in a camera.
RGB_GRAY_MAP This atom names a property. The value of the proper-
ty is an XStandardColormap.
The property describes the best GrayScale colormap
available on the screen. As previously mentioned, on-
ly the colormap, red_max, red_mult, and base_pixel
members of the XStandardColormap structure are
used for GrayScale colormaps.
Setting and Obtaining Standard Colormaps
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set and obtain an XStandardColormap
structure.
To set an XStandardColormap structure, use XSetRGBColormaps.
void XSetRGBColormaps( *display, w, *std_colormap, count, property);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
std_colormap Specifies the XStandardColormap structure to be
used.
count Specifies the number of (Cn.
property Specifies the property name.
The XSetRGBColormaps function replaces the RGB colormap definition in the speci-
fied property on the named window. If the property does not already exist, XSetRGB-
Colormaps sets the RGB colormap definition in the specified property on the named
Inter-Client Commu-
nication Functions
355
window. The property is stored with a type of RGB_COLOR_MAP and a format of 32.
Note that it is the caller's responsibility to honor the ICCCM restriction that only
RGB_DEFAULT_MAP contain more than one definition.
The XSetRGBColormaps function usually is only used by window or session man-
agers. To create a standard colormap, follow this procedure:
Open a new connection to the same server.
Grab the server.
See if the property is on the property list of the root window for the screen.
If the desired property is not present:
Create a colormap (unless you are using the default colormap of the screen).
Determine the color characteristics of the visual.
Allocate cells in the colormap (or create it with AllocAll).
Call XStoreColors to store appropriate color values in the colormap.
Fill in the descriptive members in the XStandardColormap structure.
Attach the property to the root window.
Use XSetCloseDownMode to make the resource permanent.
Ungrab the server.
XSetRGBColormaps can generate BadAlloc, BadAtom, and BadWindow errors.
To obtain the XStandardColormap structure associated with the specified property,
use XGetRGBColormaps.
Status XGetRGBColormaps( *display, w, **std_colormap_return,
*count_return, property);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
std_colormap_return Returns the XStandardColormap structure.
count_return Returns the number of (Cn.
property Specifies the property name.
The XGetRGBColormaps function returns the RGB colormap definitions stored in
the specified property on the named window. If the property exists, is of type
RGB_COLOR_MAP, is of format 32, and is long enough to contain a colormap defin-
ition, XGetRGBColormaps allocates and fills in space for the returned colormaps and
returns a nonzero status. If the visualid is not present, XGetRGBColormaps assumes
the default visual for the screen on which the window is located; if the killid is not
present, None is assumed, which indicates that the resources cannot be released.
Otherwise, none of the fields are set, and XGetRGBColormaps returns a zero status.
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nication Functions
356
Note that it is the caller's responsibility to honor the ICCCM restriction that only
RGB_DEFAULT_MAP contain more than one definition.
XGetRGBColormaps can generate BadAtom and BadWindow errors.
357
Chapter 15. Resource Manager
Functions
A program often needs a variety of options in the X environment (for example, fonts,
colors, icons, and cursors). Specifying all of these options on the command line is
awkward because users may want to customize many aspects of the program and
need a convenient way to establish these customizations as the default settings. The
resource manager is provided for this purpose. Resource specifications are usually
stored in human-readable files and in server properties.
The resource manager is a database manager with a twist. In most database sys-
tems, you perform a query using an imprecise specification, and you get back a set
of records. The resource manager, however, allows you to specify a large set of val-
ues with an imprecise specification, to query the database with a precise specifica-
tion, and to get back only a single value. This should be used by applications that
need to know what the user prefers for colors, fonts, and other resources. It is this
use as a database for dealing with X resources that inspired the name "Resource
Manager," although the resource manager can be and is used in other ways.
For example, a user of your application may want to specify that all windows should
have a blue background but that all mail-reading windows should have a red back-
ground. With well-engineered and coordinated applications, a user can define this
information using only two lines of specifications.
As an example of how the resource manager works, consider a mail-reading appli-
cation called xmh. Assume that it is designed so that it uses a complex window
hierarchy all the way down to individual command buttons, which may be actual
small subwindows in some toolkits. These are often called objects or widgets. In
such toolkit systems, each user interface object can be composed of other objects
and can be assigned a name and a class. Fully qualified names or classes can have
arbitrary numbers of component names, but a fully qualified name always has the
same number of component names as a fully qualified class. This generally reflects
the structure of the application as composed of these objects, starting with the ap-
plication itself.
For example, the xmh mail program has a name "xmh" and is one of a class of "Mail"
programs. By convention, the first character of class components is capitalized, and
the first letter of name components is in lowercase. Each name and class finally
has an attribute (for example, "foreground" or "font"). If each window is properly
assigned a name and class, it is easy for the user to specify attributes of any portion
of the application.
At the top level, the application might consist of a paned window (that is, a win-
dow divided into several sections) named "toc". One pane of the paned window is
a button box window named "buttons" and is filled with command buttons. One of
these command buttons is used to incorporate new mail and has the name "incor-
porate". This window has a fully qualified name, "xmh.toc.buttons.incorporate", and
a fully qualified class, "Xmh.Paned.Box.Command". Its fully qualified name is the
name of its parent, "xmh.toc.buttons", followed by its name, "incorporate". Its class
is the class of its parent, "Xmh.Paned.Box", followed by its particular class, "Com-
mand". The fully qualified name of a resource is the attribute's name appended to
the object's fully qualified name, and the fully qualified class is its class appended
to the object's class.
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358
The incorporate button might need the following resources: Title string, Font, Fore-
ground color for its inactive state, Background color for its inactive state, Fore-
ground color for its active state, and Background color for its active state. Each
resource is considered to be an attribute of the button and, as such, has a name and
a class. For example, the foreground color for the button in its active state might
be named "activeForeground", and its class might be "Foreground".
When an application looks up a resource (for example, a color), it passes the com-
plete name and complete class of the resource to a look-up routine. The resource
manager compares this complete specification against the incomplete specifications
of entries in the resource database, finds the best match, and returns the corre-
sponding value for that entry.
The definitions for the resource manager are contained in <X11/Xresource.h>.
Resource File Syntax
The syntax of a resource file is a sequence of resource lines terminated by newline
characters or the end of the file. The syntax of an individual resource line is:
ResourceLine = Comment | IncludeFile | ResourceSpec | <empty line>
Comment = "!" {<any character except null or newline>}
IncludeFile = "#" WhiteSpace "include" WhiteSpace FileName WhiteSpace
FileName = <valid filename for operating system>
ResourceSpec = WhiteSpace ResourceName WhiteSpace ":" WhiteSpace Value
ResourceName = [Binding] {Component Binding} ComponentName
Binding = "." | "*"
WhiteSpace = {<space> | <horizontal tab>}
Component = "?" | ComponentName
ComponentName = NameChar {NameChar}
NameChar = "a"-"z" | "A"-"Z" | "0"-"9" | "_" | "-"
Value = {<any character except null or unescaped newline>}
Elements separated by vertical bar (|) are alternatives. Curly braces ({......}) indi-
cate zero or more repetitions of the enclosed elements. Square brackets ([......]) in-
dicate that the enclosed element is optional. Quotes ("......") are used around literal
characters.
IncludeFile lines are interpreted by replacing the line with the contents of the spec-
ified file. The word "include" must be in lowercase. The file name is interpreted
relative to the directory of the file in which the line occurs (for example, if the file
name contains no directory or contains a relative directory specification).
If a ResourceName contains a contiguous sequence of two or more Binding char-
acters, the sequence will be replaced with a single ".." character if the sequence
contains only ".." characters; otherwise, the sequence will be replaced with a single
"*" character.
A resource database never contains more than one entry for a given ResourceName.
If a resource file contains multiple lines with the same ResourceName, the last line
in the file is used.
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359
Any white space characters before or after the name or colon in a ResourceSpec are
ignored. To allow a Value to begin with white space, the two-character sequence "\
\space" (backslash followed by space) is recognized and replaced by a space char-
acter, and the two-character sequence "\\tab" (backslash followed by horizontal tab)
is recognized and replaced by a horizontal tab character. To allow a Value to con-
tain embedded newline characters, the two-character sequence "\\n" is recognized
and replaced by a newline character. To allow a Value to be broken across multiple
lines in a text file, the two-character sequence "\\newline" (backslash followed by
newline) is recognized and removed from the value. To allow a Value to contain
arbitrary character codes, the four-character sequence "\\nnn", where each n is a
digit character in the range of "0"-"7", is recognized and replaced with a single byte
that contains the octal value specified by the sequence. Finally, the two-character
sequence "\newline" is recognized and replaced with a single backslash.
As an example of these sequences, the following resource line contains a value con-
sisting of four characters: a backslash, a null, a "z", and a newline:
magic.values: \\000\
z\n
Resource Manager Matching Rules
The algorithm for determining which resource database entry matches a given
query is the heart of the resource manager. All queries must fully specify the name
and class of the desired resource (use of the characters "*" and "?" is not permitted).
The library supports up to 100 components in a full name or class. Resources are
stored in the database with only partially specified names and classes, using pattern
matching constructs. An asterisk (*) is a loose binding and is used to represent any
number of intervening components, including none. A period (.) is a tight binding
and is used to separate immediately adjacent components. A question mark (?) is
used to match any single component name or class. A database entry cannot end
in a loose binding; the final component (which cannot be the character "?") must
be specified. The lookup algorithm searches the database for the entry that most
closely matches (is most specific for) the full name and class being queried. When
more than one database entry matches the full name and class, precedence rules
are used to select just one.
The full name and class are scanned from left to right (from highest level in the hi-
erarchy to lowest), one component at a time. At each level, the corresponding com-
ponent and/or binding of each matching entry is determined, and these matching
components and bindings are compared according to precedence rules. Each of the
rules is applied at each level before moving to the next level, until a rule selects a
single entry over all others. The rules, in order of precedence, are:
An entry that contains a matching component (whether name, class, or the char-
acter "?") takes precedence over entries that elide the level (that is, entries that
match the level in a loose binding).
An entry with a matching name takes precedence over both entries with a match-
ing class and entries that match using the character "?". An entry with a matching
class takes precedence over entries that match using the character "?".
An entry preceded by a tight binding takes precedence over entries preceded by
a loose binding.
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To illustrate these rules, consider the following resource database entries:
xmh*Paned*activeForeground: red (entry A)
*incorporate.Foreground: blue (entry B)
xmh.toc*Command*activeForeground: green (entry C)
xmh.toc*?.Foreground: white (entry D)
xmh.toc*Command.activeForeground: black (entry E)
Consider a query for the resource:
xmh.toc.messagefunctions.incorporate.activeForeground (name)
Xmh.Paned.Box.Command.Foreground (class)
At the first level (xmh, Xmh), rule 1 eliminates entry B. At the second level (toc,
Paned), rule 2 eliminates entry A. At the third level (messagefunctions, Box), no
entries are eliminated. At the fourth level (incorporate, Command), rule 2 eliminates
entry D. At the fifth level (activeForeground, Foreground), rule 3 eliminates entry C.
Quarks
Most uses of the resource manager involve defining names, classes, and represen-
tation types as string constants. However, always referring to strings in the resource
manager can be slow, because it is so heavily used in some toolkits. To solve this
problem, a shorthand for a string is used in place of the string in many of the re-
source manager functions. Simple comparisons can be performed rather than string
comparisons. The shorthand name for a string is called a quark and is the type Xr-
mQuark. On some occasions, you may want to allocate a quark that has no string
equivalent.
A quark is to a string what an atom is to a string in the server, but its use is entirely
local to your application.
To allocate a new quark, use XrmUniqueQuark.
XrmQuark XrmUniqueQuark()
The XrmUniqueQuark function allocates a quark that is guaranteed not to represent
any string that is known to the resource manager.
Each name, class, and representation type is typedef'd as an XrmQuark.
typedef int XrmQuark, *XrmQuarkList;
typedef XrmQuark XrmName;
typedef XrmQuark XrmClass;
typedef XrmQuark XrmRepresentation;
#define NULLQUARK ((XrmQuark) 0)
Lists are represented as null-terminated arrays of quarks. The size of the array must
be large enough for the number of components used.
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361
typedef XrmQuarkList XrmNameList;
typedef XrmQuarkList XrmClassList;
To convert a string to a quark, use XrmStringToQuark or XrmPermStringToQuark.
#define XrmStringToName(string) XrmStringToQuark(string)
#define XrmStringToClass(string) XrmStringToQuark(string)
#define XrmStringToRepresentation(string) XrmStringToQuark(string)
XrmQuark XrmStringToQuark( *string);
string Specifies the string for which a quark(Ql is to be allocated.
These functions can be used to convert from string to quark representation. If the
string is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the conversion is implemen-
tation-dependent. The string argument to XrmStringToQuark need not be perma-
nently allocated storage. XrmPermStringToQuark is just like XrmStringToQuark, ex-
cept that Xlib is permitted to assume the string argument is permanently allocated,
and, hence, that it can be used as the value to be returned by XrmQuarkToString.
For any given quark, if XrmStringToQuark returns a non-NULL value, all future calls
will return the same value (identical address).
To convert a quark to a string, use XrmQuarkToString.
#define XrmNameToString(name) XrmQuarkToString(name)
#define XrmClassToString(class) XrmQuarkToString(name)
#define XrmRepresentationToString(type) XrmQuarkToString(type)
char *XrmQuarkToString( quark);
quark Specifies the quark for which the equivalent string is desired.
These functions can be used to convert from quark representation to string. The
string pointed to by the return value must not be modified or freed. The returned
string is byte-for-byte equal to the original string passed to one of the string-to-
quark routines. If no string exists for that quark, XrmQuarkToString returns NULL.
For any given quark, if XrmQuarkToString returns a non-NULL value, all future calls
will return the same value (identical address).
To convert a string with one or more components to a quark list, use XrmString-
ToQuarkList.
#define XrmStringToNameList(str,name) XrmStringToQuarkList((str), (name))
#define XrmStringToClassList(str,class) XrmStringToQuarkList((str), (class))
void XrmStringToQuarkList( *string, quarks_return);
string Specifies the string for which a quark(Ql is to be al-
located.
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362
quarks_return Returns the list of quarks. The caller must allocate
sufficient space for the quarks list before calling Xr-
mStringToQuarkList.
The XrmStringToQuarkList function converts the null-terminated string (generally
a fully qualified name) to a list of quarks. Note that the string must be in the valid
ResourceName format (see section 15.1). If the string is not in the Host Portable
Character Encoding, the conversion is implementation-dependent.
A binding list is a list of type XrmBindingList and indicates if components of name
or class lists are bound tightly or loosely (that is, if wildcarding of intermediate
components is specified).
typedef enum {XrmBindTightly, XrmBindLoosely} XrmBinding, *XrmBindingList;
XrmBindTightly indicates that a period separates the components, and XrmBind-
Loosely indicates that an asterisk separates the components.
To convert a string with one or more components to a binding list and a quark list,
use XrmStringToBindingQuarkList.
XrmStringToBindingQuarkList( *string, bindings_return,
quarks_return);
string Specifies the string for which a quark(Ql is to be al-
located.
bindings_return Returns the binding list. The caller must allocate suf-
ficient space for the binding list before calling Xr-
mStringToBindingQuarkList.
quarks_return Returns the list of quarks. The caller must allocate
sufficient space for the quarks list before calling Xr-
mStringToBindingQuarkList.
Component names in the list are separated by a period or an asterisk character.
The string must be in the format of a valid ResourceName (see section 15.1). If the
string does not start with a period or an asterisk, a tight binding is assumed. For
example, the string ``*a.b*c'' becomes:
quarks: a b c
bindings: loose tight loose
Creating and Storing Databases
A resource database is an opaque type, XrmDatabase. Each database value is stored
in an XrmValue structure. This structure consists of a size, an address, and a rep-
resentation type. The size is specified in bytes. The representation type is a way for
you to store data tagged by some application-defined type (for example, the strings
``font'' or ``color''). It has nothing to do with the C data type or with its class. The
XrmValue structure is defined as:
Resource Manager Functions
363
typedef struct {
unsigned int size;
XPointer addr;
} XrmValue, *XrmValuePtr;
To initialize the resource manager, use XrmInitialize.
void XrmInitialize( XrmInitialize(\|));
To retrieve a database from disk, use XrmGetFileDatabase.
XrmDatabase XrmGetFileDatabase( *filename);
filename Specifies the resource database file name.
The XrmGetFileDatabase function opens the specified file, creates a new resource
database, and loads it with the specifications read in from the specified file. The
specified file should contain a sequence of entries in valid ResourceLine format (see
section 15.1); the database that results from reading a file with incorrect syntax
is implementation-dependent. The file is parsed in the current locale, and the data-
base is created in the current locale. If it cannot open the specified file, XrmGet-
FileDatabase returns NULL.
To store a copy of a database to disk, use XrmPutFileDatabase.
void XrmPutFileDatabase( database, *stored_db);
database Specifies the database that is to be used.
stored_db Specifies the file name for the stored database.
The XrmPutFileDatabase function stores a copy of the specified database in the
specified file. Text is written to the file as a sequence of entries in valid ResourceLine
format (see section 15.1). The file is written in the locale of the database. Entries
containing resource names that are not in the Host Portable Character Encoding or
containing values that are not in the encoding of the database locale, are written
in an implementation-dependent manner. The order in which entries are written is
implementation-dependent. Entries with representation types other than ``String''
are ignored.
To obtain a pointer to the screen-independent resources of a display, use XResource-
ManagerString.
char *XResourceManagerString( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XResourceManagerString function returns the RESOURCE_MANAGER prop-
erty from the server's root window of screen zero, which was returned when the
connection was opened using XOpenDisplay. The property is converted from type
STRING to the current locale. The conversion is identical to that produced by
Resource Manager Functions
364
XmbTextPropertyToTextList for a single element STRING property. The returned
string is owned by Xlib and should not be freed by the client. The property value
must be in a format that is acceptable to XrmGetStringDatabase. If no property
exists, NULL is returned.
To obtain a pointer to the screen-specific resources of a screen, use XScreenRe-
sourceString.
char *XScreenResourceString( *screen);
screen Specifies the screen.
The XScreenResourceString function returns the SCREEN_RESOURCES property
from the root window of the specified screen. The property is converted from type
STRING to the current locale. The conversion is identical to that produced by Xmb-
TextPropertyToTextList for a single element STRING property. The property val-
ue must be in a format that is acceptable to XrmGetStringDatabase. If no property
exists, NULL is returned. The caller is responsible for freeing the returned string
by using XFree.
To create a database from a string, use XrmGetStringDatabase.
XrmDatabase XrmGetStringDatabase( *data);
data Specifies the database contents using a string.
The XrmGetStringDatabase function creates a new database and stores the re-
sources specified in the specified null-terminated string. XrmGetStringDatabase is
similar to XrmGetFileDatabase except that it reads the information out of a string
instead of out of a file. The string should contain a sequence of entries in valid Re-
sourceLine format (see section 15.1) terminated by a null character; the database
that results from using a string with incorrect syntax is implementation-dependent.
The string is parsed in the current locale, and the database is created in the current
locale.
To obtain the locale name of a database, use XrmLocaleOfDatabase.
char *XrmLocaleOfDatabase( database);
database Specifies the resource database.
The XrmLocaleOfDatabase function returns the name of the locale bound to the
specified database, as a null-terminated string. The returned locale name string is
owned by Xlib and should not be modified or freed by the client. Xlib is not permitted
to free the string until the database is destroyed. Until the string is freed, it will
not be modified by Xlib.
To destroy a resource database and free its allocated memory, use XrmDestroyData-
base.
void XrmDestroyDatabase( database);
database Specifies the resource database.
If database is NULL, XrmDestroyDatabase returns immediately.
To associate a resource database with a display, use XrmSetDatabase.
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365
void XrmSetDatabase( *display, database);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
database Specifies the resource database.
The XrmSetDatabase function associates the specified resource database (or NULL)
with the specified display. The database previously associated with the display (if
any) is not destroyed. A client or toolkit may find this function convenient for re-
taining a database once it is constructed.
To get the resource database associated with a display, use XrmGetDatabase.
XrmDatabase XrmGetDatabase( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
The XrmGetDatabase function returns the database associated with the specified
display. It returns NULL if a database has not yet been set.
Merging Resource Databases
To merge the contents of a resource file into a database, use XrmCombineFileData-
base.
Status XrmCombineFileDatabase( *filename, *target_db, override);
filename Specifies the resource database file name.
target_db Specifies the resource database into which the source
database is to be merged.
override Specifies whether source entries override target ones.
The XrmCombineFileDatabase function merges the contents of a resource file in-
to a database. If the same specifier is used for an entry in both the file and the
database, the entry in the file will replace the entry in the database if override is
True; otherwise, the entry in the file is discarded. The file is parsed in the current
locale. If the file cannot be read, a zero status is returned; otherwise, a nonzero
status is returned. If target_db contains NULL, XrmCombineFileDatabase creates
and returns a new database to it. Otherwise, the database pointed to by target_db
is not destroyed by the merge. The database entries are merged without changing
values or types, regardless of the locale of the database. The locale of the target
database is not modified.
To merge the contents of one database into another database, use XrmCombineData-
base.
void XrmCombineDatabase( *target_db, override);
source_db Specifies the resource database that is to be merged into
the target database.
target_db Specifies the resource database into which the source
database is to be merged.
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366
override Specifies whether source entries override target ones.
The XrmCombineDatabase function merges the contents of one database into anoth-
er. If the same specifier is used for an entry in both databases, the entry in the
source_db will replace the entry in the target_db if override is True; otherwise, the
entry in source_db is discarded. If target_db contains NULL, XrmCombineDatabase
simply stores source_db in it. Otherwise, source_db is destroyed by the merge, but
the database pointed to by target_db is not destroyed. The database entries are
merged without changing values or types, regardless of the locales of the databas-
es. The locale of the target database is not modified.
To merge the contents of one database into another database with override seman-
tics, use XrmMergeDatabases.
void XrmMergeDatabases( *target_db);
source_db Specifies the resource database that is to be merged into
the target database.
target_db Specifies the resource database into which the source
database is to be merged.
Calling the XrmMergeDatabases function is equivalent to calling the XrmCombine-
Database function with an override argument of True.
Looking Up Resources
To retrieve a resource from a resource database, use XrmGetResource, XrmQGetRe-
source, or XrmQGetSearchResource.
Bool XrmGetResource( database, *str_name, *str_class,
**str_type_return, *value_return);
database Specifies the database that is to be used.
str_name Specifies the fully qualified name of the value being
retrieved (as a string).
str_class Specifies the fully qualified class of the value being
retrieved (as a string).
str_type_return Returns the representation type of the destination
(as a string).
value_return Returns the value in the database.
Bool XrmQGetResource( database, quark_name, quark_class,
*quark_type_return, *value_return);
database Specifies the database that is to be used.
quark_name Specifies the fully qualified name of the value being
retrieved (as a quark).
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367
quark_class Specifies the fully qualified class of the value being
retrieved (as a quark).
quark_type_return Returns the representation type of the destination
(as a quark).
value_return Returns the value in the database.
The XrmGetResource and XrmQGetResource functions retrieve a resource from the
specified database. Both take a fully qualified name/class pair, a destination re-
source representation, and the address of a value (size/address pair). The value and
returned type point into database memory; therefore, you must not modify the data.
The database only frees or overwrites entries on XrmPutResource, XrmQPutRe-
source, or XrmMergeDatabases. A client that is not storing new values into the data-
base or is not merging the database should be safe using the address passed back at
any time until it exits. If a resource was found, both XrmGetResource and XrmQGe-
tResource return True; otherwise, they return False.
Most applications and toolkits do not make random probes into a resource database
to fetch resources. The X toolkit access pattern for a resource database is quite styl-
ized. A series of from 1 to 20 probes is made with only the last name/class differing
in each probe. The XrmGetResource function is at worst a 2
n
algorithm, where n
is the length of the name/class list. This can be improved upon by the application
programmer by prefetching a list of database levels that might match the first part
of a name/class list.
To obtain a list of database levels, use XrmQGetSearchList.
Bool XrmQGetSearchResource( database, names, classes, list_return,
list_length);
database Specifies the database that is to be used.
names Specifies a list of resource names.
classes Specifies a list of resource classes.
list_return Returns a search list for further use. The caller must
allocate sufficient space for the list before calling Xr-
mQGetSearchList.
list_length Specifies the number of entries (not the byte size) al-
located for list_return.
The XrmQGetSearchList function takes a list of names and classes and returns a list
of database levels where a match might occur. The returned list is in best-to-worst
order and uses the same algorithm as XrmGetResource for determining precedence.
If list_return was large enough for the search list, XrmQGetSearchList returns True;
otherwise, it returns False.
The size of the search list that the caller must allocate is dependent upon the number
of levels and wildcards in the resource specifiers that are stored in the database.
The worst case length is 3
n
, where n is the number of name or class components
in names or classes.
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368
When using XrmQGetSearchList followed by multiple probes for resources with a
common name and class prefix, only the common prefix should be specified in the
name and class list to XrmQGetSearchList.
To search resource database levels for a given resource, use XrmQGetSearchRe-
source.
Bool XrmQGetSearchResource( list, name, class, *type_return,
*value_return);
list Specifies the search list returned by XrmQGetSearch-
List.
name Specifies the resource name.
class Specifies the resource class.
type_return Returns data representation type.
value_return Returns the value in the database.
The XrmQGetSearchResource function searches the specified database levels for
the resource that is fully identified by the specified name and class. The search
stops with the first match. XrmQGetSearchResource returns True if the resource
was found; otherwise, it returns False.
