---
name: "xfm"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "xfm"
version: "1.5.4-3"
release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xfm/5"
---

# xfm(5)

file format for application window contents of xfm

## NAME

xfm - file format for application window contents of xfm

## DESCRIPTION

Xfm - the X file and application manager - has its own format to save the content of the application window, which is described in this file.

## FORMAT

One entry per line. Lines starting with a hash (#) and empty lines are ignored. Each line consists out of six fields, separated by colons (:). Backslashes and colons within those fields have to be escaped using backslashes.

## FIELDS

### Label

The label printed below the icon in the application window is the first part.

### Directory

Directory The second part is the directory the specified action is executed in. An empty string is treated as the *$HOME*-directory, which is also substituted for a leading tilde followed by a slash (~/).

If this line has the special drop\_action **LOAD**, this is not the directory, but the next xfm file to display.

### empty compatibility field

This field is only here for compatibility reasons. It has to be empty.

### icon

The 4th field is the icon to show. Unless this field is empty, **xfm** will search in the **pixmapPath** and the **bitmapPath** for this file and use it as icon for this item. The icon has to be in **XBM** or in the **XPM** format.

### push action

This field (the 5th) contains the action to execute when the specified field is double-clicked or otherwise activated. Unless it is one of the special commands listed below, it is given as a whole to the shell. Any parts encapsulated in percent signs (%) are substituted with user input. Default values can be specified with two hyphens (--) within the token.

The special commands are:

- **LOAD**

  The directory field is interpreted as filename of a xfm file which replaces the current contents of the application window. If the directory is the special value **XFM-DEVICES**, the content of the application window are generated out of the information of the [**xfm\_dev**(5)](/xfm_dev/5.md) file instead.

- **OPEN**

  The directory specified in the directory field is opened in a new file window.

- **EDIT** *filename*

  Start the default editor with the specified filename.

### drop action

This field (the 6th) contains the action to execute if some files are dragged from the file window and dropped into this item. The command is given to a shell, and the files are given as arguments.

## EXAMPLES

Start a xterm with *$HOME*-directory as current directory. The icon is xterm.xpm. Nothing can be dragged here.\
 **Xterm:::xterm.xpm:exec term:**\
 Open the special menu for showing mountable devices:\
 **Devices:XFM-DEVICES:::LOAD:**\
 Open a file window with the home directory:\
 **Home::::OPEN:**\
 Open **/floppy** in a new file window:\
 **Diskettenlaufwerk:/floppy::dev\_floppy.xpm:OPEN:**\
 Execute an xterm with a user specified command:\
 **execute::::xterm -e %command--watch date%:**\
 Grab a screenshot when pushed, show drag&dropped images with xli:\
 **picture::::import \`date +\\%Y\\%m\\%d\\%M\\%H\\%S.png\`:xli "$@"**\
 Process dropped files with transfig:\
 **transfig:::app.xpm::transfig -L %Language\\:--eepic% "$@"**

## FILES

- ***$HOME*/.xfm/Apps**

  Unless otherwise specified in the X resources, this is the file opened when Xfm starts.

- **/etc/X11/xfm/Apps**

  Unless otherwise specified in the X resources, this file is opened when the previous one fails.

## SEE ALSO

[**xfm**(1)](/xfm/1.md), [**xfm\_dev**(5)](/xfm_dev/5.md), [**xfmtype**(1)](/xfmtype/1.md), **xbm**(5), **xpm**(5).