+
+
+
+X(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual X(1)
+
+
+
+NAME
+ X - A network transparent window system for Unix
+
+DESCRIPTION
+ X is a network transparent windowing system developed at MIT
+ which runs under Ultrix-32 Version 1.2 and 4.3BSD Unix.
+
+ X display servers run on computers with bitmap terminals.
+ The server distributes user input to, and accepts output
+ requests from various client programs located either on the
+ same machine or elsewhere in the Internet. While a client
+ normally runs on the same machine as the X server it is
+ talking to, this need not be the case.
+
+ X supports overlapping windows, fully recursive subwindows,
+ text and graphics operations within windows. For a full
+ explanation of functions, see ``Xlib - C Language X Inter-
+ face'' document.
+
+ When you first log in on a display running X, you are using
+ the _\bx_\bt_\be_\br_\bm(_\b1) terminal emulator program. You need not learn
+ anything extra to use a display running X as a terminal
+ beyond moving the mouse cursor into the login window to log
+ in normally.
+
+ X attempts to provide hooks for your favorite style of user
+ interface; feel free to write your own if you don't like the
+ style provided by existing window managers (see _\bx_\bw_\bm(_\b1),
+ _\bx_\bn_\bw_\bm(_\b1), or _\bu_\bw_\bm(_\b1)). These programs are used to manipulate
+ existing top level windows, including moving, resizing, and
+ iconifying existing windows. You should start your favorite
+ window manager when you log in on a display running X.
+
+ Current client programs of X include a terminal emulator
+ (_\bx_\bt_\be_\br_\bm(_\b1)), window managers (_\bx_\bw_\bm(_\b1), _\bx_\bn_\bw_\bm(_\b1) and _\bu_\bw_\bm(_\b1)),
+ bitmap editor (_\bb_\bi_\bt_\bm_\ba_\bp(_\b1)), access control program
+ (_\bx_\bh_\bo_\bs_\bt(_\b1)), user preference setting program (_\bx_\bs_\be_\bt(_\b1)), load
+ monitor (_\bx_\bl_\bo_\ba_\bd(_\b1)), clock (_\bx_\bc_\bl_\bo_\bc_\bk(_\b1)), impress previewer
+ (_\bx_\bi_\bm_\bp_\bv(_\b1)), font displayer (_\bx_\bf_\bd(_\b1)), demos (_\bx_\bd_\be_\bm_\bo(_\b1)), and
+ editors (e.g., _\bx_\bt_\be_\bd). On some systems, mail notification
+ has been integrated (_\bb_\bi_\bf_\bf(_\b1)).
+
+OPTIONS
+ The following options can be given on the command line to
+ the X server, usually started by _\bi_\bn_\bi_\bt(_\b1) using information
+ stored in the file /_\be_\bt_\bc/_\bt_\bt_\by_\bs. (see _\bt_\bt_\by_\bs(_\b5), _\bX(_\b8_\bc) for
+ details):
+ -a # sets mouse acceleration (pixels)
+ -c turns off key-click
+ c # sets key-click volume (0-8)
+ -f # sets feep(bell) volume (0-7)
+ -l sets LockUpDownMode
+
+
+
+Printed 9/15/87 25 January 1986 1
+
+
+
+
+
+
+X(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual X(1)
+
+
+
+ l sets LockToggleMode
+ m forces "monochrome" mode on a color display
+ -p # sets screen-saver pattern cycle time (minutes)
+ -r turns off auto-repeat
+ r turns on auto-repeat
+ -s # sets screen-saver timeout (minutes)
+ -t # sets mouse threshold (pixels)
+ v sets video-on screen-saver preference
+ -v sets video-off screen-saver preference
+ -0 _\bc_\bo_\bl_\bo_\br sets color map entry 0 (BlackPixel)
+ -1 _\bc_\bo_\bl_\bo_\br sets color map entry 1 (WhitePixel)
+ -D _\br_\bg_\bb_\bd_\bb sets RGB database file
+
+ The defaults are ``-a 4 c 6 -f 3 l -p 60 r -s 10 -t 2 -0
+ #008 -1 #ffffff -D /usr/lib/rgb''.