A call to XrmQGetSearchList with a name and class list containing all but the last
component of a resource name followed by a call to XrmQGetSearchResource with
the last component name and class returns the same database entry as XrmGetRe-
source and XrmQGetResource with the fully qualified name and class.
Storing into a Resource Database
To store resources into the database, use XrmPutResource or XrmQPutResource.
Both functions take a partial resource specification, a representation type, and a
value. This value is copied into the specified database.
void XrmPutResource( *database, *specifier, *type, *value);
database Specifies the resource database.
specifier Specifies a complete or partial specification of the re-
source.
type Specifies the type of the resource.
value Specifies the value of the resource, which is specified as
a string.
If database contains NULL, XrmPutResource creates a new database and returns
a pointer to it. XrmPutResource is a convenience function that calls XrmStringTo-
BindingQuarkList followed by:
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369
XrmQPutResource(database, bindings, quarks, XrmStringToQuark(type), value)
If the specifier and type are not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result
is implementation-dependent. The value is stored in the database without modifi-
cation.
void XrmQPutResource( *database, bindings, quarks, type, *value);
database Specifies the resource database.
bindings Specifies a list of bindings.
quarks Specifies the complete or partial name or the class list of
the resource.
type Specifies the type of the resource.
value Specifies the value of the resource, which is specified as
a string.
If database contains NULL, XrmQPutResource creates a new database and returns
a pointer to it. If a resource entry with the identical bindings and quarks already
exists in the database, the previous type and value are replaced by the new specified
type and value. The value is stored in the database without modification.
To add a resource that is specified as a string, use XrmPutStringResource.
void XrmPutStringResource( *database, *specifier, *value);
database Specifies the resource database.
specifier Specifies a complete or partial specification of the re-
source.
value Specifies the value of the resource, which is specified as
a string.
If database contains NULL, XrmPutStringResource creates a new database and re-
turns a pointer to it. XrmPutStringResource adds a resource with the specified val-
ue to the specified database. XrmPutStringResource is a convenience function that
first calls XrmStringToBindingQuarkList on the specifier and then calls XrmQPu-
tResource, using a ``String'' representation type. If the specifier is not in the Host
Portable Character Encoding, the result is implementation-dependent. The value is
stored in the database without modification.
To add a string resource using quarks as a specification, use XrmQPutStringRe-
source.
void XrmQPutStringResource( *database, bindings, quarks, *value);
database Specifies the resource database.
bindings Specifies a list of bindings.
quarks Specifies the complete or partial name or the class list of
the resource.
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370
value Specifies the value of the resource, which is specified as
a string.
If database contains NULL, XrmQPutStringResource creates a new database and
returns a pointer to it. XrmQPutStringResource is a convenience routine that con-
structs an XrmValue for the value string (by calling strlen to compute the size)
and then calls XrmQPutResource, using a ``String'' representation type. The value
is stored in the database without modification.
To add a single resource entry that is specified as a string that contains both a name
and a value, use XrmPutLineResource.
void XrmPutLineResource( *database, *line);
database Specifies the resource database.
line Specifies the resource name and value pair as a single
string.
If database contains NULL, XrmPutLineResource creates a new database and re-
turns a pointer to it. XrmPutLineResource adds a single resource entry to the spec-
ified database. The line should be in valid ResourceLine format (see section 15.1)
terminated by a newline or null character; the database that results from using a
string with incorrect syntax is implementation-dependent. The string is parsed in
the locale of the database. If the ResourceName is not in the Host Portable Charac-
ter Encoding, the result is implementation-dependent. Note that comment lines are
not stored.
Enumerating Database Entries
To enumerate the entries of a database, use XrmEnumerateDatabase.
#define XrmEnumAllLevels 0
#define XrmEnumOneLevel 0
Bool XrmEnumerateDatabase( database, name_prefix, class_prefix, mode,
(*proc)(), arg);
database Specifies the resource database.
name_prefix Specifies the resource name prefix.
class_prefix Specifies the resource class prefix.
mode Specifies the number of levels to enumerate.
proc Specifies the procedure that is to be called for each
matching entry.
arg Specifies the user-supplied argument that will be
passed to the procedure.
The XrmEnumerateDatabase function calls the specified procedure for each resource
in the database that would match some completion of the given name/class resource
prefix. The order in which resources are found is implementation-dependent. If
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371
mode is XrmEnumOneLevel, a resource must match the given name/class prefix
with just a single name and class appended. If mode is XrmEnumAllLevels, the re-
source must match the given name/class prefix with one or more names and classes
appended. If the procedure returns True, the enumeration terminates and the func-
tion returns True. If the procedure always returns False, all matching resources are
enumerated and the function returns False.
The procedure is called with the following arguments:
(*proc)(database, bindings, quarks, type, value, arg)
XrmDatabase *database;
XrmBindingList bindings;
XrmQuarkList quarks;
XrmRepresentation *type;
XrmValue *value;
XPointer arg;
The bindings and quarks lists are terminated by NULLQUARK. Note that pointers
to the database and type are passed, but these values should not be modified.
The procedure must not modify the database. If Xlib has been initialized for threads,
the procedure is called with the database locked and the result of a call by the
procedure to any Xlib function using the same database is not defined.
Parsing Command Line Options
The XrmParseCommand function can be used to parse the command line arguments to
a program and modify a resource database with selected entries from the command
line.
typedef enum {
XrmoptionNoArg, /* Value is specified in XrmOptionDescRec.value */
XrmoptionIsArg, /* Value is the option string itself */
XrmoptionStickyArg, /* Value is characters immediately following option */
XrmoptionSepArg, /* Value is next argument in argv */
XrmoptionResArg, /* Resource and value in next argument in argv */
XrmoptionSkipArg, /* Ignore this option and the next argument in argv */
XrmoptionSkipLine, /* Ignore this option and the rest of argv */
XrmoptionSkipNArgs /* Ignore this option and the next
\ \ \ XrmOptionDescRec.value arguments in argv */
} XrmOptionKind;
Note that XrmoptionSkipArg is equivalent to XrmoptionSkipNArgs with the
XrmOptionDescRec.value field containing the value one. Note also that the value
zero for XrmoptionSkipNArgs indicates that only the option itself is to be skipped.
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372
typedef struct {
char *option; /* Option specification string in argv */
char *specifier; /* Binding and resource name (sans application name) */
XrmOptionKind argKind; /* Which style of option it is */
XPointer value; /* Value to provide if XrmoptionNoArg or
\ \ \ XrmoptionSkipNArgs */
} XrmOptionDescRec, *XrmOptionDescList;
To load a resource database from a C command line, use XrmParseCommand.
void XrmParseCommand( *database, table, table_count, *name,
*argc_in_out, **argv_in_out);
database Specifies the resource database.
table Specifies the table of command line arguments to be
parsed.
table_count Specifies the number of entries in the table.
name Specifies the application name.
argc_in_out Specifies the number of arguments and returns the
number of remaining arguments.
argv_in_out Specifies the command line arguments and returns
the remaining arguments.
The XrmParseCommand function parses an (argc, argv) pair according to the spec-
ified option table, loads recognized options into the specified database with type
``String,'' and modifies the (argc, argv) pair to remove all recognized options. If
database contains NULL, XrmParseCommand creates a new database and returns a
pointer to it. Otherwise, entries are added to the database specified. If a database
is created, it is created in the current locale.
The specified table is used to parse the command line. Recognized options in the
table are removed from argv, and entries are added to the specified resource data-
base in the order they occur in argv. The table entries contain information on the
option string, the option name, the style of option, and a value to provide if the
option kind is XrmoptionNoArg. The option names are compared byte-for-byte to
arguments in argv, independent of any locale. The resource values given in the ta-
ble are stored in the resource database without modification. All resource database
entries are created using a ``String'' representation type. The argc argument spec-
ifies the number of arguments in argv and is set on return to the remaining number
of arguments that were not parsed. The name argument should be the name of your
application for use in building the database entry. The name argument is prefixed
to the resourceName in the option table before storing a database entry. The name
argument is treated as a single component, even if it has embedded periods. No
separating (binding) character is inserted, so the table must contain either a period
(.) or an asterisk (*) as the first character in each resourceName entry. To specify
a more completely qualified resource name, the resourceName entry can contain
multiple components. If the name argument and the resourceNames are not in the
Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is implementation-dependent.
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373
The following provides a sample option table:
static XrmOptionDescRec opTable[] = {
{"-background", "*background", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-bd", "*borderColor", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-bg", "*background", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-borderwidth", "*TopLevelShell.borderWidth", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-bordercolor", "*borderColor", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-bw", "*TopLevelShell.borderWidth", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-display", ".display", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-fg", "*foreground", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-fn", "*font", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-font", "*font", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-foreground", "*foreground", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-geometry", ".TopLevelShell.geometry", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-iconic", ".TopLevelShell.iconic", XrmoptionNoArg, (XPointer) "on"},
{"-name", ".name", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-reverse", "*reverseVideo", XrmoptionNoArg, (XPointer) "on"},
{"-rv", "*reverseVideo", XrmoptionNoArg, (XPointer) "on"},
{"-synchronous", "*synchronous", XrmoptionNoArg, (XPointer) "on"},
{"-title", ".TopLevelShell.title", XrmoptionSepArg, (XPointer) NULL},
{"-xrm", NULL, XrmoptionResArg, (XPointer) NULL},
};
In this table, if the -background (or -bg) option is used to set background colors,
the stored resource specifier matches all resources of attribute background. If the
-borderwidth option is used, the stored resource specifier applies only to border
width attributes of class TopLevelShell (that is, outer-most windows, including pop-
up windows). If the -title option is used to set a window name, only the topmost
application windows receive the resource.
When parsing the command line, any unique unambiguous abbreviation for an op-
tion name in the table is considered a match for the option. Note that uppercase
and lowercase matter.
374
Chapter 16. Application Utility
Functions
Once you have initialized the X system, you can use the Xlib utility functions to:
Use keyboard utility functions
Use Latin-1 keyboard event functions
Allocate permanent storage
Parse the window geometry
Manipulate regions
Use cut buffers
Determine the appropriate visual type
Manipulate images
Manipulate bitmaps
Use the context manager
As a group, the functions discussed in this chapter provide the functionality that is
frequently needed and that spans toolkits. Many of these functions do not generate
actual protocol requests to the server.
Using Keyboard Utility Functions
This section discusses mapping between KeyCodes and KeySyms, classifying
KeySyms, and mapping between KeySyms and string names. The first three func-
tions in this section operate on a cached copy of the server keyboard mapping. The
first four KeySyms for each KeyCode are modified according to the rules given in
section 12.7. To obtain the untransformed KeySyms defined for a key, use the func-
tions described in section 12.7.
To obtain a KeySym for the KeyCode of an event, use XLookupKeysym.
KeySym XLookupKeysym( *key_event, index);
key_event Specifies the KeyPress or KeyRelease event.
index Specifies the index into the KeySyms list for the event's
KeyCode.
The XLookupKeysym function uses a given keyboard event and the index you speci-
fied to return the KeySym from the list that corresponds to the KeyCode member
in the XKeyPressedEvent or XKeyReleasedEvent structure. If no KeySym is defined
for the KeyCode of the event, XLookupKeysym returns NoSymbol.
To obtain a KeySym for a specific KeyCode, use XKeycodeToKeysym.
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375
KeySym XKeycodeToKeysym( *display, keycode, index);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
keycode Specifies the KeyCode.
index Specifies the element of KeyCode vector.
The XKeycodeToKeysym function uses internal Xlib tables and returns the KeySym
defined for the specified KeyCode and the element of the KeyCode vector. If no
symbol is defined, XKeycodeToKeysym returns NoSymbol.
To obtain a KeyCode for a key having a specific KeySym, use XKeysymToKeycode.
KeyCode XKeysymToKeycode( *display, keysym);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
keysym Specifies the KeySym that is to be searched for.
If the specified KeySym is not defined for any KeyCode, XKeysymToKeycode returns
zero.
The mapping between KeyCodes and KeySyms is cached internal to Xlib. When this
information is changed at the server, an Xlib function must be called to refresh the
cache. To refresh the stored modifier and keymap information, use XRefreshKey-
boardMapping.
XRefreshKeyboardMapping( *event_map);
event_map Specifies the mapping event that is to be used.
The XRefreshKeyboardMapping function refreshes the stored modifier and keymap
information. You usually call this function when a MappingNotify event with a re-
quest member of MappingKeyboard or MappingModifier occurs. The result is to
update Xlib's knowledge of the keyboard.
To obtain the uppercase and lowercase forms of a KeySym, use XConvertCase.
void XConvertCase( keysym, *lower_return, *upper_return);
keysym Specifies the KeySym that is to be (Fn.
lower_return Returns the lowercase form of keysym, or keysym.
upper_return Returns the uppercase form of keysym, or keysym.
The XConvertCase function returns the uppercase and lowercase forms of the spec-
ified Keysym, if the KeySym is subject to case conversion; otherwise, the specified
KeySym is returned to both lower_return and upper_return. Support for conversion
of other than Latin and Cyrillic KeySyms is implementation-dependent.
KeySyms have string names as well as numeric codes. To convert the name of the
KeySym to the KeySym code, use XStringToKeysym.
KeySym XStringToKeysym( *string);
string Specifies the name of the KeySym that is to be converted.
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376
Standard KeySym names are obtained from <X11/keysymdef.h> by removing the
XK_ prefix from each name. KeySyms that are not part of the Xlib standard also may
be obtained with this function. The set of KeySyms that are available in this manner
and the mechanisms by which Xlib obtains them is implementation-dependent.
If the KeySym name is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is
implementation-dependent. If the specified string does not match a valid KeySym,
XStringToKeysym returns NoSymbol.
To convert a KeySym code to the name of the KeySym, use XKeysymToString.
char *XKeysymToString( keysym);
keysym Specifies the KeySym that is to be (Fn.
The returned string is in a static area and must not be modified. The returned string
is in the Host Portable Character Encoding. If the specified KeySym is not defined,
XKeysymToString returns a NULL.
KeySym Classification Macros
You may want to test if a KeySym is, for example, on the keypad or on one of the
function keys. You can use KeySym macros to perform the following tests.
IsCursorKey(keysym)
keysym Specifies the KeySym that is to be tested.
Returns True if the specified KeySym is a cursor key.
IsFunctionKey(keysym)
keysym Specifies the KeySym that is to be tested.
Returns True if the specified KeySym is a function key.
IsKeypadKey(keysym)
keysym Specifies the KeySym that is to be (Fn.
Returns True if the specified KeySym is a standard keypad key.
IsPrivateKeypadKey(keysym)
keysym Specifies the KeySym that is to be (Fn.
Returns True if the specified KeySym is a vendor-private keypad key.
IsMiscFunctionKey(keysym)
keysym Specifies the KeySym that is to be (Fn.
Returns True if the specified KeySym is a miscellaneous function key.
IsModifierKey(keysym)
keysym Specifies the KeySym that is to be tested.
Returns True if the specified KeySym is a modifier key.
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377
IsPFKey(keysym)
keysym Specifies the KeySym that is to be tested.
Returns True if the specified KeySym is a PF key.
Using Latin-1 Keyboard Event Functions
Chapter 13 describes internationalized text input facilities, but sometimes it is ex-
pedient to write an application that only deals with Latin-1 characters and ASCII
controls, so Xlib provides a simple function for that purpose. XLookupString han-
dles the standard modifier semantics described in section 12.7. This function does
not use any of the input method facilities described in chapter 13 and does not de-
pend on the current locale.
To map a key event to an ISO Latin-1 string, use XLookupString.
int XLookupString( *event_struct, *buffer_return, bytes_buffer,
*keysym_return, *status_in_out);
event_struct Specifies the key event structure to be used. You can
pass XKeyPressedEvent or XKeyReleasedEvent.
buffer_return Returns the translated characters.
bytes_buffer Specifies the length of the buffer. No more than
bytes_buffer of translation are returned.
keysym_return Returns the KeySym computed from the event if this
argument is not NULL.
status_in_out Specifies or returns the XComposeStatus structure
or NULL.
The XLookupString function translates a key event to a KeySym and a string. The
KeySym is obtained by using the standard interpretation of the Shift, Lock, group,
and numlock modifiers as defined in the X Protocol specification. If the KeySym has
been rebound (see XRebindKeysym), the bound string will be stored in the buffer.
Otherwise, the KeySym is mapped, if possible, to an ISO Latin-1 character or (if the
Control modifier is on) to an ASCII control character, and that character is stored
in the buffer. XLookupString returns the number of characters that are stored in
the buffer.
If present (non-NULL), the XComposeStatus structure records the state, which is
private to Xlib, that needs preservation across calls to XLookupString to implement
compose processing. The creation of XComposeStatus structures is implementa-
tion-dependent; a portable program must pass NULL for this argument.
XLookupString depends on the cached keyboard information mentioned in the pre-
vious section, so it is necessary to use XRefreshKeyboardMapping to keep this in-
formation up-to-date.
To rebind the meaning of a KeySym for XLookupString, use XRebindKeysym.
XRebindKeysym( *display, keysym, list[], mod_count, *string,
num_bytes);
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378
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
keysym Specifies the KeySym that is to be (Fn.
list Specifies the KeySyms to be used as modifiers.
mod_count Specifies the number of modifiers in the modifier list.
string Specifies the string that is copied and will be returned
by XLookupString.
num_bytes Specifies the number of bytes in the string argument.
The XRebindKeysym function can be used to rebind the meaning of a KeySym for the
client. It does not redefine any key in the X server but merely provides an easy way
for long strings to be attached to keys. XLookupString returns this string when the
appropriate set of modifier keys are pressed and when the KeySym would have been
used for the translation. No text conversions are performed; the client is responsible
for supplying appropriately encoded strings. Note that you can rebind a KeySym
that may not exist.
Allocating Permanent Storage
To allocate some memory you will never give back, use Xpermalloc.
char *Xpermalloc( size);
The Xpermalloc function allocates storage that can never be freed for the life of the
program. The memory is allocated with alignment for the C type double. This func-
tion may provide some performance and space savings over the standard operating
system memory allocator.
Parsing the Window Geometry
To parse standard window geometry strings, use XParseGeometry.
int XParseGeometry( *parsestring, *y_return, *height_return);
parsestring Specifies the string you want to parse.
x_return
y_return Return the x and y offsets.
width_return
height_return Return the width and height determined.
By convention, X applications use a standard string to indicate window size and
placement. XParseGeometry makes it easier to conform to this standard because it
allows you to parse the standard window geometry. Specifically, this function lets
you parse strings of the form:
[=][<width>{xX}<height>][{+-}<xoffset>{+-}<yoffset>]
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379
The fields map into the arguments associated with this function. (Items enclosed in
<> are integers, items in [] are optional, and items enclosed in {} indicate ``choose
one of.'' Note that the brackets should not appear in the actual string.) If the string
is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is implementation-depen-
dent.
The XParseGeometry function returns a bitmask that indicates which of the four
values (width, height, xoffset, and yoffset) were actually found in the string and
whether the x and y values are negative. By convention, 0 is not equal to +0,
because the user needs to be able to say ``position the window relative to the right
or bottom edge.'' For each value found, the corresponding argument is updated. For
each value not found, the argument is left unchanged. The bits are represented by
XValue, YValue, WidthValue, HeightValue, XNegative, or YNegative and are defined
in <X11/Xutil.h>. They will be set whenever one of the values is defined or one
of the signs is set.
If the function returns either the XValue or YValue flag, you should place the window
at the requested position.
To construct a window's geometry information, use XWMGeometry.
int XWMGeometry( *display, screen, *user_geom, *def_geom, bwidth,
*hints, *y_return, *width_return, *height_return, *gravity_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen Specifies the screen.
user_geom Specifies the user-specified geometry or NULL.
def_geom Specifies the application's default geometry or
NULL.
bwidth Specifies the border width.
hints Specifies the size hints for the window in its normal
state.
x_return
y_return Return the x and y offsets.
width_return
height_return Return the width and height determined.
gravity_return Returns the window gravity.
The XWMGeometry function combines any geometry information (given in the format
used by XParseGeometry) specified by the user and by the calling program with
size hints (usually the ones to be stored in WM_NORMAL_HINTS) and returns the
position, size, and gravity (NorthWestGravity, NorthEastGravity, SouthEastGravity,
or SouthWestGravity) that describe the window. If the base size is not set in the
XSizeHints structure, the minimum size is used if set. Otherwise, a base size of zero
is assumed. If no minimum size is set in the hints structure, the base size is used. A
mask (in the form returned by XParseGeometry) that describes which values came
from the user specification and whether or not the position coordinates are relative
Application Utility Functions
380
to the right and bottom edges is returned. Note that these coordinates will have
already been accounted for in the x_return and y_return values.
Note that invalid geometry specifications can cause a width or height of zero to
be returned. The caller may pass the address of the hints win_gravity field as
gravity_return to update the hints directly.
Manipulating Regions
Regions are arbitrary sets of pixel locations. Xlib provides functions for manipulat-
ing regions. The opaque type Region is defined in <X11/Xutil.h>. Xlib provides
functions that you can use to manipulate regions. This section discusses how to:
Create, copy, or destroy regions
Move or shrink regions
Compute with regions
Determine if regions are empty or equal
Locate a point or rectangle in a region
Creating, Copying, or Destroying Regions
To create a new empty region, use XCreateRegion.
Region XCreateRegion()
To generate a region from a polygon, use XPolygonRegion.
Region XPolygonRegion( points[], n, fill_rule);
points Specifies an array of points.
n Specifies the number of points in the polygon.
fill_rule Specifies the fill-rule you want to set for the specified
GC. You can pass EvenOddRule or WindingRule.
The XPolygonRegion function returns a region for the polygon defined by the points
array. For an explanation of fill_rule, see XCreateGC.
To set the clip-mask of a GC to a region, use XSetRegion.
XSetRegion( *display, gc, r);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
r Specifies the region.
The XSetRegion function sets the clip-mask in the GC to the specified region. The
region is specified relative to the drawable's origin. The resulting GC clip origin is
implementation-dependent. Once it is set in the GC, the region can be destroyed.
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To deallocate the storage associated with a specified region, use XDestroyRegion.
XDestroyRegion( r);
r Specifies the region.
Moving or Shrinking Regions
To move a region by a specified amount, use XOffsetRegion.
XOffsetRegion( r, dy);
r Specifies the region.
dx
dy Specify the x and y coordinates, which define the amount you
want to (Dy the specified region.
To reduce a region by a specified amount, use XShrinkRegion.
XShrinkRegion( r, dy);
r Specifies the region.
dx
dy Specify the x and y coordinates, which define the amount you
want to (Dy the specified region.
Positive values shrink the size of the region, and negative values expand the region.
Computing with Regions
To generate the smallest rectangle enclosing a region, use XClipBox.
XClipBox( r, *rect_return);
r Specifies the region.
rect_return Returns the smallest enclosing rectangle.
The XClipBox function returns the smallest rectangle enclosing the specified re-
gion.
To compute the intersection of two regions, use XIntersectRegion.
XIntersectRegion( dr_return);
sra
srb Specify the two regions with which you want to perform
the computation.
dr_return Returns the result of the computation.
To compute the union of two regions, use XUnionRegion.
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382
XUnionRegion( dr_return);
sra
srb Specify the two regions with which you want to perform
the computation.
dr_return Returns the result of the computation.
To create a union of a source region and a rectangle, use XUnionRectWithRegion.
XUnionRectWithRegion( *rectangle, src_region, dest_region_return);
rectangle Specifies the rectangle.
src_region Specifies the source region to be used.
dest_region_return Returns the destination region.
The XUnionRectWithRegion function updates the destination region from a union
of the specified rectangle and the specified source region.
To subtract two regions, use XSubtractRegion.
XSubtractRegion( dr_return);
sra
srb Specify the two regions with which you want to perform
the computation.
dr_return Returns the result of the computation.
The XSubtractRegion function subtracts srb from sra and stores the results in
dr_return.
To calculate the difference between the union and intersection of two regions, use
XXorRegion.
XXorRegion( dr_return);
sra
srb Specify the two regions with which you want to perform
the computation.
dr_return Returns the result of the computation.
Determining if Regions Are Empty or Equal
To determine if the specified region is empty, use XEmptyRegion.
Bool XEmptyRegion( r);
r Specifies the region.
The XEmptyRegion function returns True if the region is empty.
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383
To determine if two regions have the same offset, size, and shape, use XEqualRe-
gion.
Bool XEqualRegion( r2);
r1
r2 Specify the two regions.
The XEqualRegion function returns True if the two regions have the same offset,
size, and shape.
Locating a Point or a Rectangle in a Region
To determine if a specified point resides in a specified region, use XPointInRegion.
Bool XPointInRegion( r, y);
r Specifies the region.
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
The XPointInRegion function returns True if the point (x, y) is contained in the
region r.
To determine if a specified rectangle is inside a region, use XRectInRegion.
int XRectInRegion( r, y, height);
r Specifies the region.
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates(Xy.
width
height Specify the width and height(Wh.
The XRectInRegion function returns RectangleIn if the rectangle is entirely in the
specified region, RectangleOut if the rectangle is entirely out of the specified region,
and RectanglePart if the rectangle is partially in the specified region.
Using Cut Buffers
Xlib provides functions to manipulate cut buffers, a very simple form of cut-and-
paste inter-client communication. Selections are a much more powerful and useful
mechanism for interchanging data between clients (see section 4.5) and generally
should be used instead of cut buffers.
Cut buffers are implemented as properties on the first root window of the display.
