4.7. Check Mail Applet

Fifth icon from the left on Front Panel is FvwmScript applet. It is calling f_CheckMail FVWM function if clicked. By default f_CheckMail is calling $[infostore.mailreader], which if defined by user or discovery, will bring up mail application. Up to user is to redefine this variable in his $FVWM_USERDIR/Functions.fvwmlocal to suit the needs for mail checking. To be clear, by default, it is not functional as an new mail notification applet. External applications can use it for this by calling nscde_fvwmclnt to send it a signal. The syntax is:


nscde_fvwmclnt "SendToModule CheckMailApplet SendString 1 2 \
 LetterUp <accnum> <accname> <fontsize> <color>"

Where:

This command can be used by mail programs to notify Front Panel Mail icon to change from closed letter to open letter when new mail arrives. For any new mail, counter for named and numbered account will increase by 1, until icon is clicked by the user. For example, Thunderbird has a "mailbox alert" extension that can use scripting way of sending notifications.

Above this applet, there is an empty space for subpanel launcher which can be activated with middle triple click, and it will present Mail Reader if thunderbird, claws-mail, mutt or some other popular and known mail application is installed. User can use Install Icon action to change or add entries on this menu. For example, to call urxvt -e mutt or something like that.

Key F1 will bring this help text in documentation browser. If Sun type keyboard is in use, Help key above Check Mail Applet has the same function as F1 on PC.