---
name: "FvwmM4"
section: "5fvwm95"
platform: "linux"
package: "fvwm95"
version: "2.0.43ba-22"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/FvwmM4/5fvwm95"
---

# FvwmM4(5fvwm95)

the FVWM M4 pre-processor

## NAME

FvwmM4 - the FVWM  M4 pre-processor

## SYNOPSIS

FvwmM4 is spawned by fvwm, so no command line invocation will work.

## DESCRIPTION

When called, this module will attempt to have M4 pre-process the file specified in its invocation, and then have fvwm read the resulting file.

## INVOCATION

FvwmM4 can be invoked by inserting the line 'FvwmM4' in the .fvwmrc file. It can also be called from a menu or mouse binding. If the user wants his entire .fvwmrc file pre-processed with FvwmM4, then fvwm should be invoked as fvwm -f "FvwmM4 .fvwmrc". Note that the argument to the option "-f" should be enclosed  in quotes, and no other quoting should be used. For example, a typical invocation might be

```
fvwm -f "FvwmM4 -m4-squote { -m4-equote } .fvwmrc"
```

Some options can be specified on the command line:

- \-m4-prefix

  I think this makes all the m4 directives require the prefix "m4\_".

- \-m4opt

  Lets you pass an option to the m4 program.

- \-m4-squote

  Lets you change the m4 start-of-quote character to *character*.

- \-m4-equote

  Lets you change the m4 end-of-quote character to *character*.

- \-m4prog

  Instead of invoking "m4", fvwm will invoke *name*.

- \-debug

  Causes the temporary file create by m4 to be retained. This file is usually called "/tmp/fvwmrcXXXXXX"

## CONFIGURATION OPTIONS

FvwmM4 defines some values for use in the pre-processor file:

- TWM\_TYPE

  Always set to "fvwm".

- SERVERHOST

  The name of the machine running the X Server.

- CLIENTHOST

  The name of the machine running fvwm.

- HOSTNAME

  The hostname of the machine running fvwm. Generally the same as CLIENTHOST.

- OSTYPE

  The operating system for CLIENTHOST.

- USER

  The name of the person running fvwm.

- VERSION

  The X11 version.

- REVISION

  The X11 revision number.

- VENDOR

  The X server vendor.

- RELEASE

  The X server release number.

- WIDTH

  The screen width in pixels.

- HEIGHT

  The screen height in pixels.

- X\_RESOLUTION

  Some distance/pixel measurement for the horizontal direction, I think.

- Y\_RESOLUTION

  Some distance/pixel measurement for the vertical direction, I think.

- PLANES

  Number of color planes for the X server display

- BITS\_PER\_RGB

  Number of bits in each rgb triplet.

- CLASS

  The X11 visual class, ie PsuedoColor.

- COLOR

  Yes or No, Yes if the display class is neither StaticGrey or GreyScale.

- FVWM\_VERSION

  The fvwm version number, ie 2.0

- OPTIONS

  Some combination of SHAPE, XPM, NO\_SAVEUNDERS, and M4, as defined in configure.h at compile time.

- FVWMDIR

  The directory where fvwm looks for .fvwmrc and modules by default, as determined at compile time.

## EXAMPLE PROLOG

```
define(TWM_TYPE,``fvwm'')dnl
define(SERVERHOST,``spx20'')dnl
define(CLIENTHOST,``grumpy'')dnl
define(HOSTNAME,``grumpy'')dnl
define(OSTYPE,``SunOS'')dnl
define(USER,``nation'')dnl
define(HOME,``/local/homes/dsp/nation'')dnl
define(VERSION,``11'')dnl
define(REVISION,``0'')dnl
define(VENDOR,``HDS human designed systems, inc. (2.1.2-D)'')dnl
define(RELEASE,``4'')dnl
define(WIDTH,``1280'')dnl
define(HEIGHT,``1024'')dnl
define(X_RESOLUTION,``3938'')dnl
define(Y_RESOLUTION,``3938'')dnl
define(PLANES,``8'')dnl
define(BITS_PER_RGB,``8'')dnl
define(CLASS,``PseudoColor'')dnl
define(COLOR,``Yes'')dnl
define(FVWM_VERSION,``1.24l'')dnl
define(OPTIONS,``SHAPE XPM M4 '')dnl
define(FVWMDIR,``/local/homes/dsp/nation/modules'')dnl
```

## AUTHOR

FvwmM4 is the result of a random bit mutation on a hard disk, presumably a result of a  cosmic-ray or some such thing.