The buffers can only contain text, in the STRING encoding. The text encoding is not
changed by Xlib when fetching or storing. Eight buffers are provided and can be
accessed as a ring or as explicit buffers (numbered 0 through 7).
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384
To store data in cut buffer 0, use XStoreBytes.
XStoreBytes( *display, *bytes, nbytes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
bytes Specifies the bytes, which are not necessarily ASCII or null-
terminated.
nbytes Specifies the number of bytes to be stored.
The data can have embedded null characters and need not be null-terminated. The
cut buffer's contents can be retrieved later by any client calling XFetchBytes.
XStoreBytes can generate a BadAlloc error.
To store data in a specified cut buffer, use XStoreBuffer.
XStoreBuffer( *display, *bytes, nbytes, buffer);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
bytes Specifies the bytes, which are not necessarily ASCII or null-
terminated.
nbytes Specifies the number of bytes to be stored.
buffer Specifies the buffer (Fn.
If an invalid buffer is specified, the call has no effect. The data can have embedded
null characters and need not be null-terminated.
XStoreBuffer can generate a BadAlloc error.
To return data from cut buffer 0, use XFetchBytes.
char *XFetchBytes( *display, *nbytes_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
nbytes_return Returns the number of bytes in the buffer.
The XFetchBytes function returns the number of bytes in the nbytes_return argu-
ment, if the buffer contains data. Otherwise, the function returns NULL and sets
nbytes to 0. The appropriate amount of storage is allocated and the pointer returned.
The client must free this storage when finished with it by calling XFree.
To return data from a specified cut buffer, use XFetchBuffer.
char *XFetchBuffer( *display, *nbytes_return, buffer);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
nbytes_return Returns the number of bytes in the buffer.
buffer Specifies the buffer (Fn.
The XFetchBuffer function returns zero to the nbytes_return argument if there is
no data in the buffer or if an invalid buffer is specified.
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385
To rotate the cut buffers, use XRotateBuffers.
XRotateBuffers( *display, rotate);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
rotate Specifies how much to rotate the cut buffers.
The XRotateBuffers function rotates the cut buffers, such that buffer 0 becomes
buffer n, buffer 1 becomes n + 1 mod 8, and so on. This cut buffer numbering is
global to the display. Note that XRotateBuffers generates BadMatch errors if any
of the eight buffers have not been created.
Determining the Appropriate Visual Type
A single display can support multiple screens. Each screen can have several differ-
ent visual types supported at different depths. You can use the functions described
in this section to determine which visual to use for your application.
The functions in this section use the visual information masks and the XVisualInfo
structure, which is defined in <X11/Xutil.h> and contains:
/* Visual information mask bits */
#define VisualNoMask 0x0
#define VisualIDMask 0x1
#define VisualScreenMask 0x2
#define VisualDepthMask 0x4
#define VisualClassMask 0x8
#define VisualRedMaskMask 0x10
#define VisualGreenMaskMask 0x20
#define VisualBlueMaskMask 0x40
#define VisualColormapSizeMask 0x80
#define VisualBitsPerRGBMask 0x100
#define VisualAllMask 0x1FF
/* Values */
typedef struct {
Visual *visual;
VisualID visualid;
int screen;
unsigned int depth;
int class;
unsigned long red_mask;
unsigned long green_mask;
unsigned long blue_mask;
Application Utility Functions
386
int colormap_size;
int bits_per_rgb;
} XVisualInfo;
To obtain a list of visual information structures that match a specified template, use
XGetVisualInfo.
XVisualInfo *XGetVisualInfo( *display, vinfo_mask, *vinfo_template,
*nitems_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
vinfo_mask Specifies the visual mask value.
vinfo_template Specifies the visual attributes that are to be used in
matching the visual structures.
nitems_return Returns the number of matching visual structures.
The XGetVisualInfo function returns a list of visual structures that have attributes
equal to the attributes specified by vinfo_template. If no visual structures match the
template using the specified vinfo_mask, XGetVisualInfo returns a NULL. To free
the data returned by this function, use XFree.
To obtain the visual information that matches the specified depth and class of the
screen, use XMatchVisualInfo.
Status XMatchVisualInfo( *display, screen, depth, class,
*vinfo_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen Specifies the screen.
depth Specifies the depth of the screen.
class Specifies the class of the screen.
vinfo_return Returns the matched visual information.
The XMatchVisualInfo function returns the visual information for a visual that
matches the specified depth and class for a screen. Because multiple visuals that
match the specified depth and class can exist, the exact visual chosen is undefined.
If a visual is found, XMatchVisualInfo returns nonzero and the information on the
visual to vinfo_return. Otherwise, when a visual is not found, XMatchVisualInfo
returns zero.
Manipulating Images
Xlib provides several functions that perform basic operations on images. All opera-
tions on images are defined using an XImage structure, as defined in <X11/Xlib.h>.
Because the number of different types of image formats can be very large, this
hides details of image storage properly from applications.
This section describes the functions for generic operations on images. Manufactur-
ers can provide very fast implementations of these for the formats frequently en-
Application Utility Functions
387
countered on their hardware. These functions are neither sufficient nor desirable
to use for general image processing. Rather, they are here to provide minimal func-
tions on screen format images. The basic operations for getting and putting images
are XGetImage and XPutImage.
Note that no functions have been defined, as yet, to read and write images to and
from disk files.
The XImage structure describes an image as it exists in the client's memory. The
user can request that some of the members such as height, width, and xoffset be
changed when the image is sent to the server. Note that bytes_per_line in concert
with offset can be used to extract a subset of the image. Other members (for exam-
ple, byte order, bitmap_unit, and so forth) are characteristics of both the image and
the server. If these members differ between the image and the server, XPutImage
makes the appropriate conversions. The first byte of the first line of plane n must
be located at the address (data + (n * height * bytes_per_line)). For a description
of the XImage structure, see section 8.7.
To allocate an XImage structure and initialize it with image format values from a
display, use XCreateImage.
XImage *XCreateImage( *display, *visual, depth, format, offset,
*data, width, height, bitmap_pad, bytes_per_line);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
visual Specifies the Visual structure.
depth Specifies the depth of the image.
format Specifies the format for the image. You can pass XY-
Bitmap, XYPixmap, or ZPixmap.
offset Specifies the number of pixels to ignore at the begin-
ning of the scanline.
data Specifies the image data.
width Specifies the width of the image, in pixels.
height Specifies the height of the image, in pixels.
bitmap_pad Specifies the quantum of a scanline (8, 16, or 32). In
other words, the start of one scanline is separated in
client memory from the start of the next scanline by
an integer multiple of this many bits.
bytes_per_line Specifies the number of bytes in the client image be-
tween the start of one scanline and the start of the
next.
The XCreateImage function allocates the memory needed for an XImage structure
for the specified display but does not allocate space for the image itself. Rather, it
initializes the structure byte-order, bit-order, and bitmap-unit values from the dis-
play and returns a pointer to the XImage structure. The red, green, and blue mask
values are defined for Z format images only and are derived from the Visual struc-
Application Utility Functions
388
ture passed in. Other values also are passed in. The offset permits the rapid display-
ing of the image without requiring each scanline to be shifted into position. If you
pass a zero value in bytes_per_line, Xlib assumes that the scanlines are contiguous
in memory and calculates the value of bytes_per_line itself.
Note that when the image is created using XCreateImage, XGetImage, or XSubImage,
the destroy procedure that the XDestroyImage function calls frees both the image
structure and the data pointed to by the image structure.
The basic functions used to get a pixel, set a pixel, create a subimage, and add a
constant value to an image are defined in the image object. The functions in this
section are really macro invocations of the functions in the image object and are
defined in <X11/Xutil.h>.
To obtain a pixel value in an image, use XGetPixel.
unsigned long XGetPixel( *ximage, x, y);
ximage Specifies the image.
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates.
The XGetPixel function returns the specified pixel from the named image. The pix-
el value is returned in normalized format (that is, the least significant byte of the
long is the least significant byte of the pixel). The image must contain the x and y
coordinates.
To set a pixel value in an image, use XPutPixel.
XPutPixel( *ximage, x, y, pixel);
ximage Specifies the image.
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates.
pixel Specifies the new pixel value.
The XPutPixel function overwrites the pixel in the named image with the specified
pixel value. The input pixel value must be in normalized format (that is, the least
significant byte of the long is the least significant byte of the pixel). The image must
contain the x and y coordinates.
To create a subimage, use XSubImage.
XImage *XSubImage( *ximage, x, y, subimage_width, subimage_height);
ximage Specifies the image.
x
y Specify the x and y coordinates.
subimage_width Specifies the width of the new subimage, in pixels.
Application Utility Functions
389
subimage_height Specifies the height of the new subimage, in pixels.
The XSubImage function creates a new image that is a subsection of an existing
one. It allocates the memory necessary for the new XImage structure and returns a
pointer to the new image. The data is copied from the source image, and the image
must contain the rectangle defined by x, y, subimage_width, and subimage_height.
To increment each pixel in an image by a constant value, use XAddPixel.
XAddPixel( *ximage, value);
ximage Specifies the image.
value Specifies the constant value that is to be added.
The XAddPixel function adds a constant value to every pixel in an image. It is use-
ful when you have a base pixel value from allocating color resources and need to
manipulate the image to that form.
To deallocate the memory allocated in a previous call to XCreateImage, use XDe-
stroyImage.
XDestroyImage(ximage);
ximage Specifies the image.
The XDestroyImage function deallocates the memory associated with the XImage
structure.
Note that when the image is created using XCreateImage, XGetImage, or XSubImage,
the destroy procedure that this macro calls frees both the image structure and the
data pointed to by the image structure.
Manipulating Bitmaps
Xlib provides functions that you can use to read a bitmap from a file, save a bitmap
to a file, or create a bitmap. This section describes those functions that transfer
bitmaps to and from the client's file system, thus allowing their reuse in a later
connection (for example, from an entirely different client or to a different display
or server).
The X version 11 bitmap file format is:
#define name_width width
#define name_height height
#define name_x_hot x
#define name_y_hot y
static unsigned char name_bits[] = { 0xNN,... }
The lines for the variables ending with _x_hot and _y_hot suffixes are optional be-
cause they are present only if a hotspot has been defined for this bitmap. The lines
for the other variables are required. The word ``unsigned'' is optional; that is, the
type of the _bits array can be ``char'' or ``unsigned char''. The _bits array must be
large enough to contain the size bitmap. The bitmap unit is 8.
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390
To read a bitmap from a file and store it in a pixmap, use XReadBitmapFile.
int XReadBitmapFile( *display, d, *filename, *height_return,
*bitmap_return, *y_hot_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable(Dr.
filename Specifies the file name to use. The format of the file
name is operating-system dependent.
width_return
height_return Return the width and height values of the read in
bitmap file.
bitmap_return Returns the bitmap that is created.
x_hot_return
y_hot_return Return the hotspot coordinates.
The XReadBitmapFile function reads in a file containing a bitmap. The file is parsed
in the encoding of the current locale. The ability to read other than the standard for-
mat is implementation-dependent. If the file cannot be opened, XReadBitmapFile re-
turns BitmapOpenFailed. If the file can be opened but does not contain valid bitmap
data, it returns BitmapFileInvalid. If insufficient working storage is allocated, it re-
turns BitmapNoMemory. If the file is readable and valid, it returns BitmapSuccess.
XReadBitmapFile returns the bitmap's height and width, as read from the file, to
width_return and height_return. It then creates a pixmap of the appropriate size,
reads the bitmap data from the file into the pixmap, and assigns the pixmap to the
caller's variable bitmap. The caller must free the bitmap using XFreePixmap when
finished. If name_x_hot and name_y_hot exist, XReadBitmapFile returns them to
x_hot_return and y_hot_return; otherwise, it returns 1,1.
XReadBitmapFile can generate BadAlloc, BadDrawable, and BadGC errors.
To read a bitmap from a file and return it as data, use XReadBitmapFileData.
int XReadBitmapFileData( *filename, *height_return, *data_return,
*y_hot_return);
filename Specifies the file name to use. The format of the file
name is operating-system dependent.
width_return
height_return Return the width and height values of the read in
bitmap file.
data_return Returns the bitmap data.
x_hot_return
y_hot_return Return the hotspot coordinates.
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391
The XReadBitmapFileData function reads in a file containing a bitmap, in the same
manner as XReadBitmapFile, but returns the data directly rather than creating a
pixmap in the server. The bitmap data is returned in data_return; the client must
free this storage when finished with it by calling XFree. The status and other return
values are the same as for XReadBitmapFile.
To write out a bitmap from a pixmap to a file, use XWriteBitmapFile.
int XWriteBitmapFile( *display, *filename, bitmap, height, y_hot);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
filename Specifies the file name to use. The format of the file name
is operating-system dependent.
bitmap Specifies the bitmap.
width
height Specify the width and height.
x_hot
y_hot Specify where to place the hotspot coordinates (or 1,1
if none are present) in the file.
The XWriteBitmapFile function writes a bitmap out to a file in the X Version 11
format. The name used in the output file is derived from the file name by deleting the
directory prefix. The file is written in the encoding of the current locale. If the file
cannot be opened for writing, it returns BitmapOpenFailed. If insufficient memory
is allocated, XWriteBitmapFile returns BitmapNoMemory; otherwise, on no error,
it returns BitmapSuccess. If x_hot and y_hot are not 1, 1, XWriteBitmapFile
writes them out as the hotspot coordinates for the bitmap.
XWriteBitmapFile can generate BadDrawable and BadMatch errors.
To create a pixmap and then store bitmap-format data into it, use XCre-
atePixmapFromBitmapData.
Pixmap XCreatePixmapFromBitmapData( *display, d, *data, height, bg,
depth);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable(Dr.
data Specifies the data in bitmap format.
width
height Specify the width and height.
fg
bg Specify the foreground and background pixel values to use.
depth Specifies the depth of the pixmap.
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392
The XCreatePixmapFromBitmapData function creates a pixmap of the given depth
and then does a bitmap-format XPutImage of the data into it. The depth must be
supported by the screen of the specified drawable, or a BadMatch error results.
XCreatePixmapFromBitmapData can generate BadAlloc, BadDrawable, BadGC, and
BadValue errors.
To include a bitmap written out by XWriteBitmapFile in a program directly, as
opposed to reading it in every time at run time, use XCreateBitmapFromData.
Pixmap XCreateBitmapFromData( *display, d, *data, height);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable(Dr.
data Specifies the location of the bitmap data.
width
height Specify the width and height.
The XCreateBitmapFromData function allows you to include in your C program (us-
ing #include) a bitmap file that was written out by XWriteBitmapFile (X version
11 format only) without reading in the bitmap file. The following example creates
a gray bitmap:
#include "gray.bitmap"
Pixmap bitmap;
bitmap = XCreateBitmapFromData(display, window, gray_bits, gray_width, gray_height);
If insufficient working storage was allocated, XCreateBitmapFromData returns
None. It is your responsibility to free the bitmap using XFreePixmap when finished.
XCreateBitmapFromData can generate BadAlloc and BadGC errors.
Using the Context Manager
The context manager provides a way of associating data with an X resource ID
(mostly typically a window) in your program. Note that this is local to your program;
the data is not stored in the server on a property list. Any amount of data in any
number of pieces can be associated with a resource ID, and each piece of data has
a type associated with it. The context manager requires knowledge of the resource
ID and type to store or retrieve data.
Essentially, the context manager can be viewed as a two-dimensional, sparse array:
one dimension is subscripted by the X resource ID and the other by a context type
field. Each entry in the array contains a pointer to the data. Xlib provides context
management functions with which you can save data values, get data values, delete
entries, and create a unique context type. The symbols used are in <X11/Xutil.h>.
To save a data value that corresponds to a resource ID and context type, use XSave-
Context.
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393
int XSaveContext( *display, rid, context, data);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
rid Specifies the resource ID with which the data is associated.
context Specifies the context type to which the data belongs.
data Specifies the data to be associated with the window and
type.
If an entry with the specified resource ID and type already exists, XSaveContext
overrides it with the specified context. The XSaveContext function returns a nonze-
ro error code if an error has occurred and zero otherwise. Possible errors are XC-
NOMEM (out of memory).
To get the data associated with a resource ID and type, use XFindContext.
int XFindContext( *display, rid, context, *data_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
rid Specifies the resource ID with which the data is asso-
ciated.
context Specifies the context type to which the data belongs.
data_return Returns the data.
Because it is a return value, the data is a pointer. The XFindContext function returns
a nonzero error code if an error has occurred and zero otherwise. Possible errors
are XCNOENT (context-not-found).
To delete an entry for a given resource ID and type, use XDeleteContext.
int XDeleteContext( *display, rid, context);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
rid Specifies the resource ID with which the data is associated.
context Specifies the context type to which the data belongs.
The XDeleteContext function deletes the entry for the given resource ID and type
from the data structure. This function returns the same error codes that XFindCon-
text returns if called with the same arguments. XDeleteContext does not free the
data whose address was saved.
To create a unique context type that may be used in subsequent calls to XSaveCon-
text and XFindContext, use XUniqueContext.
XContext XuniqueContext()
394
Appendix A. Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
This appendix provides two tables that relate to Xlib functions and the X protocol.
The following table lists each Xlib function (in alphabetical order) and the corre-
sponding protocol request that it generates.
TableA.1.Protocol requests made by each Xlib function
Xlib Function Protocol Request
XActivateScreenSaver ForceScreenSaver
XAddHost ChangeHosts
XAddHosts ChangeHosts
XAddToSaveSet ChangeSaveSet
XAllocColor AllocColor
XAllocColorCells AllocColorCells
XAllocColorPlanes AllocColorPlanes
XAllocNamedColor AllocNamedColor
XAllowEvents AllowEvents
XAutoRepeatOff ChangeKeyboardControl
XAutoRepeatOn ChangeKeyboardControl
XBell Bell
XChangeActivePointerGrab ChangeActivePointerGrab
XChangeGC ChangeGC
XChangeKeyboardControl ChangeKeyboardControl
XChangeKeyboardMapping ChangeKeyboardMapping
XChangePointerControl ChangePointerControl
XChangeProperty ChangeProperty
XChangeSaveSet ChangeSaveSet
XChangeWindowAttributes ChangeWindowAttributes
XCirculateSubwindows CirculateWindow
XCirculateSubwindowsDown CirculateWindow
XCirculateSubwindowsUp CirculateWindow
XClearArea ClearArea
XClearWindow ClearArea
XConfigureWindow ConfigureWindow
XConvertSelection ConvertSelection
XCopyArea CopyArea
XCopyColormapAndFree CopyColormapAndFree
XCopyGC CopyGC
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
395
Xlib Function Protocol Request
XCopyPlane CopyPlane
CreateGC
CreatePixmap
FreeGC
XCreateBitmapFromData
PutImage
XCreateColormap CreateColormap
XCreateFontCursor CreateGlyphCursor
XCreateGC CreateGC
XCreateGlyphCursor CreateGlyphCursor
XCreatePixmap CreatePixmap
XCreatePixmapCursor CreateCursor
CreateGC
CreatePixmap
FreeGC
XCreatePixmapFromData
PutImage
XCreateSimpleWindow CreateWindow
XCreateWindow CreateWindow
XDefineCursor ChangeWindowAttributes
XDeleteProperty DeleteProperty
XDestroySubwindows DestroySubwindows
XDestroyWindow DestroyWindow
XDisableAccessControl SetAccessControl
XDrawArc PolyArc
XDrawArcs PolyArc
XDrawImageString ImageText8
XDrawImageString16 ImageText16
XDrawLine PolySegment
XDrawLines PolyLine
XDrawPoint PolyPoint
XDrawPoints PolyPoint
XDrawRectangle PolyRectangle
XDrawRectangles PolyRectangle
XDrawSegments PolySegment
XDrawString PolyText8
XDrawString16 PolyText16
XDrawText PolyText8
XDrawText16 PolyText16
XEnableAccessControl SetAccessControl
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
396
Xlib Function Protocol Request
XFetchBytes GetProperty
XFetchName GetProperty
XFillArc PolyFillArc
XFillArcs PolyFillArc
XFillPolygon FillPoly
XFillRectangle PolyFillRectangle
XFillRectangles PolyFillRectangle
XForceScreenSaver ForceScreenSaver
XFreeColormap FreeColormap
XFreeColors FreeColors
XFreeCursor FreeCursor
XFreeFont CloseFont
XFreeGC FreeGC
XFreePixmap FreePixmap
XGetAtomName GetAtomName
XGetClassHint GetProperty
XGetFontPath GetFontPath
XGetGeometry GetGeometry
XGetIconName GetProperty
XGetIconSizes GetProperty
XGetImage GetImage
XGetInputFocus GetInputFocus
XGetKeyboardControl GetKeyboardControl
XGetKeyboardMapping GetKeyboardMapping
XGetModifierMapping GetModifierMapping
XGetMotionEvents GetMotionEvents
XGetNormalHints GetProperty
XGetPointerControl GetPointerControl
XGetPointerMapping GetPointerMapping
XGetRGBColormaps GetProperty
XGetScreenSaver GetScreenSaver
XGetSelectionOwner GetSelectionOwner
XGetSizeHints GetProperty
XGetTextProperty GetProperty
XGetTransientForHint GetProperty
XGetWMClientMachine GetProperty
GetProperty XGetWMColormapWindows
InternAtom
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
397
Xlib Function Protocol Request
XGetWMHints GetProperty
XGetWMIconName GetProperty
XGetWMName GetProperty
XGetWMNormalHints GetProperty
GetProperty XGetWMProtocols
InternAtom
XGetWMSizeHints GetProperty
GetWindowAttributes XGetWindowAttributes
GetGeometry
XGetWindowProperty GetProperty
XGetZoomHints GetProperty
XGrabButton GrabButton
XGrabKey GrabKey
XGrabKeyboard GrabKeyboard
XGrabPointer GrabPointer
XGrabServer GrabServer
InternAtom XIconifyWindow
SendEvent
XInitExtension QueryExtension
XInstallColormap InstallColormap
XInternAtom InternAtom
XKillClient KillClient
XListExtensions ListExtensions
XListFonts ListFonts
XListFontsWithInfo ListFontsWithInfo
XListHosts ListHosts
XListInstalledColormaps ListInstalledColormaps
XListProperties ListProperties
XLoadFont OpenFont
OpenFont XLoadQueryFont
QueryFont
XLookupColor LookupColor
XLowerWindow ConfigureWindow
ConfigureWindow XMapRaised
MapWindow
XMapSubwindows MapSubwindows
XMapWindow MapWindow
XMoveResizeWindow ConfigureWindow
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
398
Xlib Function Protocol Request
XMoveWindow ConfigureWindow
XNoOp NoOperation
XOpenDisplay CreateGC
XParseColor LookupColor
XPutImage PutImage
XQueryBestCursor QueryBestSize
XQueryBestSize QueryBestSize
XQueryBestStipple QueryBestSize
XQueryBestTile QueryBestSize
XQueryColor QueryColors
XQueryColors QueryColors
XQueryExtension QueryExtension
XQueryFont QueryFont
XQueryKeymap QueryKeymap
XQueryPointer QueryPointer
XQueryTextExtents QueryTextExtents
XQueryTextExtents16 QueryTextExtents
XQueryTree QueryTree
XRaiseWindow ConfigureWindow
CreateGC
CreatePixmap
FreeGC
XReadBitmapFile
PutImage
XRecolorCursor RecolorCursor
ConfigureWindow XReconfigureWMWindow
SendEvent
XRemoveFromSaveSet ChangeSaveSet
XRemoveHost ChangeHosts
XRemoveHosts ChangeHosts
XReparentWindow ReparentWindow
XResetScreenSaver ForceScreenSaver
XResizeWindow ConfigureWindow
XRestackWindows ConfigureWindow
XRotateBuffers RotateProperties
XRotateWindowProperties RotateProperties
XSelectInput ChangeWindowAttributes
XSendEvent SendEvent
XSetAccessControl SetAccessControl
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
399
Xlib Function Protocol Request
XSetArcMode ChangeGC
XSetBackground ChangeGC
XSetClassHint ChangeProperty
XSetClipMask ChangeGC
XSetClipOrigin ChangeGC
XSetClipRectangles SetClipRectangles
XSetCloseDownMode SetCloseDownMode
XSetCommand ChangeProperty
XSetDashes SetDashes
XSetFillRule ChangeGC
XSetFillStyle ChangeGC
XSetFont ChangeGC
XSetFontPath SetFontPath
XSetForeground ChangeGC
XSetFunction ChangeGC
XSetGraphicsExposures ChangeGC
XSetIconName ChangeProperty
XSetIconSizes ChangeProperty
XSetInputFocus SetInputFocus
XSetLineAttributes ChangeGC
XSetModifierMapping SetModifierMapping
XSetNormalHints ChangeProperty
XSetPlaneMask ChangeGC
XSetPointerMapping SetPointerMapping
XSetRGBColormaps ChangeProperty
XSetScreenSaver SetScreenSaver
XSetSelectionOwner SetSelectionOwner
XSetSizeHints ChangeProperty
XSetStandardProperties ChangeProperty
XSetState ChangeGC
XSetStipple ChangeGC
XSetSubwindowMode ChangeGC
XSetTextProperty ChangeProperty
XSetTile ChangeGC
XSetTransientForHint ChangeProperty
XSetTSOrigin ChangeGC
XSetWMClientMachine ChangeProperty
XSetWMColormapWindows ChangeProperty
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
400
Xlib Function Protocol Request
InternAtom
XSetWMHints ChangeProperty
XSetWMIconName ChangeProperty
XSetWMName ChangeProperty
XSetWMNormalHints ChangeProperty
XSetWMProperties ChangeProperty
ChangeProperty XSetWMProtocols
InternAtom
XSetWMSizeHints ChangeProperty
XSetWindowBackground ChangeWindowAttributes
XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap ChangeWindowAttributes
XSetWindowBorder ChangeWindowAttributes
XSetWindowBorderPixmap ChangeWindowAttributes
XSetWindowBorderWidth ConfigureWindow
XSetWindowColormap ChangeWindowAttributes
XSetZoomHints ChangeProperty
XStoreBuffer ChangeProperty
XStoreBytes ChangeProperty
XStoreColor StoreColors
XStoreColors StoreColors
XStoreName ChangeProperty
XStoreNamedColor StoreNamedColor
XSync GetInputFocus
XSynchronize GetInputFocus
XTranslateCoordinates TranslateCoordinates
XUndefineCursor ChangeWindowAttributes
XUngrabButton UngrabButton
XUngrabKey UngrabKey
XUngrabKeyboard UngrabKeyboard
XUngrabPointer UngrabPointer
XUngrabServer UngrabServer
XUninstallColormap UninstallColormap
XUnloadFont CloseFont
XUnmapSubwindows UnmapSubwindows
XUnmapWindow UnmapWindow
XWarpPointer WarpPointer
SendEvent XWithdrawWindow
UnmapWindow
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
401
The following table lists each X protocol request (in alphabetical order) and the Xlib
functions that reference it.
