xug@lta.com (X User's Group) (05/30/91)
[Last changed: 29 May 91]
This article contains the second of four parts of a set of answers to some
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) often seen in comp.windows.x.
It is posted to help reduce volume in this newsgroup and to provide
hard-to-find information of general interest.
Please redistribute this article!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 29) How do I keep console messages from scribbling on my root?
#ifdef half-baked
For some systems, `xterm -C` works and is appropriate for use iff you
are on the system console. A more general solution is probably xconsole, a
contributed program, again appropriate for use iff you are on the system
console.
#endif
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 30)* How can I change the titlebar of my xterm window?
The solution involves sending an escape sequence to xterm which will
cause it to update the property which the window manager relies upon for the
string which appears in the window titlebar.
A solution is as easy as typing this in an xterm running a shell:
echo "ESC]2;TEXT^G"
where ESC is the escape key, TEXT is the string you wish to have displayed,
and ^G is a Control-G (the BEL character).
Here is a more complicated csh alias which changes the titlebar to
the current working directory when you change directories:
alias newcd 'cd \!* ; echo ESC]2\;$cwd^G'
The digit '2' in these strings indicates to xterm that it should
change only the title of the window; to change both the title and the name
used in the icon, use the digit '0' instead, and use '1' to change only the
icon name.
These sequences work for both R3 and R4 xterm windows; the R4 xterm,
however, does not accept the looser sequences which worked under R3 and
demands a semicolon, above, for example, where the R3 xterm allowed any
character.
Note: another way to do this, which prevents an incorrect display of
the local directory if a modified `cd` is used in a subshell, is to wrap the
escape sequences into the PS1 prompt itself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 31) Where can I find the xterm control sequences?
The best source of such information is the file mit/clients/xterm/ctlseq.txt,
a compilation put together by Skip Montanaro (GE CR&D). It dates from R3 but is
fairly accurate. A hardcopy version was published in the December 1989
XNextEvent (the XUG newsletter).
Also look for mit/clients/xterm/ctlseqs.ms, which was originally done for X10R4
and which has been updated irregularly and probably incompletely.
In addition, Volume 3 (User's Guide) of the R4 flavor of the O'Reilly
X Window System series contains an appendix listing xterm control sequences.
Neither of these documents is installed as part of the X11R4 installation.
In a pinch, a VT100 manual will do.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 32) How do I keep my $DISPLAY when I rlogin to another machine?
There are several ways to avoid having to do a "setenv DISPLAY ..."
whenever you log in to another networked UNIX machine running X.
One solution is to use the xrlogin program from der Mouse
(mouse@larry.mcrcim.mcgill.edu). You can ftp caveat-emptor versions from
132.206.1.1, in X/xrlogin.c and X/xrlogind.c. The program packages up $TERM and
$DISPLAY into a single string, which is stuffed into $TERM. rlogin then
propagates $TERM normally; your .cshrc on the remote machine should contain
eval `xrlogind`
where xrlogind is a program that checks $TERM and if it is of the special
format it recognizes, unpacks it and spits out setenv and unsetenv commands to
recreate the environment variables. [11/90]
In addition, if all you need to do is start a remote X process on
another host, and you find
rsh <HOST> -n /usr/bin/X11/xterm -display $DISPLAY
too simple (DISPLAY must have your real hostname), then this version of xrsh
can be used to start up remote X processes. The equivalent usage would be
xrsh <HOST> xterm
#! /bin/sh
# start an X11 process on another host
# Date: 8 Dec 88 06:29:34 GMT
# From: Chris Torek <chris@mimsy.umd.edu>
# rsh $host -n "setenv DISPLAY $DISPLAY; exec $@ </dev/null >&/dev/null"
#
# An improved version:
# rXcmd (suggested by John Robinson, jr@bbn.com)
# (generalized for sh,ksh by Keith Boyer, keith@cis.ohio-state.edu)
#
# but they put the rcmd in ()'s which left zombies again. This
# script combines the best of both.
case $# in
[01]) echo "Usage: $0 host x-cmd [args...]";;
*)
case $SHELL in
*csh*) host="$1"; shift
xhost "$host" > /dev/null
rsh "$host" -n \
"setenv TERM xterm; setenv DISPLAY `hostname`:0; \
exec $* </dev/null >& /dev/null" &
;;
*sh)
host="$1"; shift
xhost "$host" > /dev/null
rsh "$host" -n \
"TERM=xterm export TERM; \
DISPLAY=`hostname`:0 export DISPLAY; \
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/X11/lib export LD_LIBRARY_PATH; \
PATH=\$PATH:/usr/X11/bin:/usr/bin/X11:/usr/local/bin; \ export PATH; \
exec $* < /dev/null > /dev/null 2>&1" &
;;
esac
;;
esac
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 33)* How can I design my own font?
One way is to use the "bitmap" client or some other bitmap-editor (e.g.
Sun's icon-editor tool, post-processed with pbmplus) to design the individual
characters and then to do some large amount of post-processing to concatenate
them into the BDF format.
The R3 contrib/ area (in fonts/utils/ and in clients/xtroff) contained
a number of useful utilities, including some to convert between BDF font format
and a simple character format which can be edited with any text editor.
An easier way is to use the "xfed" client to modify an existing font; a
recent version is on the R4 tape in contrib/clients/xfed. Xfed is available for
anonymous ftp on unido.informatik.uni-dortmund.de (129.217.64.60) as file
/pub/windows/X/Diverse-X11-Sourcen/xfed.tar.Z.
The xfedor client from Group Bull permits creation of bitmaps, cursors,
XPM1 pixmaps, and fonts. Binaries for common machines are on
avahi.inria.fr/pub; in addition, the sources, with plenty of caveats, have been
placed [5/91] in export:/contrib.
If you are a MetaFont user you can use "mftobdf" from the SeeTeX
distribution to convert PK, GF, and PXL fonts to BDF format; the distribution
is on foobar.colorado.edu and on export.lcs.mit.edu.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 34)* Why does adding a font to the server not work?
