Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!bloom-beacon!EXPO.LCS.MIT.EDU!rws
From: rws@EXPO.LCS.MIT.EDU (Bob Scheifler)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: Proper way to set the root window's colormap?
Message-ID: <8910121410.AA19693@expire.lcs.mit.edu>
Date: 12 Oct 89 14:10:26 GMT
References: <40151@bu-cs.BU.EDU>
Sender: daemon@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 16


    I need to know what the "proper" way to set the root window's colormap
    and/or pixmap is.

The ICCCM has this to say:

Window managers will ensure that the root window's colormap field
contains a colormap that is suitable for clients to inherit;
in particular the colormap will provide distinguishable colors
for BlackPixel and WhitePixel.

From this I think one should infer that the window manager owns the colormap;
any mechanism for allowing clients to change it would at present be nonstandard.

Changing the root window background is less problematic, but you may be
fighting against a window/desktop manager's style guide in doing so.