TableA.2.Xlib functions which use each Protocol Request
Protocol Request Xlib Function
AllocColor XAllocColor
AllocColorCells XAllocColorCells
AllocColorPlanes XAllocColorPlanes
AllocNamedColor XAllocNamedColor
AllowEvents XAllowEvents
Bell XBell
ChangeActivePointerGrab XChangeActivePointerGrab
XChangeGC
XSetArcMode
XSetBackground
XSetClipMask
XSetClipOrigin
XSetFillRule
XSetFillStyle
XSetFont
XSetForeground
XSetFunction
XSetGraphicsExposures
XSetLineAttributes
XSetPlaneMask
XSetState
XSetStipple
XSetSubwindowMode
XSetTile
ChangeGC
XSetTSOrigin
XAddHost
XAddHosts
XRemoveHost
ChangeHosts
XRemoveHosts
XAutoRepeatOff
XAutoRepeatOn
ChangeKeyboardControl
XChangeKeyboardControl
ChangeKeyboardMapping XChangeKeyboardMapping
ChangePointerControl XChangePointerControl
ChangeProperty XChangeProperty
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
402
Protocol Request Xlib Function
XSetClassHint
XSetCommand
XSetIconName
XSetIconSizes
XSetNormalHints
XSetRGBColormaps
XSetSizeHints
XSetStandardProperties
XSetTextProperty
XSetTransientForHint
XSetWMClientMachine
XSetWMColormapWindows
XSetWMHints
XSetWMIconName
XSetWMName
XSetWMNormalHints
XSetWMProperties
XSetWMProtocols
XSetWMSizeHints
XSetZoomHints
XStoreBuffer
XStoreBytes
XStoreName
XAddToSaveSet
XChangeSaveSet
ChangeSaveSet
XRemoveFromSaveSet
XChangeWindowAttributes
XDefineCursor
XSelectInput
XSetWindowBackground
XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap
XSetWindowBorder
XSetWindowBorderPixmap
XSetWindowColormap
ChangeWindowAttributes
XUndefineCursor
XCirculateSubwindowsDown
XCirculateSubwindowsUp
CirculateWindow
XCirculateSubwindows
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
403
Protocol Request Xlib Function
XClearArea ClearArea
XClearWindow
XFreeFont CloseFont
XUnloadFont
XConfigureWindow
XLowerWindow
XMapRaised
XMoveResizeWindow
XMoveWindow
XRaiseWindow
XReconfigureWMWindow
XResizeWindow
XRestackWindows
ConfigureWindow
XSetWindowBorderWidth
ConvertSelection XConvertSelection
CopyArea XCopyArea
CopyColormapAndFree XCopyColormapAndFree
CopyGC XCopyGC
CopyPlane XCopyPlane
CreateColormap XCreateColormap
CreateCursor XCreatePixmapCursor
XCreateGC
XCreateBitmapFromData
XCreatePixmapFromData
XOpenDisplay
CreateGC
XReadBitmapFile
XCreateFontCursor CreateGlyphCursor
XCreateGlyphCursor
XCreatePixmap
XCreateBitmapFromData
XCreatePixmapFromData
CreatePixmap
XReadBitmapFile
XCreateSimpleWindow CreateWindow
XCreateWindow
DeleteProperty XDeleteProperty
DestroySubwindows XDestroySubwindows
DestroyWindow XDestroyWindow
FillPoly XFillPolygon
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
404
Protocol Request Xlib Function
XActivateScreenSaver
XForceScreenSaver
ForceScreenSaver
XResetScreenSaver
FreeColormap XFreeColormap
FreeColors XFreeColors
FreeCursor XFreeCursor
XFreeGC
XCreateBitmapFromData
XCreatePixmapFromData
FreeGC
XReadBitmapFile
FreePixmap XFreePixmap
GetAtomName XGetAtomName
GetFontPath XGetFontPath
XGetGeometry GetGeometry
XGetWindowAttributes
GetImage XGetImage
XGetInputFocus
XSync
GetInputFocus
XSynchronize
GetKeyboardControl XGetKeyboardControl
GetKeyboardMapping XGetKeyboardMapping
GetModifierMapping XGetModifierMapping
GetMotionEvents XGetMotionEvents
GetPointerControl XGetPointerControl
GetPointerMapping XGetPointerMapping
XFetchBytes
XFetchName
XGetClassHint
XGetIconName
XGetIconSizes
XGetNormalHints
XGetRGBColormaps
XGetSizeHints
XGetTextProperty
XGetTransientForHint
XGetWMClientMachine
XGetWMColormapWindows
GetProperty
XGetWMHints
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
405
Protocol Request Xlib Function
XGetWMIconName
XGetWMName
XGetWMNormalHints
XGetWMProtocols
XGetWMSizeHints
XGetWindowProperty
XGetZoomHints
GetSelectionOwner XGetSelectionOwner
GetWindowAttributes XGetWindowAttributes
GrabButton XGrabButton
GrabKey XGrabKey
GrabKeyboard XGrabKeyboard
GrabPointer XGrabPointer
GrabServer XGrabServer
ImageText8 XDrawImageString
ImageText16 XDrawImageString16
InstallColormap XInstallColormap
XGetWMColormapWindows
XGetWMProtocols
XIconifyWindow
XInternAtom
XSetWMColormapWindows
InternAtom
XSetWMProtocols
KillClient XKillClient
ListExtensions XListExtensions
ListFonts XListFonts
ListFontsWithInfo XListFontsWithInfo
ListHosts XListHosts
ListInstalledColormaps XListInstalledColormaps
ListProperties XListProperties
XLookupColor LookupColor
XParseColor
MapSubwindows XMapSubwindows
XMapRaised MapWindow
XMapWindow
NoOperation XNoOp
XLoadFont OpenFont
XLoadQueryFont
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
406
Protocol Request Xlib Function
XDrawArc PolyArc
XDrawArcs
XFillArc PolyFillArc
XFillArcs
XFillRectangle PolyFillRectangle
XFillRectangles
PolyLine XDrawLines
XDrawPoint PolyPoint
XDrawPoints
XDrawRectangle PolyRectangle
XDrawRectangles
XDrawLine PolySegment
XDrawSegments
XDrawString PolyText8
XDrawText
XDrawString16 PolyText16
XDrawText16
XPutImage
XCreateBitmapFromData
XCreatePixmapFromData
PutImage
XReadBitmapFile
XQueryBestCursor
XQueryBestSize
XQueryBestStipple
QueryBestSize
XQueryBestTile
XQueryColor QueryColors
XQueryColors
XInitExtension QueryExtension
XQueryExtension
XLoadQueryFont QueryFont
XQueryFont
QueryKeymap XQueryKeymap
QueryPointer XQueryPointer
XQueryTextExtents QueryTextExtents
XQueryTextExtents16
QueryTree XQueryTree
RecolorCursor XRecolorCursor
ReparentWindow XReparentWindow
Xlib Functions and
Protocol Requests
407
Protocol Request Xlib Function
XRotateBuffers RotateProperties
XRotateWindowProperties
XIconifyWindow
XReconfigureWMWindow
XSendEvent
SendEvent
XWithdrawWindow
XDisableAccessControl
XEnableAccessControl
SetAccessControl
XSetAccessControl
SetClipRectangles XSetClipRectangles
SetCloseDownMode XSetCloseDownMode
SetDashes XSetDashes
SetFontPath XSetFontPath
SetInputFocus XSetInputFocus
SetModifierMapping XSetModifierMapping
SetPointerMapping XSetPointerMapping
XGetScreenSaver SetScreenSaver
XSetScreenSaver
SetSelectionOwner XSetSelectionOwner
XStoreColor StoreColors
XStoreColors
StoreNamedColor XStoreNamedColor
TranslateCoordinates XTranslateCoordinates
UngrabButton XUngrabButton
UngrabKey XUngrabKey
UngrabKeyboard XUngrabKeyboard
UngrabPointer XUngrabPointer
UngrabServer XUngrabServer
UninstallColormap XUninstallColormap
UnmapSubwindows XUnmapSubWindows
XUnmapWindow UnmapWindow
XWithdrawWindow
WarpPointer XWarpPointer
408
Appendix B. X Font Cursors
The following are the available cursors that can be used with XCreateFontCursor.
#define XC_X_cursor 0 #define XC_ll_angle 76
#define XC_arrow 2 #define XC_lr_angle 78
#define XC_based_arrow_down 4 #define XC_man 80
#define XC_based_arrow_up 6 #define XC_middlebutton 82
#define XC_boat 8 #define XC_mouse 84
#define XC_bogosity 10 #define XC_pencil 86
#define XC_bottom_left_corner 12 #define XC_pirate 88
#define XC_bottom_right_corner 14 #define XC_plus 90
#define XC_bottom_side 16 #define XC_question_arrow 92
#define XC_bottom_tee 18 #define XC_right_ptr 94
#define XC_box_spiral 20 #define XC_right_side 96
#define XC_center_ptr 22 #define XC_right_tee 98
#define XC_circle 24 #define XC_rightbutton 100
#define XC_clock 26 #define XC_rtl_logo 102
#define XC_coffee_mug 28 #define XC_sailboat 104
#define XC_cross 30 #define XC_sb_down_arrow 106
#define XC_cross_reverse 32 #define XC_sb_h_double_arrow 108
#define XC_crosshair 34 #define XC_sb_left_arrow 110
#define XC_diamond_cross 36 #define XC_sb_right_arrow 112
#define XC_dot 38 #define XC_sb_up_arrow 114
#define XC_dot_box_mask 40 #define XC_sb_v_double_arrow 116
#define XC_double_arrow 42 #define XC_shuttle 118
#define XC_draft_large 44 #define XC_sizing 120
#define XC_draft_small 46 #define XC_spider 122
#define XC_draped_box 48 #define XC_spraycan 124
#define XC_exchange 50 #define XC_star 126
#define XC_fleur 52 #define XC_target 128
#define XC_gobbler 54 #define XC_tcross 130
#define XC_gumby 56 #define XC_top_left_arrow 132
#define XC_hand1 58 #define XC_top_left_corner 134
#define XC_hand2 60 #define XC_top_right_corner 136
#define XC_heart 62 #define XC_top_side 138
#define XC_icon 64 #define XC_top_tee 140
#define XC_iron_cross 66 #define XC_trek 142
#define XC_left_ptr 68 #define XC_ul_angle 144
#define XC_left_side 70 #define XC_umbrella 146
#define XC_left_tee 72 #define XC_ur_angle 148
#define XC_leftbutton 74 #define XC_watch 150
#define XC_xterm 152
409
Appendix C. Extensions
Because X can evolve by extensions to the core protocol, it is important that exten-
sions not be perceived as second-class citizens. At some point, your favorite exten-
sions may be adopted as additional parts of the X Standard.
Therefore, there should be little to distinguish the use of an extension from that of
the core protocol. To avoid having to initialize extensions explicitly in application
programs, it is also important that extensions perform lazy evaluations, automati-
cally initializing themselves when called for the first time.
This appendix describes techniques for writing extensions to Xlib that will run at
essentially the same performance as the core protocol requests.
Note
It is expected that a given extension to X consists of multiple requests. Defin-
ing 10 new features as 10 separate extensions is a bad practice. Rather, they
should be packaged into a single extension and should use minor opcodes
to distinguish the requests.
The symbols and macros used for writing stubs to Xlib are listed in <X11/Xlibint.h> .
Basic Protocol Support Routines
The basic protocol requests for extensions are XQueryExtension and XListExten-
sions.
Bool XQueryExtension( *display, *name, *major_opcode_return,
*first_event_return, *first_error_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
name Specifies the extension name.
major_opcode_return Returns the major opcode.
first_event_return Returns the first event code, if any.
first_error_return Returns the first error code, if any.
The XQueryExtension function determines if the named extension is present. If
the extension is not present, XQueryExtension returns False; otherwise, it returns
True. If the extension is present, XQueryExtension returns the major opcode for
the extension to major_opcode_return; otherwise, it returns zero. Any minor op-
code and the request formats are specific to the extension. If the extension in-
volves additional event types, XQueryExtension returns the base event type code
to first_event_return; otherwise, it returns zero. The format of the events is specific
to the extension. If the extension involves additional error codes, XQueryExtension
returns the base error code to first_error_return; otherwise, it returns zero. The
format of additional data in the errors is specific to the extension.
If the extension name is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding the result is
implementation-dependent. Uppercase and lowercase matter; the strings ``thing'',
``Thing'', and ``thinG'' are all considered different names.
Extensions
410
char **XListExtensions( *display, *nextensions_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
nextensions_return Returns the number of extensions listed.
The XListExtensions function returns a list of all extensions supported by the serv-
er. If the data returned by the server is in the Latin Portable Character Encoding,
then the returned strings are in the Host Portable Character Encoding. Otherwise,
the result is implementation-dependent.
XFreeExtensionList( **list);
list Specifies the list of extension names.
The XFreeExtensionList function frees the memory allocated by XListExten-
sions. Hooking into Xlib
These functions allow you to hook into the library. They are not normally used by
application programmers but are used by people who need to extend the core X pro-
tocol and the X library interface. The functions, which generate protocol requests
for X, are typically called stubs.
In extensions, stubs first should check to see if they have initialized themselves on
a connection. If they have not, they then should call XInitExtension to attempt to
initialize themselves on the connection.
If the extension needs to be informed of GC/font allocation or deallocation or if the
extension defines new event types, the functions described here allow the extension
to be called when these events occur.
The XExtCodes structure returns the information from XInitExtension and is de-
fined in <X11/Xlib.h> :
typedef struct _XExtCodes { /* public to extension, cannot be changed */
int extension; /* extension number */
int major_opcode; /* major op-code assigned by server */
int first_event; /* first event number for the extension */
int first_error; /* first error number for the extension */
} XExtCodes;
XExtCodes *XInitExtension( *display, *name);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
name Specifies the extension name.
The XInitExtension function determines if the named extension exists. Then, it al-
locates storage for maintaining the information about the extension on the connec-
tion, chains this onto the extension list for the connection, and returns the informa-
tion the stub implementor will need to access the extension. If the extension does
not exist, XInitExtension returns NULL.
Extensions
411
If the extension name is not in the Host Portable Character Encoding, the result is
implementation-dependent. Uppercase and lowercase matter; the strings ``thing'',
``Thing'', and ``thinG'' are all considered different names.
The extension number in the XExtCodes structure is needed in the other calls that
follow. This extension number is unique only to a single connection.
XExtCodes *XAddExtension( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
For local Xlib extensions, the XAddExtension function allocates the XExtCodes
structure, bumps the extension number count, and chains the extension onto the
extension list. (This permits extensions to Xlib without requiring server extensions.)
Hooks into the Library
These functions allow you to define procedures that are to be called when various
circumstances occur. The procedures include the creation of a new GC for a con-
nection, the copying of a GC, the freeing of a GC, the creating and freeing of fonts,
the conversion of events defined by extensions to and from wire format, and the
handling of errors.
All of these functions return the previous procedure defined for this extension.
int XESetCloseDisplay( *display, extension, (*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
extension Specifies the extension number.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when the display is
closed.
The XESetCloseDisplay function defines a procedure to be called whenever
XCloseDisplay is called. It returns any previously defined procedure, usually NULL.
When XCloseDisplay is called, your procedure is called with these arguments:
int (*proc)(display, codes);
int *XESetCreateGC( *display, extension, (*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
extension Specifies the extension number.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when a GC is closed.
The XESetCreateGC function defines a procedure to be called whenever a new GC
is created. It returns any previously defined procedure, usually NULL.
When a GC is created, your procedure is called with these arguments:
Extensions
412
int (*proc)(display, gc, codes);
int *XESetCopyGC( *display, extension, (*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
extension Specifies the extension number.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when GC components are
copied.
The XESetCopyGC function defines a procedure to be called whenever a GC is copied.
It returns any previously defined procedure, usually NULL.
When a GC is copied, your procedure is called with these arguments:
int (*proc)(display, gc, codes);
int *XESetFreeGC( *display, extension, (*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
extension Specifies the extension number.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when a GC is freed.
The XESetFreeGC function defines a procedure to be called whenever a GC is freed.
It returns any previously defined procedure, usually NULL.
When a GC is freed, your procedure is called with these arguments:
int (*proc)(display, gc, codes);
int *XESetCreateFont( *display, extension, (*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
extension Specifies the extension number.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when a font is created.
The XESetCreateFont function defines a procedure to be called whenever XLoad-
QueryFont and XQueryFont are called. It returns any previously defined procedure,
usually NULL.
When XLoadQueryFont or XQueryFont is called, your procedure is called with these
arguments:
int (*proc)(display, fs, codes);
int *XESetFreeFont( *display, extension, (*proc)());
Extensions
413
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
extension Specifies the extension number.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when a font is freed.
The XESetFreeFont function defines a procedure to be called whenever XFreeFont
is called. It returns any previously defined procedure, usually NULL.
When XFreeFont is called, your procedure is called with these arguments:
int (*proc)(display, fs, codes);
The XESetWireToEvent and XESetEventToWire functions allow you to define new
events to the library. An XEvent structure always has a type code (type int) as
the first component. This uniquely identifies what kind of event it is. The second
component is always the serial number (type unsigned long) of the last request
processed by the server. The third component is always a Boolean (type Bool) indi-
cating whether the event came from a SendEvent protocol request. The fourth com-
ponent is always a pointer to the display the event was read from. The fifth compo-
nent is always a resource ID of one kind or another, usually a window, carefully se-
lected to be useful to toolkit dispatchers. The fifth component should always exist,
even if the event does not have a natural destination; if there is no value from the
protocol to put in this component, initialize it to zero. There is an implementation
limit such that your host event structure size cannot be bigger than the size of the
XEvent union of structures. There also is no way to guarantee that more than 24
elements or 96 characters in the structure will be fully portable between machines.
int *XESetWireToEvent( *display, event_number, (*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event_number Specifies the event code.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when converting an
event.
The XESetWireToEvent function defines a procedure to be called when an event
needs to be converted from wire format (xEvent) to host format (XEvent). The event
number defines which protocol event number to install a conversion procedure for.
XESetWireToEvent returns any previously defined procedure. You can replace a
core event conversion function with one of your own, although this is not encour-
aged. It would, however, allow you to intercept a core event and modify it before be-
ing placed in the queue or otherwise examined. When Xlib needs to convert an event
from wire format to host format, your procedure is called with these arguments:
int (*proc)(display, re, event);
Your procedure must return status to indicate if the conversion succeeded. The re
argument is a pointer to where the host format event should be stored, and the
event argument is the 32-byte wire event structure. In the XEvent structure you
are creating, you must fill in the five required members of the event structure. You
should fill in the type member with the type specified for the xEvent structure.
You should copy all other members from the xEvent structure (wire format) to the
XEvent structure (host format). Your conversion procedure should return True if the
event should be placed in the queue or False if it should not be placed in the queue.
Extensions
414
To initialize the serial number component of the event, call _XSetLastRequestRead
with the event and use the return value.
unsigned long_XSetLastRequestRead( *display, *rep);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
rep Specifies the wire event structure.
The _XSetLastRequestRead function computes and returns a complete serial num-
ber from the partial serial number in the event.
Status *XESetEventToWire( *display, event_number, (*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
event_number Specifies the event code.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when converting an
event.
The XESetEventToWire function defines a procedure to be called when an event
needs to be converted from host format (XEvent) to wire format (xEvent) form. The
event number defines which protocol event number to install a conversion proce-
dure for. XESetEventToWire returns any previously defined procedure. It returns
zero if the conversion fails or nonzero otherwise. You can replace a core event con-
version function with one of your own, although this is not encouraged. It would,
however, allow you to intercept a core event and modify it before being sent to an-
other client. When Xlib needs to convert an event from host format to wire format,
your procedure is called with these arguments:
int (*proc)(display, re, event);
The re argument is a pointer to the host format event, and the event argument is a
pointer to where the 32-byte wire event structure should be stored. You should fill
in the type with the type from the XEvent structure. All other members then should
be copied from the host format to the xEvent structure.
Bool *XESetWireToError( *display, error_number, (*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
error_number Specifies the error code.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when an error is re-
ceived.
The XESetWireToError function defines a procedure to be called when an extension
error needs to be converted from wire format to host format. The error number de-
fines which protocol error code to install the conversion procedure for. XESetWire-
ToError returns any previously defined procedure.
Extensions
415
Use this function for extension errors that contain additional error values beyond
those in a core X error, when multiple wire errors must be combined into a single
Xlib error, or when it is necessary to intercept an X error before it is otherwise
examined.
When Xlib needs to convert an error from wire format to host format, the procedure
is called with these arguments:
int (*proc)(display, he, we);
The he argument is a pointer to where the host format error should be stored. The
structure pointed at by he is guaranteed to be as large as an XEvent structure and
so can be cast to a type larger than an XErrorEvent to store additional values. If
the error is to be completely ignored by Xlib (for example, several protocol error
structures will be combined into one Xlib error), then the function should return
False; otherwise, it should return True.
int *XESetError( *display, extension, (*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
extension Specifies the extension number.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when an error is received.
Inside Xlib, there are times that you may want to suppress the calling of the external
error handling when an error occurs. This allows status to be returned on a call
at the cost of the call being synchronous (though most such functions are query
operations, in any case, and are typically programmed to be synchronous).
When Xlib detects a protocol error in _XReply, it calls your procedure with these
arguments:
int (*proc)(display, err, codes, ret_code);
The err argument is a pointer to the 32-byte wire format error. The codes argument
is a pointer to the extension codes structure. The ret_code argument is the return
code you may want _XReply returned to.
If your procedure returns a zero value, the error is not suppressed, and the client's
error handler is called. (For further information, see section 11.8.2.) If your proce-
dure returns nonzero, the error is suppressed, and _XReply returns the value of
ret_code.
char *XESetErrorString( *display, extension, *(*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
extension Specifies the extension number.
proc Specifies the procedure to call to obtain an error string.
The XGetErrorText function returns a string to the user for an error. XESetEr-
rorString allows you to define a procedure to be called that should return a pointer
to the error message. The following is an example.
Extensions
416
int (*proc)(display, code, codes, buffer, nbytes);
Your procedure is called with the error code for every error detected. You should
copy nbytes of a null-terminated string containing the error message into buffer.
void *XESetPrintErrorValues( *display, extension, (*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
extension Specifies the extension number.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when an error is printed.
The XESetPrintErrorValues function defines a procedure to be called when an
extension error is printed, to print the error values. Use this function for extension
errors that contain additional error values beyond those in a core X error. It returns
any previously defined procedure.
When Xlib needs to print an error, the procedure is called with these arguments:
void (*proc)(display, ev, fp);
The structure pointed at by ev is guaranteed to be as large as an XEvent structure
and so can be cast to a type larger than an XErrorEvent to obtain additional values
set by using XESetWireToError. The underlying type of the fp argument is system
dependent; on a POSIX-compliant system, fp should be cast to type FILE*.
int *XESetFlushGC( *display, extension, *(*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
extension Specifies the extension number.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when a GC is flushed.
The procedure set by the XESetFlushGC function has the same interface as the pro-
cedure set by the XESetCopyGC function, but is called when a GC cache needs to
be updated in the server.
int *XESetCopyGC( *display, extension, *(*proc)());
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
extension Specifies the extension number.
proc Specifies the procedure to call when a buffer is flushed.
The XESetBeforeFlush function defines a procedure to be called when data is about
to be sent to the server. When data is about to be sent, your procedure is called one
or more times with these arguments:
void (*proc)(display, codes, data, len);
The data argument specifies a portion of the outgoing data buffer, and its length in
bytes is specified by the len argument. Your procedure must not alter the contents
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of the data and must not do additional protocol requests to the same display. Hooks
onto Xlib Data Structures
Various Xlib data structures have provisions for extension procedures to chain ex-
tension supplied data onto a list. These structures are GC, Visual, Screen, Screen-
Format, Display, and XFontStruct. Because the list pointer is always the first mem-
ber in the structure, a single set of procedures can be used to manipulate the data
on these lists.