After you have built the font using your system's font-compiler,
installed it in some directory, and run `mkfontdir` or your system's equivalent
in that directory, be sure to use `xset +fp $dir` to add that full path-name to
the server's font-path, or if the directory is already in the path, use
`xset fp rehash` so that the new fonts in that directory are actually found; it
is this last step that you're probably leaving out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 35) How do I convert a ".snf" font back to ".bdf" font?
A tool called "snftobdf 1.4" is part of the bdftools package, which is
available from export.lcs.mit.edu:contrib/bdftools.tar.Z and from
crl.nmsu.edu:pub/misc/bdftools.tar.Z. Sources have been posted to fj.sources on
JUNET and should be appearing on comp.sources.x. [2/91]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 36)+ What is a general method of getting a font in usable format?
der Mouse's getbdf is one solution; it connects to a server and
produces a .BDF file for any font the server is willing to let it use. It can
be used as an anything-to-BDF converter, but requires access to a server that
can understand the font file, thus is both more and less powerful than other
tools such as snftobdf. getbdf is on 132.206.1.1 in X/getbdf.c or available via
mail from mouse@lightning.McRCIM.McGill.EDU. [5/91]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 37) How do I use HP ".scf" fonts on my MIT R4 server?
The X server from HP uses fonts whose names have the .scf suffix. These
are just compressed .snf fonts which are produced with the normal bdftosnf
program. You should be able to uncompress the font and add it to your font
area, possibly with a rename to .snf. Remember to run mkfontdir and to rehash
the font path.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 38) How do I use DECwindows ".pcf" fonts on my MIT R4 server?
The DECwindows server stores fonts in a ".pcf" format which is not
recognized by the X11R4 server. There are several "font extractor" tools that
you can use to get the .pcf files from the DEC server and write the information
to a .bdf file, which you can then recompile to .snf fonts using the
font-compiler from the MIT distribution; the bdftools package is reported to
contain such an extractor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 39)* How do I use DECwindows fonts on my non-DECwindows server?
The DECwindows fonts typically don't exist on a non-DEC installation,
but rewrite rules can be used to alias fonts used by DECwindows applications to
standard MIT fonts of similar characteristics and size. Pick up the file
contrib/DECwindows_on_X11R4_font.aliases from export.lcs.mit.edu; this file is
for a standard MIT R4 server. It can also serve as a starting point for
creating a similar aliases file for the Open Windows server or other servers
which do not use the MIT font scheme.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 40) How do I add ".bdf" fonts to my DECwindows server?
The format of fonts preferred by DEC's X server is the ".pcf" format.
You can produce this compiled format from the .bdf format by using DEC's dxfc
font-compiler. Note that the DEC servers can also use raw .bdf fonts, with a
performance hit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 41) Why can't I set the backgroundPixmap resource in a defaults file?
I want to be able to do something like this:
xclock*backgroundPixmap: /usr/include/X11/bitmaps/rootweave
You can't do this. The backgroundPixmap resource is a pixmap of the
same depth as the screen, not a bitmap (which is a pixmap of depth 1). Because
of this, writing a generic String to Pixmap converter is impossible, since
there is no accepted convention for a file format for pixmaps. Therefore,
neither the X Toolkit or the Athena widget set define a String to Pixmap
converter, because there is no converter you cannot specify this value as a
resource. The Athena widget set does define a String to Bitmap converter for
use in many of its widgets, however.
[courtesy Chris D. Peterson (now kit@ics.com), 4/90]
However:
A specific converter which encapsulates much of the functionality of the
xloadimage package by Jim Frost was posted 12/90 by Sebastian Wangnick
(basti@unido.informatik.uni-dortmund.de); it permits loading of a number of
image formats as a pixmap.
The leading general-purpose format for pixmaps is the XPM format used
by Groupe Bull in several of its programs, including the GWM window manager, by
AT&T in its olpixmap editor, and by ICS in its interface builder. XPM
distribution, available on export as contrib/xpm.tar.Z, includes read/write
routines which can easily be adapted to converters by new widgets which want to
allow specification of pixmap resources in the above manner. See information
on the xpm-talk mailing list above. XPM 3.0a was announced in 4/91 and is
available from export.lcs.mit.edu and avahi.inria.fr.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 42) Why does the R3 xterm, et al, fail against the R4 server?
The value given to a window's do_not_propagate mask is the likely
culprit. R3 allowed bogus values to be set, and early version of both Andrew
and Interviews did, as well. Similar problems also occur in the R3 Motif
PanedWindow widget.
If it is impossible to fix client source, use 'xset bc' to put the
X11R4 server into bug-compatibility mode.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 43) Why doesn't xlock work on my R4 server?
The version of xlock that went out on the R4 contrib tapes was not
quite R4-conformant; when built and run, it will produce an X_GrabPointer
protocol error. This can be fixed by making the R4 server run in bug-
compatibility mode; just say `xset bc`.
xlock has been fixed since; in addition, a major revision just [10/90]
came out (to comp.sources.x) and can be used instead.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 44) How can I have xclock or oclock show different timezones?
One solution is xchron, in Volume 6 of comp.sources.x, which can show
the time for timezones other than the local one.
Alternatively, you can probably set the timezone in the shell from
which you invoke the xclock or oclock, or use a script similar to this:
#!/bin/sh
TZ=PST8PDT xclock -name "San Jose" 2> /dev/null &
TZ=EST5EDT xclock -name "Cambridge" 2> /dev/null &
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 45) I have xmh, but it doesn't work. Where can I get mh?
The xmh mail-reader requires the Rand mh mail/message handling system,
which is not part of the UNIX software distribution for many machines. The
current version of mh is typically on ics.uci.edu in /mh; it was updated in
mid-December 1990 to 6.7.1. [1/91]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 46) Why am I suddenly unable to connect to my Sun X server?
After a seemingly random amount of time after the X server has been started, no
other clients are able to connect to it.
The default cron cleanup jobs supplied by Sun (for 4.0.3, at least)
delete "old" (unreferenced) files from /tmp -- including /tmp/.X11-unix, which
contains the socket descriptor used by X. The solution is to add "! -type s" to
the find exclusion in the cron job.
[10/90]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 47)+ Why can't I override translations? Only the first item works.
