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Differences between version 15 and revision by previous author of Ion.

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Newer page: version 15 Last edited on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 1:21:16 pm by AristotlePagaltzis Revert
Older page: version 5 Last edited on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 4:29:36 pm by StephenLewis Revert
@@ -1,39 +1,24 @@
-[http://modeemi.cs.tut.fi/~tuomov/ion/] 
+[Ion | http://modeemi.cs.tut.fi/~tuomov/ion/] is an [X11] WindowManager written by Tuomo Valkonen after implementing [PWM] to test tabbing and finding that it didn't suffice as a means of increasing the efficiency of use of [GUI] applications. [Ion] deviates from the dominant overlapping windows paradigm. Instead, it allows you to divide your screen up into a series of frames. You can bind classes of windows to particular frames, and having multiple windows open per frame gives you a series of tabs in the frame titlebar.  
  
-Ion is an [X11] WindowManager that deviates from the dominant OverlappingWindows paradigm.  
-Instead, it allows you to divide your screen up into a series of frames. You can bind  
-classes of windows to particular frames, and having multiple windows open per frame gives  
-you a series of tabs in the frame titlebar . 
+Check out a screenshot to get a better idea: http://modeemi.cs.tut.fi/~tuomov/ion/screenshots/ion-1 .jpg  
  
-It has excellent keyboard support, and obviates the need for programs like  
- [Mozilla] to implement their own tabbing. In fact, programs that do their own tabbing  
- are a [PITA] because you can't use your standard keybindings to manipulate them :/  
+While [Ion] isn't big on EyeCandy, it's extremely functional and useful. It has excellent keyboard support, and obviates the need for programs like [Mozilla] to implement their own tabbing. ( In fact, programs that do their own tabbing are a [PITA] because you can't use your standard keybindings to manipulate them.) After a while (and a little customization) you don't even notice that [Ion] is there - unlike a normal WindowManager. Although you might think a large screen is required to use [Ion] comfortably, support for multiple workspaces and implicit tabbing means people have found it works out quite even on a 15" screen at 800x600.  
  
-An example of its use, I have [TheGimp] set up to open on it's own workspace with the  
-following layout:  
+----  
  
- +--------------+----+  
- | | |  
- | | |  
- | +----+  
- | | |  
- | | |  
- | | |  
- | | |  
- +-------------------+  
+!! StephenLewis' setup  
  
-I've set it up so that the main gimp window (the one with the tools) opens in the top right frame ,  
-image windows and file open/save dialog boxes always open in the large frame, and all other  
-windows/dialog boxes open in the bottom right frame. This means that the main image window is almost  
-never obscured , and irritating popup windows (like for the EyeDrop tool) always open out of the way.  
+;: I tend to have a collection of fullscreen workspaces for general use , and a bunch of special purpose ones for apps like [TheGIMP] and [XMMS] that work best with a specific frame layout . As an example , I have [TheGIMP] set up to open on it's own workspace with the following layout:  
  
-While [Ion] isn't big on EyeCandy, it's extremely functional and useful, and I've found  
-that it helps me to get on with whatever I'm doing - unlike a normal WindowManager, you  
-don't even notice that Ion is there after a while (and a little customization)  
+ ┌──────────────┬────┐  
+ │ │ │  
+ │ ├────┤  
+ │ │ │  
+ │ │ │  
+ │ │ │  
+ └──────────────┴────┘  
  
-----  
- ''Ion looks a lot like the GUI for [Wirth]'s [Oberon | http: //www.oberon.ethz .ch/native/WebScreen.html] operating system. It had simple, non-overlapping windows like that . ''  
+;: I 've set it up so that the tool window opens in the top right frame, image windows and file open /save dialog boxes always open in the large frame, and all other windows /dialog boxes open in the bottom right frame . This means that the main image window is almost never obscured, and irritating popup windows ( like for the !EyeDrop tool) always open out of the way . 
  
-''It looks like it would only be comfortable to use with a nice big screen. --GlynWebster''  
-  
-Actually, it works out quite well on my 15" screen at 800x600. This is because of its support for multiple workspaces, and the implicit tabbing. I tend to have a collection of fullscreen workspaces for general use, and a bunch of special purpose ones for apps like [Gimp] and [XMMS] that work best with a specific frame layout.  
+----  
+Part of CategoryWindowManager