+
+
+
+X DEFAULTS
+ Many X programs follow the convention of using a file called
+ ._\bX_\bd_\be_\bf_\ba_\bu_\bl_\bt_\bs in your home directory to allow tailoring the
+ default values of many items on the display (default font,
+ border width, icon behavior, and so on). The format of this
+ file is ``programname.keyword:value'', where the default
+ value for each keyword is set to the specified string. If
+ the program name is missing, the default ``keyword'' value
+ is set to the value for all programs. Case is not signifi-
+ cant in keywords. Any whitespace before the value is
+ ignored. Any global defaults should precede program
+ defaults in the file. See the manual pages for a list of
+ what defaults can be set in a given program. Here is an
+ overblown example ~/._\bX_\bd_\be_\bf_\ba_\bu_\bl_\bt_\bs file.
+
+ # this is a comment
+ .BorderWidth: 2
+ .BitmapIcon: on
+ .MakeWindow.Background:#8e8
+ .MakeWindow.Border: #f26
+ .MakeWindow.BodyFont:cor
+ .MakeWindow.Foreground:medium slate blue
+ .MakeWindow.Freeze: on
+ .MakeWindow.Mouse: #e6f
+ .MakeWindow.MouseMask:black
+ .MakeWindow.ClipToScreen:on
+ .Menufreeze: on
+ .Menubackground: maroon
+ .Panefont: 8x13
+ .SelectionFont: 8x13
+ .SelectionBorder: black
+ .Paneborderwidth: 1
+ xterm.Panespread: .25
+ biff.Background: violet red
+
+
+
+Printed 9/15/87 25 January 1986 2
+
+
+
+
+
+
+X(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual X(1)
+
+
+
+ biff.BodyFont: 9x15
+ biff.Border: black
+ biff.Foreground: green yellow
+ biff.Mouse: coral
+ bitmap.Background: forest green
+ bitmap.Border: salmon
+ bitmap.Foreground: white
+ bitmap.Highlight: red
+ bitmap.Mouse: black
+ xclock.Background: plum
+ xclock.Border: black
+ xclock.Foreground: red
+ xclock.Highlight: blue
+ xclock.Mode: analog
+ xshell.action.LeftButton:xterm =80x65-0+0 -fn 6x10
+ xshell.action.MiddleButton:xted =80x65+0-0
+ xshell.action.RightButton:xterm =20x20-0-0 -fn 6x10 -e dc
+ xshell.action.$: xterm =80x65+0+0 -fn 6x10 -e sh
+ xshell.action.#: xterm =80x65+0+0 -fn 6x10 -e su
+ xshell.ReverseVideo:on
+ xshell.WindowGeometry:=-0-0
+ xshell.Quiet: on
+ xdemo.Background: white
+ xdemo.Border: black
+ xdemo.balls.Background:maroon
+ xdemo.balls.Foreground:white
+ xdemo.circles.Foreground:khaki
+ xdemo.draw.Background:light gray
+ xdemo.draw.BodyFont:oldeng
+ xdemo.draw.Foreground:midnight blue
+ xdemo.draw.Mouse: white
+ xdemo.menulife.Background:medium turquoise
+ xdemo.menulife.Foreground:orange red
+ xdemo.menulife.MenuBackground:light blue
+ xdemo.menulife.MenuFont:oldeng
+ xdemo.menulife.MenuForeground:dark orchid
+ xdemo.menulife.MenuMouse:orange
+ xdemo.menulife.Mouse:salmon
+ xdemo.plaid.Foreground:red
+ xdemo.qix.Foreground:violet red
+ xdemo.slide.Foreground:forest green
+ xdemo.wallpaper.Foreground:medium turquoise
+ xdemo.xor.Foreground:blue violet
+ ximpv.Background: dark green
+ ximpv.Border: red
+ ximpv.Foreground: cyan
+ ximpv.Mouse: white
+ xload.Background: #ff0068
+ xload.Border: black
+ xload.Foreground: slate blue
+ xload.Highlight: yellow
+ xload.ReverseVideo: on
+
+
+
+Printed 9/15/87 25 January 1986 3
+
+
+
+
+
+
+X(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual X(1)
+
+
+
+ xted.Background: firebrick
+ xted.BodyFont: kiltercrn
+ xted.Border: tan
+ xted.Cursor: yellow
+ xted.Foreground: white
+ xted.Highlight: goldenrod
+ xted.Mouse: cyan
+ xterm.Background: #355
+ xterm.BodyFont: 6x13p
+ xterm.Cursor: green
+ xterm.Foreground: white
+ xfax.Background: white
+ xfax.Border: green
+ xfax.Foreground: red
+ xfax.Mouse: blue
+
+ By default when you log in, only programs running on your
+ local computer will be allowed to interact with your
+ display. If someone else on a different machine wants to
+ show you something, you can use the _\bx_\bh_\bo_\bs_\bt(_\b1) program to
+ allow access to your display.
