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Graphical Environment Guide



About this book
        How this book is organized
        How to use the chapters in this book
        For further reading
        How can we improve this book?

Overview of the Graphical Environment
        Understanding servers and clients
        Components of the Graphical Environment
        Customizing the Graphical Environment
        Graphical Environment configuration files
                The .startxrc file
                The .Xdefaults-hostname file
                The pmwmrc and .mwmrc files
                Desktop rule files
        Guidelines for configuring the Graphical Environment
        Looking at the Graphical Environment

Configuring the Graphical Environment from the Desktop
        Using the Preferences Editor
                Using the Preferences Editor dialog boxes
                Preference categories
                Using the Preferences Library
        Changing how you start and exit the Graphical Environment
        Changing colors with the Color control
                Creating a new palette
                Deleting a palette
                Changing colors in a palette
                Color buttons
                Mixing colors
                Colors for grayscale monitors
                Colors for DOS programs
        Changing Desktop fonts
        Changing the background pattern
                Selecting the background pattern
                Removing background patterns
                Defining the bitmap/pixmap path
        Changing mouse characteristics
        Configuring the keyboard
        Changing the system bell
        Controlling access to your display
        Changing desktop, directory, dialog box, and icon behavior
                Main Desktop behavior options
                Desktop window behavior options
                Treeview desktop behavior options
                Directory window behavior options
                Dialog box behavior options
                Icon behavior options
        Configuring tools
        Configuring devices

Customizing startup of the Graphical Environment
        Starting a Graphical Environment session
                Running scologin
                        Configuring scologin's startup behavior
                        Defining X server sessions
                        Logging out of scologin
                Running the startx script
                Using grey-scale monochrome monitors with the X server
                Solving problems exiting the X server
                Using the session manager
                        Starting scosession
                        Stopping scosession
                        Using scosession options
        Using environment variables
        Customizing scologin
                Using the scologin administration script
                Configuring scologin on multiple displays
                About XDMCP X server options
                Running scologin with XDMCP
                Running scologin with the Xservers file
                        Step 1: Stopping existing scologin processes
                        Step 2: Editing the Xservers file
                        Step 3: Enabling access to the remote display
                        Step 4: Running the X server on the remote display
                        Step 5: Starting scologin
        Using X terminals
                Managing an X terminal display with scologin
                        X terminals that do not support XDMCP
                        X terminals that support XDMCP
                Running a session on an X terminal without scologin

Running remote programs
        Gaining access to the remote client
        Setting up access permissions to your display
                Granting access to specific hosts
                        Step 1: Establishing system-wide host access
                        Step 2: Setting temporary display access
                Granting access to specific accounts
                        Step 1: Disabling system-wide display access
                        Step 2: Configuring scologin
                        Step 3: Logging in through scologin
                        Step 4: Disabling user-defined display access
                        Step 5: Sharing authorization records with other users
        Running the remote client
                Running clients with the DISPLAY environment variable
                Running clients with the -display option
        Example of running a remote client on your display

Understanding resources
        About resources
        Syntax for resource specifications
                Using classes and instances in resource specifications
                Using delimiters in resource specifications
                Specifying values in resource specifications
                Precedence rules for resource specifications
        Methods for specifying resources
        Setting resources in the X server
                Examining the contents of the resource database
                Loading new values into the resource database
                Saving new specifications in a resource file
                Removing resource definitions from the resource database
        Using command line options to configure clients
                Window appearance options
                Display specification option
                Font specification option
                Window size and location option
                Client name option
                Window title option
                Resource specifications on the command line
        Guidelines for managing resources

Changing colors
        About colors
                The color database
                The RGB and HSV color models
                The scocolor client
                        Color palettes
                        Color resources and the color palettes
                Colormaps
                        The NeTraverse Merge colormap
        Changing colors for the entire system
                Changing colors in an existing palette
                        Step 1: Selecting a replacement color
                        Step 2: Adding the new color to the palette
                Creating a new system-wide palette
                        Step 1: Creating the new palette
                        Step 2: Adding the new palette
        Changing colors for individual users
                        Step 1: Creating an .Xdefaults-hostname file
                        Step 2: Setting the color resource
                        Step 3: Assigning correct ownership permissions
                        Step 4: Starting a Graphical Environment session
        Setting colors from the command line
                The -xrm option
                The -bg and -fg options
        Adding custom colors to the database
                        Step 1: Adding the new colors to rgb.txt
                        Step 2: Running rgb
                        Step 3: Running showrgb
        Examples of changing colors
                Example 1: Using custom colors in default palettes
                Example 2: Customizing colors with resources