The following structure is used in the functions in this section and is defined in
<X11/Xlib.h>
typedef struct _XExtData {
int number; /* number returned by XInitExtension */
struct _XExtData *next; /* next item on list of data for structure */
int (*free_private)(); /* if defined, called to free private */
XPointer private_data; /* data private to this extension. */
} XExtData;
When any of the data structures listed above are freed, the list is walked, and the
structure's free procedure (if any) is called. If free is NULL, then the library frees
both the data pointed to by the private_data member and the structure itself.
union { Display *display;
GC gc;
Visual *visual;
Screen *screen;
ScreenFormat *pixmap_format;
XFontStruct *font } XEDataObject;
XExtData **XEHeadOfExtensionList( object);
object Specifies the object.
The XEHeadOfExtensionList function returns a pointer to the list of extension struc-
tures attached to the specified object. In concert with XAddToExtensionList, XE-
HeadOfExtensionList allows an extension to attach arbitrary data to any of the
structures of types contained in XEDataObject.
XAddToExtensionList( **structure, *ext_data);
structure Specifies the extension list.
ext_data Specifies the extension data structure to add.
The structure argument is a pointer to one of the data structures enumerated above.
You must initialize ext_data->number with the extension number before calling this
function.
XExtData *XFindOnExtensionList( **structure, number);
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structure Specifies the extension list.
number Specifies the extension number from XInitExtension.
The XFindOnExtensionList function returns the first extension data structure for
the extension numbered number. It is expected that an extension will add at most
one extension data structure to any single data structure's extension data list. There
is no way to find additional structures.
The XAllocID macro, which allocates and returns a resource ID, is defined in <X11/
Xlib.h>.
XAllocID( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
This macro is a call through the Display structure to an internal resource ID alloca-
tor. It returns a resource ID that you can use when creating new resources.
The XAllocIDs macro allocates and returns an array of resource ID.
XAllocIDs( *display, *ids_return, count);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
ids_return Returns the resource IDs.
rep Specifies the number of resource IDs requested.
This macro is a call through the Display structure to an internal resource ID alloca-
tor. It returns resource IDs to the array supplied by the caller. To correctly handle
automatic reuse of resource IDs, you must call XAllocIDs when requesting multiple
resource IDs. This call might generate protocol requests. GC Caching
GCs are cached by the library to allow merging of independent change requests
to the same GC into single protocol requests. This is typically called a write-back
cache. Any extension procedure whose behavior depends on the contents of a GC
must flush the GC cache to make sure the server has up-to-date contents in its GC.
The FlushGC macro checks the dirty bits in the library's GC structure and calls
_XFlushGCCache if any elements have changed. The FlushGC macro is defined as
follows:
FlushGC( *display, gc);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
Note that if you extend the GC to add additional resource ID components, you should
ensure that the library stub sends the change request immediately. This is because
a client can free a resource immediately after using it, so if you only stored the value
in the cache without forcing a protocol request, the resource might be destroyed
before being set into the GC. You can use the _XFlushGCCache procedure to force
the cache to be flushed. The _XFlushGCCache procedure is defined as follows:
_XFlushGCCache( *display, gc);
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display Specifies the connection to the X server.
gc Specifies the GC.
Graphics Batching
If you extend X to add more poly graphics primitives, you may be able to take advan-
tage of facilities in the library to allow back-to-back single calls to be transformed
into poly requests. This may dramatically improve performance of programs that
are not written using poly requests. A pointer to an xReq, called last_req in the dis-
play structure, is the last request being processed. By checking that the last request
type, drawable, gc, and other options are the same as the new one and that there is
enough space left in the buffer, you may be able to just extend the previous graphics
request by extending the length field of the request and appending the data to the
buffer. This can improve performance by five times or more in naive programs. For
example, here is the source for the XDrawPoint stub. (Writing extension stubs is
discussed in the next section.)
#include <X11/Xlibint.h>
/* precompute the maximum size of batching request allowed */
static int size = sizeof(xPolyPointReq) + EPERBATCH * sizeof(xPoint);
XDrawPoint(dpy, d, gc, x, y)
register Display *dpy;
Drawable d;
GC gc;
int x, y; /* INT16 */
{
xPoint *point;
LockDisplay(dpy);
FlushGC(dpy, gc);
{
register xPolyPointReq *req = (xPolyPointReq *) dpy->last_req;
/* if same as previous request, with same drawable, batch requests */
if (
(req->reqType == X_PolyPoint)
&& (req->drawable == d)
&& (req->gc == gc->gid)
&& (req->coordMode == CoordModeOrigin)
&& ((dpy->bufptr + sizeof (xPoint)) <= dpy->bufmax)
&& (((char *)dpy->bufptr - (char *)req) < size) ) {
point = (xPoint *) dpy->bufptr;
req->length += sizeof (xPoint) >> 2;
dpy->bufptr += sizeof (xPoint);
}
else {
GetReqExtra(PolyPoint, 4, req); /* 1 point = 4 bytes */
req->drawable = d;
req->gc = gc->gid;
req->coordMode = CoordModeOrigin;
point = (xPoint *) (req + 1);
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420
}
point->x = x;
point->y = y;
}
UnlockDisplay(dpy);
SyncHandle();
}
To keep clients from generating very long requests that may monopolize the server,
there is a symbol defined in <X11/Xlibint.h> of EPERBATCH on the number of re-
quests batched. Most of the performance benefit occurs in the first few merged re-
quests. Note that FlushGC is called before picking up the value of last_req, because
it may modify this field. Writing Extension Stubs
All X requests always contain the length of the request, expressed as a 16-bit quan-
tity of 32 bits. This means that a single request can be no more than 256K bytes in
length. Some servers may not support single requests of such a length. The value of
dpy->max_request_size contains the maximum length as defined by the server im-
plementation. For further information, see ``X Window System Protocol.'' Requests,
Replies, and Xproto.h
The <X11/Xproto.h> file contains three sets of definitions that are of interest to the
stub implementor: request names, request structures, and reply structures.
You need to generate a file equivalent to <X11/Xproto.h> for your extension and
need to include it in your stub procedure. Each stub procedure also must include
<X11/Xlibint.h> .
The identifiers are deliberately chosen in such a way that, if the request is called
X_DoSomething, then its request structure is xDoSomethingReq, and its reply is
xDoSomethingReply. The GetReq family of macros, defined in <X11/Xlibint.h> ,
takes advantage of this naming scheme.
For each X request, there is a definition in <X11/Xproto.h> that looks similar to this:
#define X_DoSomething 42
In your extension header file, this will be a minor opcode, instead of a major opcode.
Request Format
Every request contains an 8-bit major opcode and a 16-bit length field expressed in
units of 4 bytes. Every request consists of 4 bytes of header (containing the major
opcode, the length field, and a data byte) followed by zero or more additional bytes
of data. The length field defines the total length of the request, including the header.
The length field in a request must equal the minimum length required to contain
the request. If the specified length is smaller or larger than the required length,
the server should generate a BadLength error. Unused bytes in a request are not
required to be zero. Extensions should be designed in such a way that long protocol
requests can be split up into smaller requests, if it is possible to exceed the maximum
request size of the server. The protocol guarantees the maximum request size to be
no smaller than 4096 units (16384 bytes).
Major opcodes 128 through 255 are reserved for extensions. Extensions are intend-
ed to contain multiple requests, so extension requests typically have an additional
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421
minor opcode encoded in the second data byte in the request header, but the place-
ment and interpretation of this minor opcode as well as all other fields in extension
requests are not defined by the core protocol. Every request is implicitly assigned
a sequence number (starting with one) used in replies, errors, and events.
To help but not cure portability problems to certain machines, the B16 and B32
macros have been defined so that they can become bitfield specifications on some
machines. For example, on a Cray, these should be used for all 16-bit and 32-bit
quantities, as discussed below.
Most protocol requests have a corresponding structure typedef in <X11/Xproto.h>,
which looks like:
typedef struct _DoSomethingReq {
CARD8 reqType; /* X_DoSomething */
CARD8 someDatum; /* used differently in different requests */
CARD16 length B16; /* total # of bytes in request, divided by 4 */
...
/* request-specific data */
...
} xDoSomethingReq;
If a core protocol request has a single 32-bit argument, you need not declare a re-
quest structure in your extension header file. Instead, such requests use the xRe-
sourceReq structure in <X11/Xproto.h>. This structure is used for any request
whose single argument is a Window, Pixmap, Drawable, GContext, Font, Cursor,
Colormap, Atom, or VisualID.
typedef struct _ResourceReq {
CARD8 reqType; /* the request type, e.g. X_DoSomething */
BYTE pad; /* not used */
CARD16 length B16; /* 2 (= total # of bytes in request, divided by 4) */
CARD32 id B32; /* the Window, Drawable, Font, GContext, etc. */
} xResourceReq;
If convenient, you can do something similar in your extension header file.
In both of these structures, the reqType field identifies the type of the request (for
example, X_MapWindow or X_CreatePixmap). The length field tells how long the re-
quest is in units of 4-byte longwords. This length includes both the request structure
itself and any variable-length data, such as strings or lists, that follow the request
structure. Request structures come in different sizes, but all requests are padded
to be multiples of four bytes long.
A few protocol requests take no arguments at all. Instead, they use the xReq struc-
ture in <X11/Xproto.h>, which contains only a reqType and a length (and a pad
byte).
If the protocol request requires a reply, then <X11/Xproto.h> also contains a reply
structure typedef:
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422
typedef struct _DoSomethingReply {
BYTE type; /* always X_Reply */
BYTE someDatum; /* used differently in different requests */
CARD16 sequenceNumber B16; /* # of requests sent so far */
CARD32 length B32; /* # of additional bytes, divided by 4 */
...
/* request-specific data */
...
} xDoSomethingReply;
Most of these reply structures are 32 bytes long. If there are not that many reply
values, then they contain a sufficient number of pad fields to bring them up to 32
bytes. The length field is the total number of bytes in the request minus 32, divided
by 4. This length will be nonzero only if:
The reply structure is followed by variable-length data, such as a list or string.
The reply structure is longer than 32 bytes.
Only GetWindowAttributesl, QueryFont, QueryKeymap, and GetKeyboardControl
have reply structures longer than 32 bytes in the core protocol.
A few protocol requests return replies that contain no data. <X11/Xproto.h> does
not define reply structures for these. Instead, they use the xGenericReply structure,
which contains only a type, length, and sequence number (and sufficient padding
to make it 32 bytes long). Starting to Write a Stub Procedure
An Xlib stub procedure should start like this:
#include "<X11/Xlibint.h>
XDoSomething (arguments, ... )
/* argument declarations */
{
register XDoSomethingReq *req;
...
If the protocol request has a reply, then the variable declarations should include the
reply structure for the request. The following is an example:
xDoSomethingReply rep;
Locking Data Structures
To lock the display structure for systems that want to support multithreaded access
to a single display connection, each stub will need to lock its critical section. Gen-
erally, this section is the point from just before the appropriate GetReq call until
all arguments to the call have been stored into the buffer. The precise instructions
needed for this locking depend upon the machine architecture. Two calls, which are
generally implemented as macros, have been provided.
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LockDisplay( *display);
UnlockDisplay( *display);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
Sending the Protocol Request and Arguments
After the variable declarations, a stub procedure should call one of four macros
defined in <X11/Xlibint.h>: GetReq, GetReqExtra, GetResReq, or GetEmptyReq. All
of these macros take, as their first argument, the name of the protocol request as
declared in <X11/Xproto.h> except with X_ removed. Each one declares a Display
structure pointer, called dpy, and a pointer to a request structure, called req, which
is of the appropriate type. The macro then appends the request structure to the
output buffer, fills in its type and length field, and sets req to point to it.
If the protocol request has no arguments (for instance, X_GrabServer), then use
GetEmptyReq.
GetEmptyReq (DoSomething, req);
If the protocol request has a single 32-bit argument (such as a Pixmap, Window,
Drawable, Atom, and so on), then use GetResReq. The second argument to the macro
is the 32-bit object. X_MapWindow is a good example.
GetResReq (DoSomething, rid, req);
The rid argument is the Pixmap, Window, or other resource ID.
If the protocol request takes any other argument list, then call GetReq. After the
GetReq, you need to set all the other fields in the request structure, usually from
arguments to the stub procedure.
GetReq (DoSomething, req);
/* fill in arguments here */
req->arg1 = arg1;
req->arg2 = arg2;
...
A few stub procedures (such as XCreateGC and XCreatePixmap) return a resource
ID to the caller but pass a resource ID as an argument to the protocol request. Such
procedures use the macro XAllocID to allocate a resource ID from the range of IDs
that were assigned to this client when it opened the connection.
rid = req->rid = XAllocID();
...
return (rid);
Finally, some stub procedures transmit a fixed amount of variable-length data af-
ter the request. Typically, these procedures (such as XMoveWindow and XSetBack-
ground) are special cases of more general functions like XMoveResizeWindow and
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XChangeGC. These procedures use GetReqExtra, which is the same as GetReq except
that it takes an additional argument (the number of extra bytes to allocate in the
output buffer after the request structure). This number should always be a multiple
of four. Variable Length Arguments
Some protocol requests take additional variable-length data that follow the
xDoSomethingReq structure. The format of this data varies from request to request.
Some requests require a sequence of 8-bit bytes, others a sequence of 16-bit or 32-
bit entities, and still others a sequence of structures.
It is necessary to add the length of any variable-length data to the length field of
the request structure. That length field is in units of 32-bit longwords. If the data
is a string or other sequence of 8-bit bytes, then you must round the length up and
shift it before adding:
req->length += (nbytes+3)>>2;
To transmit variable-length data, use the Data macros. If the data fits into the output
buffer, then this macro copies it to the buffer. If it does not fit, however, the Data
macro calls _XSend, which transmits first the contents of the buffer and then your
data. The Data macros take three arguments: the display, a pointer to the beginning
of the data, and the number of bytes to be sent.
Data( display, *);
Data, Data16, and Data32 are macros that may use their last argument more than
once, so that argument should be a variable rather than an expression such as
``nitems*sizeof(item)''. You should do that kind of computation in a separate state-
ment before calling them. Use the appropriate macro when sending byte, short, or
long data.
If the protocol request requires a reply, then call the procedure _XSend instead
of the Data macro. _XSend takes the same arguments, but because it sends your
data immediately instead of copying it into the output buffer (which would later be
flushed anyway by the following call on _XReply), it is faster. Replies
If the protocol request has a reply, then call _XReply after you have finished dealing
with all the fixed-length and variable-length arguments. _XReply flushes the output
buffer and waits for an xReply packet to arrive. If any events arrive in the meantime,
_XReply places them in the queue for later use.
Status _XReply( *display, *rep, extra, discard);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
rep Specifies the reply structure.
extra Specifies the number of 32-bit words expected after the
replay.
discard Specifies if any data beyond that specified in the extra ar-
gument should be discarded.
The _XReply function waits for a reply packet and copies its contents into the spec-
ified rep. _XReply handles error and event packets that occur before the reply is
received. _XReply takes four arguments:
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425
A Display * structure
A pointer to a reply structure (which must be cast to an xReply *)
The number of additional 32-bit words (beyond sizeof( xReply) = 32 bytes) in
the reply structure
A Boolean that indicates whether _XReply is to discard any additional bytes be-
yond those it was told to read
Because most reply structures are 32 bytes long, the third argument is usually 0. The
only core protocol exceptions are the replies to GetWindowAttributesl, QueryFont,
QueryKeymap, and GetKeyboardControl, which have longer replies.
The last argument should be False if the reply structure is followed by additional
variable-length data (such as a list or string). It should be True if there is not any
variable-length data. This last argument is provided for upward-compatibility rea-
sons to allow a client to communicate properly with a hypothetical later version of
the server that sends more data than the client expected. For example, some lat-
er version of GetWindowAttributesl might use a larger, but compatible, xGetWin-
dowAttributesReply that contains additional attribute data at the end. _XReply re-
turns True if it received a reply successfully or False if it received any sort of error.
For a request with a reply that is not followed by variable-length data, you write
something like:
_XReply(display, (xReply *)&rep, 0, True);
*ret1 = rep.ret1;
*ret2 = rep.ret2;
*ret3 = rep.ret3;
...
UnlockDisplay(dpy);
SyncHandle();
return (rep.ret4);
}
If there is variable-length data after the reply, change the True to False, and use the
appropriate _XRead function to read the variable-length data.
_XRead( *display, *data_return, nbytes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
data_return Specifies the buffer.
nbytes Specifies the number of bytes required.
The _XRead function reads the specified number of bytes into data_return.
_XRead16( *display, *data_return, nbytes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
data_return Specifies the buffer.
nbytes Specifies the number of bytes required.
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The _XRead16 function reads the specified number of bytes, unpacking them as 16-
bit quantities, into the specified array as shorts.
_XRead32( *display, *data_return, nbytes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
data_return Specifies the buffer.
nbytes Specifies the number of bytes required.
The _XRead32 function reads the specified number of bytes, unpacking them as 32-
bit quantities, into the specified array as longs.
_XRead16Pad( *display, *data_return, nbytes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
data_return Specifies the buffer.
nbytes Specifies the number of bytes required.
The _XRead16Pad function reads the specified number of bytes, unpacking them as
16-bit quantities, into the specified array as shorts. If the number of bytes is not a
multiple of four, _XRead16Pad reads and discards up to two additional pad bytes.
_XReadPad( *display, *data_return, nbytes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
data_return Specifies the buffer.
nbytes Specifies the number of bytes required.
The _XReadPad function reads the specified number of bytes into data_return. If the
number of bytes is not a multiple of four, _XReadPad reads and discards up to three
additional pad bytes.
Each protocol request is a little different. For further information, see the Xlib
sources for examples. Synchronous Calling
Each procedure should have a call, just before returning to the user, to a macro
called SyncHandle. If synchronous mode is enabled (see XSynchronize), the request
is sent immediately. The library, however, waits until any error the procedure could
generate at the server has been handled. Allocating and Deallocating Memory
To support the possible reentry of these procedures, you must observe several con-
ventions when allocating and deallocating memory, most often done when return-
ing data to the user from the window system of a size the caller could not know in
advance (for example, a list of fonts or a list of extensions). The standard C library
functions on many systems are not protected against signals or other multithreaded
uses. The following analogies to standard I/O library functions have been defined:
These should be used in place of any calls you would make to the normal C library
functions.
If you need a single scratch buffer inside a critical section (for example, to pack
and unpack data to and from the wire protocol), the general memory allocators may
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427
be too expensive to use (particularly in output functions, which are performance
critical). The following function returns a scratch buffer for use within a critical
section:
char *_XAllocScratch( *display, nbytes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
nbytes Specifies the number of bytes required.
This storage must only be used inside of a critical section of your stub. The returned
pointer cannot be assumed valid after any call that might permit another thread to
execute inside Xlib. For example, the pointer cannot be assumed valid after any use
of the GetReq or Data families of macros, after any use of _XReply, or after any use
of the _XSend or _XRead families of functions.
The following function returns a scratch buffer for use across critical sections:
char *_XAllocTemp( *display, nbytes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
nbytes Specifies the number of bytes required.
This storage can be used across calls that might permit another thread to execute
inside Xlib. The storage must be explicitly returned to Xlib. The following function
returns the storage:
void _XFreeTemp( *display, *buf, nbytes);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
buf Specifies the buffer to return.
nbytes Specifies the size of the buffer.
You must pass back the same pointer and size that were returned by _XAllocTemp.
Portability Considerations
Many machine architectures, including many of the more recent RISC architectures,
do not correctly access data at unaligned locations; their compilers pad out struc-
tures to preserve this characteristic. Many other machines capable of unaligned ref-
erences pad inside of structures as well to preserve alignment, because accessing
aligned data is usually much faster. Because the library and the server use struc-
tures to access data at arbitrary points in a byte stream, all data in request and
reply packets must be naturally aligned; that is, 16-bit data starts on 16-bit bound-
aries in the request and 32-bit data on 32-bit boundaries. All requests must be a
multiple of 32 bits in length to preserve the natural alignment in the data stream.
You must pad structures out to 32-bit boundaries. Pad information does not have to
be zeroed unless you want to preserve such fields for future use in your protocol
requests. Floating point varies radically between machines and should be avoided
completely if at all possible.
This code may run on machines with 16-bit ints. So, if any integer argument, vari-
able, or return value either can take only nonnegative values or is declared as a
CARD16 in the protocol, be sure to declare it as unsigned int and not as int. (This,
of course, does not apply to Booleans or enumerations.)
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428
Similarly, if any integer argument or return value is declared CARD32 in the proto-
col, declare it as an unsigned long and not as int or long. This also goes for any inter-
nal variables that may take on values larger than the maximum 16-bit unsigned int.
The library currently assumes that a char is 8 bits, a short is 16 bits, an int is 16 or
32 bits, and a long is 32 bits. The PackData macro is a half-hearted attempt to deal
with the possibility of 32 bit shorts. However, much more work is needed to make
this work properly. Deriving the Correct Extension Opcode
The remaining problem a writer of an extension stub procedure faces that the core
protocol does not face is to map from the call to the proper major and minor opcodes.
While there are a number of strategies, the simplest and fastest is outlined below.
Declare an array of pointers, _NFILE long (this is normally found in <stdio.h>
and is the number of file descriptors supported on the system) of type XExtCodes.
Make sure these are all initialized to NULL.
When your stub is entered, your initialization test is just to use the display pointer
passed in to access the file descriptor and an index into the array. If the entry is
NULL, then this is the first time you are entering the procedure for this display.
Call your initialization procedure and pass to it the display pointer.
Once in your initialization procedure, call XInitExtension; if it succeeds, store
the pointer returned into this array. Make sure to establish a close display han-
dler to allow you to zero the entry. Do whatever other initialization your exten-
sion requires. (For example, install event handlers and so on.) Your initialization
procedure would normally return a pointer to the XExtCodes structure for this
extension, which is what would normally be found in your array of pointers.
After returning from your initialization procedure, the stub can now continue nor-
mally, because it has its major opcode safely in its hand in the XExtCodes struc-
ture.
429
Appendix D. Compatibility Functions
The X Version 11 and X Version 10 functions discussed in this appendix are obsolete,
have been superseded by newer X Version 11 functions, and are maintained for
compatibility reasons only.
X Version 11 Compatibility Functions
You can use the X Version 11 compatibility functions to:
Set standard properties
Set and get window sizing hints
Set and get an XStandardColormap structure
Parse window geometry
Get X environment defaults
Setting Standard Properties
To specify a minimum set of properties describing the simplest application, use
XSetStandardProperties. This function has been superseded by XSetWMProper-
ties and sets all or portions of the WM_NAME, WM_ICON_NAME, WM_HINTS,
WM_COMMAND, and WM_NORMAL_HINTS properties.
XSetStandardProperties( *display, w, *window_name, *icon_name,
icon_pixmap, **argv, argc, *hints);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
window_name Specifies the window name, which should be a null-
terminated string.
icon_name Specifies the icon name, which should be a null-termi-
nated string.
icon_pixmap Specifies the bitmap that is to be used for the icon or
None.
argv Specifies the application's argument list.
argc Specifies the number of arguments.
hints Specifies a pointer to the size hints for the window in
its normal state.
The XSetStandardProperties function provides a means by which simple applica-
tions set the most essential properties with a single call. XSetStandardProperties
should be used to give a window manager some information about your program's
preferences. It should not be used by applications that need to communicate more
Compatibility Functions
430
information than is possible with XSetStandardProperties. (Typically, argv is the
argv array of your main program.) If the strings are not in the Host Portable Char-
acter Encoding, the result is implementation-dependent.
XSetStandardProperties can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
Setting and Getting Window Sizing Hints
Xlib provides functions that you can use to set or get window sizing hints. The func-
tions discussed in this section use the flags and the XSizeHints structure, as defined
in the <X11/Xutil.h> header file and use the WM_NORMAL_HINTS property.
To set the size hints for a given window in its normal state, use XSetNormalHints.
This function has been superseded by XSetWMNormalHints.
XSetNormalHints( *display, w, *hints);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
hints Specifies a pointer to the size hints for the window in its
normal state.
The XSetNormalHints function sets the size hints structure for the specified win-
dow. Applications use XSetNormalHints to inform the window manager of the size
or position desirable for that window. In addition, an application that wants to move
or resize itself should call XSetNormalHints and specify its new desired location
and size as well as making direct Xlib calls to move or resize. This is because win-
dow managers may ignore redirected configure requests, but they pay attention to
property changes.
To set size hints, an application not only must assign values to the appropriate mem-
bers in the hints structure but also must set the flags member of the structure to
indicate which information is present and where it came from. A call to XSetNor-
malHints is meaningless, unless the flags member is set to indicate which members
of the structure have been assigned values.
XSetNormalHints can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
To return the size hints for a window in its normal state, use XGetNormalHints. This
function has been superseded by XGetWMNormalHints.
Status XGetNormalHints( *display, w, *hints_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
hints_return Returns the size hints for the window in its normal
state.
The XGetNormalHints function returns the size hints for a window in its normal
state. It returns a nonzero status if it succeeds or zero if the application specified
no normal size hints for this window.
XGetNormalHints can generate a BadWindow error.
Compatibility Functions
431
The next two functions set and read the WM_ZOOM_HINTS property.
To set the zoom hints for a window, use XSetZoomHints. This function is no longer
supported by the Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual.
XSetZoomHints( *display, w, *zhints);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
zhints Specifies a pointer to the zoom hints.
Many window managers think of windows in one of three states: iconic, normal, or
zoomed. The XSetZoomHints function provides the window manager with informa-
tion for the window in the zoomed state.
XSetZoomHints can generate BadAlloc and BadWindow errors.
To read the zoom hints for a window, use XGetZoomHints. This function is no longer
supported by the Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual.