You probably have an extra space after the specification of the first
item, like this:
basic*text.translations: #override \
Ctrl<Key>a: beginning-of-line() \n\
Ctrl<Key>e: end-of-line()
^ extra space
The newline after that space is ending the translation definition.
[Thanks to Timothy J. Horton, 5/91]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 48) TOPIC: OBTAINING X AND RELATED SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 49) Is X public-domain software?
No. The X software is copyrighted by various institutions and is not
"public domain", which has a specific legal meaning. However, the X
distribution is available for free and can be redistributed without fee.
Contributed software, though, may be placed in the public domain by
individual authors.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 50) Where can I obtain X11R4 (source and binaries)?
The MIT Software Center is shipping X11R4 on four 1600bpi half-inch
tapes. Call the X Hotline at (617) 258-8330 for prerecorded ordering
information and a good product description.
Back Software & Consulting, Inc (303-443-7758) provides X11R4 on 5.25
or 3.5 floppies (MS-DOS or Unix), Sun tar tapes (QIC-24), Apollo wbak cartridge
tapes.
Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc., ships X11R4 on half-inch,
quarter-inch, and TK50 formats. Call 617-621-0060 for ordering information.
The Free Software Foundation (617-876-3296) sells X11R4 on half-inch
tapes and on QIC-24 cartridges.
Yaser Doleh (doleh@math-cs.kent.EDU; P.O. Box 1301, Kent, OH 44240) is
making X11R4 available on HP format tapes, 16 track, and Sun cartridges. [2/90]
European sites can obtain a free X11R4 distribution from Jamie Watson,
who may be reached at chx400!pan!jw or jw@pan.uu.ch. [10/90]
Non Standard Logics (+33 (1) 43 36 77 50; requests@nsl.fr) makes source
available.
IXI Limited (+44 223 462 131) is selling X11R4 source on quarter-inch
cartridge formats and on 5.25" and 3.5" floppy, with other formats available on
request. [IXI, 2/90]
Virtual Technologies (703-430-9247) provides the entire X11R4
compressed source release on a single QIC-24 quarter-inch cartridge and also on
1.2meg or 1.44 meg floppies upon request. [Conor Cahill (cpcahil@virtech.uu.net)
2/90]
Young Minds (714-335-1350) makes the R4 and GNU distributions available
on a full-text-indexed CD-ROM.
[Note that some distributions are media-only and do not include docs.]
Canadian sites can send email to xhacks@csri.toronto.edu to arrange for
the exchange of tapes; the offer is subject to "time availability".
[information from Mark Moraes (moraes@csri.toronto.edu), 2/90]
UK sites can obtain R4 through the UKUUG Software Distribution Service,
from the Department of Computing, Imperial College, London, in several tape
formats. You may also obtain the source via Janet (and therefore PSS) using
Niftp (Host: uk.ac.ic.doc.src Name: guest Password: your_email_address).
Queries should be directed to Lee McLoughlin, 01-589-5111#5037, or to
ukuug-soft@uk.ac.ic.doc. Also offered are copies of comp.sources.x, the
export.lcs.mit.edu contrib and doc areas and most other announced freely
distributable packages.
X11R4 is ftp-able from export.lcs.mit.edu; these sites are preferable,
though, and are more direct:
Machine Internet FTP
Location Name Address Directory
-------- ------- -------- -------------
(1) West USA gatekeeper.dec.com 16.1.0.2 pub/X11/R4
Central USA mordred.cs.purdue.edu 128.10.2.2 pub/X11/R4
(2) Central USA giza.cis.ohio-state.edu 128.146.8.61 pub/X.V11R4
Southeast USA uunet.uu.net 192.48.96.2 X/R4
(3) Northeast USA crl.dec.com 192.58.206.2 pub/X11/R4
(4) UK Janet src.doc.ic.ac.uk 129.31.81.36 X.V11R4
UK niftp uk.ac.ic.doc.src <XV11R4>
(5) Australia munnari.oz.au 128.250.1.21 X.V11/R4
The giza.cis.ohio-state.edu site, in particular, is known to have much of the
contrib stuff that can be found on export.
The release is available to DEC Easynet sites as CRL::"/pub/X11/R4".
Sites in Australia may contact this address: ftp.Adelaide.EDU.AU [129.127.40.3]
and check the directory pub/X/R4. The machine shadows export and archives
comp.sources.x. (Mark Prior, mrp@ucs.adelaide.edu.au, 5/90)
Note: a much more complete list is distributed regularly by Dan Heller
(argv@sun.com) as part of the introductory postings to comp.sources.x.
A set of X11R4 binaries built by Tom Roell (roell@informatik.tu-muenchen.de) for
the 386/ix will available from export.lcs.mit.edu in /contrib and in
/pub/i386/X11R4 from 131.159.8.35 in Europe. Stephen Hite
(shite@sinkhole.unf.edu) can also distribute to folks without ftp facilities via
disks sent SASE; contact him for USmail and shipping details. [12/90] In
addition, the binaries are available via uucp from szebra [1-408-739-1520, TB+
(PEP); ogin:nuucp sword:nuucp] in /usr2/xbbs/bbs/x. In addition, the source is
on zok in /usrX/i386.R4server/. [2/91] In addition, if you are in the US, the
latest SVR4 binary (April 15), patches, and fonts are available on
piggy.ucsb.edu (128.111.72.50) in the directory /pub/X386, same filenames as
above. (Please use after 6pm Pacific, as these are large files.) [5/91]
A set of HP 9000/800 binaries is available on hpcvaaz.cv.hp.com (15.255.72.15)
as ~ftp/pub/MitX11R4/libs.x800.Z. [2/91]
A set of [usable but admittedly flawed] X11R4 binaries built by Mr. Mouse
(mouse@larry.mcrcim.mcgill.edu) for the original NeXT is available from
132.206.1.1, in X/XNeXT/distribution.Z. [12/90]
A set of binaries by John Coolidge (coolidge@cs.uiuc.edu) for the Mac running
A/UX 2.0 is available from wuarchive.wustl.edu in the file
(/archive/systems/aux/X11R4/Xupdate2.tar.Z). Also in X11R4/diffs is a set of
patches for making X11R4 with shared libraries with mkshlib.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 51)* Where can I obtain patches to X11R4?