+
+SIZING WINDOWS
+ Many programs ask you to manually size their top-level win-
+ dow. When started, such a program will typically popup an
+ identification window in the upper left corner of the
+ display. The window can be created with the center button:
+ press the button to define one corner of the window, move
+ the cursor to where the opposite corner of the window should
+ be and release the button. For text applications, the left
+ and right buttons can also be used. Pressing the left but-
+ ton typically produces an 80 by 24 window, which can then be
+ moved around, and placed by releasing the button. Simi-
+ larly, the right button typically produces an 80 by full
+ screen window. For graphics applications, the left button
+ typically creates a default size window in a default loca-
+ tion, while the right button creates a default size window
+ at the position of the cursor.
+
+ Most applications (e.g., _\bx_\bt_\be_\bd, _\bx_\bd_\be_\bm_\bo, and _\bx_\bf_\ba_\bx) read options
+ to control sizing of initial windows. The
+ ``MakeWindow.BodyFont'' option controls the font for the
+ popup window. The ``MakeWindow.BorderWidth'' and
+ ``MakeWindow.InternalBorder'' options control the outer and
+ inner borders. The ``MakeWindow.ReverseVideo'' option can be
+ set to ``on'' to reverse colors. On color displays, the
+ ``MakeWindow.Foreground'', ``MakeWindow.Background'', and
+ ``MakeWindow.Border'' options control the color of the popup
+ window, and the ``MakeWindow.Mouse'' and
+ ``MakeWindow.MouseMask'' options control the color of the
+ mouse cursor. The ``MakeWindow.Freeze'' option, when set to
+ ``on'', will stop all other output while the window is
+
+
+
+Printed 9/15/87 25 January 1986 4
+
+
+
+
+
+
+X(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual X(1)
+
+
+
+ sized, and use a steady outline instead of continuously
+ flashing the window outline. The
+ ``MakeWindow.ClipToScreen'' option will clip the resulting
+ window to fit on the screen. (Currently only implemented in
+ programs using the _\bX_\bC_\br_\be_\ba_\bt_\be_\bT_\be_\br_\bm subroutine.)
+
+GEOMETRY SPECIFICATION
+ Most programs accept a geometry specification. This allows
+ automatic creation and placement of windows on the screen at
+ login and other convenient times.
+ =[WIDTH][xHEIGHT][{+-}XOFF[{+-}YOFF]] The []'s denote
+ optional parameters, the {}'s surround alternatives. WIDTH
+ and HEIGHT are in number of characters for text oriented
+ applications, and usually in pixels for graphics oriented
+ applications. XOFF and YOFF are in pixels. If you don't
+ give XOFF and/or YOFF, then you must use the mouse to create
+ the window. If you give XOFF and/or YOFF, then a WIDTHx-
+ HEIGHT window will automatically be creating without inter-
+ vention. XOFF and YOFF specify deltas from a corner of the
+ screen to the corresponding corner of the window, as fol-
+ lows:
+ +XOFF+YOFF upper left to upper left
+ -XOFF+YOFF upper right to upper right
+ +XOFF-YOFF lower left to lower left
+ -XOFF-YOFF lower right to lower right
+
+KEYBOARD
+ If you don't like the standard keyboard layout or the
+ default definitions of keymap and function keys, the key-
+ boards on most displays can be remapped to suit your taste.
