---
name: "XmScaleSetTicks"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "openmotif"
version: "2.3.8-4"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/XmScaleSetTicks"
---

# XmScaleSetTicks(3)

A Scale function that controls tick marks

## NAME

**XmScaleSetTicks** — A Scale function that controls tick marks

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <Xm/Scale.h>
void XmScaleSetTicks(
Widget scale,
int big_every,
Cardinal num_medium,
Cardinal num_small,
Dimension size_big,
Dimension size_medium,
Dimension size_small);
```

## DESCRIPTION

**XmScaleSetTicks** controls the number, location, and size of the tick marks on a Scale. Each tick mark is a SeparatorGadget oriented perpendicular to the Scale's orientation. For example, if the Scale is oriented horizontally, the tick marks will be oriented vertically.

If you specify tick marks for a Scale and then change the Scale's orientation, you will have to do the following:

- •

  Remove all the tick marks. To remove tick marks from a Scale, you must destroy (with **XtDestroyChildren**) the SeparatorGadget tick marks. The first two children of a Scale are its title and scroll bar, and all additional children are tick marks.

- •

  Recreate the tick marks by calling **XmScaleSetTicks**.

- *scale*

  Specifies the Scale widget ID that is getting the tick marks.

- *big\_every*

  Specifies the number of scale values between big ticks.

- *num\_medium*

  Specifies the number of medium ticks between big values.

- *num\_small*

  Specifies the number of small ticks between medium values.

- *size\_big*

  Specifies the size (either width or height) of the big ticks.

- *size\_medium*

  Specifies the size (either width or height) of the medium ticks.

- *size\_small*

  Specifies the size (either width or height) of the small ticks.

For a complete definition of Scale and its associated resources, see [**XmScale**(3)](/XmScale/3.md).

## RELATED

[**XmScale**(3)](/XmScale/3.md).