Changing fonts
        About fonts
                Font names
                Using wildcards
                Font aliases
                The font server
        Using the font server
                Running the font server from the command line
                Using the font server from scologin
                Using the font server from startx
                Running the font server from system startup files
        Configuring the font server
                Configuring available fonts
                Configuring default font size and resolutions
                Choosing a font server host
                Changing font server TCP ports
                Configuring font server connection limits
                Using the font server and local fonts
                        Specifying multiple font sources with the X server
                        Specifying multiple font sources with xset
                Using alternate font server configuration files
        Listing available fonts on your system
                Listing X server fonts with xlsfonts
                        Running xlsfonts
                Listing font server fonts with fslsfonts
                        Running fslsfonts
        Previewing a specific font
                        Step 1: Running xfd
                        Step 2: Scrolling through multiple screens
                        Step 3: Displaying information on a character
                        Step 4: Quitting xfd
        Specifying fonts
                Specifying fonts for the entire system
                        Step 1: Editing the client resource files
                        Step 2: Setting the font resource
                        Step 3: Activating the new fonts
                Specifying fonts for individual users
                        Step 1: Creating an .Xdefaults-hostname file
                        Step 2: Setting the font resource
                        Step 3: Assigning correct ownership permissions
                        Step 4: Starting a Graphical Environment session
                Setting fonts from the command line
                        Using the -xrm option
                        Other command line font options
        Creating a font alias
                        Step 1: Editing the fonts.alias file
                        Step 2: Resetting the font database
        Adding a font to your system
                        Step 1: Placing the font files on your system
                        Step 2: Converting from BDF to PCF format
                        Step 3: Running mkfontdir
                        Step 4: Updating the font search path
                        Step 5: Resetting the font database
        Example of setting fonts

Configuring window size and location
        About window geometry
                Desktop geometry
        Configuring window geometry
                Specifying geometry for the entire system
                        Step 1: Editing the client resource file
                        Step 2: Setting the geometry resource
                        Step 3: Activating the new geometry settings
                Specifying geometry for individual users
                        Step 1: Creating an .Xdefaults-hostname file
                        Step 2: Setting the geometry resource
                        Step 3: Assigning correct ownership permissions
                        Step 4: Starting a Graphical Environment session
                Specifying geometry from the command line
        Resizing the Desktop
                        Step 1: Using the Desktop Preferences Editor
                        Step 2: Resizing the Desktop with the mouse
        Example of specifying window geometry

Changing cursor appearance
        About cursor appearance
                Desktop cursor appearance
                scoterm cursor fonts
                Root window cursor appearance
        Changing the Desktop cursor
                Specifying Desktop cursors for the entire system
                        Step 1: Creating a picture directory
                        Step 2: Editing the client resource file
                        Step 3: Setting the cursor resources
                        Step 4: Activating the new cursors
                Specifying Desktop cursors for individual users
                        Step 1: Creating a picture directory
                        Step 2: Creating an XDesktop3 file
                        Step 3: Setting the cursor resources
                        Step 4: Assigning correct ownership permissions
                        Step 5: Restarting the Desktop
        Changing the scoterm cursor
                Specifying scoterm cursors for the entire system
                        Step 1: Editing the system resource file
                        Step 2: Setting the cursor font resource
                        Step 3: Activating the new cursor
                Specifying scoterm cursors for individual users
                        Step 1: Creating an .Xdefaults-hostname file
                        Step 2: Setting the font resource
                        Step 3: Assigning correct ownership permissions
                        Step 4: Restarting the scoterm client
                Setting scoterm cursors from the command line
                        Using the -xrm option
        Example of changing cursor appearance
                Example 1: Changing Desktop cursor appearance
                Example 2: Changing scoterm cursor appearance

Configuring mouse behavior
        Emulating a three-button mouse
        Switching to a left-handed mouse
                        Step 1: Configuring the mouse for left-handed use
                        Step 2: Listing the new mouse button mappings
        Configuring mouse acceleration
                        Step 1: Setting the movement parameters
                        Step 2: Listing the new mouse settings
        Specifying the mouse double-click duration
                Defining the double-click duration with scomouse
                Defining the double-click duration for the Desktop
                        Step 1: Editing the resource file
                        Step 2: Setting the maxUpTime resource
                        Step 3: Modifying other Desktop mouse resources
                        Step 4: Restarting the Desktop
                Defining the double-click duration for the window manager
                        Step 1: Editing the resource file
                        Step 2: Setting the doubleClickTime resource
                        Step 3: Restarting the window manager
        Example of configuring your mouse

Configuring the keyboard for the server
        About the server keyboard
        Changing the modifier map
                        Step 1: Changing a modifier map
                        Step 2: Examining the modifier map
        Changing the keymap table
                        Step 1: Examining the current keymap table
                        Step 2: Specifying keymap table changes
        Example of configuring the keyboard

Customizing the window manager
        Selecting between SCO Panner and OSF/Motif modes
        Creating a personal window manager configuration file
        Examining the window manager configuration file
        Using window manager functions
                Function descriptions
                Function constraints

Customizing window manager menus
        About window manager menus
        Adding or modifying window manager menus
                        Step 1: Editing a window manager configuration file
                        Step 2: Starting a new menu
                        Step 3: Creating menu items
                        Step 4: Specifying how to access the new menu
                        Step 5: Restarting the window manager
        Changing the menu associated with the window menu button
                        Step 1: Editing the resource file
                        Step 2: Setting the windowMenu resource
                        Step 3: Modifying other Window menu resources
                        Step 4: Restarting the window manager
        Example of creating a window manager submenu

