NAME

switcher − switch attention between multiple desktops on the same physical screen

SYNOPSIS

switcher [ −d frame-buffer ] [ −s n| l| r| i| o| f ] [ −m x y ] [ −n ] [ −e 0| 1 ]

DESCRIPTION

Switcher is used as an alternative to adjacentscreens for getting between desktops on the Prism.  Clicking the switcher icon gets you to another desktop using some amusing video-wipe animation.  When using walking menus, a menu is available to invoke the switch as well.  switcher can also be used to simply set the enable plane to 0 or 1 should it get out of wack. 

OPTIONS

−d frame-buffer
The frame buffer is a frame buffer device name, such as /dev/fb, /dev/cgfour0 or /dev/bwtwo0, on which the desktop that you want to get to resides.  This name is the same one supplied to suntools.  The −d flag is optional because if not specified, the default device is /dev/fb. 

−s n| l| r| i| o| f
The −s flag specifies the type of animation used when switching: n(ow), l(eft wipe), r(ight wipe), i(tunnel In), o(tunnel Out), or f(ade).  The −s flag is optional because if not specified, The −s flag is optional because if not specified, the default animation is to switch immeditately, i.e., now mode. 

−m x y
The −m indicates what the mouse position should be on the destination desktop after the switch.  An (x y) value-pair of (−1 −1) says to use the position of the mouse on the desktop at the time of the switch as the mouse position on the destination desktop.  The −m flag is optional because if not specified, the default is (−1 −1). 

−n The −n flag means no switcher icon is wanted so do the switch right now and exit switcher after the switch.  This is handy if you want to switch from a root menu command. 

−e 0|1
The −e flag causes the overlay enable plane of the device specified with the -d flag to be set to either 0 (show color) or 1 (show black and white).  switcher run with this option has nothing to do with SunView, only the enable plane is set. 

EXAMPLE

A common multiple desktop configuration for the Prism is one monochrome and one color desktop.   You could set up an instance of suntools on each plane group in the following way:

1.Invoke suntools in the color plane group by running:

% suntools -8bit_color_only -toggle_enable

This starts suntools on the default frame buffer named /dev/fb but limits access to the color plane group. 

2.In a shelltool, run:

% suntools -d /dev/bwtwo0 -toggle_enable &

This starts suntools in the overlay plane that is accessed by /dev/bwtwo0. 

3.In a shelltool on the original desktop run:

% switcher -d /dev/bwtwo0 -s i &

Clicking on the switcher icon when it is visible moves you to the /dev/bwtwo desktop. 

4.In a shelltool on the /dev/bwtwo desktop run:

% switcher -s o &

Clicking on the switcher icon when it is visible moves you back to the /dev/fb desktop. 

FILES

/usr/bin/switcher

SEE ALSO

suntools(1), shelltool(1), adjacentscreens(1)

Sun Release 3.2  —  Last change: 18 July 1986