Any configuration you want can be done in WPrefs. It's docked by default (the slightly greeish icon at the top right) when you first start wmaker. Wallpaper settings are definetly there. I'm not sure what you mean by the 'run command' thing. If you mean the equivalent of the windows start -> run then the command line (xterm) is what you want. I think it's also docked by default. It's the icon of a computer monitor with the wmaker logo (the circle with a jagged line through it) displayed on it. It's also at the top right.

yes, i did mean the 'run command' utility, such that i've seen in kde and gnome by pressing alt-f2. what i was wondering was if i could configure this shortcut key. looking at the prefernces menu, there are various things availble to shortcut to, as it were, but not for 'run command'...the reason is that i like to this rather than use an xterm. if i use an xterm, the more programs i choose to run, the more xterms i have to have lying around. all in all, though, i'm impressed with wmaker. i changed the background with the wmbg [or wmsetbg, i can't remember] command.

You can add a "&" character to the end of the command. For example to load emacs type "emacs filename&". This will let you use that particular prompt again. All programs running from that xterm will close when you close the xterm, though (unless you use nohup).

Oh, you can also use the menu (right click on b/g) if you just want to start a program without any commandline options.

thanks...i'd not thought of appending an ampersand to the end of it. i think that wmaker is the best window manager, and far better than any desktop environment, due to it's lack of extra unnecessary programs that desktop managers have. wmaker is great

There IS an option to make a shortcut to the run command. You must have missed it. I set it to Alt+F2 as well. Its in the WPrefs program. Look harder.

hm...I still can't seem to find this shortcut. i'm using windowmaker 0.80.1, and under 'keyboard shortcuts', i don't seem to have a possiblilty for the 'run command...'. all i've got is various shortcuts &c..maybe i'm not using a recent enough version? also, does anyone know how to change the keymap settings for windowmaker? the tty appears to know what keymap setting [uk] i'm using because i told the kernel, but windowmaker [or is it the fault of X?] appears not to.
thanks for your help so far

Look in the menu editing section of WPrefs. You can apply shorcut keys to different menu options, and the "Run" option should be in your menu. Just click on it and change the keybinding.

Do you mean this menu? I can't seem to find a "run command" to bind a shortcut key to -maybe it's called something different, i'm being blind, or perhaps it's not on my version.

No, look in the menu from the button to the left of the "keyboard". Its the button that shows "Application", "New Entry" "Gimp".

aha ... yes, before i was at that menu, but clicking away *in* the wprefs box in vain - i didn't realise what to do. thank you very much. now all i have to do is sort out the keymap - anyone got any ideas? ..i've googled for it, to no avail. thanks a lot, contrasutra for the shortcut key help

blackbox is really light (thats what i use) and it doesnt have all the clutter with icons and stuff on the destop you just iconify stuff and then right click to see the menu and you can change the themes and stuff might wanna try it out also