Configuring window manager button bindings
        Default button bindings
                About window manager functions
        Configuring button bindings
                        Step 1: Editing a window manager configuration file
                        Step 2: Locating the button binding section
                        Step 3: Configuring the button binding specification
                        Step 4: Configuring the function specification
                        Step 5: Configuring the context specification
                        Step 6: Restarting the window manager
        Creating a new button binding set
                        Step 1: Editing a window manager configuration file
                        Step 2: Locating the DefaultButtonBindings section
                        Step 3: Defining button, function, and context specifications
                        Step 4: Specifying the buttonBindings resource
                        Step 5: Restarting the window manager
        Example of creating a new button set

Configuring window manager key bindings
        Default key bindings
                About mnemonics and accelerators
                About window manager functions
        Configuring key bindings
                        Step 1: Editing a window manager configuration file
                        Step 2: Locating the key binding section
                        Step 3: Configuring the key binding specification
                        Step 4: Configuring the function specification
                        Step 5: Configuring the context specification
                        Step 6: Restarting the window manager
        Creating a new key binding set
                        Step 1: Editing a window manager configuration file
                        Step 2: Locating the DefaultKeyBindings section
                        Step 3: Defining key, function, and context specifications
                        Step 4: Specifying the keyBindings resource
                        Step 5: Restarting the window manager
        Example of configuring key bindings

Customizing the Desktop with rules
        Rule clauses
        Defining the scope of rules
                Specifying scope implicitly
                        Changing the behavior for all users
                        Changing the behavior for different types of user
                        Changing the behavior for a single user
                        Changing the behavior of a directory
                        Changing the behavior of a desktop
                        Changing behavior dynamically
                Specifying the scope explicitly
                        Patterns
                        Classes
        Effect of rules in different rule files
        Rule file precedence
        Structure of rule files
        Processing filenames in rules
                Referring to file and directory names
                Canonical form
                Filename processing commands
                Specifying actions

Using Desktop modules
        Auto modules
        Loop modules
        Text displayed by modules

Defining Desktop user types
        Creating a new user type
        Determining a user type

Defining Desktop triggers
        About triggers
        Types of trigger
                Static triggers
                Dynamic triggers
                Hold triggers
                Icons and windows
        Variables
                Click or hold
                Drag
                Menu selection

Creating objects for the Desktop
        Creating an object using the Object Builder
                Changing an action definition
                Opening an existing object
                Installing action definitions
                Installing a picture
                Installing an executable
                Saving an object
                Opening a new object
        Creating an object manually
                        Step 1: Creating the object directory
                        Step 2: Selecting an icon
                        Step 3: Selecting trigger actions
                        Step 4: Writing trigger scripts
                        Step 5: Naming trigger scripts

Configuring icons
        Defining the appearance of icons
                Defining rules for icons
                Defining a picture for icons
                Defining a title for icons
        Defining the behavior of icons
                Writing trigger rules

Configuring Desktop windows
        Defining the behavior of desktop windows
        Defining the appearance of desktop windows
        Example

Configuring directory windows
        Defining the behavior of directory windows
        Example

Configuring Desktop menus
        Defining menus
                Menu clauses and commands
                Mnemonics and accelerator keys
                Pull-down menus
                Pop-up menus
                Disabling menu commands
                Removing menus

Writing Deskshell commands
        Deskshell syntax
                Quoting strings
                Comments
                Wildcards
                Using variables
                Variable substitutions
                Subsets
                Function arguments
                Initialization
        Operators
                Assignment
                Redirections
                Command substitution
                List substitution
                Concatenation
                Command terminators
                Pipelines
                List mark
                Conditionals
        Control constructs
        Function definitions
                Status
        How Deskshell commands are executed
                Threads
                The state of threads
                Local variables
                Global variables
                Variable overriding
                How environments are inherited
                System thread
                Window threads
                Background threads
                Pipelines
                Executing actions within the same thread
                Signals
                Standard signals

Mapping mouse triggers for the Desktop
        Modifying the mouse trigger mappings
                        Step 1: Editing the resource file
                        Step 2: Redefining the trigger mapping
                        Step 3: Restarting the Desktop

OSF/Motif window manager resources
                Resources for configuring window focus policies
                Resource for specifying window manager fonts
                Resources for coloring windows, icons, menus, and mattes
                Resources for shading windows, icons, menus, and mattes
                Resources for window decorations
                Resources for controlling window size and position
                Resources for configuring window manager icons
                Resources for configuring the icon box
                Other resources for controlling windows

Desktop resources
                Resources for changing default rule files and directories
                Resource for specifying Desktop fonts
                Resources for specifying Desktop colors
                Resources for specifying cursor appearance
                Resources for configuring icon labels
                Resources for controlling Desktop appearance and behavior
                Resources for controlling directory appearance and behavior
                Resources for defining message box appearance
                Resources for controlling Desktop mouse behavior
                Resources for mapping mouse triggers

Deskshell command summary

Index