+ Many programs look for a file called ._\bX_\bk_\be_\by_\bm_\ba_\bp in your home
+ directory. This is a binary file, produced from a source
+ map with the _\bk_\be_\by_\bc_\bo_\bm_\bp(_\b1) program.
+
+COLORS
+ Many programs allow you to specify colors for background,
+ border, text, etc. A color specification can be given
+ either as an english name (see /_\bu_\bs_\br/_\bl_\bi_\bb/_\br_\bg_\bb._\bt_\bx_\bt for defined
+ names), or three hexadecimal values for the red, green, and
+ blue components, in one of the following formats:
+
+ #RGB
+ #RRGGBB
+ #RRRGGGBBB
+ #RRRRGGGGBBBB
+
+DISPLAY SPECIFICATION
+ When you first log in, the environment variable ``DISPLAY''
+ will be set to a string ``machine:display'' (for example,
+ ``mit-athena:0'') which will determine which display an X
+ application will talk to by default.
+
+
+
+
+Printed 9/15/87 25 January 1986 5
+
+
+
+
+
+
+X(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual X(1)
+
+
+
+ Most applications will also interpret an argument with a
+ ``:'' in it to be the display to use.
+
+ When using DECnet, the format ``node::display'' should be
+ used.
+
+MENU DEFAULTS
+ As there is now a standard menu package for X (_\bX_\bM_\be_\bn_\bu(_\b3_\bx)),
+ you can tune the behavior of menus in programs using this
+ package with a set of _\bX_\bd_\be_\bf_\ba_\bu_\bl_\bt_\bs. _\bX_\bt_\be_\br_\bm's `Mode Menu' is
+ controlled by these defaults for example.
+
+ MenuFreeze
+ Determines whether or not to grab the _\bX server while
+ a menu is posted. One of: on, off. The default
+ value is off.
+
+ MenuStyle
+ Determines the menu display style. One of:
+ left_hand, right_hand, center. The default value is
+ right_hand.
+
+ MenuMode
+ Determines the menu selection high light mode. One
+ of: box, invert. If box mode is chosen then the
+ SelectionBorderWidth and SelectionBorderColor param-
+ eters effect the box line width and color respec-
+ tively. If invert mode is chose then the Selection-
+ Foreground and MenuBackground colors are used for
+ the inversion. The default value is invert.
+
+ MenuMouse
+ Determines the color of the mouse cursor while it is
+ within the menu. Any valid _\bX color may be used.
+ The default value is black.
+
+ MenuBackground
+ Determines the menu background color. Any valid _\bX
+ color may be used. The default value is white.
+
+ MenuInactivePattern
+ Determines which of the five possible bitmap pat-
+ terns will be used to tile inactive panes. One of:
+ dimple1, dimple3, gray1, gray3, cross_weave. The
+ default value is gray3.
+
+ PaneStyle
+ Determines the display style of all menu panes. One
+ of: flush_left, flush_right, center. The default
+ value is center.
+
+
+
+
+
+Printed 9/15/87 25 January 1986 6
+
+
+
+
+
+
+X(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual X(1)
+
+
+
+ PaneFont
+ Determines the font used for the label (heading
+ text) of each pane. Any valid _\bX font may be used.
+ The default value is 8x13.
+
+ PaneForeground
+ Determines the pane foreground color. This is the
+ color used for the label (heading text) in each
+ pane. Any valid _\bX color may be used. The default
+ value is black.
+
+ PaneBorder
+ Determines the color of all menu pane borders. Any
+ valid _\bX color may be used. The default value is
+ black.
+
+ PaneBorderWidth
+ Determines the width (in pixels) of all menu pane
+ borders. Any integer greater than or equal to 0 may
+ be used. The default value is 2.
+
+ PaneSpread
+ Determines the horizontal spread of menu panes. Any
+ double greater than or equal to 0.0 may be used. A
+ value of 1.0 specifies a one to one ratio between
+ horizontal spread and vertical spread. A value less
+ than 1.0 will compress the menu panes inward and a
+ value greater than 1.0 will expand them outward.