Status XGetZoomHints( *display, w, *zhints_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
zhints_return Returns the zoom hints.
The XGetZoomHints function returns the size hints for a window in its zoomed state.
It returns a nonzero status if it succeeds or zero if the application specified no zoom
size hints for this window.
XGetZoomHints can generate a BadWindow error.
To set the value of any property of type WM_SIZE_HINTS, use XSetSizeHints. This
function has been superseded by XSetWMSizeHints.
XSetSizeHints( *display, w, *hints, property);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
hints Specifies a pointer to the size hints.
property Specifies the property name.
The XSetSizeHints function sets the XSizeHints structure for the named property
and the specified window. This is used by XSetNormalHints and XSetZoomHints and
can be used to set the value of any property of type WM_SIZE_HINTS. Thus, it may
be useful if other properties of that type get defined.
XSetSizeHints can generate BadAlloc, BadAtom, and BadWindow errors.
To read the value of any property of type WM_SIZE_HINTS, use XGetSizeHints.
This function has been superseded by XGetWMSizeHints.
Compatibility Functions
432
Status XGetSizeHints( *display, w, *hints_return, property);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
hints_return Returns the size hints.
property Specifies the property name.
The XGetSizeHints function returns the XSizeHints structure for the named proper-
ty and the specified window. This is used by XGetNormalHints and XGetZoomHints.
It also can be used to retrieve the value of any property of type WM_SIZE_HINTS.
Thus, it may be useful if other properties of that type get defined. XGetSizeHints
returns a nonzero status if a size hint was defined or zero otherwise.
XGetSizeHints can generate BadAtom and BadWindow errors.
Getting and Setting an XStandardColormap Structure
To get the XStandardColormap structure associated with one of the described
atoms, use XGetStandardColormap. This function has been superseded by XGetRG-
BColormaps.
Status XGetStandardColormap( *display, w, *colormap_return, proper-
ty);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
colormap_return Returns the colormap associated with the specified
atom.
property Specifies the property name.
The XGetStandardColormap function returns the colormap definition associated
with the atom supplied as the property argument. XGetStandardColormap returns a
nonzero status if successful and zero otherwise. For example, to fetch the standard
GrayScale colormap for a display, you use XGetStandardColormap with the follow-
ing syntax:
XGetStandardColormap(dpy, DefaultRootWindow(dpy), &cmap, XA_RGB_GRAY_MAP);
See section 14.3 for the semantics of standard colormaps.
XGetStandardColormap can generate BadAtom and BadWindow errors.
To set a standard colormap, use XSetStandardColormap. This function has been
superseded by XSetRGBColormaps.
XSetStandardColormap( *display, w, *colormap, property);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
w Specifies the window.
Compatibility Functions
433
colormap Specifies the colormap.
property Specifies the property name.
The XSetStandardColormap function usually is only used by window or session man-
agers.
XSetStandardColormap can generate BadAlloc, BadAtom, BadDrawable, and Bad-
Window errors.
Parsing Window Geometry
To parse window geometry given a user-specified position and a default position,
use XGeometry. This function has been superseded by XWMGeometry.
int XGeometry( *display, screen, *default_position, bwidth, fheight,
yadder, *y_return, *height_return);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
screen Specifies the screen.
position
default_position Specify the geometry specifications.
bwidth Specifies the border width.
fheight
fwidth Specify the font height and width in pixels (increment
size).
xadder
yadder Specify additional interior padding needed in the
window.
x_return
y_return Return the x and y offsets.
width_return
height_return Return the width and height determined.
You pass in the border width (bwidth), size of the increments fwidth and fheight
(typically font width and height), and any additional interior space (xadder and yad-
der) to make it easy to compute the resulting size. The XGeometry function returns
the position the window should be placed given a position and a default position.
XGeometry determines the placement of a window using a geometry specification
as specified by XParseGeometry and the additional information about the window.
Given a fully qualified default geometry specification and an incomplete geome-
try specification, XParseGeometry returns a bitmask value as defined above in the
XParseGeometry call, by using the position argument.
The returned width and height will be the width and height specified by
default_position as overridden by any user-specified position. They are not affected
Compatibility Functions
434
by fwidth, fheight, xadder, or yadder. The x and y coordinates are computed by using
the border width, the screen width and height, padding as specified by xadder and
yadder, and the fheight and fwidth times the width and height from the geometry
specifications.
Getting the X Environment Defaults
The XGetDefault function provides a primitive interface to the resource manager
facilities discussed in chapter 15. It is only useful in very simple applications.
char *XGetDefault( *display, *program, *option);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
program Specifies the program name for the Xlib defaults (usually
argv[0] of the main program).
option Specifies the option name.
The XGetDefault function returns the value of the resource prog.option, where prog
is the program argument with the directory prefix removed and option must be
a single component. Note that multilevel resources cannot be used with XGetDe-
fault. The class "Program.Name" is always used for the resource lookup. If the
specified option name does not exist for this program, XGetDefault returns NULL.
The strings returned by XGetDefault are owned by Xlib and should not be modified
or freed by the client.
If a database has been set with XrmSetDatabase, that database is used for the
lookup. Otherwise, a database is created and is set in the display (as if by calling Xr-
mSetDatabase). The database is created in the current locale. To create a database,
XGetDefault uses resources from the RESOURCE_MANAGER property on the root
window of screen zero. If no such property exists, a resource file in the user's home
directory is used. On a POSIX-conformant system, this file is "$HOME/.Xdefaults".
After loading these defaults, XGetDefault merges additional defaults specified by
the XENVIRONMENT environment variable. If XENVIRONMENT is defined, it con-
tains a full path name for the additional resource file. If XENVIRONMENT is not
defined, XGetDefault looks for "$HOME/.Xdefaults-name" , where name specifies
the name of the machine on which the application is running.
X Version 10 Compatibility Functions
You can use the X Version 10 compatibility functions to:
Draw and fill polygons and curves
Associate user data with a value
Drawing and Filling Polygons and Curves
Xlib provides functions that you can use to draw or fill arbitrary polygons or curves.
These functions are provided mainly for compatibility with X Version 10 and have
no server support. That is, they call other Xlib functions, not the server directly.
Compatibility Functions
435
Thus, if you just have straight lines to draw, using XDrawLines or XDrawSegments
is much faster.
The functions discussed here provide all the functionality of the X Version 10 func-
tions XDraw, XDrawFilled, XDrawPatterned, XDrawDashed, and XDrawTiled. They
are as compatible as possible given X Version 11's new line-drawing functions. One
thing to note, however, is that VertexDrawLastPoint is no longer supported. Also,
the error status returned is the opposite of what it was under X Version 10 (this
is the X Version 11 standard error status). XAppendVertex and XClearVertexFlag
from X Version 10 also are not supported.
Just how the graphics context you use is set up actually determines whether you get
dashes or not, and so on. Lines are properly joined if they connect and include the
closing of a closed figure (see XDrawLines). The functions discussed here fail (return
zero) only if they run out of memory or are passed a Vertex list that has a Vertex with
VertexStartClosed set that is not followed by a Vertex with VertexEndClosed set.
To achieve the effects of the X Version 10 XDraw, XDrawDashed, and XDrawPat-
terned, use XDraw.
#include <X11/X10.h>
Status XDraw( *display, d, gc, *vlist, vcount);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
vlist Specifies a pointer to the list of vertices that indicate what
to draw.
vcount Specifies how many vertices are in vlist.
The XDraw function draws an arbitrary polygon or curve. The figure drawn is defined
by the specified list of vertices (vlist). The points are connected by lines as specified
in the flags in the vertex structure.
Each Vertex, as defined in <X11/X10.h>, is a structure with the following members:
typedef struct _Vertex {
short x,y;
unsigned short flags;
} Vertex;
The x and y members are the coordinates of the vertex that are relative to either the
upper left inside corner of the drawable (if VertexRelative is zero) or the previous
vertex (if VertexRelative is one).
The flags, as defined in <X11/X10.h>, are as follows:
VertexRelative 0x0001 /* else absolute */
VertexDontDraw 0x0002 /* else draw */
VertexCurved 0x0004 /* else straight */
Compatibility Functions
436
VertexStartClosed 0x0008 /* else not */
VertexEndClosed 0x0010 /* else not */
If VertexRelative is not set, the coordinates are absolute (that is, relative to the
drawable's origin). The first vertex must be an absolute vertex.
If VertexDontDraw is one, no line or curve is drawn from the previous vertex to
this one. This is analogous to picking up the pen and moving to another place
before drawing another line.
If VertexCurved is one, a spline algorithm is used to draw a smooth curve from
the previous vertex through this one to the next vertex. Otherwise, a straight line
is drawn from the previous vertex to this one. It makes sense to set VertexCurved
to one only if a previous and next vertex are both defined (either explicitly in the
array or through the definition of a closed curve).
It is permissible for VertexDontDraw bits and VertexCurved bits both to be one.
This is useful if you want to define the previous point for the smooth curve but do
not want an actual curve drawing to start until this point.
If VertexStartClosed is one, then this point marks the beginning of a closed curve.
This vertex must be followed later in the array by another vertex whose effective
coordinates are identical and that has a VertexEndClosed bit of one. The points
in between form a cycle to determine predecessor and successor vertices for the
spline algorithm.
This function uses these GC components: function, plane-mask, line-width, line-
style, cap-style, join-style, fill-style, subwindow-mode, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin,
and clip-mask. It also uses these GC mode-dependent components: foreground,
background, tile, stipple, tile-stipple-x-origin, tile-stipple-y-origin, dash-offset, and
dash-list.
To achieve the effects of the X Version 10 XDrawTiled and XDrawFilled, use XDraw-
Filled.
#include <X11/X10.h>
Status XDrawFilled( *display, d, gc, *vlist, vcount);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
d Specifies the drawable.
gc Specifies the GC.
vlist Specifies a pointer to the list of vertices that indicate what
to draw.
vcount Specifies how many vertices are in vlist.
The XDrawFilled function draws arbitrary polygons or curves and then fills them.
This function uses these GC components: function, plane-mask, line-width, line-
style, cap-style, join-style, fill-style, subwindow-mode, clip-x-origin, clip-y-origin,
and clip-mask. It also uses these GC mode-dependent components: foreground,
background, tile, stipple, tile-stipple-x-origin, tile-stipple-y-origin, dash-offset, dash-
list, fill-style, and fill-rule.
Compatibility Functions
437
Associating User Data with a Value
These functions have been superseded by the context management functions (see
section 16.10). It is often necessary to associate arbitrary information with resource
IDs. Xlib provides the XAssocTable functions that you can use to make such an
association. Application programs often need to be able to easily refer to their
own data structures when an event arrives. The XAssocTable system provides users
of the X library with a method for associating their own data structures with X
resources (Pixmaps, Fonts, Windows, and so on).
An XAssocTable can be used to type X resources. For example, the user may want
to have three or four types of windows, each with different properties. This can be
accomplished by associating each X window ID with a pointer to a window property
data structure defined by the user. A generic type has been defined in the X library
for resource IDs. It is called an XID.
There are a few guidelines that should be observed when using an XAssocTable :
All XIDs are relative to the specified display.
Because of the hashing scheme used by the association mechanism, the following
rules for determining the size of a XAssocTable should be followed. Associations
will be made and looked up more efficiently if the table size (number of buckets
in the hashing system) is a power of two and if there are not more than 8 XIDs
per bucket.
To return a pointer to a new XAssocTable, use XCreateAssocTable.
XAssocTable *XCreateAssocTable( size);
size Specifies the number of buckets in the hash system of XAs-
socTable.
The size argument specifies the number of buckets in the hash system of XAs-
socTable. For reasons of efficiency the number of buckets should be a power of two.
Some size suggestions might be: use 32 buckets per 100 objects, and a reasonable
maximum number of objects per buckets is 8. If an error allocating memory for the
XAssocTable occurs, a NULL pointer is returned.
To create an entry in a given XAssocTable, use XMakeAssoc.
XMakeAssoc( *display, *table, x_id, *data);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
table Specifies the assoc table.
x_id Specifies the X resource ID.
data Specifies the data to be associated with the X resource ID.
The XMakeAssoc function inserts data into an XAssocTable keyed on an XID. Data is
inserted into the table only once. Redundant inserts are ignored. The queue in each
association bucket is sorted from the lowest XID to the highest XID.
To obtain data from a given XAssocTable, use XLookUpAssoc.
Compatibility Functions
438
char *XLookUpAssoc( *display, *table, x_id);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
table Specifies the assoc table.
x_id Specifies the X resource ID.
The XLookUpAssoc function retrieves the data stored in an XAssocTable by its XID.
If an appropriately matching XID can be found in the table, XLookUpAssoc returns
the data associated with it. If the x_id cannot be found in the table, it returns NULL.
To delete an entry from a given XAssocTable, use XDeleteAssoc.
XDeleteAssoc( *display, *table, x_id);
display Specifies the connection to the X server.
table Specifies the assoc table.
x_id Specifies the X resource ID.
The XDeleteAssoc function deletes an association in an XAssocTable keyed on its
XID. Redundant deletes (and deletes of nonexistent XIDs) are ignored. Deleting as-
sociations in no way impairs the performance of an XAssocTable.
To free the memory associated with a given XAssocTable, use XDestroyAssocTable.
XDestroyAssocTable( *table);
table Specifies the assoc table.
439
Glossary
References
Draft Proposed Multibyte Extension of ANSI C, Draft 1.1. November 30, 1989 SC22/C WG/
SWG IPSJ/ITSCJ Japan.
ISO2022: Information processing - ISO 7-bit and 8-bit coded character sets - Code extension
techniques. .
ISO8859-1: Information processing - 8-bit single-byte coded graphic character sets - Part 1:
Latin alphabet No. 1. .
POSIX: Information Technology - Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) - Part 1: Sys-
tem Application Program Interface (API) [C Language], ISO/IEC 9945-1. .
Text of ISO/IEC/DIS 9541-1, Information Processing - Font Information Interchange - Part
1: Architecture. .
X/Open Portability Guide, Issue 3, December 1988 (XPG3), X/Open Company, Ltd, Pren-
tice-Hall, Inc. 1989. ISBN 0-13-685835-8. (See especially Volume 3: XSI Supplemen-
tary Definitions.) .
Access control list X maintains a list of hosts from which client programs can be
run. By default, only programs on the local host and hosts spec-
ified in an initial list read by the server can use the display. This
access control list can be changed by clients on the local host.
Some server implementations can also implement other autho-
rization mechanisms in addition to or in place of this mechanism.
The action of this mechanism can be conditional based on the
authorization protocol name and data received by the server at
connection setup.
Active grab A grab is active when the pointer or keyboard is actually owned
by the single grabbing client.
Ancestors If W is an inferior of A, then A is an ancestor of W.
Atom An atom is a unique ID corresponding to a string name. Atoms
are used to identify properties, types, and selections.
Background An InputOutput window can have a background, which is defined
as a pixmap. When regions of the window have their contents
lost or invalidated, the server automatically tiles those regions
with the background.
Backing store When a server maintains the contents of a window, the pixels
saved off-screen are known as a backing store.
Base font name A font name used to select a family of fonts whose members
may be encoded in various charsets. The CharSetRegistry and
CharSetEncoding fields of an XLFD name identify the charset of
Glossary
440
the font. A base font name may be a full XLFD name, with all
fourteen '-' delimiters, or an abbreviated XLFD name containing
only the first 12 fields of an XLFD name, up to but not including
CharSetRegistry, with or without the thirteenth '-', or a non-
XLFD name. Any XLFD fields may contain wild cards.
When creating an XFontSet, Xlib accepts from the client a list
of one or more base font names which select one or more font
families. They are combined with charset names obtained from
the encoding of the locale to load the fonts required to render
text.
Bit gravity When a window is resized, the contents of the window are not
necessarily discarded. It is possible to request that the server
relocate the previous contents to some region of the window
(though no guarantees are made). This attraction of window con-
tents for some location of a window is known as bit gravity.
Bit plane When a pixmap or window is thought of as a stack of bitmaps,
each bitmap is called a bit plane or plane.
Bitmap A bitmap is a pixmap of depth one.
Border An InputOutput window can have a border of equal thickness
on all four sides of the window. The contents of the border are
defined by a pixmap, and the server automatically maintains the
contents of the border. Exposure events are never generated for
border regions.
Button grabbing Buttons on the pointer can be passively grabbed by a client.
When the button is pressed, the pointer is then actively grabbed
by the client.
Byte order For image (pixmap/bitmap) data, the server defines the byte or-
der, and clients with different native byte ordering must swap
bytes as necessary. For all other parts of the protocol, the client
defines the byte order, and the server swaps bytes as necessary.
Character A member of a set of elements used for the organization, control,
or representation of text (ISO2022, as adapted by XPG3). Note
that in ISO2022 terms, a character is not bound to a coded value
until it is identified as part of a coded character set.
Character glyph The abstract graphical symbol for a character. Character glyphs
may or may not map one-to-one to font glyphs, and may be con-
text-dependent, varying with the adjacent characters. Multiple
characters may map to a single character glyph.
Character set A collection of characters.
Charset An encoding with a uniform, state-independent mapping from
characters to codepoints. A coded character set.
For display in X, there can be a direct mapping from a charset
to one font, if the width of all characters in the charset is either
one or two bytes. A text string encoded in an encoding such as
Glossary
441
Shift-JIS cannot be passed directly to the X server, because the
text imaging requests accept only single-width charsets (either 8
or 16 bits). Charsets which meet these restrictions can serve as
``font charsets''. Font charsets strictly speaking map font indices
to font glyphs, not characters to character glyphs.
Note that a single font charset is sometimes used as the encoding
of a locale, for example, ISO8859-1.
Children The children of a window are its first-level subwindows.
Class Windows can be of different classes or types. See the entries
for InputOnly and InputOutput windows for further information
about valid window types.
Client An application program connects to the window system server
by some interprocess communication (IPC) path, such as a TCP
connection or a shared memory buffer. This program is referred
to as a client of the window system server. More precisely, the
client is the IPC path itself. A program with multiple paths open
to the server is viewed as multiple clients by the protocol. Re-
source lifetimes are controlled by connection lifetimes, not by
program lifetimes.
Clipping region In a graphics context, a bitmap or list of rectangles can be spec-
ified to restrict output to a particular region of the window. The
image defined by the bitmap or rectangles is called a clipping
region.
Coded character A character bound to a codepoint.
Coded character set A set of unambiguous rules that establishes a character set and
the one-to-one relationship between each character of the set
and its bit representation. (ISO2022, as adapted by XPG3) A de-
finition of a one-to-one mapping of a set of characters to a set
of codepoints.
Codepoint The coded representation of a single character in a coded char-
acter set.
Colormap A colormap consists of a set of entries defining color values. The
colormap associated with a window is used to display the con-
tents of the window; each pixel value indexes the colormap to
produce an RGB value that drives the guns of a monitor. Depend-
ing on hardware limitations, one or more colormaps can be in-
stalled at one time so that windows associated with those maps
display with true colors.
Connection The IPC path between the server and client program is known
as a connection. A client program typically (but not necessarily)
has one connection to the server over which requests and events
are sent.
Containment A window contains the pointer if the window is viewable and the
hotspot of the cursor is within a visible region of the window or
a visible region of one of its inferiors. The border of the window
Glossary
442
is included as part of the window for containment. The pointer
is in a window if the window contains the pointer but no inferior
contains the pointer.
Coordinate system The coordinate system has X horizontal and Y vertical, with the
origin [0, 0] at the upper left. Coordinates are integral and co-
incide with pixel centers. Each window and pixmap has its own
coordinate system. For a window, the origin is inside the border
at the inside upper-left corner.
Cursor A cursor is the visible shape of the pointer on a screen. It con-
sists of a hotspot, a source bitmap, a shape bitmap, and a pair
of colors. The cursor defined for a window controls the visible
appearance when the pointer is in that window.
Depth The depth of a window or pixmap is the number of bits per pixel it
has. The depth of a graphics context is the depth of the drawables
it can be used in conjunction with graphics output.
Device Keyboards, mice, tablets, track-balls, button boxes, and so on
are all collectively known as input devices. Pointers can have
one or more buttons (the most common number is three). The
core protocol only deals with two devices: the keyboard and the
pointer.
DirectColor DirectColor is a class of colormap in which a pixel value is de-
composed into three separate subfields for indexing. The first
subfield indexes an array to produce red intensity values. The
second subfield indexes a second array to produce blue intensity
values. The third subfield indexes a third array to produce green
intensity values. The RGB (red, green, and blue) values in the
colormap entry can be changed dynamically.
Display A server, together with its screens and input devices, is called a
display. The Xlib Display structure contains all information about
the particular display and its screens as well as the state that Xlib
needs to communicate with the display over a particular connec-
tion.
Drawable Both windows and pixmaps can be used as sources and destina-
tions in graphics operations. These windows and pixmaps are
collectively known as drawables. However, an InputOnly window
cannot be used as a source or destination in a graphics operation.
Encoding A set of unambiguous rules that establishes a character set and
a relationship between the characters and their representations.
The character set does not have to be fixed to a finite pre-defined
set of characters. The representations do not have to be of uni-
form length. Examples are an ISO2022 graphic set, a state-inde-
pendent or state-dependent combination of graphic sets, possi-
bly including control sets, and the X Compound Text encoding.
In X, encodings are identified by a string which appears as: the
CharSetRegistry and CharSetEncoding components of an XLFD
name; the name of a charset of the locale for which a font could
Glossary
443
not be found; or an atom which identifies the encoding of a text
property or which names an encoding for a text selection target
type. Encoding names should be composed of characters from
the X Portable Character Set.
Escapement The escapement of a string is the distance in pixels in the pri-
mary draw direction from the drawing origin to the origin of the
next character (that is, the one following the given string) to be
drawn.
Event Clients are informed of information asynchronously by means
of events. These events can be either asynchronously generat-
ed from devices or generated as side effects of client requests.
Events are grouped into types. The server never sends an event
to a client unless the client has specifically asked to be informed
of that type of event. However, clients can force events to be
sent to other clients. Events are typically reported relative to a
window.
Event mask Events are requested relative to a window. The set of event types
a client requests relative to a window is described by using an
event mask.
Event propagation Device-related events propagate from the source window to an-
cestor windows until some client has expressed interest in han-
dling that type of event or until the event is discarded explicitly.
Event source The deepest viewable window that the pointer is in is called the
source of a device-related event.
Event synchronization There are certain race conditions possible when demultiplexing
device events to clients (in particular, deciding where pointer
and keyboard events should be sent when in the middle of win-
dow management operations). The event synchronization mech-
anism allows synchronous processing of device events.
Exposure event Servers do not guarantee to preserve the contents of windows
when windows are obscured or reconfigured. Exposure events
are sent to clients to inform them when contents of regions of
windows have been lost.
Extension Named extensions to the core protocol can be defined to extend
the system. Extensions to output requests, resources, and event
types are all possible and expected.
Font A font is an array of glyphs (typically characters). The protocol
does no translation or interpretation of character sets. The client
simply indicates values used to index the glyph array. A font con-
tains additional metric information to determine interglyph and
interline spacing.
Font glyph The abstract graphical symbol for an index into a font.
Frozen events Clients can freeze event processing during keyboard and pointer
grabs.
Glossary
444
GC GC is an abbreviation for graphics context. See Graphics context.
Glyph An identified abstract graphical symbol independent of any ac-
tual image. (ISO/IEC/DIS 9541-1) An abstract visual representa-
tion of a graphic character, not bound to a codepoint.
Glyph image An image of a glyph, as obtained from a glyph representation
displayed on a presentation surface. (ISO/IEC/DIS 9541-1)
Grab Keyboard keys, the keyboard, pointer buttons, the pointer, and
the server can be grabbed for exclusive use by a client. In gen-
eral, these facilities are not intended to be used by normal appli-
cations but are intended for various input and window managers
to implement various styles of user interfaces.
Graphics context Various information for graphics output is stored in a graphics
context (GC), such as foreground pixel, background pixel, line
width, clipping region, and so on. A graphics context can only
be used with drawables that have the same root and the same
depth as the graphics context.
Gravity The contents of windows and windows themselves have a gravi-
ty, which determines how the contents move when a window is
resized. See Bit gravity and Window gravity.
GrayScale GrayScale can be viewed as a degenerate case of PseudoColor,
in which the red, green, and blue values in any given colormap
entry are equal and thus, produce shades of gray. The gray values
can be changed dynamically.
Host Portable Character
Encoding
The encoding of the X Portable Character Set on the host. The
encoding itself is not defined by this standard, but the encoding
must be the same in all locales supported by Xlib on the host. If
a string is said to be in the Host Portable Character Encoding,
then it only contains characters from the X Portable Character
Set, in the host encoding.
Hotspot A cursor has an associated hotspot, which defines the point in the
cursor corresponding to the coordinates reported for the pointer.
Identifier An identifier is a unique value associated with a resource that
clients use to name that resource. The identifier can be used over
any connection to name the resource.
Inferiors The inferiors of a window are all of the subwindows nested below
it: the children, the children's children, and so on.
Input focus The input focus is usually a window defining the scope for pro-
cessing of keyboard input. If a generated keyboard event usual-
ly would be reported to this window or one of its inferiors, the
event is reported as usual. Otherwise, the event is reported with
respect to the focus window. The input focus also can be set such
that all keyboard events are discarded and such that the focus
window is dynamically taken to be the root window of whatever
screen the pointer is on at each keyboard event.
Glossary
445
Input manager Control over keyboard input is typically provided by an input
manager client, which usually is part of a window manager.