The xstuff server now has eighteen patches for X11R4 [10/90]; there will
not be any more patches to X11R4. Send to xstuff@expo.lcs.mit.edu the Subject
line
send fixes #
where # are numbers in the appropriate range (e.g. `send fixes 3 5 7 8 18`).
Patches are sometimes also distributed through the newsgroup
comp.sources.x, with some lagtime, and are typically archived on sites from
which X11R4 is available.
Some source re-sellers may be including patches in their source
distributions of X11R4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 52) Where can I obtain X11R3 source?
These have been true in the past, but vendors are probably getting out of the
R3 business. If you really need it, check the archive sites, these vendors, or
those selling R4 source. The MIT Software Center no longer distributes X11R3.
Intelligent Software Products, (516-766-2867) [formats are unknown].
Integrated Computer Solutions, (617-621-0060) ships X11R3 on half-inch
and quarter-inch formats.
The Free Software Foundation (617-876-3296) sells X11R3 on half-inch
tapes and on QIC-24 cartridges.
Automata Design Associates (215-646-4894) sells X11R3 source on 5.25"
high-density floppies and QIC-24 quarter-inch cartridge tapes.
European sites can obtain a free distribution from Jamie Watson, who
may be reached at chx400!pan!jw or jw@pan.uu.ch. [10/90]
IXI Limited (+44 223 462 131) is selling X11R3 source on quarter-inch
cartridge formats and on 5.25" and 3.5" floppy, with other formats available on
request. [IXI, 2/90]
Non Standard Logics (+33 (1) 43 36 77 50; requests@nsl.fr) makes source
available. [10/90]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 53) Where can I obtain OSF/Motif?
You can obtain either OSF/Motif source or binaries from a number of
vendors. Motif 1.0 is based on the R3 Intrinsics and is currently at 1.0.5;
Motif 1.1, which began shipping this past August, is based on the R4 Intrinsics
and is currently at 1.1.2.
An OSF/Motif source license must be obtained from OSF before source can
be obtained from the Open Software Foundation or any value-added vendor for
any version. Call the Direct Channels Desk at OSF at 617-621-7300 for ordering
information.
Various hardware vendors produce developer's toolkits of 1.0 binaries,
header files, and documentation; check your hardware vendor, particularly if
that vendor is an OSF member.
In addition, independent binary vendors produce Motif 1.0 toolkits for
machines for which Motif is not supported by a vendor. ICS makes several binary
kits, notably for Sun, DEC, Apple; Quest (408-988-8880) sells kits for Suns, as
well; IXI (+44 223 462 131) offers kits for Sun3 (SunOS 3.5 or later, and Sun4
(SunOS 4.0.1 or later). Unipalm XTech (+44 954 211862; or Aurora Technologies
617-577-1288 in USA) offers a binary kit for Sun 4, Sun 3, and Sun 386i. NSL
(+33 (1) 43 36 77 50; requests@nsl.fr) offers kits for the Sun 3 and Sun 4.
HP and DEC have announced support for Motif on Sun systems.
The kits include varied levels of bug-fixing and support for shared
libraries.
Unipalm XTech will be shipping Motif 1.1 based binaries from the end of
September 1990 for Sun and other hardware.
BIM ships Motif 1.1 binaries for Suns. Shared library support is
included. Contact Alain Vermeiren (av@sunbim.be) or Danny Backx (db@sunbim.be)
at +32(2)759.59.25 (Fax : +32(2)759.47.95) (Belgium).
Metro Link Inc. (+1-305-566-9586, sales@metrolink.com; in Europe contact
ADNT, (33 1) 3956 5333) ships an implementation of X11R4 and Motif 1.1
(including a shared-library implementation of libXm.a) for the 386/486 Unix
market.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 54) Does Motif work with X11R4?
Applications based on OSF/Motif 1.0 will run against an R4 server if it
is set to bug-compatibility mode or if a patch (part of the 1.0.3 upgrade) to
the XmPanedWindow code is obtained.
Applications based on OSF/Motif 1.0 can be built or linked on a system
with X11R4 libraries provided that the Motif version of the R3 Intrinsics is
used; the R4 Xt should not be used with Motif 1.0 programs.
Motif 1.1, available in source form from OSF as of August 1990, uses
the "vanilla" X11R4 Intrinsics, where "vanilla" means "with just a few patches";
the file fix-osf which OSF distributes is obsoleted by MIT's patches 15-17.
The file fix-osf-1.1.1 distributed with the 1.1.1 version or its subsequent
modification needs to be applied after MIT fix-18, though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 55) Where can I obtain toolkits implementing OPEN LOOK?
Sun's XView has a SunView-style API. A new version is on the X11R4 tape;
version 2.0 is also available (as of 8/90) on export.lcs.mit.edu for anonymous
ftp. Supported binaries of XView for various machines are now available from a
number of vendors, including Unipress (201-985-8000) [DEC Ultrix, IBM RS/6000]
and ICS (617-621-0060) [Mac A/UX].
AT&T's OPEN LOOK GUI 2.0 Xt-based toolkit is now generally available
[2/90]; contact 1-800-828-UNIX#544 for information. Binaries are produced
for SPARC systems by International Quest Corporation (408-988-8289). A version
of the toolkit is also produced under the name OLIT by Sun.
More recent versions of OLIT have been ported to IBM 6000 and DEC MIPS
by both UniPress and ICS. OLIT is also available for HP from Melillo Consulting
(908-873-0075). [Joanne Newbauer, jo@attunix.att.com, 908-522-6677.]
Sun is shipping OpenWindows 2.0 for Sparc, Sun-3, and Sun386i machines;
contact your local sales representative for more details; the package includes
toolkit binaries and header files.
Solbourne's extensible C++-based Object Interface Library is being
distributed by AT&T; contact Paul Fillinich (attunix!uso!paulf; 201/829-8743)
for information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 56) Where can I obtain other X sources?
User-contributed software is distributed through the newsgroup
comp.sources.x, moderated by Dan Heller (argv@sun.com); also check that group
for posting information.
