5.2. Backdrop Style Manager
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### 5.2. Backdrop Style Manager

Figure 25. Backdrop Style Manager

Part of the Style Managers which can be called from the main Style Manager (7th button on the Front Panel). This is the clone of the same-named CDE tool. It loads backdrops from the `$NSCDE_DATADIR/backdrops` and `$FVWM_USERDIR/backdrops` (if any). From XPM backdrop templates with symbol names (with .pm extension) it will generate previews in user's `$FVWM_USERDIR/tmp` and if applied or OK'ed, will set permanent backdrop in `$FVWM_USERDIR/backer`. Backer is named after FvwmBacker(1) module which then loads this X Pixmap as numbered FVWM Colorset from the `$FVWM_USERDIR/Backdrops.fvwmgen` which will be written by Backdrop Style Manager (or by hand). Backdrops are generated in the colors of the current color theme from the active palette (Broica by default). It has different colors for a group of every four desktops in 8-colors mode and the same base color in 4-color mode. Generated backdrop in the `$FVWM_USERDIR/backer` are named `DeskN-<name-of-the-backdrop>.pm` where N is the workspace (desk) number from 1-8. In such a way it is possible to have the same backdrop pattern on more than one workspace in 8-colors mode.

In case of NsCDE setup with FVWM3 and per-monitor or shared X RandR monitor model (fvwm3 DesktopConfiguration), backdrops in `$FVWM_USERDIR/backer` will be used as a source for procedure which builds joined tiled backdrops for multiple monitors. Output of this backdrops, which is then loaded directly by FVWM function is placed in `$FVWM_USERDIR/backer/bgcache` subdirectory.

There is an option to use the same backdrop for all desks too. User can add and delete custom backdrops in `$FVWM_USERDIR/backdrops`. First action with Add button and file picker, and second action with Delete button when particular backdrop from the list on the right of the preview is selected. Delete action will fail for system-pathed backdrops with appropriate error message, while both actions will reload list of backdrops immediately. Apart from doing this, NsCDE Backdrop Style Manager has couple of features more than CDE original:

- In 8-color mode, user can select another color variant instead of default for the current workspace from the popup menu. There are four variants.

- Custom palette can be loaded instead of default one, and backdrops can be set with colors from that palette. In 8-colors mode, there is even more possibility because colors can freely change their associated workspace.

- Instead of backdrops, user can opt for a background image. If option "Use photo or picture" is selected, list of backdrops will dissapear and image backgrounds (so called "wallpapers") of PNG and XPM type will be loaded from `$NSCDE_DATADIR/photos` and from the `$FVWM_USERDIR/photos` (if any). Option to use one photo for all workspaces exists too. In this mode, backdrop-specific options will be hidden until Use photo or picture is not deselected. Add and Delete of photos/pictures is supported in a same way as for backdrops. Photos must be in PNG or XPM format to be loaded. This means that images of that type can be added to `$FVWM_USERDIR/photos` but if some other known format is added via Add button of Backdrop Style Manager, like JPG, TIFF or GIF, it will be converted to PNG on the fly. Pictures can be loaded as FVWM Colorset definition "Pixmap", "AspectPixmap" and "TiledPixmap". Default is "AspectPixmap" (in contrast to backdrops which are always TiledPixmap). This 3 options can be choosen on the popup menu.

Key Bindings:

- Ctrl+Q: Quits Backdrop Style Manager.

- Ctrl+Return: Perform a change. Like if OK was pressed.

- Sun Help and F1: Displays this help text.

- P: Applies preview of the currently selected backdrop (or photo) on the root window.

- C: Loads Custom Palette Dialog

- A: Opens File picked to choose and install new backdrop or photo

- Ctrl+A: Selects all available workspaces for change to be applied on them

- Up/Down: Selects previous or next element on the backdrop (or photo) list.

#### 5.2.1. Load Custom Palette Dialog

A Backdrop Style Manager part

Helper dialog which provides a list of palettes to the Backdrop Style Manager when user wants to use color schemes from another palette from currently used in user's setup. This is NsCDE addon functionality, not present in original CDE. Additionally, background variants from custom palettes can be used too as from the default user's palette in 8-color mode, which is also NsCDE feature not present in original CDE.

Figure 26. Backdrop Style Manager: Load Custom Palette

Key Bindings:

- Ctrl+Return: Perform a change. Like if OK was pressed.

- Escape: Quits Dialog.

- Sun Help and F1: Displays this help text.

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