QRG UNIX 16.X window commands

Quick reference guide Linux

16. X window commands

Usually the different X11 applications are running under the control of a window manager, which decorates and handles the windows. Popular window managers are fvwm2 (virtual window manager version 2), mwm (Motif window manager) and olwm (Open Look window manager, Solaris only).

Today on many UNIX and Linux systems window managers come as part of a desktop environment. There is cde (common desktop environment, usually on non Linux systems), kde and gnome (desktop environments that are most popular under Linux). Each of the WM's has its own configuration file.

X commands accept usually several of the standard X Toolkit options (see man X).

`-display` display	name of the X server to use
`-geometry` geometry	initial size and location of the window
`-bg` color	window background color (name or number)
`-bd` color	window border color
`-bw` color	window border width
`-fg` color	window foreground color
`-fn` font	text font
`-iconic`	application starts up iconified
`-rv`	use reverse video
`-title` string	window title

These options are not described with the individual commands. Most commands also accept the -help option.

xauth [-biqv] [-f authfile] [command [arg[s]]] UPF

X authority file utility. The following commands are useful:

`generate` display `.`	generate new authorization entry
`extract` filename display	extract entries to filename
`list` [display[s]]	list entries
`merge` [filename[s]]	merge entries from filename[s] to database
`info`	display authority file info

xcalc [-rpn] UP

Scientific calculator for X. Emulate a TI-30 or with -rpn a HP-10C.

xclock [-analog] [-digital] [-chime] [-update sec] UP

Analog / digital clock for X. Do not use update intervals less than 60 sec!

xhost [+-] [hostname[s]] UP

server access control program for X. Avoid host based access whenever possible. Only use full qualified host names, limit host based access in time.

xkeycaps [-help] [-kbd name] UP

graphically display and edit the X keyboard mapping

xlock [options] P

Locks the local X display until a password is entered.

xman [options] P

Manual page display program for X11.

xmodmap [options] [file] UPf

utility for modifying keymaps and pointer button mappings in X
-n show but don't execute changes
-e expr execute expr
-pm print current modifier map
-pk print current keymap
-pke print current keymap in a form that xkeycaps understands
-pp print current pointer map

xrdb [options] [file] UPf

X server resource database utility. Typically used with
-query print contents of the xrdb database
-merge file merge resources contained in file into database

xset [options] UP

user preference utility for X. Control display specific features like bell, font path, keyboard LEDs, mouse parameters, autorepeat of keys, screen saver etc. Use -help to get a usage text, -q to display current values. To use additional font servers, use xset +fp tcp/hostname:port

xterm [options] [-ls] [-e command [arg[s]]] UP

terminal emulator for X. Runs command, by default the shell in a window. With -ls the shell will be a login shell. Most other options can be selected within the window (CTRL mouse button 1 .. 3)