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ICEWMHINT(1) User Commands ICEWMHINT(1)
NAME
icewmhint - set IceWM hints by window class and instance
SYNOPSIS
icewmhint CLASS.INSTANCE OPTION VALUE ...
DESCRIPTION
icewmhint is a utility for passing IceWM hints to icewm(1). icewm uses
these hints for the first X11 client which is subsequently started. They
take precedence over hints from the icewm-winoptions(1) file.
A hint is a triplet consisting of a class.instance, an IceWM winoption and
its value. Multiple hints can be given per invocation of icewmhint.
The hints are communicated over the "_ICEWM_WINOPTHINT" property on the
root window. icewmhint appends hints to this property, while icewm removes
the property after reading it.
OPTIONS
icewmhint recognizes the following options:
COMMAND OPTIONS
Only one command option can be specified per invocation. If no command op-
tion is specified, argument parsing and processing is performed.
-h, --help
Print a brief usage statement to stdout and exit.
-V, --version
Print the program version to stdout and exit.
-C, --copying
Print copying permissions to stdout for the program and exit.
GENERAL OPTIONS
-d, --display=DISPLAY
Specifies the X11 DISPLAY. If unspecified, defaults to $DISPLAY.
ARGUMENTS
The following three arguments are required for each hint.
CLASS.INSTANCE
Specifies the ICCCM 2.0 WM_CLASS property in terms of resource class
and resource name separated by a period ("."). For example:
"XTerm.xterm". Just the resource class or resource name without a dot
is also acceptable, like "XTerm" or "xterm".
OPTION
Specifies the OPTION to affect.
VALUE
Gives the VALUE for the option.
Multiple hints can be given.
GENERAL OPTION ARGUMENTS
icon NAME
Specifies the icon name for windows of CLASS.INSTANCE. NAME should be
the name of the icon. icewm(1) will use its usual method to locate the
icon. The default is the name provided by window manager hints.
workspace WORKSPACE
Specifies the workspace on which a window of CLASS.INSTANCE will be
initially placed. The default is the current workspace. WORKSPACE
should be a workspace number counting from 0.
geometry GEOMETRY
Specifies the initial geometry for windows of the given CLASS.INSTANCE.
GEOMETRY must be a geometry that can be parsed by XParseGeometry(3).
The default is the geometry provided by window manager hints.
order NUMBER
The sorting order of task buttons and tray icons. The default value is
zero. Increasing positive values go farther right, while decreasing
negative values go farther left. The order option applies to the task
pane, the tray pane and the system tray.
opacity NUMBER
Set the _NET_WM_WINDOW_OPACITY property if NUMBER is a value between 1
and 100. NUMBER is interpreted as percentage of maximum opaqueness.
layer {LAYER|NUMBER}
This command option specifies the layer to be associated with a
CLASS.INSTANCE. The default is the "Normal" layer. VALUE is either a
layer number or a symbolic layer name. Symbolic layer names are:
Desktop (0) Desktop window.
Below (2) Below the default layer.
Normal (4) Default layer for windows.
OnTop (6) Above the default layer.
Dock (8) Docked windows at edge of screen.
AboveDock (10) Windows above the dock.
Menu (12) The layer for menu's.
Fullscreen (14) When fullscreen and focused.
AboveAll (15) Always above anything.
tray {Ignore|Minimized|Exclusive|NUMBER}
Specifies the tray handling to be applied to windows with CLASS.IN-
STANCE. This option is specific to icewm(1) and sets the "_ICEWM_TRAY"
property associated with the window. The default is "Ignore". VALUE
can be an option number or a symbolic name as follows:
Ignore (0) only in task list.
Minimized (1) icon in tray, task list unminimized.
Exclusive (2) only in tray, not in task list.
frame label (default: none)
All windows with the same frame label become tabs in a single frame.
FUNCTION OPTION ARGUMENTS
Specifies which functions are disabled or enabled (0/1) for windows with
CLASS.INSTANCE. All functions have a default value of enabled (1) unless
overridden by the application. The Motif-like functions are as follows:
fClose can be closed: (default: 1).
fHide can be hidden: (default: 1).
fMaximize can be maximized: (default: 1).
fMinimize can be minimized: (default: 1).
fMove can be moved: (default: 1).
fResize can be resized: (default: 1).
fRollup can be shaded: (default: 1).
DECOR OPTION ARGUMENTS
Specifies which decorations are disabled or enabled (0/1) for windows with
CLASS.INSTANCE. All decor options have a default value of enabled (1) un-
less overridden by the application. The Motif-like decorations are as fol-
lows:
dBorder has border: (default: 1).
dClose has close button: (default: 1).
dDepth has depth button: (default: 1).
dHide has hide button: (default: 1).
dMaximize has maximize button: (default: 1).
dMinimize has minimize button: (default: 1).
dResize has resize grips: (default: 1).
dRollup has shade button: (default: 1).
dSysMenu has window menu: (default: 1).
dTitleBar has title bar: (default: 1).
FEATURE OPTION ARGUMENTS
Specifies which advanced features to be enabled/disabled (1/0) for windows
with CLASS.INSTANCE. All advanced features have a default value of dis-
abled (0) unless overridden by the application. The advanced features are
as follows:
allWorkspaces on all workspaces.
appTakesFocus let application take focus.
doNotCover limits workspace if sticky.
doNotFocus do not focus.
doNotManage do not manage.
forcedClose no close dialog.
fullKeys provided more keys.
ignoreNoFocusHint focus even no-input.
ignorePagerPreview do not show in pager preview.
ignorePositionHint place automatically.
ignoreQuickSwitch not on quick switch.
ignoreTaskBar not on task bar.
ignoreUrgentHint ignore urgent hints.
ignoreWinList not on window list.
ignoreActivationMessages only user can focus window.
ignoreOverrideRedirect ignore the override redirect flag.
noFocusOnAppRaise no focus on raise.
noFocusOnMap do not focus when mapped.
noIgnoreTaskBar on task bar.
startClose close the window immediately.
startFullscreen start full screen.
startMaximized start maximized.
startMaximizedHorz start maximized horizontal.
startMaximizedVert start maximized vertical.
startMinimized start minimized.
EXAMPLE
# Here is how to preload an invisible background process of chromium
# on the fourth workspace which is only visible on the Window List.
icewmhint Chromium-browser startMinimized 1 \
Chromium-browser workspace 3 \
Chromium-browser ignorePagerPreview 1 \
Chromium-browser ignorePositionHint 1 \
Chromium-browser ignoreTaskBar 1 \
Chromium-browser ignoreQuickSwitch 1 \
Chromium-browser ignoreUrgentHint 1 \
Chromium-browser noFocusOnAppRaise 1
chromium
BUGS
Please report bugs at <https://github.com/ice-wm/icewm/issues>.
AUTHOR
Brian Bidulock <mailto:bidulock@openss7.org>.
See --copying for full copyright notice and copying permissions.
LICENSE
IceWM is licensed under the GNU Library General Public License. See the
COPYING file in the distribution or use the --copying flag to display copy-
ing permissions.
icewm 4.0.0 2026-01-01 ICEWMHINT(1)
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