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From: tonyw@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM (Anthony Walker)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x.motif
Subject: -geometry behavior
Message-ID: <12110004@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM>
Date: 21 Nov 90 23:12:02 GMT
Organization: HP SESD, Fort Collins, CO
Lines: 87




I'm confused about the behavior of the -geometry command line option
with Motif applications and mwm or vuewm.  The format is:

-geometry +-x+-y

when specifying only location.  + arguments reference the top left corner
of the root window and - arguments reference the bottom right corner of the
root window.  The confusing part is what corner of the client is referred
to.  I have a few examples below that yield inconsistent conclusions:

1) xclock -geometry +10+10

   RESULT:      ----------------------
		|                    |
		|  ----              |
		|  |  |xclock        |
		|  ----              |
		|                    |
		|                    |
		|  root window       |
		|--------------------|

   CONCLUSION: Place the top left corner of the application 10 pixels
	       away from the top left corner of the root window in both
	       dimensions.  Easy enough!



2) xclock -geometry -10-10

   RESULT:      ----------------------
		|                    |
		|                    |
		|                    |
		|                    |
		|                    |
		|                 ---|
		|                 |  |
		|-----------------|--|

   CONCLUSION: I expected that the bottom right corner of the application
	       would be 10 pixels from the bottom right corner of the root
	       window.  Instead it is 0 pixels from the corner.
	       
	       So this led me to conclude that "-" implies bottom right
	       corner of the root window but top-left corner of the 
	       application.  Since the client would be off screen with
	       this specification the window manager moved the client
	       just enough so all would fit.



3) xclock -geometry -500-500

   RESULT:      ----------------------
		|                    |
		|                    |
		|                    |
		|                    |
		|      ------        |
		|      |    |        |
		|      |   .|        |
		|      ------        |
		|                    |
		|                    |
		|                    |
		|--------------------|

   The dot in the xclock (near the lower right corner) shows where
   a point 500 pixels left and 500 pixels above the bottom right corner
   of the root window would be.

   CONCLUSION: Since the point specified (-500,-500) is approximately
	       in the lower right corner of the client it leads me to
	       conclude that the spec references approximately the lower
	       right corner of the client.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


So what is the proper model?  Please call me at telnet-229-3029
or email me directly at tonyw@hpfccg.sde.hp.com if you have an explanation.

Tony Walker