The machine export.lcs.mit.edu has a great deal of user-contributed
software in the contrib/ directory; a good deal of it is present in current or
earlier versions on the X11R3 and X11R4 contrib tapes. There is a new directory
contrib/R4fixes/ for fixes to R4 contrib software. [Jim Fulton, 2/90]
The material on giza.cis.ohio-state.edu, which tends to duplicate
the export archives, is also available via anonymous UUCP from osu-cis, at TB+
and V.32 speeds. Write to uucp@cis.ohio-state.edu (same as osu-cis!uucp) for
instructions. [the archive is now maintained by Karl Kleinpaste]
A new west-coast UUCP X11 Archive is administered by Mark Snitily
(mark@zok.uucp) and contains the full X11R4 distribution, the XTEST
distribution, an entire archive of comp.sources.x and other goodies.
The machine zok has a TB+ modem which will connect to 19.2K, 2400,
1200 baud (in that order). The anonymous UUCP account is UXarch with password
Xgoodies. The modem's phone number is 408-996-8285.
A sample Systems (or L.sys) entry might be:
zok Any ACU 19200 4089968285 in:--in: UXarch word: Xgoodies
To get a current listing of the files that are available, download
the file "/usrX/ls-lR.Z".
A full subject index of the comp.sources.x files is available in the
file "/usrX/comp.sources.x/INDEX".
The machine has just the one modem, so please do not fetch large
amounts of data at one sitting.
[courtesy Mark Snitily, 2/90]
FTP sites and software available:
This list is a lightly-edited (e.g. `grep X`) condensation of sites posted by
odin@pilot.njin.net (Jon Granrose) [9/90].
a.cs.uiuc.edu 128.174.252.1 TeX, dvi2ps, gif, texx2.7
avahi.inria.fr 192.5.60.47 xfedor
brazos.rice.edu 128.42.42.2 pub/X11R3/core.src
cayuga.cs.rochester.edu 192.5.53.209 Xfig, JOVE, NL-KR mail list
cheddar.cs.wisc.edu 128.105.2.143 Common Lisp stuff, X11
crl.dec.com 192.58.206.2 X11R4
cs.toronto.edu 128.100.1.65 UofT BIND, X applications
dinorah.wustl.edu 128.252.118.101 X11R3/core.src, portability
dolphin.mit.edu 18.86.0.5 X11r3 device driver for S,
emil.csd.uu.se 130.238.4.2 Old GNU, X R10
export.lcs.mit.edu 18.30.0.238 X, portable bitmaps, CLX and
export.lcs.mit.edu CLUE, gwm
extro.ucc.su.oz.au 129.78.64.1 images, gnu, icon, kermit,
extro.ucc.su.oz.au Ghostscript patches
faui43.informatik.uni-erlangen.de 131.188.1.43 NeWS X11 amiga atari faces
fcs280s.ncifcrf.gov 129.43.1.11 xtrek5.4
finsun.csc.fi 128.214.46.40 X11R4 ftp-list
foobar.colorado.edu 128.138.243.105 BDF fonts, xtex
freja.diku.dk 129.142.96.1 nn, gnu, x11r4, tex, isode
fresnel.stanford.edu 36.10.0.77 X11R4 for Iris
gatekeeper.dec.com 16.1.0.2 X11, recipes, cron, map
giza.cis.ohio-state.edu 128.146.8.61 X, PEX
hemuli.tik.vtt.fi 130.188.52.2 WorldMap X bind.4.8 finger
hpcvaaz.cv.hp.com 15.255.72.15 MitX11R4 Motif
hpserv1.uit.no 128.39.60.50 HP stuff, X11, unix, etc
hydra.helsinki.fi 128.214.4.29 misc, TeX, X
interviews.stanford.edu 36.22.0.175 InterViews X toolkit
iraun1.ira.uka.de 129.13.10.90 GNU X11 comp.sources.unix
irisa.irisa.fr 131.254.2.3 comp.sources.x
j.cc.purdue.edu 128.210.5.1 comp.sources.x
jpl-mil.jpl.nasa.gov 128.149.28.2 TeX, mac, GNU, X11R2, X11R3
kappa.rice.edu 128.42.4.7 X11R3, GNU for Sequent S27
labrea.stanford.edu 36.8.0.47 GNU, X, official TeX sources
larry.mcrcim.mcgill.edu 132.206.4.3 RFCs, X, local nameserver
lll-crg.llnl.gov 128.115.1.1 X11R4
ltisun.epfl.ch 128.178.38.6 xconq
m9-520-1.mit.edu 18.80.0.45 xim utils
maddog.llnl.gov 128.115.10.1 AWM X tutorial, PCP
mcs213k.cs.umr.edu 131.151.6.11 xgif, shuttle
me10.lbl.gov 128.3.128.110 X11 binaries for hp-ux, me10
nic.funet.fi 128.214.6.100 GNU, X11, networking, msdos,
oddput.efd.lth.se 130.235.48.4 xps (postscript previewer)
peace.waikato.ac.nz 130.217.64.62 x11r4
polyslo.calpoly.edu 129.65.17.1 xtrek, top 2.0, spaceout,
qed.rice.edu 128.42.4.38 GNU, X11R3, plot2ps sources
research.att.com 192.20.225.2 TeX, gcc, ghostscript, f2c
scam.berkeley.edu 128.32.138.1 X sources, etc.
