FvwmConsole(1)

NAME
FvwmConsole - an FVWM command input interface

SYNOPSIS
FvwmConsole is spawned by fvwm, so no command line invocation will work.

DESCRIPTION
FvwmConsole allows the user to type fvwm configuration commands interactively, and have them executed immediately. This tool is particularly useful for testing new configuration ideas, or for implementing temporary changes to your environment.

INVOCATION
FvwmConsole must be spawned as a module by fvwm. FvwmConsole takes all xterm(1) options.

FvwmConsole can be invoked by inserting the line 'Module FvwmConsole' in the .fvwm2rc file. This can be placed on a line by itself, if FvwmConsole is to be spawned during fvwm's initialization, or can be bound to a menu or mouse button or keystroke to invoke it later. Fvwm will search directory specified in the ModulePath configuration option to attempt to locate FvwmConsole.

CONFIGURATION OPTIONS
FvwmConsole uses xterm(1). All resources set for xterm are inherited unless overridden by command line options.
    Module FvwmConsole -g 40x10 -fg black -bg green3
A different terminal emulator can be specified with the -terminal option. However, only terminal programs that understand the options -name, -title and -e can be used.
    Module FvwmConsole -terminal rxvt
Previous versions of FvwmConsole supported a -e option to choose a different front-end. Although this option is still provided for backwards compatibility its use is discouraged unless you know exactly what you are doing.
    Module FvwmConsole -e FvwmConsoleC.pl
(see FvwmConsoleC.pl(1)).

Also X resources can be set in your ~/.Xdefaults file:
    FvwmConsole*VT100*geometry: 40x4
    FvwmConsole*font: 7x14

COMMAND EDITING
There are a few options. If the GNU readline library is available, it can be used.

If Perl5 is installed, FvwmConsoleC.pl can be used as a command editor. This can be accomplished by either copying FvwmConsoleC.pl to fvwmlib directory as FvwmConsoleC or invoking FvwmConsole with -e option. For example:
    Module FvwmConsole -e FvwmConsoleC.pl
If neither one is installed, a simple input reading function which doesn't have editing capabilities is used.

GNU readline and FvwmConsoleC.pl have some frequent used commands in common as default. These commands are similar to emacs. For more details, refer GNU readline man and info pages, and FvwmConsoleC.pl man page.
    Cntl-A
        - beginning of line
    Cntl-B
        - previous char
    Cntl-D
        - delete char
    Cntl-E
        - end of line
    Cntl-F
        - next char
    Cntl-H
        - backspace
    Cntl-K
        - erase to the end of line
    Cntl-N
        - next line
    Cntl-P
        - previous line
    Cntl-R
        - search reverse
    Cntl-U
        - delete line
    Meta-B
        - previous word
    Meta-F
        - next word
    Esc <
        - beginning of history
    Esc >
        - end of history

EXITING
FvwmConsole can be stopped by entering the EOF character (usually CTRL-D).

Note! Do not use the "quit" command, as this is an fvwm builtin: typing "quit" at the FvwmConsole command line will cause fvwm to exit.

COPYRIGHTS
Copyright 1996, Toshi Isogai. No guarantees or warranties are provided. Use this program at your own risk. Permission to use this program for any purpose is given, as long as the copyright is kept intact.

SEE ALSO
xterm(1), FvwmConsoleC.pl(1), GNU Readline library

AUTHOR
Toshi Isogai