Screen resolution in DEC UNIX 4.0x is set in two ways,
hardware and software.
Hardware: Some graphics adapters have a switch to set the screen
resolution. Consult the adapter manual for the settings. This switch
also affects refresh rates, which are all tabled in the adapter manual.
If you have such a graphics board, this is the only way to affect
screen resolution and refresh rate. Example: 4D20, probably the other
4D-series.
Software: If your graphics adapter has no resolution switch, you can
try to change the resolution by software. The Xdec knows of two
switches: -screen<x> <resolution> and -vsync<x> <refresh>. <x> is the
screen number, for instance, -screen0.
<resolution> is any standard VESA resolution. For instance: -screen0
1024x768. Nonstandard resolutions are not supported. Default is chosen,
if non-supported resolution is tried.
With -vsync, you can choose standard VESA refresh rates/timings.
Nonstandard timings are not supported, default is chosen, if a
non-working rate is given. Example: -vsync0 72.
-vsync is not documented in man Xdec. It is also not documented in X
help output. -screen0 is very poorly documented, they say only "chooses
resolution", that's it.
You can add these switches to the Xdec command line in any file, where
the X is started. If you run CDE, the files is Xservers in
/usr/dt/config. If you run some other window or session manager, the
Xservers -file is located elsewhere.
You can add the switches before the last :0 on the Xdec or X command
line. Be sure to test the switches first, or you might end up with a
character login console locked up by the Xserver trying to restart
again and again. Better login through network or text terminal, kill
xdm or dtlogin, start X manually and see, if the switches work. If they
do, you can add them to the xdm or CDE startup file.
I hope they make a change to this. Most graphics adapters can send any
timings out and most monitors will accept any valid timings up to their
maximum ratings and even somewhat over. It would be nice to be able to
tune out everything of both the monitor and the display adapter, like
it is possible with Intel based UNIX systems.
ArNO
2
Received on Mon Jan 05 1998 - 18:32:12 NZDT