Is it possible to get ALL wmaker icons (dockapps also) to stay at ONE SIDE of the screen only? Now they are spread around everywhere, wasting good desktop space. I know there is a configure option for this in wmaker, but setting the icon positioning to the right gets them next to the dockapps, not below in the same "row".

I don't quite follow you -- what exactly do you mean when you say that icons are "wasting" desktop space? Have you tried "Icon Preferences" in WPrefs? http://largo.windowmaker.org/features/WPrefs4.php You can make the icon size smaller, which should "save" some desktop space.

Personally, I've disabled Dock in WPrefs "Workspace Preferences" ( http://largo.windowmaker.org/features/WPrefs7.php ) and arranged all quicklaunch icons around Clip, but you can also drag Dock and Clip to the same side of the sreen, like in this screenshot: http://windowmaker.org/imageview.php?cat=big&id=47 or even drag them next to one another. Would this be a solution to your "desktop space wasting" problem?

You can also experiment with the Clip options that you can reach by right-clicking Clip, such as "attracting" application icons while the app is running. http://largo.windowmaker.org/features/clip.php

"Wasted":
When wmaker is fired up for the first time there are icons (are they called icons?) to the right (wprefs etc), top left corner (workspaces) and bottom (applications). I like to see all of them and use the "Don't cover icons" option i wprefs. When you maximize a window it expands between the icons or the edge of the screen. If all icons was arranged in one row at the right (for example), a maximized window would use all available space (almost), using 3 of 4 edges of the screen.

Resizing icons make dockapps unusable and icons look like sh*t...

Well, if you double-click the title bar of active window with mouse (or if you navigate wmaker using keyboard only, associate a hotkey shortcut to the "shade" and "unshade" actions using wmakerconf), the window "shades" revealing desktop and all the icons. I find this a pretty handy way to view desktop and icons. (Or you can create in WPrefs hotkey shortcuts for miniaturizing and maximizing active windows.)

Anyway, it appears to me that what you want is this: Either disable Dock in WPrefs (like I do) and drag Clip to whichever corner you prefer or, alternatively, drag Clip and Dock next to each other. Then arrange your dockapps and quicklaunch icons around Clip (or Clip and Dock). Then right-click Clip, select "Clip Options -> Autoattract Icons". Then right-click Clip again and select "Attract icons". Now all your wmaker icons should be in one big bundle. Isn't this what you asked for?

I personally use the icon size 56x56 but, then again, I also use GKrellM so I don't need many dockapps (at the moment I have only wmrack and wmshutdown active -- both look just fine in 56x56).

"it appears to me that what you want is this: Either disable Dock in WPrefs (like I do) and drag Clip to whichever corner you prefer or, alternatively, drag Clip and Dock next to each other. Then arrange your dockapps and quicklaunch icons around Clip (or Clip and Dock). Then right-click Clip, select "Clip Options -> Autoattract Icons". Then right-click Clip again and select "Attract icons". Now all your wmaker icons should be in one big bundle. Isn't this what you asked for?"

Hey, this is my chance to learn wmaker, i use icewm and fluxbox.

Where is the option in wmpreferences to disable the dock? i can't find it, i've gone thru it 3 times.

See the WPrefs7.php link in my earlier post. Then see the Dock/Clip option with two icons underneath, which you can click to disable/enable them. You need to restart wmaker for the changes to take effect. But before that, drag the terminal and WPrefs icons next to Clip or they will be gone with Dock.

Window Maker is a nice themable window manager and it has this useful graphical configuration program WPrefs, but it takes some time to learn what you can do with it. Largo's Window Maker page http://largo.windowmaker.org/ offers a quick introduction.

SOLVED!

hehe, i used your second option and got everything fixed, went to wmakerconf and
iron out some things.

is there a way to increase the fonts size in the title bar as with 'antialias' in fluxbox?

Quite likely the answer is: yes. I think that "wmakerconf" (which is a different program from WPrefs) has some font configuration options. And, of course, there are always the config files, which you can edit with a text editor. Wmaker's config files are quite human-readable.


Edit:

Indeed, you can graphically change the window title font in wmakerconf (select Appearance section and Windows tab). In addition to wmakerconf, other related applications of interest you might consider installing are wterm, wmshutdown (which requires "chmod 4755 /sbin/shutdown" to work), and wsoundserver & wsoundprefs (for associating sounds to system events). There are also several "dockapps" for those who like that sort of thing. I personally like the way wmaker looks and feels and the way you can resize windows by grabbing either of the lower corners of a window with mouse. (I've also noticed that you can move the icons that appear to resist moving by grabbing them from the lower corner.)

Thanks Dead Parrot for all the input, it sure makes a difference.

Q: if you have windows opened, is the only way to reach the debian menu, by shading the windows?

Yes, there are other options available. You can "miniaturize" window into icon by right-clicking the title bar and choosing this option from the drop-down menu. Double-clicking the icon maximizes the window again. You can also hide windows and you can associate keyboard shortcuts to all these functions. I haven't yet explored all the possibilities -- I'm a relatively fresh convert to wmaker myself.


Edit:

The drop-down menu shows that the shortcut to "miniaturizing" is "Alt" and "m" pressed simultaneously, and the shortcut to hide windows is "Alt" and "h" (but I don't know yet how to make windows visible again). I must study these shortcuts a bit more when I've got idle time. (Which reminds me that there are other things to do right now. )

hehe, it must be real slow, when we have nothing better to do than try a new wm on a hot, muggy, sunday afternoon.

It worked perfectly! wmakerconf changed the fonts size in the title bar, apps menu, etc. thanks again.

* I've been lowering the window at the title bar just a bit, enough to click and get the debian apps menu, and later i just maximize it.

"The drop-down menu shows that the shortcut to "miniaturizing" is "Alt" and "m" pressed simultaneously, and the shortcut to hide windows is "Alt" and "h" (but I don't know yet how to make windows visible again). I must study these shortcuts a bit more when I've got idle time."

I just tried them, all you have to do is: middle-click on the desktop and it appears again. hehe, this is fun!

Edit notes: playing with the function keys i found that:

F11 = gives the list of the other screens/apps hidden or otherwise
F12 = the Debian menu, but when you click on it, you have to keep the left button pressed so it doesn't disappear.
Alt+Tab = obtained from wmconfig

Alt + down cursor key lowers the active window so that icons and other windows become visible.
Alt + up cursor key raises the active window again.
Ctrl + Alt + left/right cursor key switches workspaces.

In addition, there are several other functions that can be associated with keyboard shortcuts. Maximizing the active window with a keyboard shortcut will definitely be one trick that I'll teach wmaker to do.