'''KWin''' allows the end-user to define rules to alter the behavior of an application's windows.
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For example, when an application is started, it can be forced to always run on ''Virtual Desktop #2.'' Or a defect in an application can be worked-around by using a rule to, say, always force the window on top of all others.
==Overview== <!--T:1-->
This page will define the different settings and the attributes. For the impatient folks, working examples will be listed. Whenever possible, screen shots will be used to show example settings.
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: {{Tip|Panels can also be affected.}}
'''KWin''' allows the end-user to define rules to alter an application's window attributes.
==KWin Rule Editor==
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For example, when an application is started, it can be forced to always run on ''Virtual Desktop 2''. Or a defect in an application can be worked-around to force the window above others.
[[Image:kwin-rules-ordering.png|350px|center]]
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Step-by-step [[Special:myLanguage/KWin_Rules_Examples|examples]] are provided along with detailed information on using the [[Special:myLanguage/KWin_Rules#KWin_Rule_Editor|'''KWin''' Rule Editor]] to specify [[Special:myLanguage/KWin_Rules_Window_Matching|Window Matching]] and [[Special:myLanguage/KWin_Rules_Window_Attributes|Window Attributes]].
There are several ways one can invoke the Rules editor. Below are a couple:
==Examples and Application Workaround== <!--T:5-->
* Right-click on the title-bar of any window, choose <menuchoice>Configure Window Behavior ...</menuchoice> and in the '''Configure''' window, select <menuchoice>Window Rules</menuchoice> or
As the name implies, <menuchoice>Window matching</menuchoice> is used to specify criteria to match one or more windows. The other three tabs are used to alter the characteristics of the matching windows.
===Invoking the KWin Rule Editor=== <!--T:9-->
===Rules===
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[[Image:kwin-rules-ordering.png|350px|center]]
====Evaluation====
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There are several ways to invoke the '''KWin''' Rule Editor. Below are two:
KWin evaluates the rules when an application starts and after editing rules. Any matching rule's attribute(s) override the application's corresponding attribute(s).
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* Right-click on the title-bar of any window, choose <menuchoice>More Actions</menuchoice>, <menuchoice>Configure Special Window Settings...</menuchoice> or
The <menuchoice>Window Matching</menuchoice> tab provides a series of matching-criteria fields used to identify application windows:
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When an application starts (or the rules are modified), '''KWin''' evaluates the rules from the top of the list to the bottom. For all rules which match a window, the collective set of attributes are applied to the window, then the window is displayed.
* <menuchoice>Window class (application)</menuchoice> - match this window and all its children windows.
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** and <menuchoice>Match whole window class</menuchoice>
Should two or more matching rules enable the same attribute, the setting in the ''first'' rule in the list is used.
* <menuchoice>Window role</menuchoice> - restrict the match to the function of the window (e.g. a ''main window'', a ''chat window'', etc.)
* <menuchoice>Window types</menuchoice> - restrict the match to the type of window: '''Normal Window''', '''Dialog Window''', etc.
* <menuchoice>Window title</menuchoice> - restrict the match to the title of the window.
* <menuchoice>Machine (hostname)</menuchoice> - restrict the match to the host name associated with the window.
: {{Tip|While it's possible to manually enter the above information, the preferred method is to use the <menuchoice>Detect Window Properties</menuchoice> button.}}
For each field, the following operators can be applied against the field value:
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{{Tip|You can tailor children windows for the application by placing the more restrictive rules first - see the [[Special:myLanguage/KWin_Rules_Examples#Application_on_all_Desktops_and_Handle_One_Child_Window_Uniquely|Kopete and Kopete Chat Window]] example.}}
* <menuchoice>Regular Expression</menuchoice> - Qt's regular expressions are implemented. For additional information, web search ''qt regex nokia''.
=====Detect Window Properties=====
===Rule Editor=== <!--T:22-->
[[Image:kwin-detect-window.png|350px|center]]
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[[Image:kwin-rule-editor.png|350px|center]]
The <menuchoice>Detect Window Properties</menuchoice> function simplifies the process of entering the matching-criteria.
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The editor is composed of four tabs:
# For the application you'd like to create a rule, start the application.
# Next, in the <menuchoice>Window matching</menuchoice> tab, set the number of seconds of delay before the <menuchoice>Detect Window Properties</menuchoice> function starts. The default is zero seconds.
# Click on <menuchoice>Detect Window Properties</menuchoice> and
# When the mouse-cursor turns to cross-hairs, place it inside the application window and left-click.
# A new window is presented with information about the selected window:
#* '''Class'''
#* '''Role'''
#* '''Type'''
#* '''Title'''
#* '''Machine (hostname)'''
Click the <menuchoice>OK</menuchoice> button to back-fill the <menuchoice>Window Matching</menuchoice> criteria.