schizo.samsung.com 134.228.1.2 comp.sources.x
sequent.kent.edu 131.123.2.50 x11r4 for esix
shambhala.berkeley.edu 128.32.132.54 xrn, xgraph
shemp.cs.ucla.edu 131.179.128.34 XWIP
sirius.ucs.adelaide.edu.au 129.127.40.3 X11R4
slug.pws.bull.com 128.35.10.203 comp.sources.x, gif, X11R4,
slug.pws.bull.com X11R3, R4contrib, gnu,
ti.com 128.247.159.141 CLX
trout.nosc.mil 132.249.16.12 X11R3, benchmarks, popd, GNU
ucbvax.berkeley.edu 128.32.130.12 nntp, gnews, awm, empire
unido.informatik.uni-dortmund.de 129.217.64.60 atari, mac, benchmarks,
unido.informatik.uni-dortmund.de utils, x11, sysadm tools
vaxa.isi.edu 128.9.0.33 clf-act, X, db
winnie.princeton.edu 128.112.128.180 music software (unix & NeXT)
wpi.wpi.edu TeX_DS3100, TeX_Umax, misc X
wuarchive.wustl.edu 128.252.135.4 GNU, X.11R3, GIF, IEN, RFCs,
wuarchive.wustl.edu comp.sources.x, msdos,
xanth.cs.odu.edu 128.82.8.1 comp.sources.x,
xanth.cs.odu.edu 128.82.4.1 comp.sources.games, X10R4
xview.ucdavis.edu 128.120.1.150 xview
These sites mirror export and are of particular use for Australasia:
Anonymous ftp: ftp.Adelaide.EDU.AU pub/X/R4/
pub/sources/x/
ACSnet Fetchfile: sirius.ua.oz X/R4/
sources/x/
In addition, UUNET Source Archives (703-876-5050) tracks comp.sources.x and
provides 800MB+ of compressed programs on 6250 bpi tapes or 1/4" tapes
(or Exabyte 8mm cartridges?).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 57) Where can I obtain interesting widgets?
The Free Widget library sponsored by Brian Totty (totty@cs.uiuc.edu) is
now [12/90] available on a.cs.uiuc.edu in pub/fwf.shar.Z. The set of widgets
there is intended to form the basis for future contributions. To be added to
the discussion list, contact free-widgets-request@eagle.cnsf.cornell.edu.
Additional widgets are available on the contrib/ portion of the X11R4
tapes; these include the Xcu set.
O'Reilly Volume 4, Doug Young's book, and the Asente/Swick book all
include details on writing widgets and include several useful widgets.
A graph widget and other 2D-plot and 3D-contour widgets by Sundar
Narasimhan (sundar@ai.mit.edu) are available from ftp.ai.mit.edu as
/com/ftp/pub/users/sundar/graph.tar.Z. The graph widget has been updated [3/91]
with documentation and histogram capabilities.
An alpha version of Lee Iverson's (leei@McRCIM.McGill.EDU) image-viewing
*widget* is available as /contrib/vimage.tar.Z on export.lcs.mit.edu and in
/pub/maspar on moe.mcrcim.mcgill.edu. The package also includes an
ImageViewPort widget and a FileDialog widget. [5/91]
Other available file-requestor widgets include the FileSelector from the
Free Widget Foundation, the XiFileSelector from Iris Software's book, and
the xdbx file-selector extracted by David Nedde (daven@wpi.wpi.edu).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 58) Where can I obtain alternate language bindings to X?
Versions of the CLX Lisp bindings are part of the X11R3 and X11R4 core
source distributions. The latest version of CLX (R4.4) is available from export
for ftp as contrib/CLX.R4.4.tar.Z; this version fixes bugs reported against
the R4 distribution. [11/90]
Ada bindings were written by Mark Nelson and Stephen Hyland at SAIC
for the DOD. The bindings can be found on hapo.sei.cmu.edu or on
wsmr-simtel20.army.mil and are also in the Ada Software Repository (ASR).
R3 bindings should be available by the end of 1/90. [1/90]
Prolog bindings (called "XWIP") written by Ted Kim at UCLA while
supported in part by DARPA are available by anonymous FTP from
export.lcs.mit.edu:contrib/xwip.tar.Z or ftp.cs.ucla.edu:pub/xwip.tar.Z.
These prolog language bindings depend on having a Quintus-type foreign function
interface in your prolog. The developer has gotten it to work with Quintus and
SICStus prolog. Inquiries should go to xwip@cs.ucla.edu. [3/90]
GHG is developing X bindings and a complete Ada re-implementation
of X; check Lionel Hanley at 713-488-8806. [4/90]
Ada bindings to Motif, explicitly, will eventually be made available by
the Jet Propulsion Laboratories, probably through the normal electronic
means. Advance information can be obtained from dsouleles@dsfvax.jpl.nasa.gov,
who may respond as time permits.
Another set of bindings for Motif 1.1 is being done by the University of
Lowell; it can be ftp'ed from 129.63.1.1 as Motif1.1-g++.tar.Z in
graphics/MotifC++. A Technical Report on the binding is included. [4/91]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 59) What is the xstuff mail-archive?
The xstuff server is a mail-response program. That means that you mail
it a request, and it mails back the response.
Any of the four possible commands must be the first word on a line. The
xstuff server reads your entire message before it does anything, so you can
have several different commands in a single message (unless you ask for help).
The xstuff server treats the "Subject:" header line just like any other line
of the message.
The archives are organized into a series of directories and
subdirectories. Each directory has an index, and each subdirectory has an
index. The top-level index gives you an overview of what is in the
subdirectories, and the index for each subdirectory tells you what is in it.
1) The command "help" or "send help" causes the server to send you a
more detailed version of this help file.
2) if your message contains a line whose first word is "index", then
the server will send you the top-level index of the contents of the archive. If
there are other words on that line that match the name of subdirectories, then
the indexes for those subdirectories are sent instead of the top-level index.
For example, you can say "send index fixes" (or "index fixes"). A message that
requests an index cannot request data.
3) if your message contains a line whose first word is "send", then the
xstuff server will send you the item(s) named on the rest of the line. To name
an item, you give its directory and its name. For example
send fixes 1 3 4
You may issue multiple send requests. The xstuff server contains many
safeguards to ensure that it is not monopolized by people asking for large
amounts of data. The mailer is set up so that it will send no more than a fixed
amount of data each day. If the work queue contains more requests than the
day's quota, then the unsent files will not be processed until the next day.
Whenever the mailer is run to send its day's quota, it sends the requests out
shortest-first.
4) Some mailers produce mail headers that are unusable for extracting
return addresses. If you use such a mailer, you won't get any response. If
you happen to know an explicit path, you can include a line like
path foo%bar.bitnet@mitvma.mit.edu
or
path bar!foo!frotz
in the body of your message, and the daemon will use it.
The xstuff server itself can be reached at xstuff@expo.lcs.mit.edu. If
your mailer deals in "!" notation, try sending to
{someplace}!mit-eddie!expo.lcs.mit.edu!xstuff.