+ The default value is 1.0.
+
+ SelectionStyle
+ Determines the display style of all menu selections.
+ One of: flush_left, flush_right, center. The
+ default value is flush_left.
+
+ SelectionFont
+ Determines the font used for the text in each selec-
+ tion. Any valid X font may be used. The default
+ value is 6x10.
+
+ SelectionForeground
+ Determines the selection foreground color. This is
+ the color used for the text in each selection. Any
+ valid _\bX color may be used. The default value is
+ black.
+
+ SelectionBorder
+ Determines the color of all menu selection borders.
+ Any valid _\bX color may be used. The default value is
+ black.
+
+
+
+
+
+Printed 9/15/87 25 January 1986 7
+
+
+
+
+
+
+X(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual X(1)
+
+
+
+ SelectionBorderWidth
+ Determines the width (in pixels) of all menu selec-
+ tion borders. Any integer greater than or equal to
+ 0 may be used. The default value is 1.
+
+ SelectionSpread
+ Determines the inter-selection spread. Any double
+ greater than or equal to 0.0 may be used. A value
+ of 1.0 specifies that 1.0 times the height of the
+ current selection font will be used for padding The
+ default value is 0.25.
+
+SEE ALSO
+ X(8c), xterm(1), bitmap(1), xwm(1), xnwm(1), xhost(1),
+ xclock(1), xload(1), xset(1), keycomp(1), xdemo(1), biff(1),
+ qv(4), vs(4), init(8), ttys(5), uwm(1), xrefresh(1),
+ xwininfo(1), ximpv(1), xdvi(1), pikapix(1), xwd(1), xwud(1),
+ xinit(1), xted(1), xdemo(1), Xqvss(8c), Xvs100(8c),
+ Xsun(8c), Xnest(8c)
+ `Xlib - C Language X Interface'
+
+AUTHORS
+ It is no longer feasible to list all people who have contri-
+ buted something to X; below is a short list of people who
+ have added significant code to device independent parts of
+ X.
+ Bob Scheifler (MIT-LCS), Jim Gettys (MIT-Project Athena,
+ DEC), Mark Vandevoorde (MIT-Project Athena, DEC), Tony Della
+ Fera (MIT-Project Athena, DEC), Ron Newman (MIT-Project
+ Athena, MIT), Shane Hartman and Stuart Malone (MIT-LCS),
+ Doug Mink (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory), Bob
+ McNamara (DEC-MAD), and Stephen Sutphen (University of
+ Alberta).
+
+ Special thanks must go to Paul Asente (of DECWRL and Stan-
+ ford University), who wrote "W" which saved us much time and
+ energy early in this project, and who is now an active X
+ contributor as well, and Chris Kent (of DECWRL and Purdue
+ University) who both struggled mightily (and won!) to turn
+ the Vs100 into something useful under Unix.
+
+ We are very grateful for the interest shown by many groups
+ in the country, which has encouraged us to make X more than
+ our personal toy. Great thanks must go to Digital's Ultrix
+ Engineering Group for the QDSS implementation, and to
+ Digital's Workstations Group for the QVSS implementation.
+
+
+ Copyright (c) 1984, 1985, 1986 by Massachusetts Institute of
+ Technology.
+
+ Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this
+
+
+
+Printed 9/15/87 25 January 1986 8
+
+
+
+
+
+
+X(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual X(1)
+
+
+
+ software and its documentation for any purpose and without
+ fee is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright
+ notice appear in all copies and that both that copyright
+ notice and this permission notice appear in supporting docu-
+ mentation, and that the name of M.I.T. not be used in
+ advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of the
+ software without specific, written prior permission. M.I.T.
+ makes no representations about the suitability of this
+ software for any purpose. It is provided "as is" without
+ express or implied warranty.
+
+ This software is not subject to any license of the American
+ Telephone and Telegraph Company or of the Regents of the
+ University of California.
+
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+Printed 9/15/87 25 January 1986 9
+
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projects / unix-history / commitdiff