InputOnly window An InputOnly window is a window that cannot be used for graph-
ics requests. InputOnly windows are invisible and are used to
control such things as cursors, input event generation, and grab-
bing. InputOnly windows cannot have InputOutput windows as
inferiors.
InputOutput window An InputOutput window is the normal kind of window that is used
for both input and output. InputOutput windows can have both
InputOutput and InputOnly windows as inferiors.
Internationalization The process of making software adaptable to the requirements of
different native languages, local customs, and character string
encodings. Making a computer program adaptable to different
locales without program source modifications or recompilation.
ISO2022 ISO standard for code extension techniques for 7-bit and 8-bit
coded character sets.
Key grabbing Keys on the keyboard can be passively grabbed by a client. When
the key is pressed, the keyboard is then actively grabbed by the
client.
Keyboard grabbing A client can actively grab control of the keyboard, and key events
will be sent to that client rather than the client the events would
normally have been sent to.
Keysym An encoding of a symbol on a keycap on a keyboard.
Latin-1 The coded character set defined by the ISO8859-1 standard.
Latin Portable Character
Encoding
The encoding of the X Portable Character Set using the Latin-1
codepoints plus ASCII control characters. If a string is said to be
in the Latin Portable Character Encoding, then it only contains
characters from the X Portable Character Set, not all of Latin-1.
Locale The international environment of a computer program defining
the ``localized'' behavior of that program at run-time. This infor-
mation can be established from one or more sets of localization
data. ANSI C defines locale-specific processing by C system li-
brary calls. See ANSI C and the X/Open Portability Guide spec-
ifications for more details. In this specification, on implementa-
tions that conform to the ANSI C library, the ``current locale'' is
the current setting of the LC_CTYPE setlocale category. Asso-
ciated with each locale is a text encoding. When text is processed
in the context of a locale, the text must be in the encoding of the
locale. The current locale affects Xlib in its:
Encoding and processing of input method text
Encoding of resource files and values
Encoding and imaging of text strings
Encoding and decoding for inter-client text communication
Glossary
446
Locale name The identifier used to select the desired locale for the host C li-
brary and X library functions. On ANSI C library compliant sys-
tems, the locale argument to the setlocale function.
Localization The process of establishing information within a computer sys-
tem specific to the operation of particular native languages, lo-
cal customs and coded character sets. (XPG3)
Mapped A window is said to be mapped if a map call has been performed
on it. Unmapped windows and their inferiors are never viewable
or visible.
Modifier keys Shift, Control, Meta, Super, Hyper, Alt, Compose, Apple, Cap-
sLock, ShiftLock, and similar keys are called modifier keys.
Monochrome Monochrome is a special case of StaticGray in which there are
only two colormap entries.
Multibyte A character whose codepoint is stored in more than one byte; any
encoding which can contain multibyte characters; text in a multi-
byte encoding. The ``char *'' null-terminated string datatype
in ANSI C. Note that references in this document to multibyte
strings imply only that the strings may contain multibyte char-
acters.
Obscure A window is obscured if some other window obscures it. A win-
dow can be partially obscured and so still have visible regions.
Window A obscures window B if both are viewable InputOutput
windows, if A is higher in the global stacking order, and if the
rectangle defined by the outside edges of A intersects the rec-
tangle defined by the outside edges of B. Note the distinction
between obscures and occludes. Also note that window borders
are included in the calculation.
Occlude A window is occluded if some other window occludes it. Window
A occludes window B if both are mapped, if A is higher in the
global stacking order, and if the rectangle defined by the outside
edges of A intersects the rectangle defined by the outside edges
of B. Note the distinction between occludes and obscures. Also
note that window borders are included in the calculation and
that InputOnly windows never obscure other windows but can
occlude other windows.
Padding Some padding bytes are inserted in the data stream to maintain
alignment of the protocol requests on natural boundaries. This
increases ease of portability to some machine architectures.
Parent window If C is a child of P, then P is the parent of C.
Passive grab Grabbing a key or button is a passive grab. The grab activates
when the key or button is actually pressed.
Pixel value A pixel is an N-bit value, where N is the number of bit planes
used in a particular window or pixmap (that is, is the depth of
the window or pixmap). A pixel in a window indexes a colormap
to derive an actual color to be displayed.
Glossary
447
Pixmap A pixmap is a three-dimensional array of bits. A pixmap is nor-
mally thought of as a two-dimensional array of pixels, where each
pixel can be a value from 0 to 2
N
-1, and where N is the depth (z
axis) of the pixmap. A pixmap can also be thought of as a stack
of N bitmaps. A pixmap can only be used on the screen that it
was created in.
Plane When a pixmap or window is thought of as a stack of bitmaps,
each bitmap is called a plane or bit plane.
Plane mask Graphics operations can be restricted to only affect a subset of
bit planes of a destination. A plane mask is a bit mask describing
which planes are to be modified. The plane mask is stored in a
graphics context.
Pointer The pointer is the pointing device currently attached to the cur-
sor and tracked on the screens.
Pointer grabbing A client can actively grab control of the pointer. Then button and
motion events will be sent to that client rather than the client
the events would normally have been sent to.
Pointing device A pointing device is typically a mouse, tablet, or some other de-
vice with effective dimensional motion. The core protocol defines
only one visible cursor, which tracks whatever pointing device is
attached as the pointer.
POSIX Portable Operating System Interface, ISO/IEC 9945-1 (IEEE Std
1003.1).
POSIX Portable File-
name Character Set
The set of 65 characters which can be used in naming files on a
POSIX-compliant host that are correctly processed in all locales.
The set is:
a..z A..Z 0..9 ._-
Property Windows can have associated properties that consist of a name,
a type, a data format, and some data. The protocol places no in-
terpretation on properties. They are intended as a general-pur-
pose naming mechanism for clients. For example, clients might
use properties to share information such as resize hints, program
names, and icon formats with a window manager.
Property list The property list of a window is the list of properties that have
been defined for the window.
PseudoColor PseudoColor is a class of colormap in which a pixel value indexes
the colormap entry to produce an independent RGB value; that
is, the colormap is viewed as an array of triples (RGB values).
The RGB values can be changed dynamically.
Rectangle A rectangle specified by [x,y,w,h] has an infinitely thin outline
path with corners at [x,y], [x+w,y], [x+w,y+h], and [x, y+h].
When a rectangle is filled, the lower-right edges are not drawn.
For example, if w=h=0, nothing would be drawn. For w=h=1, a
single pixel would be drawn.
Glossary
448
Redirecting control Window managers (or client programs) may enforce window lay-
out policy in various ways. When a client attempts to change the
size or position of a window, the operation may be redirected to
a specified client rather than the operation actually being per-
formed.
Reply Information requested by a client program using the X protocol
is sent back to the client with a reply. Both events and replies
are multiplexed on the same connection. Most requests do not
generate replies, but some requests generate multiple replies.
Request A command to the server is called a request. It is a single block
of data sent over a connection.
Resource Windows, pixmaps, cursors, fonts, graphics contexts, and col-
ormaps are known as resources. They all have unique identifiers
associated with them for naming purposes. The lifetime of a re-
source usually is bounded by the lifetime of the connection over
which the resource was created.
RGB values RGB values are the red, green, and blue intensity values that
are used to define a color. These values are always represented
as 16-bit, unsigned numbers, with 0 the minimum intensity and
65535 the maximum intensity. The X server scales these values
to match the display hardware.
Root The root of a pixmap or graphics context is the same as the root
of whatever drawable was used when the pixmap or GC was cre-
ated. The root of a window is the root window under which the
window was created.
Root window Each screen has a root window covering it. The root window can-
not be reconfigured or unmapped, but otherwise it acts as a full-
fledged window. A root window has no parent.
Save set The save set of a client is a list of other clients' windows that,
if they are inferiors of one of the client's windows at connec-
tion close, should not be destroyed and that should be remapped
if currently unmapped. Save sets are typically used by window
managers to avoid lost windows if the manager should terminate
abnormally.
Scanline A scanline is a list of pixel or bit values viewed as a horizontal
row (all values having the same y coordinate) of an image, with
the values ordered by increasing the x coordinate.
Scanline order An image represented in scanline order contains scanlines or-
dered by increasing the y coordinate.
Screen A server can provide several independent screens, which typi-
cally have physically independent monitors. This would be the
expected configuration when there is only a single keyboard and
pointer shared among the screens. A Screen structure contains
the information about that screen and is linked to the Display
structure.
Glossary
449
Selection A selection can be thought of as an indirect property with dy-
namic type. That is, rather than having the property stored in the
X server, it is maintained by some client (the owner). A selection
is global and is thought of as belonging to the user and being
maintained by clients, rather than being private to a particular
window subhierarchy or a particular set of clients. When a client
asks for the contents of a selection, it specifies a selection target
type, which can be used to control the transmitted representa-
tion of the contents. For example, if the selection is ``the last
thing the user clicked on,'' and that is currently an image, then
the target type might specify whether the contents of the image
should be sent in XY format or Z format.
The target type can also be used to control the class of con-
tents transmitted; for example, asking for the ``looks'' (fonts,
line spacing, indentation, and so forth) of a paragraph selection,
rather than the text of the paragraph. The target type can also
be used for other purposes. The protocol does not constrain the
semantics.
Server The server, which is also referred to as the X server, provides the
basic windowing mechanism. It handles IPC connections from
clients, multiplexes graphics requests onto the screens, and de-
multiplexes input back to the appropriate clients.
Server grabbing The server can be grabbed by a single client for exclusive use.
This prevents processing of any requests from other client con-
nections until the grab is completed. This is typically only a tran-
sient state for such things as rubber-banding, pop-up menus, or
executing requests indivisibly.
Shift sequence ISO2022 defines control characters and escape sequences which
temporarily (single shift) or permanently (locking shift) cause a
different character set to be in effect (``invoking'' a character
set).
Sibling Children of the same parent window are known as sibling win-
dows.
Stacking order Sibling windows, similar to sheets of paper on a desk, can stack
on top of each other. Windows above both obscure and occlude
lower windows. The relationship between sibling windows is
known as the stacking order.
State-dependent encod-
ing
An encoding in which an invocation of a charset can apply to mul-
tiple characters in sequence. A state-dependent encoding begins
in an ``initial state'' and enters other ``shift states'' when spe-
cific ``shift sequences'' are encountered in the byte sequence. In
ISO2022 terms, this means use of locking shifts, not single shifts.
State-independent en-
coding
Any encoding in which the invocations of the charsets are fixed,
or span only a single character. In ISO2022 terms, this means
use of at most single shifts, not locking shifts.
StaticColor StaticColor can be viewed as a degenerate case of PseudoColor
in which the RGB values are predefined and read-only.
Glossary
450
StaticGray StaticGray can be viewed as a degenerate case of GrayScale in
which the gray values are predefined and read-only. The values
are typically linear or near-linear increasing ramps.
Status Many Xlib functions return a success status. If the function does
not succeed, however, its arguments are not disturbed.
Stipple A stipple pattern is a bitmap that is used to tile a region to serve
as an additional clip mask for a fill operation with the foreground
color.
STRING encoding Latin-1, plus tab and newline.
String Equivalence Two ISO Latin-1 STRING8 values are considered equal if they
are the same length and if corresponding bytes are either equal
or are equivalent as follows: decimal values 65 to 90 inclusive
(characters ``A'' to ``Z'') are pairwise equivalent to decimal val-
ues 97 to 122 inclusive (characters ``a'' to ``z''), decimal values
192 to 214 inclusive (characters ``A grave'' to ``O diaeresis'')
are pairwise equivalent to decimal values 224 to 246 inclusive
(characters ``a grave'' to ``o diaeresis''), and decimal values 216
to 222 inclusive (characters ``O oblique'' to ``THORN'') are pair-
wise equivalent to decimal values 246 to 254 inclusive (charac-
ters ``o oblique'' to ``thorn'').
Tile A pixmap can be replicated in two dimensions to tile a region.
The pixmap itself is also known as a tile.
Timestamp A timestamp is a time value expressed in milliseconds. It is typi-
cally the time since the last server reset. Timestamp values wrap
around (after about 49.7 days). The server, given its current time
is represented by timestamp T, always interprets timestamps
from clients by treating half of the timestamp space as being ear-
lier in time than T and half of the timestamp space as being later
in time than T. One timestamp value, represented by the constant
CurrentTime, is never generated by the server. This value is re-
served for use in requests to represent the current server time.
TrueColor TrueColor can be viewed as a degenerate case of DirectColor in
which the subfields in the pixel value directly encode the corre-
sponding RGB values. That is, the colormap has predefined read-
only RGB values. The values are typically linear or near-linear
increasing ramps.
Type A type is an arbitrary atom used to identify the interpretation of
property data. Types are completely uninterpreted by the server.
They are solely for the benefit of clients. X predefines type atoms
for many frequently used types, and clients also can define new
types.
Viewable A window is viewable if it and all of its ancestors are mapped.
This does not imply that any portion of the window is actually
visible. Graphics requests can be performed on a window when it
is not viewable, but output will not be retained unless the server
is maintaining backing store.
Glossary
451
Visible A region of a window is visible if someone looking at the screen
can actually see it; that is, the window is viewable and the region
is not occluded by any other window.
Whitespace Any spacing character. On implementations that conform to the
ANSI C library, whitespace is any character for which isspace
returns true.
Window gravity When windows are resized, subwindows may be repositioned au-
tomatically relative to some position in the window. This attrac-
tion of a subwindow to some part of its parent is known as win-
dow gravity.
Window manager Manipulation of windows on the screen and much of the user in-
terface (policy) is typically provided by a window manager client.
X Portable Character Set A basic set of 97 characters which are assumed to exist in all
locales supported by Xlib. This set contains the following char-
acters:
a..z A..Z 0..9
!"#$%&'()*+,-./:;<=>?@[\\]^_`{|}~
<space>, <tab>, and <newline>

This is the left/lower half (also called the G0 set) of the graph-
ic character set of ISO8859-1 plus <space>, <tab>, and <new-
line>. It is also the set of graphic characters in 7-bit ASCII
plus the same three control characters. The actual encoding of
these characters on the host is system dependent; see the Host
Portable Character Encoding.
XLFD The X Logical Font Description Conventions that define a stan-
dard syntax for structured font names.
XY format The data for a pixmap is said to be in XY format if it is orga-
nized as a set of bitmaps representing individual bit planes with
the planes appearing from most-significant to least-significant
bit order.
Z format The data for a pixmap is said to be in Z format if it is organized
as a set of pixel values in scanline order.
452
Index
Symbols
_XAllocScratch, 427
_XAllocTemp, 427
_Xdebug, 225
_XFlushGCCache, 418
_XFreeTemp, 427
_XReply, 424
_XSetLastRequestRead, 414
A
Access control list, 173, 439
Active grab, 231, 439
Allocation
colormap, 82
read-only colormap cells, 82, 82, 83, 83
read/write colormap cells, 84
read/write colormap planes, 85
AllPlanes, 9
Ancestors, 439
Arcs
drawing, 141
filling, 145
Areas
clearing, 134
copying, 135
Atom, 56, 56, 439
getting name, 58, 58
interning, 57, 58
predefined, 56
Authentication, 173
B
Background, 439
Backing store, 439
BadAccess, 227
BadAlloc, 227
BadAtom, 227
BadColor, 227
BadCursor, 227
BadDrawable, 227
BadFont, 227
BadGC, 227
BadIDChoice, 227
BadImplementation, 229
BadLength, 229
BadMatch, 229
BadName, 229
BadPixmap, 229
BadRequest, 229
BadValue, 229
BadWindow, 229
Base font name, 439
Bit
gravity, 440
plane, 440
Bitmap, 2, 440
BitmapBitOrder, 16
BitmapPad, 16
BitmapUnit, 16
BlackPixel, 9
BlackPixelOfScreen, 17
Bool, 4
Border, 440
Button
grabbing, 234, 440
ungrabbing, 236
ButtonPress, 185
ButtonRelease, 185
Byte
order, 440
C
CallbackPrototype, 311
CCC, 78
creation, 94
default, 78, 91, 92, 92
freeing, 95
of colormap, 78, 91, 91, 91
CellsOfScreen, 17
Changing
pointer grab, 234
Character, 440
Character glyph, 440
Character set, 440
Charset, 440
Child window, 2
Child Window, 51
Children, 441
Chroma, 106, 107, 107
maximum, 106, 107, 107
CIE metric lightness, 102, 103, 103, 104, 104,
105, 105, 105
maximum, 103, 103, 105, 105
minimum, 104, 105
CirculateNotify, 200
CirculateRequest, 208
Class, 441
Clearing
areas, 134
windows, 135
Client, 441
Client White Point, 78
of Color Conversion Context, 93
Index
453
ClientMessage, 211
ClientWhitePointOfCCC, 93
Clipping region, 441
Coded character, 441
Coded character set, 441
Codepoint, 441
Color, 72
allocation, 82, 82, 82, 83, 83, 84, 85
conversion, 95
deallocation, 86
naming, 80, 80, 81, 83, 83, 88
querying, 89, 89, 90, 90
storing, 86, 87, 87, 88, 88
Color Characterization Data, 114
Color conversion, 95
Color Conversion Context, 78
creation, 78, 91, 94
default, 78, 91, 92, 92
freeing, 95
of colormap, 78, 91, 91, 91
Color map, 72, 82
Colormap, 441
CCC of, 91, 91
ColormapNotify, 210
Colormaps
standard, 353
ConfigureNotify, 200
ConfigureRequest, 208
Connection, 441
ConnectionNumber, 10
Containment, 441
Coordinate system, 442
Copying
areas, 135
planes, 136
CreateNotify, 202
CurrentTime, 182, 231
Cursor, 442
Initial State, 36
limitations, 69
Cut Buffers, 383
D
Debugging
error event, 226
error handlers, 226
error message strings, 229
error numbers, 227
synchronous mode, 226
Default Protection, 173
DefaultColormap, 10
DefaultColormapOfScreen, 18
DefaultDepth, 10
DefaultDepthOfScreen, 18
DefaultGC, 11
DefaultGCOfScreen, 18
DefaultRootWindow, 11
DefaultScreen, 12
DefaultScreenOfDisplay, 11
DefaultVisual, 12
DefaultVisualOfScreen, 18
Depth, 442
Destination, 117
DestroyCallback, 296, 312
DestroyNotify, 202
Device, 442
Device Color Characterization, 112
Device profile, 78, 114
DirectColor, 442
Display, 8, 442
data structure, 9
structure, 442, 448
Display Functions, 117
DisplayCells, 12
DisplayHeight, 16
DisplayHeightMM, 16
DisplayOfCCC, 92
DisplayOfScreen, 19
DisplayPlanes, 12
DisplayString, 12
DisplayWidth, 17
DisplayWidthMM, 17
DoesBackingStore, 18
DoesSaveUnders, 18
Drawable, 2, 442
Drawing
arcs, 141
image text, 159
lines, 139
points, 138
polygons, 139
rectangles, 140
strings, 159
text items, 157
E
Encoding, 442
EnterNotify, 189
Environment
DISPLAY, 7
Error
codes, 227
handlers, 226
handling, 3
Escapement, 443
Event, 3, 178, 443
Index
454
categories, 178
Exposure, 443
mask, 443
propagation, 216, 443
source, 443
synchronization, 443
types, 178
Event mask, 180
EventMaskOfScreen, 19
Events
ButtonPress, 185
ButtonRelease, 185
CirculateNotify, 200
CirculateRequest, 208
ClientMessage, 211
ColormapNotify, 210
ConfigureNotify, 200
ConfigureRequest, 208
CreateNotify, 202
DestroyNotify, 202
EnterNotify, 189
Expose, 197
FocusIn, 192
FocusOut, 192
GraphicsExpose, 198
GravityNotify, 203
KeymapNotify, 196
KeyPress, 185
