# 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).

Visual Type

Xlib uses an opaque Visual structure that contains information about the possible color mapping. The visual utility functions (see section 16.7) use an XVisualInfo 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 visual classes of the screen and can be StaticGray, StaticColor, TrueColor, GrayScale, PseudoColor, or DirectColor.

Visual
Visual Classes StaticGray
Visual Classes StaticColor
Visual Classes TrueColor
Visual Classes StaticColor
Visual Classes GrayScale
Visual Classes PseudoColor

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.

- 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 DirectColor 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 numbers. 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

visual

  Specifies the visual type.

The 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 background 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 another 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 output. Attempts to output to the obscured area do nothing, and no input events (for example, pointer motion) are generated for the obscured area.

Window
Window attributes

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

- override-redirect

- cursor

If you specify any other attributes for an InputOnly window, a BadMatch error results.

InputOnly windows are used for controlling input events in situations where InputOutput 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 background 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 relative to the parent or absolute. If ParentRelative, the parent's background is used.

Tile pixmaps
Resource IDs freeing
Freeing resources
Tile mode

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 ), the X server generates an Expose event for the window if backing store has not been maintained.

Window mapping
XMapWindow

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 XSetWindowAttributes structure and OR in the corresponding value bitmask in your subsequent calls to and , or use one of the other convenience 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)
    #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;

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 | InputOnly
--- | --- | --- | ---
background-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-propagate-mask | empty set | Yes | Yes
override-redirect | False | Yes | Yes
colormap | CopyFromParent | Yes | No
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 background-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 background-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).

### Border Attribute

Only InputOutput windows can have a border. You can set the border of an InputOutput 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 undefined 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 number 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 border-pixmap to CopyFromParent, the parent window's border-pixmap is copied. Subsequent 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 window, 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 undefined 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, graphics 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 attribute 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)
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 discarded after a size change, even if a backing store or save under has been requested. 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 Expose 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 InputOutput 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 contents 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 generate 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, 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 requests (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.

Save Unders

### 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 propagated to ancestor windows when no client has the event type selected in this InputOutput 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 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 information 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 . You can set the colormap attribute to a colormap or to CopyFromParent (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 , 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-level functions specifically for creating and placing top-level windows, which are discussed in the appropriate toolkit documentation. If you do not use a toolkit, however, 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 reasonably 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.

- 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 Conventions Manual.

is the more general function that allows you to set specific window attributes when you create a window. 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 requests). InputOnly and InputOutput windows act identically in other respects (properties, grabs, input control, and so on). Extension packages can define other classes of windows.

Window InputOnly

To create an unmapped window and set its window attributes, use .

Window `XCreateWindow` Display *display Window parent int x int y unsigned int width unsigned int height unsigned int border_width int depth unsigned int class Visual *visual unsigned long valuemask XSetWindowAttributes *attributes

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

parent

  Specifies the parent window.

x

y

  Specify the x and y coordinates, which are the top-left outside corner of the created window's borders and are relative to the inside of the parent window's borders.

width

height

  Specify the width and height, which are the created window's inside dimensions and do not include the created window's borders. 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 CopyFromParent means the depth is taken from the parent.

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.

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 zero, the attributes are ignored and are not referenced.

attributes

  Specifies the structure from which the values (as specified 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.

The 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 results. For class InputOutput, the visual type and depth must be a combination supported 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 BadMatch error results. For an InputOnly window, the depth must be zero, and the visual 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 . The new window initially uses the same cursor as its parent. A new cursor can be defined for the new window by calling . 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.

Cursor Initial State
XDefineCursor

can generate BadAlloc, BadColor, BadCursor, BadMatch, BadPixmap, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.

To create an unmapped InputOutput subwindow of a given parent window, use .

Window `XCreateSimpleWindow` Display *display Window parent int x int y unsigned int width unsigned int height unsigned int border_width unsigned long border unsigned long background

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

parent

  Specifies the parent window.

x

y

  Specify the x and y coordinates, which are the top-left outside corner of the new window's borders and are relative to the inside of the parent window's borders.

width

height

  Specify the width and height, which are the created window's inside dimensions and do not include the created window's borders. 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 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. inherits its depth, class, and visual from its parent. All other window attributes, except background and border, have their default values.

can generate BadAlloc, BadMatch, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.

XCreateWindow
XCreateSimpleWindow

## Destroying Windows

Xlib provides functions that you can use to destroy a window or destroy all subwindows of a window.

To destroy a window and all of its subwindows, use .

`XDestroyWindow` Display *display Window w

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

The 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 DestroyNotify 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 constrained. 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.

can generate a BadWindow error.

To destroy all subwindows of a specified window, use .

