[comp.windows.x.motif] "modal" modes

argv@Eng.Sun.COM (Dan Heller) (10/31/90)

[ the question is in the 3rd paragraph :-) ]
Motif has two "modal" modes -- application and system modals.
When a window (widget) is application modal, the user must
interact with that dialog and is *unable* to use any other
window _from that application_, altho he can interact with
other windows on the desktop.  System modals are just like
pointer grabs.

Motif implements application modal windows by providing a
"protocol" that's specific to the window manager (mwm).  If
a window requires this type of functionality, it sets a
particular atom and mwm does the right thing.

The question is, can this be done using some other method besides
that provided by mwm?  System modals are easy -- just grab the
pointer and release it when you're done.  Applciation grabs, are
more difficult.  I haven't seen anything in any of the X or Xt
docs that specify a method for XGrabPointer or anything else to
achieve this.  I am trying to read the "input focus" section of
the ICCCM, but I don't see it addressing this issue at all.

--dan