Icons are static in configuration. FvwmButtons doesn't implement drag and drop protocol. It can be changed and customized in a two ways: first one, 8 of 10 icons (minus swallowed applets clock, calendar and mail that is) can be dinamically changed by writing button actions and icon paths in FrontPanel.actions in user's $FVWM_USERDIR and this will be applied after reading static configuration and running Front Panel for a piece of a second. The other way (full control) is by copying configuration file from $NSCDE_ROOT/config to $FVWM_USERDIR.

In the original CDE, Front Panel is part of the dtwm Window Manager binary, while here it is configuration of FvwmButtons(1) FVWM module. Workspace Manager in the middle of the Front Panel is a separate applet written in FvwmScript(1).

On every icon, for the first two mouse buttons different action can be assigned. This is used for example 7th icon where mouse button 1 calls Style Manager, while mouse button 2 is calling Backdrop Style Manager directly as a quick shortcut.

Mouse button 3 on any of the 10 Front Panel icons brigs contextual pop-up menu titled by the main action from mouse button 1. Action on this menu are: a) call main application as if icon has been clicked with the 1st mouse button, b) "reset this button" which will remove user's customizations from the $FVWM_USERDIR/FrontPanel.actions and load default from the $NSCDE_ROOT/config/FrontPanel.actions., c) "Reset Subpanel" will reset upper subpanel to it's default value (remove definition of the numbered subpanel from the $FVWM_USERDIR/Subpanels.actions), d) "Delete Subpanel" will disable subpanel for above this icon (without resetting user's configuration), and e) Help will call this documentation.

In addition to iconification, Front Panel can be shaded to the bottom edge of the screen with Shift-Esc action, and put back in it's place with the same key binding when it is called again.

Iconification is by default to bottom right screen edge, while all other programs are by default iconified in the top left edge as in CDE.

It is flexible, can be overlapped with programs, moves away for fully maximized windows and while pretty much thick, not in the way while not needed.

- It has it's own menu on top left button and special context menu if this button is clicked with right mouse button. Middle mouse button behaves as if title bar is clicked - with special diagnostic tool menu. Right-clicked special menu has this important tasks:

As FvwmButtons based dock, it swallows the following applets:

Third icon expects $[infostore.filemgr] to be defined.

Fourth icon will call $[infostore.terminal] which must be defined or it is discovered.

Sixth or Print icon is not really usable. It should call some predefined printer application in the future or to be replaced with something more useful. Good place for personal custom icon and redefinition with FrontPanel.actions.

Seventh: Style Manager - clone of the well known CDE Launcher of "Style" tools.

$[infostore.xeditor] - if defined in $FVWM_USERDIR/NsCDE.conf.

Semi-empty. By default, it popups 9th subpanel if pressed. A nice idea is to call pavucontrol or some audio mixer on 3rd mouse click from FrontPanel.actions.

Help, documentation.

Front Panel Subpanels 2, 5 and 6 are empty, but they can be activated with middle pointer click on an empty place, or with a contextual menu on the icon below it on the Front Panel, and selecting a menu item "Add Subpanel". In a former case, dialog will ask user if he wants subpanel to be enabled, while in later case, subpanel will be enabled immediately. This is specially useful for subpanel 5 which will show Thunderbird if activated and if Thunderbird is installed.

In the center of the Front Panel there is a place without subpanel launchers and separated by vertical line. Inside this area, there are 4 small command icons: Left: Lock Screen (xscreensaver -activate), Page Manager Menu, Right are Front Panel Lite (system load indicator), and Exit button (SysActionDialog).

Lock Screen icon (upper left) has a contextual menu invoked by the 3rd mouse button click, which allows user to suspend and resume background activity of the xscreensaver(1) in addition to the locking mechanism. Help menu entry is also present. Mouse button 2 brings Xscreensaver preferences dialog as if it was called from the Style Manager.

Page Manager Menu icon has a contextual menu invoked by the 3rd mouse button click. In addition to returning back to main menu, it can call visual local FVWM pager LocalPager. Help menu entry is present too. Mouse button 2 brings Workspaces and Pages Manager configuration.

Front Panel Lite (upper right) has a small contextual menu which calls main action and help.

Exit button (lower right) has a small contextual menu which calls main action and help.

In the middle of this area there is WSM - Work Space Manager with well known four buttons for four virtual desks. By default, four desks are shown and configured, but this can be changed (see Section 3.3, “Workspace Manager”).