`XDestroySubwindows` Display *display Window w

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

The function destroys all inferior windows of the specified window, in bottom-to-top stacking order. It causes the X server to generate a DestroyNotify event for each window. If any mapped subwindows were actually destroyed, 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.

can generate a BadWindow error.

XDestroyWindow
XDestroySubwindows

## Mapping Windows

A window is considered mapped if an 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 SubstructureRedirectMask 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' windows 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` Display *display Window w

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

The 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 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 function does not map the window. Otherwise, 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 undefined, 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 unmapped, 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, 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 programs and to proper interaction with window managers.

XMapWindow

can generate a BadWindow error.

To map and raise a window, use .

`XMapRaised` Display *display Window w

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

The function essentially is similar to 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 .

can generate multiple BadWindow errors.

To map all subwindows for a specified window, use .

`XMapSubwindows` Display *display Window w

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

The function maps all subwindows for a specified window in top-to-bottom stacking order. The X server generates Expose events on each newly displayed 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.

XMapWindow
XMapRaised
XMapSubwindows

## Unmapping Windows

Xlib provides functions that you can use to unmap a window or all subwindows.

To unmap a window, use .

`XUnmapWindow` Display *display Window w

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

The function unmaps the specified window and causes the X server to generate an UnmapNotify event. If the specified window is already unmapped, has no effect. Normal exposure processing on formerly obscured windows 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.

UnmapNotify Event
XUnmapWindow

can generate a BadWindow error.

To unmap all subwindows for a specified window, use .

`XUnmapSubwindows` Display *display Window w

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

The 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.

UnmapNotify Event

can generate a BadWindow error.

XUnmapWindow
XUnmapSubwindows

## 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 . The symbols for the value mask bits and the XWindowChanges structure are:

    /* Configure window value mask bits */
    #define      CWX              (1<<0)
    #define      CWY              (1<<1)
    #define      CWWidth          (1<<2)
    #define      CWHeight         (1<<3)
    #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;

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 selected SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent, the X server generates a ConfigureRequest event, and no further processing is performed. Otherwise, if some other 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 SubstructureRedirectMask 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 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 window, the window is placed at the top of the stack. If the window occludes 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.
BottomIf | If the window occludes any sibling, the window is placed at the bottom of the stack.
Opposite | 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.

Attempts to configure a root window have no effect.

To configure a window's size, location, stacking, or border, use .

`XConfigureWindow` Display *display Window w unsigned int value_mask XWindowChanges *values

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window to be reconfigured.

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 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 sibling, 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 ), 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).

can generate BadMatch, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.

To move a window without changing its size, use .

`XMoveWindow` Display *display Window w int x int y

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window to be moved.

x

y

  Specify the x and y coordinates, which define the new location of the top-left pixel of the window's border or the window itself if it has no border.

The function moves the specified window to the specified x and y coordinates, 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 selected SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent, the X server generates a ConfigureRequest event, and no further processing is performed. Otherwise, the window is moved.

can generate a BadWindow error.

To change a window's size without changing the upper-left coordinate, use .

`XResizeWindow` Display *display Window w unsigned int width unsigned int height

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

width

height

  Specify the width and height, which are the interior dimensions of the window after the call completes.

The 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 selected SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent, the X server generates a ConfigureRequest event, and no further processing is performed. If either width or height is zero, a BadValue error results.

can generate BadValue and BadWindow errors.

To change the size and location of a window, use .

`XMoveResizeWindow` Display *display Window w int x int y unsigned int width unsigned int height

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window to be reconfigured.

x

y

  Specify the x and y coordinates, which define the new position of the window relative to its parent.

width

height

  Specify the width and height, which define the interior size of the window.

The function changes the size and location of the specified window 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 selected SubstructureRedirectMask on the parent, the X server generates a ConfigureRequest event, and no further processing is performed. Otherwise, the window size and location are changed.

can generate BadValue and BadWindow errors.

To change the border width of a given window, use .

`XSetWindowBorderWidth` Display *display Window w unsigned int width

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

width

  Specifies the width of the window border.

The function sets the specified window's border width to the specified width.

can generate a BadWindow error.

XConfigureWindow
XMoveWindow
XResizeWindow
XMoveResizeWindow
XSetWindowBorderWidth

## Changing Window Stacking Order

Xlib provides functions that you can use to raise, lower, circulate, or restack windows.

To raise a window so that no sibling window obscures it, use .

`XRaiseWindow` Display *display Window w

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

The 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 ConfigureRequest event, and no processing is performed. Otherwise, the window is raised.

can generate a BadWindow error.

To lower a window so that it does not obscure any sibling windows, use .

`XLowerWindow` Display *display Window w

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

The 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 ConfigureRequest event, and no processing is performed. Otherwise, the window is lowered to the bottom of the stack.

can generate a BadWindow error.

To circulate a subwindow up or down, use .