[based on information from the MIT X Consortium, 8/89, 4/90.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 60)* What is the current state of the world in X terminals?
Here is a selection of vendors with "impressions of consensus opinions".
AT&T's (800-247-1212; ask for local dealer) 730X has a 1Kx1K monochrome
(amber or white) display with a 1:1 aspect ratio. The terminal supports
multiple Telnet sessions and AT&T windowing in addition to X. The 730 supports
ISO or TCP/IP over twisted pair. "Very, very nice." Also 750CX 17" color and
730SX+ 16" mono 1kx1k. [2/91]
DEC (800-343-4040) offers the VT1200, a home-brew 15" 1024x864
monochrome terminal using the TI 34010; this replaces the VT1200. In addition,
DEC offers a VT1300, the Vax-in-a-box.
Gipsi S.A. (+33 (1) 30.60.75.00 or Jeff Abramatic at jfa@gipsi.fr) in
10/89 announced "le tX", a line of 68030-based X terminals running X11R3.
High-end models, at least, feature downloadable X servers.
Model Memory Resolution Display Refresh (Hz) Price (FF)
M 2 MB 1280x960x1 19" B&W 66 32 400
Me 2 MB 1280x960x2 19" Greyscale 66 38 000
C4 2 MB 1280x768x4 16" Colour 60 59 900
C8 4 MB 1280x1024x8 19" Colour 60 79 400
Expansion is up to 8MB and 8 planes.
The exclusive US distributor is Peripheral Design, Inc (404-263-0067).
"Looks fairly nice; shouldn't be overlooked."
GraphOn (800-472-7466) OptimaX 200 runs a server on the host which
translates from X protocol to a proprietary protocol which can run over a
serial line. The screen is 14". The terminal is based on a 12MHz 68000. (See
the December 1989 issue of XNextEvent for an informal review.) "Best available
solution for RS232C lines."
Harris Adacom's (??) SuperNet Strategy 9800 is a 3270 X terminal that
offers a controller suitable for use in IBM environments.
Hewlett-Packard (800-752-0900; ask for local sales office) offers the
new HP 700/RX family of RISC-based X stations. All models come standard with a
PS/2 keyboard, PS/2 3-button mouse, RS-232-C port, and a parallel port.
Models Displays Type Resolution Planes Processor Memory Xstones
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19Ca 19" Color 1280 x 1024 8 Intel i960 4-18MB 76,000
16Ca 16" Color 1024 x 768 8 Intel i960 4-18MB 76,000
16Ci 16" Color 1024 x 768 8 Intel i960 4-18MB 50,000
19Mi 19" Mono 1280 x 1024 1 Intel i960 2-18MB 60,000
Human Design Systems (800-437-1551) offers several models of the
HDS ViewStation Plus series, based on an Intel 80186 and a TI 34010. Base
configuration is 1.75MB expandable to 9MB. [12/90]
Product Resolution Planes
------- ---------- -----------
v14 640x480 pixels 4 gray shades
v16 1024x1024 pixels 4, 16, or 256 gray shades
v191 1024x864 pixels monochrome
v19 1280x1024 pixels 4, 16, or 256 gray shades
v14c 640x480 pixels 16 colors
v15c 1024x768 pixels 16 colors
v16c 1024x800 pixels 256 colors
v17c 1280x1024 pixels 256 colors
v21c 1280x1024 pixels 256 colors
VX151 1024x864
VX191 1024x864
VX191+ 1280x1024
IBM's Xstation 120 starts with 512KB of memory and features support
for simultaneous Token-Ring and Ethernet connections. [2/90] AGE (619-565-7373)
has software that allows it to work with Suns, RTs, and DECstations as well as
the IBM Powerstation machines.
Jupiter Systems (415-523-9000, 508-836-4400) produces the Model 310
which features a 19-inch 1280x1024 color monitor. "A price leader, but also a
performance leader." The Model 410 has a 19", 1280x1024 monitor and offers
a large palette and high memory expansion. [5/90] Model 410. Also Model 412
supports two 19", 1280x1024 monitors; 25MHz 68030 CPU, optimized R4 with SHAPE.
[1/91]
Labtam Australia (Australia +61 3 587 1444, Fax: +61 3 580 5581) offers
terminals based on an Intel 80960K RISC Processor. [2/91]
Model Memory Resolution Processor X stones
MT200 4 - 8 MB 1280x960x1 80960K @ 20 Mhz 72 K
CT101 4 - 16 MB 1024x800x8 80960K @ 25 Mhz 49 K
CT200 4 - 16 MB 1280x1024x8 80960K @ 25 Mhz 52 K
Micronics (415-651-2300) offers the MaxTerm, based on a 25MHz 80386 and
featuring a 19", 1280x1024 screen. The MaxTerm offers virtual memory. [5/90]
The 3X and 4X can be used as PC terminals or X terminals.
Microterm/Imlogix (800-325-9056; 314-822-4111) offers the MicroX, a
1280x1024 4-plane monochrome terminal.
Network Computing Devices (415-694-0650 or info@ncd.com) offers
monochrome and color X-terminals. All units are designed with no fan, 70 Hz
refresh, thick & thin Ethernet, a serial port, an opto-mechanical mouse and a
choice of keyboards (including PS/2-style, DEC LK-201 style, and compact
UNIX-style). NCDware features full X11R4 support. It also offers local client
support for VT220 terminal emulation over Telnet and LAT, and a Motif-like
local window manager. It offers support for SNMP and, optionally, simultaneous
support for a DECnet-compatible transport. Optionally available on all NCD's
is 'Xremote', a highly optimized, compressed, and reliable protocol suitable
for running X over RS-232 lines, including modem connections.