KeyRelease, 185
LeaveNotify, 189
MapNotify, 204
MappingNotify, 204
MapRequest, 209
MotionNotify, 185
NoExpose, 198
PropertyNotify, 212
ReparentNotify, 205
ResizeRequest, 210
SelectionClear, 213
SelectionNotify, 214
SelectionRequest, 213
UnmapNotify, 206
VisibilityNotify, 206
Expose, 197
Extension, 443
F
False, 4
Files
$HOME/.Xdefaults, 434
/etc/X?.hosts, 173
<X11/cursorfont.h>,
<X11/keysym.h>, , 249
<X11/keysymdef.h>, , 249, 376
<X11/X.h>, 2, , 117, 178, 180
<X11/X10.h>, , 435, 435
<X11/Xatom.h>, , 56, 151, 353
<X11/Xcms.h>, , 71
<X11/Xlib.h>, , 8, 71, 179, 386
<X11/Xlibint.h>,
<X11/Xproto.h>, , 199
<X11/Xprotostr.h>,
<X11/Xresource.h>, , 358
<X11/Xutil.h>, , 336, 338, 341, 345,
379, 380, 385, 388, 392, 430
Filling
arcs, 145
polygon, 144
rectangles, 143
FlushGC, 418
FocusIn, 192
FocusOut, 192
Font, 146, 443
Font glyph, 443
Fonts
freeing font information, 150
getting information, 150
unloading, 150
Freeing
colors, 86
resources, 28, 48, 49
Frozen events, 443
Function set, 112
LINEAR_RGB, 112
G
Gamut compression, 78
client data, 93
procedure, 93
setting in Color Conversion Context, 93
Gamut handling, 78
Gamut querying, 100
GC, 444
GeometryCallback, 312
Glyph, 444
Glyph image, 444
Grab, 444
Grabbing
buttons, 234
keyboard, 236
keys, 238
pointer, 232
server, 170
Graphics context, 444
initializing, 122
GraphicsExpose, 198
Index
455
Gravity, 444
GravityNotify, 203
GrayScale, 444
H
Hash Lookup, 437
Headers, 3
<X11/cursorfont.h>,
<X11/keysym.h>, , 249
<X11/keysymdef.h>, , 249, 376
<X11/X.h>, 2, , 117, 178, 180
<X11/X10.h>, , 435, 435
<X11/Xatom.h>, , 56, 151, 353
<X11/Xcms.h>, , 71
<X11/Xlib.h>, , 8, 71, 179, 386
<X11/Xlibint.h>,
<X11/Xproto.h>, , 199
<X11/Xprotostr.h>,
<X11/Xresource.h>, , 358
<X11/Xutil.h>, , 336, 338, 341, 345,
379, 380, 385, 388, 392, 430
HeightMMOfScreen, 20
HeightOfScreen, 19
Host Portable Character Encoding, 444
Hotspot, 444
I
Identifier, 444
Image text
drawing, 159
ImageByteOrder, 15
IMInstantiateCallback, 293
Inferiors, 444
Input
focus, 444
manager, 445
Input Control, 178
Internationalization, 445
IsCursorKey, 376
IsFunctionKey, 376
IsKeypadKey, 376
IsMiscFunctionKey, 376
IsModifierKey, 376
ISO2022, 445
IsPFKey, 377
IsPrivateKeypadKey, 376
K
Key
grabbing, 238, 445
ungrabbing, 239
Keyboard
bell volume, 244
bit vector, 244
grabbing, 236, 445
keyclick volume, 244
ungrabbing, 237
KeymapNotify, 196
KeyPress, 185
KeyRelease, 185
Keysym, 445
L
LastKnownRequestProcessed, 13
Latin Portable Character Encoding, 445
Latin-1, 445
LeaveNotify, 189
Lines
drawing, 139
Locale, 445
Locale name, 446
Localization, 446
LockDisplay, 422
M
MapNotify, 204
Mapped window, 446
MappingNotify, 204
MapRequest, 209
MaxCmapsOfScreen, 20
Menus, 170
MinCmapsOfScreen, 20
Modifier keys, 446
Monochrome, 446
MotionNotify, 185
Mouse
programming, 244
Multibyte, 446
N
NextRequest, 13
NoExpose, 198
None, 4
O
Obscure, 446
Occlude, 446
Output Control, 178
P
Padding, 446
Parent Window, 2, 51
Passive grab, 231, 446
Pixel value, 118, 446
Pixmap, 2, 447
Plane, 447
Index
456
copying, 136
mask, 118, 447
PlanesOfScreen, 20
Pointer, 447
grabbing, 232, 234, 447
ungrabbing, 234
Pointing device, 447
Points
drawing, 138
Polygons
drawing, 139
filling, 144
POSIX, 447
POSIX Portable Filename Character Set, 447
POSIX System Call
fork, 12
PreeditCaretCallback, 317
PreeditDoneCallback, 314
PreeditDrawCallback, 314
PreeditStartCallback, 313
PreeditStateNotifyCallback, 310
Property, 447
appending, 61
changing, 61
deleting, 62
format, 61
getting, 59
listing, 61
prepending, 61
replacing, 61
type, 61
Property list, 447
PropertyNotify, 212
Protocol
DECnet, 8
TCP, 8
ProtocolRevision, 14
ProtocolVersion, 14
PseudoColor, 447
Psychometric Chroma, 102, 103, 104, 105
maximum, 102, 103, 104, 105
Psychometric Hue Angle, 102, 103, 103, 104,
104, 105, 105, 105
Q
QLength, 14
R
Read-only colormap cells, 82
allocating, 82, 82, 83, 83
read-only colormap cells, 82
Read/write colormap cells, 82
allocating, 84
Read/write colormap planes
allocating, 85
Rectangle, 447
filling, 143
Rectangles
drawing, 140
Redirecting control, 448
ReparentNotify, 205
Reply, 448
Request, 448
ResizeRequest, 210
Resource, 448
Resource IDs, 2, 21, 437
Colormap, 2
Cursor, 2
Font, 2
freeing, 28, 48, 49
GContext, 2
Pixmap, 2
Window, 2
RGB values, 448
Root, 448
RootWindow, 14
RootWindowOfScreen, 20
S
Save set, 448
Save Unders, 33
Scanline, 448
order, 448
Screen, 1, 8, 448
structure, 448
Screen White Point, 100
ScreenCount, 14
ScreenNumberOfCCC, 92
ScreenOfDisplay, 11
ScreenWhitePointOfCCC, 92
Selection, 63, 449
converting, 64
getting the owner, 64
setting the owner, 63
SelectionClear, 213
SelectionNotify, 214
SelectionRequest, 213
Serial Number, 227
Server, 449
grabbing, 170, 449
ServerVendor, 14
Shift sequence, 449
Sibling, 449
Source, 117
Stacking order, 2, 449
Standard Colormaps, 353
Index
457
State-dependent encoding, 449
State-independent encoding, 449
StaticColor, 449
StaticGray, 450
Status, 3, 450
StatusDoneCallback, 319
StatusDrawCallback, 320
StatusStartCallback, 319
Stipple, 450
String Equivalence, 450
StringConversionCallback, 312
Strings
drawing, 159
T
Text
drawing, 157
Tile, 2, 450
mode, 28
pixmaps, 28
Time, 231
Timestamp, 450
True, 4
TrueColor, 450
Type, 450
U
Ungrabbing
buttons, 236
keyboard, 237
keys, 239
pointer, 234
UnlockDisplay, 423
UnmapNotify, 206
UnmapNotify Event, 40, 40
V
Value, 106, 107, 107, 108
maximum, 106, 107, 107
minimum, 108
VendorRelease, 15
Vertex, 435
VertexCurved, 435
VertexDontDraw, 435
VertexEndClosed, 435
VertexRelative, 435
VertexStartClosed, 435
Viewable, 450
VisibilityNotify, 206
Visible, 451
Visual, 26
Visual Classes
GrayScale, 26
PseudoColor, 26
StaticColor, 26, 26
StaticGray, 26
TrueColor, 26
Visual Type, 26
VisualOfCCC, 92
W
White point, 78
White point adjustment, 78
client data, 93
procedure, 93
setting in Color Conversion Context, 93
WhitePixel, 10
WhitePixelOfScreen, 17
Whitespace, 451
WidthMMOfScreen, 19
WidthOfScreen, 19
Window, 2, 27
attributes, 27
background, 48
clearing, 135
defining the cursor, 50
determining location, 378, 433
gravity, 451
icon name, 335
IDs, 437
InputOnly, 35, 445
InputOutput, 445
manager, 451
managers, 170
mapping, 28
name, 334
parent, 446
root, 448
RootWindow, 14
undefining the cursor, 50
XRootWindow, 14
X
X Portable Character Set, 451
X10 compatibility
XDraw, 435, 435
XDrawDashed, 435, 435
XDrawFilled, 435, 436
XDrawPatterned, 435, 435
XDrawTiled, 435, 436
X11/cursorfont.h, 3
X11/keysym.h, 4, 249
X11/keysymdef.h, 3, 249, 376
X11/X.h, 2, 3, 117, 178, 180
X11/X10.h, 4, 435, 435
X11/Xatom.h, 3, 56, 151, 353
Index
458
X11/Xcms.h, 3, 71
X11/Xlib.h, 3, 8, 71, 179, 386
X11/Xlibint.h, 4
X11/Xproto.h, 4, 199
X11/Xprotostr.h, 4
X11/Xresource.h, 3, 358
X11/Xutil.h, 3, 336, 338, 341, 345, 379, 380,
385, 388, 392, 430
XActivateScreenSaver, 172
XAddExtension, 411
XAddHost, 174
XAddHosts, 175
XAddPixel, 389
XAddToExtensionList, 417
XAddToSaveSet, 167
XAllocClassHint, 341
XAllocColor, 82, 86
XAllocColorCells, 84, 86
XAllocColorPlanes, 85, 86
XAllocID, 418
XAllocIDs, 418
XAllocNamedColor, 83, 86
XAllowEvents, 239
XAllPlanes, 9
XAnyEvent, 179
XArc, 138
XAutoRepeatOff, 246
XAutoRepeatOn, 246
XBaseFontNameListOfFontSet, 273
XBell, 247
XBitmapBitOrder, 16
XBitmapPad, 16
XBitmapUnit, 16
XBlackPixel, 9
XBlackPixelOfScreen, 17
XCellsOfScreen, 17
XChangeActivePointerGrab, 234
XChangeGC, 123
XChangeKeyboardControl, 245
XChangeKeyboardMapping, 251
XChangePointerControl, 248
XChangeProperty, 61
XChangeSaveSet, 167
XChangeWindowAttributes, 47
XChar2b, 147
XCharStruct, 147
XCheckIfEvent, 220
XCheckMaskEvent, 222
XCheckTypedEvent, 222
XCheckTypedWindowEvent, 222
XCheckWindowEvent, 221, 221
XCirculateEvent, 200
XCirculateRequestEvent, 208
XCirculateSubwindows, 45
XCirculateSubwindowsDown, 46
XCirculateSubwindowsUp, 46
XClassHint, 342
XClearArea, 134
XClearWindow, 135
XClientMessageEvent, 212
XClipBox, 381
XCloseDisplay, 21, 21
XCloseIM, 291
XCloseOM, 261
XcmsAddColorSpace, 109
XcmsAddFunctionSet, 112
XcmsAllocColor, 82
XcmsAllocNamedColor, 83
XcmsCCCOfColormap, 91
XcmsCIELab, 74
XcmsCIELabQueryMaxC, 103
XcmsCIELabQueryMaxL, 103
XcmsCIELabQueryMaxLC, 103
XcmsCIELabQueryMinL, 104
XcmsCIELuv, 75
XcmsCIELuvQueryMaxC, 104
XcmsCIELuvQueryMaxL, 105
XcmsCIELuvQueryMaxLC, 105
XcmsCIELuvQueryMinL, 105
XcmsCIEuvY, 74
XcmsCIExyY, 74
XcmsCIEXYZ, 74
XcmsClientWhitePointOfCCC, 93
XcmsColor, 72
XcmsCompressionProc, 96
XcmsConvertColors, 95
XcmsCreateCCC, 94
XcmsDefaultCCC, 92
XcmsDisplayOfCCC, 92
XcmsFormatOfPrefix, 109
XcmsFreeCCC, 95
XcmsLookupColor, 81
XcmsPad, 75
XcmsParseStringProc, 110
XcmsPrefixOfFormat, 109
XcmsQueryBlack, 101
XcmsQueryBlue, 101
XcmsQueryColor, 90
XcmsQueryColors, 90
XcmsQueryGreen, 101
XcmsQueryRed, 102
XcmsQueryWhite, 102
XcmsRGB, 73
XcmsRGBi, 74
XcmsScreenInitProc, 113
XcmsScreenNumberOfCCC, 92
XcmsScreenWhitePointOfCCC, 92
XcmsSetCCCOfColormap, 91
Index
459
XcmsSetCompressionProc, 93
XcmsSetWhiteAdjustProc, 93
XcmsSetWhitePoint, 93
XcmsStoreColor, 87
XcmsStoreColors, 88
XcmsTekHVC, 75
XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxC, 106
XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxV, 106
XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxVC, 107
XcmsTekHVCQueryMaxVSamples, 107
XcmsTekHVCQueryMinV, 108
XcmsVisualOfCCC, 92
XcmsWhiteAdjustProc, 98
XColor, 72
XColormapEvent, 211
XConfigureEvent, 201
XConfigureRequestEvent, 209
XConfigureWindow, 42
XConnectionNumber, 10
XContextDependentDrawing, 274
XContextualDrawing, 274
XConvertCase, 375
XConvertSelection, 64
XCopyArea, 135
XCopyColormapAndFree, 79
XCopyGC, 123
XCopyPlane, 136
XCreateAssocTable, 437
XCreateBitmapFromData, 392
XCreateColormap, 78
XCreateFontCursor, 67
XCreateFontSet, 269
XCreateGC, 122
XCreateGlyphCursor, 67
XCreateIC, 297
XCreateImage, 387
XCreateOC, 264
XCreatePixmap, 66
XCreatePixmapCursor, 68
XCreatePixmapFromBitmapData, 391
XCreateSimpleWindow, 36
XCreateWindow, 35
XCreateWindowEvent, 202
XCrossingEvent, 189
XDefaultColormap, 10
XDefaultColormapOfScreen, 18
XDefaultDepth, 10
XDefaultDepthOfScreen, 18
XDefaultGC, 11
XDefaultGCOfScreen, 18
XDefaultRootWindow, 11
XDefaultScreen, 12
XDefaultScreenOfDisplay, 11
XDefaultVisual, 12
XDefaultVisualOfScreen, 18
XDefineCursor, 36, 50
XDeleteAssoc, 438
XDeleteContext, 393
XDeleteModifiermapEntry, 253
XDeleteProperty, 62
XDestroyAssocTable, 438
XDestroyIC, 298
XDestroyImage, 389
XDestroyOC, 265
XDestroyRegion, 381
XDestroySubwindows, 37
XDestroyWindow, 37
XDestroyWindowEvent, 203
XDirectionalDependentDrawing, 274
XDisableAccessControl, 176
XDisplayCells, 12
XDisplayHeight, 16
XDisplayHeightMM, 16
XDisplayKeycodes, 250
XDisplayMotionBufferSize, 224
XDisplayName, 230
XDisplayOfIM, 292
XDisplayOfOM, 262
XDisplayOfScreen, 19
XDisplayPlanes, 12
XDisplayString, 12
XDisplayWidth, 17
XDisplayWidthMM, 17
XDoesBackingStore, 18
XDoesSaveUnders, 18
xDoSomethingReply, 422
xDoSomethingReq, 421
XDrawArc, 141, 141
XDrawArcs, 141, 142
XDrawImageString, 159, 159
XDrawImageString16, 159, 160
XDrawLine, 139, 139
XDrawLines, 139, 139, 435
XDrawPoint, 138, 138
XDrawPoints, 138, 138
XDrawRectangle, 140, 140
XDrawRectangles, 140, 141
XDrawSegments, 139, 139, 435
XDrawString, 159
XDrawString16, 159
XDrawText, 157
XDrawText16, 158
XEHeadOfExtensionList, 417
XEmptyRegion, 382
XEnableAccessControl, 176
XEnterWindowEvent, 189
XEqualRegion, 383
XErrorEvent, 226
Index
460
XESetBeforeFlush, 416
XESetCloseDisplay, 411
XESetCopyGC, 412
XESetCreateFont, 412
XESetCreateGC, 411
XESetError, 415
XESetErrorString, 415
XESetEventToWire, 414
XESetFlushGC, 416
XESetFreeFont, 412
XESetPrintErrorValues, 416
XESetWireToError, 414
XESetWireToEvent, 413
XEvent, 179
XEventMaskOfScreen, 19
XEventsQueued, 218
XExposeEvent, 197
XExtCodes, 410
XExtData, 417
XExtendedMaxRequestSize, 13
XExtentsOfFontSet, 275
XFetchBuffer, 384
XFetchBytes, 384
XFetchName, 334
XFillArc, 145, 145
XFillArcs, 146
XFillPolygon, 144
XFillRectangle, 143, 143
XFillRectangles, 143, 144
XFilterEvent, 321
XFindContext, 393
XFindOnExtensionList, 417
XFlush, 217
XFlushGC, 124
XFocusChangeEvent, 192
XFocusInEvent, 192
XFocusOutEvent, 192
XFontProp, 147
XFontSetExtents, 274
XFontsOfFontSet, 272
XFontStruct, 147
XForceScreenSaver, 172
XFree, 20
XFreeColormap, 80
XFreeColors, 86
XFreeCursor, 69
XFreeExtensionList, 410
XFreeFont, 151
XFreeFontInfo, 153
XFreeFontNames, 152
XFreeFontPath, 170
XFreeFontSet, 273
XFreeGC, 124
XFreeModifiermap, 253
XFreePixmap, 66
XFreeStringList, 332
XGContextFromGC, 124
XGeometry, 433
XGetAtomName, 58
XGetAtomNames, 58
XGetClassHint, 342
XGetCommand, 349
XGetDefault, 434
XGetErrorDatabaseText, 229
XGetErrorText, 229
XGetFontPath, 170
XGetFontProperty, 151
XGetGCValues, 123
XGetGeometry, 53
XGetIconName, 336
XGetIconSizes, 346
XGetICValues, 300
XGetImage, 163
XGetIMValues, 292
XGetInputFocus, 244
XGetKeyboardControl, 246, 246
XGetKeyboardMapping, 251
XGetModifierMapping, 254
XGetMotionEvents, 225
XGetNormalHints, 430
XGetOCValues, 266
XGetOMValues, 262
XGetPixel, 388
XGetPointerControl, 249
XGetPointerMapping, 248
XGetRGBColormaps, 355
XGetScreenSaver, 172
XGetSelectionOwner, 64
XGetSizeHints, 431
XGetStandardColormap, 432
XGetSubImage, 164
XGetTextProperty, 333
XGetTransientForHint, 343
XGetVisualInfo, 386
XGetWindowAttributes, 51
XGetWindowProperty, 59
XGetWMClientMachine, 350
XGetWMColormapWindows, 345
XGetWMHints, 338
XGetWMIconName, 335
XGetWMName, 334
XGetWMNormalHints, 340
XGetWMProtocols, 344
XGetWMSizeHints, 341
XGetZoomHints, 431
XGrabButton, 234
XGrabKey, 238
XGrabKeyboard, 236
Index
461
XGrabPointer, 232
XGrabServer, 170
XGraphicsExposeEvent, 198
XGravityEvent, 203
XHeightMMOfScreen, 20
XHeightOfScreen, 19
XHostAddress, 174
XIconifyWindow, 327
XIconSize, 345, 345
XID, 4
XIfEvent, 219
XIMAbsolutePosition, 319
XImage, 161
XImageByteOrder, 15
XIMBackwardChar, 318
XIMBackwardWord, 318
XIMCallback, 311
XIMCaretDirection, 318
XIMCaretDown, 318
XIMCaretStyle, 318
XIMCaretUp, 318
XIMDontChange, 319
XIMForwardChar, 318
XIMForwardWord, 318
XIMHighlight, 317
XIMInitialState, 305
XIMLineEnd, 319
XIMLineStart, 319
XIMNextLine, 319
XIMOfIC, 299
XIMPreeditArea, 294, 295
XIMPreeditCallbacks, 294, 295
XIMPreeditCaretCallbackStruct, 318
XIMPreeditDisable, 309
XIMPreeditDrawCallbackStruct, 314
XIMPreeditEnable, 309
XIMPreeditNone, 294, 295
XIMPreeditNothing, 294, 295
XIMPreeditPosition, 294, 295
XIMPreeditStateNotifyCallbackStruct, 310
XIMPreeditUnknown, 309
XIMPreviousLine, 319
XIMPrimary, 317
XIMProc, 311
XIMReverse, 317
XIMSecondary, 317
XIMStatusArea, 294, 295
XIMStatusCallbacks, 294, 295
XIMStatusDataType, 320
XIMStatusDrawCallbackStruct, 320
XIMStatusNone, 294, 295
XIMStatusNothing, 294, 295
XIMStringConversionCallbackStruct, 313
XIMStyle, 294
XIMStyles, 294
XIMTertiary, 317
XIMText, 315
XIMUnderline, 317
XIMVisibleToBackward, 317
XIMVisibleToCenter, 317
XIMVisibleToForward, 317
XInitExtension, 410
XInitImage, 162
XInitThreads, 23
XINPreserveState, 305
XInsertModifiermapEntry, 253
XInstallColormap, 168
XInternalConnectionNumbers, 25
XInternAtom, 57
XInternAtoms, 58
XIntersectRegion, 381
XKeyboardState, 246
XKeycodeToKeysym, 374
XKeymapEvent, 196
XKeysymToKeycode, 375
XKeysymToString, 376
XKillClient, 171
XLastKnownRequestProcessed, 13
XLeaveWindowEvent, 189
XLFD, 451
XlibSpecificationRelease,
XListDepths, 10
XListExtensions, 409
XListFonts, 152
XListFontsWithInfo, 153
XListHosts, 175
XListInstalledColormaps, 169
XListPixmapFormats, 15
XListProperties, 61
XLoadFont, 150
XLoadQueryFont, 151
XLocaleOfFontSet, 273
XLocaleOfIM, 292
XLocaleOfOM, 262
XLockDisplay, 23
XLookUpAssoc, 437
XLookupColor, 80
XLookupKeysym, 374
XLookupString, 377
XLowerWindow, 45
XMakeAssoc, 437
XMapEvent, 204
XMappingEvent, 204
XMapRaised, 39
XMapRequestEvent, 210
XMapSubwindows, 39, 39
XMapWindow, 28, 38, 39
XMaskEvent, 221
Index
462
XMatchVisualInfo, 386
XMaxCmapsOfScreen, 20
XMaxRequestSize, 13
XmbDrawImageString, 280
XmbDrawString, 279
XmbDrawText, 279
XmbLookupString, 321
XmbResetIC, 299
XmbSetWMProperties, 347
XmbTextEscapement, 275
XmbTextExtents, 276
XmbTextItem, 278
XmbTextListToTextProperty, 329
XmbTextPerCharExtents, 277
XmbTextPropertyToTextList, 330
XMinCmapsOfScreen, 20
XModifierKeymap, 252
XMoveResizeWindow, 44
XMoveWindow, 43
XNArea, 307
XNAreaNeeded, 308
XNBackground, 308
XNClientWindow, 303
XNColormap, 308
XNCursor, 309
XNewModifiermap, 252
XNextEvent, 217, 218
XNextRequest, 13
XNFilterEvents, 304
XNFocusWindow, 303
XNFontSet, 309
XNForeground, 308
XNGeometryCallback, 304
XNoExposeEvent, 199
XNoOp, 20
XNPreeditAttributes, 307
XNPreeditCaretCallback, 310
XNPreeditDoneCallback, 310
XNPreeditDrawCallback, 310
XNPreeditStartCallback, 310
XNResourceClass, 304
XNResourceName, 304
XNSpotLocation, 308
XNStatusAttributes, 307
XNStatusDoneCallback, 310
XNStatusDrawCallback, 310
XNStatusStartCallback, 310
XNStdColormap, 308
XOffsetRegion, 381
XOMCharSetList, 263
XOMOfOC, 265
XOpenDisplay, 7
XOpenIM, 291
XOpenOM, 261
XParseColor, 80
XParseGeometry, 378
XPeekEvent, 219
XPeekIfEvent, 220
XPending, 217, 218
Xpermalloc, 378
XPlanesOfScreen, 20
XPoint, 137
XPointer, 4
XPointInRegion, 383
XPolygonRegion, 380
XProcessInternalConnection, 24
XPropertyEvent, 212
XProtocolRevision, 14
XProtocolVersion, 14
XPutBackEvent, 223
XPutImage, 162
XPutPixel, 388
XQLength, 14
XQueryBestCursor, 67, 69
XQueryBestSize, 128
XQueryBestStipple, 129
XQueryBestTile, 128
XQueryColor, 89
XQueryColors, 89
XQueryExtension, 409
XQueryFont, 150
XQueryKeymap, 247
XQueryPointer, 55
XQueryTextExtents, 155
XQueryTextExtents16, 156
XQueryTree, 51
XRaiseWindow, 45
XReadBitmapFile, 390
XReadBitmapFileData, 390
XRebindKeysym, 377
XRecolorCursor, 69
XReconfigureWMWindow, 328
XRectangle, 137
XRectInRegion, 383
XRefreshKeyboardMapping, 375
XRegisterIMInstantiateCallback, 292
XRemoveConnectionWatch, 24
XRemoveFromSaveSet, 168
XRemoveHost, 175
XRemoveHosts, 176
XReparentEvent, 205
XReparentWindow, 166
XResetScreenSaver, 172
XResizeRequestEvent, 210
XResizeWindow, 43
XResourceManagerString, 363
xResourceReq, 421
XRestackWindows, 46
Index
463
XrmCombineDatabase, 365
XrmCombineFileDatabase, 365
XrmDatabase, 362
XrmDestroyDatabase, 364
XrmEnumerateDatabase, 370
XrmGetDatabase, 365
XrmGetFileDatabase, 363
XrmGetResource, 366
XrmGetStringDatabase, 364
XrmInitialize, 363
XrmLocaleOfDatabase, 364
XrmMergeDatabases, 366
XrmOptionDescRec, 371
XrmOptionKind, 371
XrmParseCommand, 372
XrmPermStringToQuark, 361
XrmPutFileDatabase, 363
XrmPutLineResource, 370
XrmPutResource, 368
XrmPutStringResource, 369
XrmQGetResource, 366
XrmQGetSearchList, 367
XrmQGetSearchResource, 368
XrmQPutResource, 369
XrmQPutStringResource, 369
XrmQuarkToString, 361
XrmSetDatabase, 364
XrmStringToBindingQuarkList, 362
XrmStringToQuark, 361
XrmStringToQuarkList, 361
XrmUniqueQuark, 360
XrmValue, 363
XRootWindow, 14
XRootWindowOfScreen, 20
XRotateBuffers, 385
XRotateWindowProperties, 62
XSaveContext, 392
XScreenCount, 14
XScreenNumberOfScreen, 19
XScreenOfDisplay, 11
XScreenResourceString, 364
XSegment, 137
XSelectInput, 216
XSelectionClearEvent, 213
XSelectionEvent, 214
XSelectionRequestEvent, 213
XSendEvent, 223, 223
XServerInterpretedAddress, 174
XServerVendor, 14
XSetAccessControl, 176
XSetAfterFunction, 226
XSetArcMode, 132
XSetBackground, 125
XSetClassHint, 342
XSetClipMask, 131
XSetClipOrigin, 130
XSetClipRectangles, 131
XSetCloseDownMode, 21
XSetCommand, 349
XSetDashes, 127
XSetErrorHandler, 226
XSetFillRule, 127
XSetFillStyle, 127
XSetFont, 130
XSetFontPath, 169
XSetForeground, 125
XSetFunction, 126
XSetGraphicsExposures, 132
XSetICFocus, 298
XSetIconName, 335
XSetIconSizes, 346
XSetICValues, 299
XSetIMValues, 291
XSetInputFocus, 243
XSetIOErrorHandler, 230
XSetLineAttributes, 126
XSetLocaleModifiers, 256
XSetModifierMapping, 253
XSetNormalHints, 430
XSetOCValues, 265
XSetOMValues, 261
XSetPlaneMask, 126
XSetPointerMapping, 247
XSetRegion, 380
XSetRGBColormaps, 354
XSetScreenSaver, 171
XSetSelectionOwner, 63
XSetSizeHints, 431
XSetStandardColormap, 432
XSetStandardProperties, 429
XSetState, 125
XSetStipple, 129
XSetSubwindowMode, 132
XSetTextProperty, 333
XSetTile, 129
XSetTransientForHint, 343
XSetTSOrigin, 130
XSetWindowAttributes, 29
XSetWindowBackground, 48
XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap, 48
XSetWindowBorder, 49
XSetWindowBorderPixmap, 49
XSetWindowBorderWidth, 44
XSetWindowColormap, 49
XSetWMClientMachine, 350
XSetWMColormapWindows, 344
XSetWMHints, 338
XSetWMIconName, 335
Index
464
XSetWMName, 333
XSetWMNormalHints, 339
XSetWMProperties, 348
XSetWMProtocols, 343
XSetWMSizeHints, 340
XSetZoomHints, 431
XShrinkRegion, 381
XStoreBuffer, 384
XStoreBytes, 384
XStoreColor, 86
XStoreColors, 87
XStoreName, 334
XStoreNamedColor, 88
XStringListToTextProperty, 331
XStringToKeysym, 375
XSubImage, 388
XSubtractRegion, 382
XSync, 2, 3, 217
XSynchronize, 226
XTextExtents, 154
XTextExtents16, 154
XTextItem, 157
XTextItem16, 157
XTextProperty, 329
XTextPropertyToStringList, 332
XTextWidth, 153, 154
XTextWidth16, 153, 154
XTimeCoord, 225
XTranslateCoordinates, 54
XUndefineCursor, 50
XUngrabButton, 236
XUngrabKey, 239
XUngrabKeyboard, 237
XUngrabPointer, 234
XUngrabServer, 170
XUninstallColormap, 169
XUnionRectWithRegion, 382
XUnionRegion, 381
XUnloadFont, 152
XUnlockDisplay, 23
XUnmapEvent, 206
XUnmapSubwindows, 40
XUnmapWindow, 40, 40
XUnregisterIMInstantiateCallback, 293
XUnsetICFocus, 298
XVaCreateNestedList, 259
XVendorRelease, 15
XVisibilityEvent, 207
XVisualIDFromVisual, 27
XWarpPointer, 242
XwcDrawImageString, 280
XwcDrawString, 279
XwcDrawText, 279
XwcFreeStringList, 331
XwcLookupString, 321
XwcResetIC, 299
XwcTextEscapement, 275
XwcTextExtents, 276
XwcTextItem, 278
XwcTextListToTextProperty, 329
XwcTextPerCharExtents, 277
XwcTextPropertyToTextList, 330
XWhitePixel, 10
XWhitePixelOfScreen, 17
XWidthMMOfScreen, 19
XWidthOfScreen, 19
XWindowAttributes, 52
XWindowChanges, 41
XWindowEvent, 217, 221
XWithdrawWindow, 328
XWMGeometry, 379
XWriteBitmapFile, 391, 392
XXorRegion, 382
XY format, 451
Z
Z format, 451