`XCirculateSubwindows` Display *display Window w int direction

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

direction

  Specifies the direction (up or down) that you want to circulate the window. You can pass RaiseLowest or LowerHighest.

The function circulates children of the specified window in the specified direction. If you specify RaiseLowest, raises the lowest mapped child (if any) that is occluded by another child to the top of the stack. If you specify LowerHighest, lowers the highest mapped child (if any) that occludes another child to the bottom of the stack. Exposure processing is then performed on formerly obscured windows. If some other client has selected SubstructureRedirectMask on the window, the X server generates a CirculateRequest event, and no further processing is performed. If a child is actually restacked, the X server generates a CirculateNotify event.

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` Display *display Window w

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

The function raises the lowest mapped child of the specified window that is partially or completely occluded by another child. Completely unobscured children are not affected. This is a convenience function equivalent to with RaiseLowest specified.

can generate a BadWindow error.

To lower the highest mapped child of a window that partially or completely occludes another child, use .

`XCirculateSubwindowsDown` Display *display Window w

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

The 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 with LowerHighest specified.

can generate a BadWindow error.

To restack a set of windows from top to bottom, use .

`XRestackWindows` Display *display Window windows[] int nwindows

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

windows

  Specifies an array containing the windows to be restacked.

nwindows

  Specifies the number of windows to be restacked.

The function restacks the windows in the order specified, from top to bottom. The stacking order of the first window in the windows array is unaffected, 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 ConfigureRequest 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.

can generate a BadWindow error.

XRaiseWindow
XLowerWindow
XCirculateSubwindows
XCirculateSubwindowsUp
XCirculateSubwindowsDown
XRestackWindows

## Changing Window Attributes

Xlib provides functions that you can use to set window attributes. is the more general function that allows you to set one or more window attributes provided by the XSetWindowAttributes structure. The other functions 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 .

`XChangeWindowAttributes` Display *display Window w unsigned long valuemask XSetWindowAttributes *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 zero, the attributes are ignored and are not referenced. The values and restrictions are the same as for .

attributes

  Specifies the structure from which the values (as specified 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 function uses the window attributes in the XSetWindowAttributes structure to change the specified window attributes. Changing the background does not cause the window contents to be changed. To repaint the window and its background, use . 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 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 immediate 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 ). 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 maintained separately. When an event is generated, it is reported to all interested clients. However, only one client at a time can select for SubstructureRedirectMask, ResizeRedirectMask, and ButtonPressMask. If a client attempts to select any of these event masks and some other client has already selected one, a BadAccess error results. There is only one do-not-propagate-mask for a window, not one per client.

can generate BadAccess, BadColor, BadCursor, BadMatch, BadPixmap, BadValue, and BadWindow errors.

To set the background of a window to a given pixel, use .

`XSetWindowBackground` Display *display Window w unsigned long 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 background.

The function sets the background of the window to the specified pixel value. Changing the background does not cause the window contents to be changed. 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.

can generate BadMatch and BadWindow errors.

To set the background of a window to a given pixmap, use .

`XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap` Display *display Window w Pixmap background_pixmap

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

background_pixmap

  Specifies the background pixmap, ParentRelative, or None.

The 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, 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.

Resource IDs freeing
Freeing resources

can generate BadMatch, BadPixmap, and BadWindow errors. and do not change the current contents of the window.

To change and repaint a window's border to a given pixel, use .

`XSetWindowBorder` Display *display Window w unsigned long border_pixel

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

border_pixel

  Specifies the entry in the colormap.

The 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.

can generate BadMatch and BadWindow errors.

To change and repaint the border tile of a given window, use .

`XSetWindowBorderPixmap` Display *display Window w Pixmap border_pixmap

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

border_pixmap

  Specifies the border pixmap or CopyFromParent.

The 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.

Resource IDs freeing
Freeing resources

can generate BadMatch, BadPixmap, and BadWindow errors.

To set the colormap of a given window, use .

`XSetWindowColormap` Display *display Window w Colormap colormap

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

colormap

  Specifies the colormap.

The function sets the specified colormap of the specified window. The colormap must have the same visual type as the window, or a BadMatch error results.

can generate BadColor, BadMatch, and BadWindow errors.

To define which cursor will be used in a window, use .

`XDefineCursor` Display *display Window w Cursor 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 .

can generate BadCursor and BadWindow errors.

To undefine the cursor in a given window, use .

`XUndefineCursor` Display *display Window w

display

  Specifies the connection to the X server.

w

  Specifies the window.

The function undoes the effect of a previous 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.

can generate a BadWindow error.

XChangeWindowAttributes
XSetWindowBackground
Window background
XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap
XSetWindowBorder
XSetWindowBorderPixmap
XSetWindowColormap
Window defining the cursor
XDefineCursor
Window undefining the cursor
XUndefineCursor