[comp.sys.apollo] Motif Problems

mike@vlsivie.tuwien.ac.at (Michael K. Gschwind) (02/20/91)

We have have a problem here with the Motif 1.0 distribution. We compiled
some example programs (from /domain_exmamples/X11/motif and the HP/OSF 
Motif Prog. Manual) and the binary works OK - as long as we use UWM !!!
As soon as we start up mwm and try to run the very same program, we 
get a fail request (X_QueryColor). Now I don't see anything wrong in
trying to run a Motif application w/ the Motif window manager.
Any ideas how to fix this problems?

				advaTHANKSncve,
						mike


Michael K. Gschwind, Institute for VLSI-Design, Vienna University of Technology
mike@vlsivie.tuwien.ac.at	1-2-3-4 kick the lawsuits out the door 
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tomg@hpcvlx.cv.hp.com (Thomas J. Gilg) (02/23/91)

> As soon as we start up mwm and try to run the very same program, we 
> get a fail request (X_QueryColor).

For what its worth, mwm (the 3D look) tends to use more colors than uwm
would need.   Also, I believe uwm doesn't install colormaps on behalf of
the client, whereas mwm does.    Maybe under uwm you're always querying
the same non-complaining colormap, and under mwm you're having problems
with the changing colormaps.

Thomas Gilg
tomg@cv.hp.com

Osman_Ahmad_at_CTC@RELAY.PROTEON.COM (02/26/91)

> As soon as we start up mwm and try to run the very same program, we
> get a fail request (X_QueryColor).

>For what its worth, mwm (the 3D look) tends to use more colors than uwm
>would need.   Also, I believe uwm doesn't install colormaps on behalf of
>the client, whereas mwm does.    Maybe under uwm you're always querying
>the same non-complaining colormap, and under mwm you're having problems
>with the changing colormaps.

          Tom has the correct diagnosis of the problem.  We ran into this
          problem not too long ago.  I do not claim to be an X-pert, but
          here are some solutions and non-solutions we came up with:

          1.   Do not run Motif(R).  Is it really worth it?  Does twm
               offer an alternative?

          2.   Get X-displays with 256 colors instead of 16.  We noticed
               that Motif(R) will gobble up 14 colors (it
               allocates them in shared mode so you will get lucky with
               some applications, especially if they do not use colors!).
               With a 256 color display, we do not have a problem.

          3.   If you have access to your applications source code, you
               should be able to install your own color maps.
               Motif(R) and other
               ICCCM compliant window managers will do wonders with false
               colors as you move your focus from one window to another.

          Let me know if you need any details re: the third option.
          Visually, it is not very impressive but it works.

          /Osman

          Osman_Ahmad_at_CTC@relay.proteon.com

          Association of American Railroads
          Chicago Technical Center
          (312) 567-6751




               compliant window managers
               convert the program

tomg@hpcvlx.cv.hp.com (Thomas J. Gilg) (02/28/91)

>           2.   Get X-displays with 256 colors instead of 16.  We noticed
>                that Motif(R) will gobble up 14 colors (it
>                allocates them in shared mode so you will get lucky with
>                some applications, especially if they do not use colors!).

By default, it takes up color cells :-(  You can however force mww/Motif into
a smaller colorset.  Pardon the colors, but here's what I have:

     Mwm*activeBackground:          salmon
     Mwm*activeForeground:          brown
     Mwm*activeBottomShadowColor:   dark slate grey
     Mwm*activeTopShadowColor:      wheat
     
     Mwm*background:          light gray
     Mwm*foreground:          brown
     Mwm*bottomShadowColor:   dark slate grey
     Mwm*topShadowColor:      wheat
     
     Mwm*menu*      see above
     Mwm*icon*      see above
     Mwm*iconImage* see above

I'm down to ~8 colors in my normal windowing setup.

Thomas Gilg
tomg@cv.hp.com