[comp.windows.x.motif] setting resource values

pasturel@sctc.com (Pierre Pasturel) (10/30/90)

I am new to motif and xwindows, and I find the OSF/Motif 1.0 programmers
guide to APPEAR complete. Actually, I find that it lacks good COMPLETE
explanations of how to set resources. 

Anyway, I am having problems with something as basic as setting the
background and foreground colors for frames (I have a monochrome screen,
so only black and white).

I think I can get the effect that I want if someone out there could 
clarify the following:

 What is the difference between the following entries in a .Xdefaults file:
      *Background:       White
      *background:       White
      Mwm*Background:    White
      mwm*Background:    White
      Mwm*background:    White

   The programmers guide on p. 28-29 distinguishes between a resource name
   and a resource class.  I have an intuitive sense of what the difference
   is, but could some clarify this for me AND, most importantly, how this
   effects the final appearence of my windows ?



 On a related note, I thought ALL resources could be set with a detailed
 specification. For example, the resource interactivePlacement.
 It appears that for the following:
    mwm*interactivePlacement:      True
    mwm*tpt*interactivePlacement:  False
 where tpt= application class name

 the second line does not cause the tpt application's primary windows
 to be set by the application program itself (using XmNx,XmNy resources).
 In other words, the setting of False for the tpt application seems
 to be ignored. 

 A big minus about Motif, it appears, is that it does not warn you that
a resource setting is ignored. This would help the user to determine when
resources are being ignored or overridden by other resources.

I would appreciate any and all responses by e-mail.

Thank You,
Pierre Pasturel
pasturel@sctc.com