Product Display Resolution Planes Processor Graphics Memory
- - ------- ---------- ----------- ------- -------------- -------- ----------
NCD15b 15" 1024 x 800 Mono 68000 16 MHz ASIC 2-5 MB
NCD19b 19" 1024 x 800 Mono 68000 16 MHz ASIC 2-5 MB
NCD16 16" Square 1024 x 1024 Mono 68000 12.5 MHz ASIC 1.5-4.5 MB
NCD16e 16" Square 1024 x 1024 Mono 68020 15 MHz 2-8 MB
NCD19 19" 1280 x 1024 Mono 68020 15 MHz 4-8 MB
NCD14c 14" 1024 x 768 8 color 68020 20 MHz 2 ASICs 4-8 MB
NCD17c 17" 1024 x 768 8 Color 68020 20 MHz 2 ASICs 4-8 MB
NCR (513-445-2033) offers the Towerview with 1024x840 resolution and a
PROM-based server. The Towerview supports serial connections. Fonts are
down-loaded. The XL15 and XL19 have 15", 1024x800 and 19", 1280x1024 displays,
respectively. "Seems to be designed for the PC office." NCR has recently [5/90]
added a series of color terminals to its line; the terminals use a 68020 and
a TI34010 for low-level graphics. Offerings include a 14", 800x600 terminal,
one at 17" and 1024x768, and one at 19" and 1024x768.
Northwest Digital System (productinfo@nds.com, 800-537-1201,
206-524-0014) offers the NDS X Station Family of X terminals. Features common
to both models include a small footprint, on-screen memory
monitor, multi-level password protected setup, remote terminal configuration,
multiple remote sessions, noiseless operation, the choice of a RAM or ROM
based server, and the ability to read other popular X terminal fonts.
Model Display Resolution Processor Xstones RAM
====== ============== =========== ========== ======== ============
XT.15 15" Mono 76Hz 1024x800x1* TMS3010 16.7K 1 - 10 MByte
XT.19 19" Mono 76Hz 1024x800x1* TMS3010 16.7K 1 - 10 MByte
* As an option, the resolution can be set to 864 lines.
Princeton Graphic Systems (800-221-1490) has introduced the Ultra X line
with monochrome up to 1024x768 and color up to 1024x1280, expandable to 8MB.
Princeton has updated its line [12/90].
Qume (408-942-4000) has announced an X terminal called the QXT 10 X.
Samsung Software America has introduced the SGS-19, offering a 19",
1280x1024 display; it is based on the RISC Am29000. [5/90] "VERY fast mono."
Spectragraphics (619-450-0611) offers an X terminal with emulation for
the IBM 3270 and related terminals.
Solarix (415-659-1544) makes the CX14, a 14" 1024x768 256-color
terminal.
Tektronix (800-225-5434) terminals fully support X11R4 and support
DECnet optionally. "Price-performance curve-breakers."
Product Display Resolution Processor(s) Ram
======= =============== =============== ======================= =============
XP23 19" mono 72Hz 1280x1024x4 16 MHz Motorola 68030 5 - 21 MB
32 MHz TI 34020
XP25 14" color 60Hz 1152x900x8 16 MHz Motorola 68030 5 - 21 MB
32 MHz TI 34020
XP27 19" color 72Hz 1152x900x8 16 MHz Motorola 68030 5 - 21 MB
32 MHz TI 34020
XP29 19" color 72Hz 1280x1024x8 16 MHz Motorola 68030 5 - 21 MB
32 MHz TI 34020
XP21 17" mono 72Hz 1152x900 5 - 21 MB
Tandberg Data A/S (Oslo, Norway) (+47 218 90 90).
Visual Technology (800-VISUALC; MA 508-836-4400) offers advanced
monochrome, grayscale, and color terminals featuring the most mature software
in the business. All terminals fully support MIT X11.4, including extensions
such as shape, XDMCP, XDSXDM, font daemon, and serial communications. Full
international keyboard support exists, with 6 language mappings provided
standard. Visual's advanced software provides a friendly terminal interface
with features such as font paging, remote configuration, keymap downloading,
and numlock synthesis. Networking protocols include TCP/IP, DECnet, and SLIP.
Model Display Resolution Processor(s) RAM
-------- ---------------- ----------- ---------------- --------
X14-ES 14" mono (82 Hz) 1024 x 800 12.5 MHz MC68000 1 - 4 MB
X15 15" mono (76 Hz) 1024 x 800 16.6 MHz MC68000 1 - 4 MB
X15Turbo 15" mono/2-plane 1152 x 900 20 MHz MC68000 2 - 8 MB
gray (70 Hz) plus h/w graphics assist
X19+ 19" mono (72 Hz) 1152 x 900 16.6 MHz MC68000 1 - 4 MB
X19Turbo 19" mono/2-plane 1280 x 1024 20 MHz MC68020 2 - 8 MB
gray (72 Hz) plus h/w graphics assist
XBase/10 8-plane color 1024 X 768 16 MHz MC68020 2 - 14 MB
plus 32 MHz TI34020 coprocessor
XBase/11 8-plane color 1152 x 900 20 MHz MC68020 2 - 14 MB
plus 40 MHz TI34020 coprocessor
XBase/12 8-plane color 1280 x 1024 16 MHz MC68020 2 - 14 MB
plus 32 MHz TI34020 coprocessor
X-19PQD 8-plane gray 1280 x 1024
"Good low-cost-per-seat performance stations." [10/90]
Wyse (800-438-9973;408-473-1200) finally enters the fray with the WY-X5,
a 1280x1024 monochrome system based on the 68020.
Digital News' 2/4/91 issue evaluates a subset of these terminals.
Unix World's 10/90 cover story evaluates a subset of these terminals.
Unix Today!'s 4/1/91 issue evaluates a subset of these terminals. Benchmark
results and methodology are available on uunet as
/unix-today/benchmarks/{4191.bench.tar.Z,x11perfcompDR}.
Unix Today!'s 5/13/91 issue evaluates a subset of these terminals running over
serial lines. Benchmark results and methodology are available on uunet as
/unix-today/benchmarks/{51391.bench.tar.Z,x11perfcompDR}.
Unix Today!'s 5/27/91 issue evaluates the HP and Samsung RISC terminals.
Benchmark results and methodology are available on uunet as
/unix-today/benchmarks/{52791.bench.tar.Z,x11perfcompDR}.
[Note to vendors, in particular: it is becoming difficult to keep up with the
introduction of new models. Any updates to the above?]
--
David B. Lewis for XUG
The X User's Group xug@expo.lcs.mit.edu
"Just the FAQs, ma'am." -- Joe Friday