How can I set default options for X?

[coverup]

I would like to start X with some options. E.g., I would like to use -dpi 120 and/or different XF86Config-4 file. How can I set those options if I use the graphical login prompt? Can I add those options somewhere to make them default?

[aRTee]

You can do some stuff in /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

check my system specs/sig link below, I have my xf86xonfig file on that page, I use it to make sure that my system always sets things to 100dpi.

 

Basically, you need to set the screensize, and check the log file /var/log/XF86.0.log (or so, just check that dir, you'll see) what dpi setting it chooses. A bit of trying should get you there.

 

 

Edit:

You need to put the right line for your system in there:

DisplaySize 403 302

is the one I use; it's in the

Section "Monitor"

part.

Edited April 8, 2004 by aRTee

[coverup]

Thanks, aRTee.

 

Yep, DisplaySize should change dpi settings, I have used this trick before. I am wondering if there is a standard way of passing startx options into init 5 login. I assume that startx runs some scripts, so this should be a matter of editing a config file somewhere...

[aRTee]

startx normally does run some stuff, .xinitrc (in your homedir and in /etc/X11/ there should also be something) is a script that comes to mind...

 

I think startx does more or less the following:

X :1 &

export DISPLAY=:1

startkde

(or gnome-session)

 

Note that the dpi setting is in X, so the only way to do it is to pass the right options to X; in XF86Config-4 is the easiest, but try

man X

or

X --help

for more options.

Note that that way you can start X with a different XF86Config file:

X --xfconfig [alternate config file] :1 &

should do..

[coverup]

Thanks for clarifying that, aRTee.

 

All those modifications are easy to use if X is started from the console. As for the graphical logon, I tried to add -- -dpi 120 to the last line of xinitrc (copied it from /etc/X11/xinit/ and saved as .xinitrc in my home dir):

# $Id: xinitrc-xinitrc,v 1.2 2002/09/10 05:53:43 flepied Exp $

# Set a background here because it's not done anymore
# in Xsesion for non root users
if [ "`whoami`" != root ]; then
   xsetroot -solid "#21449C"
fi

exec /etc/X11/Xsession -- -dpi 120 $*

For some reason, that did not have any effect... On the hand, there is the following line in startx:

 defaultclientargs=""

Apparently, one could add options between quotes, which will make them system wide. But I would like to make startx options user specific.

 

Cheers.

Edited April 9, 2004 by coverup