Your .Xclient File

      Your .Xclient file has been designed to help you more quickly set up your desktop at colsole login. Previously run by .login, this file is restricted to console logins to prevent excess CPU time usage during telnet applications. .Xclient is responsible for bringing up multiple xterms, netscape windows, printer queues, and other applications immediately upon console login at a workstation.

      To initiate use of your .Xclient file, there are only a few simple steps. First of all, make sure that you are starting in your home directory. Then, at the prompt type the following command:

This command will open up the blank pico file called .Xclient at the top. Within this file, you have some different options to choose from. Below are listed a few of these options for command lines you might enter into this new file. With each command line, an explanation is listed for what the line accomplishes on your desktop at login. After setting this up, you can edit your .Xclient at any time, and your new additions will be initiated the very next time you login at the console of a workstation.

      Each of the following command lines can be added to the file in any order. One of the most important things to remember while working on your .Xclient file is to check that each command line is backgrounded. This speeds up the process of setting up your desktop. Each window can be opened up quickly without waiting for the previous window to completely open before starting.

This command line starts a second xterm in addition to the one you get automatically at the time you login to the console. This this case, the flags attached define different aspects of your newly created xterm. The -fg flag defines the color of your forground. This forground in your xterm consists of your text and highlights. The -bg flag defines the color of your background. The background of your xterm consists of what your text is sitting on. This combination of black and white calls for a black background behind white text. The -fn flag defines the size of the xterm that you are creating. Xterms are best defined in the following sizes: 7x14, 8x16, 10x20, and 12x24. The -e flag executes a command within your new xterm. In this case, the xterm starts and then executes the pq command, calling a printer queue to the screen.

Note: REMEMBER TO INCLUDE THE AMPERSAND "&" IN YOUR COMMAND LINE FOR THE BACKGROUNDING MENTIONED ABOVE.

This command line calls the xv application to display a picture on your desktop behind all your open windows. It will display any jpg or gif picture you call. The -root flag puts your picture in the background. The -rmode flag followed by a number decides how you want your picture dislplayed on the screen. The number "5", as an example, centers your picture on the screen. The -geometry flag designates a size for your picture in terms of pixels. The -quit flag quits the xv application and leaves the picture remaining in the background. When designating a picture to put into the command, start the pathname with ~/, which refers to your home directory.

There are numerous other commands that can be executed at startup time. Anything you would like to be ready and waiting for you when you login can be set up in this file. There are also many more tags that can be attached to each of the commands. Refer to the UNIX Manual Pages for more help on the UNIX commands and their flags.

      Here's an example of a modified .Xclient file. In this file, the user wishes to open a second xterm, a third xterm with a file ".data" already opened, a print queue, and a picture for the background. As you can see, the file consists of nothing more than its command lines:

#
#Sample .Xclient file
#
xterm -fg white -bg black -fn 8x16 &
xterm -fg white -bg blue -fn 7x14 -e pico .data &
xterm -fg white -bg black -fn 7x14 -e pq &
xv -root -rmode 5 -geometry 100x250 -quit $home/picture.jpg
#
#It's that simple, we're all done!
#