By using a combination of the information, you can tailor whether a rule applies to an entire application (by '''Class''') or a to a specific window '''Type''' within the '''Class''' - say a '''Toolbar'''.
===Window Attributes===
[[Image:kwin-window-attributes.png|350px|center]]
The attributes which can be set are grouped in three tabs:
Each attribute has additional settings which determine when they're applied and depending on the attribute, there may be an additional argument.
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As the name implies, <menuchoice>Window matching</menuchoice> is used to specify criteria to match one or more windows. The other three tabs are used to alter the attributes of the matching windows.
====Attributes====
{{Tip|Using <menuchoice>Detect Window Properties</menuchoice> back-fills values for attributes. For example the height and width arguments of the '''Size''' attribute is set to the height and width of the detected window.}}
{{Tip|'''Yes/No''' arguments are used to toggle attributes. For example, if a window's default behavior is to start horizontally maximized and you wish to disable this behavior, specify '''No''' as the argument to <menuchoice>Maximized horizontally</menuchoice>, on the other hand if you wish to force a window to start horizontally maximized, specify '''Yes'''.}}
=====Size & Position=====
;Position
: Position the window's upper left corner at the specified x,y coordinate.
:{{Tip|'''KWin''''s origin, (0,0), is the upper left.}}
: These attributes are used to toggle the maximum horizontal/minimum horizontal/full-screen window attribute.
;Desktop
: Place the window on the specified ''(Virtual) Desktop''. Use '''All Desktops''' to place the window on all ''Virtual Desktops''.
;Minimized, Shaded
: Toggle the Minimize and Shading window attribute. For example, a window can be started Minimized or if it is started Minimized, it can be forced to not.
: {{Tip|Maximized attribute is emulated by using both '''Maximized horizontally''' and '''Maximized vertically''' or '''Initial placement''' with the '''Maximizing''' argument.}}
;Initial placement
: Override the global window placement strategy with one of the following:
:* '''Default''' - use the global window placement strategy.
:* '''No Placement''' - top-left corner.
:* '''Smart''' - place where no other window exists.
:* '''Maximizing''' - start the window maximized.
:* '''Cascade'''
:* '''Centered'''
:* '''Random'''
:* '''Top-Left Corner'''
:* '''Under Mouse'''
:* '''On Main Window''' - restrict placement of a child window to the boundaries of the parent window.
;Ignore requested geometry
: Toggle whether to accept or ignore the window's requested geometry and ignore the global placement strategy.
;Minimum size, Maximum size
: The minimum and maximum size allowed for the window.
;Obey geometry restrictions
: Toggle whether to adhere to the window's requested aspect ratio.
=====Arrangement & Access=====
;Keep above, Keep below
: Toggle whether to keep the window above/below all others.
;Autogroup with identical
: Toggle the grouping (commonly known as ''tabbing'') of windows.
;Autogroup in foreground
: Toggle whether to make the window active when it is added to the group.
;Autogroup by ID
: Create a group via a user-defined ID. More than one rule can share the same ID to allow for seemingly unrelated windows to be grouped.
;Tiling
: Override the default window behavior to either '''Tiled''' or '''Floating'''.
;Skip taskbar
: Toggle whether to display the window in the taskbar.
;Skip pager
: Toggle whether to display the window in the virtual desktop pager.
Each window rule has user specified [[Special:myLanguage/KWin_Rules_Window_Matching|Window Matching]] criteria. '''KWin''' uses the criteria to determine whether the rule is applicable for an application.
Along with Window Matching criteria, each window rule has a set of [[Special:myLanguage/KWin_Rules_Window_Attributes|Window Attributes]]. The attributes override the corresponding application's settings and are applied before the window is displayed by '''KWin'''.
''e.g. Thunderbird on one desktop and composition window on any''
KWin allows the end-user to define rules to alter an application's window attributes.
For example, when an application is started, it can be forced to always run on Virtual Desktop 2. Or a defect in an application can be worked-around to force the window above others.
When an application starts (or the rules are modified), KWin evaluates the rules from the top of the list to the bottom. For all rules which match a window, the collective set of attributes are applied to the window, then the window is displayed.
Should two or more matching rules enable the same attribute, the setting in the first rule in the list is used.
Tip
You can tailor children windows for the application by placing the more restrictive rules first - see the Kopete and Kopete Chat Window example.
Rule Editor
The editor is composed of four tabs:
Window matching
Size & Position
Arrangement & Access
Appearance & Fixes
As the name implies, Window matching is used to specify criteria to match one or more windows. The other three tabs are used to alter the attributes of the matching windows.
Tip
Panels can also be affected.
Window Matching
Each window rule has user specified Window Matching criteria. KWin uses the criteria to determine whether the rule is applicable for an application.
Window Attributes
Along with Window Matching criteria, each window rule has a set of Window Attributes. The attributes override the corresponding application's settings and are applied before the window is displayed by KWin.
