[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5    Using Digital Applications

There are several Digital desktop applications and a suite of Digital system management applications, referred to as SysMan, that have been integrated into the Common Desktop Environment (CDE). These applications are available from the Application Manager.

This chapter describes how to start applications and how to run applications across the network. It also introduces the Digital desktop applications and system management applications that are available.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.1    Starting Applications

The desktop applications and the suite of system management applications are located in /usr/bin/X11. You can start these applications from the Application Manager or you can start them in a terminal emulator window by using the command name.

To start the desktop applications from the Application Manager:

  1. Click on the Application Manager control on the Front Panel.

  2. Double click on the application group you want to access.

    To access the Digital desktop applications, double click on the desktop_app control.

    To access the suite of Digital System Management application, double click on System_Admin, then double click on the System_Management_Utilities.

  3. Double click on the application that you want to start.

To start an application from a terminal emulator window, you must include the full pathname of the command, unless you add /usr/bin/X11 to the path in your .dtlogin or .dtprofile file. For example, to start Image Viewer from the command line, type the following:

/usr/bin/X11/dximage &

The ampersand (&) at the end of the command line causes the application to run in the background, freeing you to perform other tasks from the same terminal window.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.2    Running Applications Across the Network

In your daily work, you might want to run an application that is not installed on your workstation. If you have network access, and an account on the system where the application is installed, you can run the remote application and display it on your workstation. Although the application is remote to your system, it appears to be running from your workstation.

Before you run a remote application, you must authorize access to your workstation and enable the display as described in the following sections. You can also use the Host Manager to display remotely run applications. See the Host Manager online help volume for more information.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.2.1    Authorizing Access to your Workstation

To display remotely run applications on your local system, you must provide the remote host access to your display. You can use the xhost program to authorize access. For example, if the hostname of the remote machine is galaxy, enter the following from your system:

xhost +galaxy 

The hostname, galaxy, is then added to the list of hosts that have access to your machine.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.2.2    Enabling the Display

Once you have authorized the remote system access to your workstation, log into the remote system, and specify where you want to display the remotely run application.

The command line you enter to enable the display varies depending on the operating system you are using, and the shell you are using if the remote host is an ULTRIX or Digital UNIX system. Use one of the following methods to enable the display:

In the previous examples, workstation is the hostname of the machine where you want the remote application to display.

Once you have authorized access to your system and enabled the display, you can run the application from the remote machine by using the command name as described in Section 5.1. The application then displays on the system you specified.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3    Using Digital Desktop Applications

Several Digital desktop applications have been integrated into CDE to provide greater flexibility in using Digital UNIX. Table 5-1 highlights these applications.

Table 5-1: Digital Desktop Applications

Application Use of Application
Differences Provides a graphical display of differences between two files.
Image Viewer Displays the contents of documents that are in specific formats such as GIF, JPEG, and TIFF.
Input Method Changes how keystrokes are interpreted by the operating system.
Keyboard Options Offers a choice of options that you can use to customize your keyboard.
Keycaps Shows a graphical display of a keyboard with keycaps drawn according to the current server keymap and can be used to start the Keymaps application.
Print Screen Captures a portion of your screen or your entire screen. The screen capture can be directed to a file, printer, or both.

Note

The Input Method (dtimsstart) application is located in /usr/dt/bin and is not included in the Application Manager under desktop_apps. To start this application, see Section 5.3.3.

Some of the applications described here are advanced tools that address special needs. Such applications are not intended for everyday use.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.1    Using Differences

Differences is a graphical interface to the diff command. By using Differences, you can compare two ASCII text files line by line, and then browse through a graphical display of these differences.

Starting the Differences application opens a window that has two empty text regions. The text regions will later contain the contents of the files you are comparing. The title bar specifies the application name and the window number. If it is the first Differences window opened, the window is numbered zero (0). Subsequent Differences windows that you open are numbered sequentially to prevent confusion between the windows.

Use the Differences menus to select files to compare, display the differences, and change the attributes of the display. The following sections describe the Differences menus and discuss how to move between the differences in files.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.1.1    Using the Differences File Menu

The following table describes the options available in the Differences File Menu:

Menu Item Description
Open... Opens two dialog boxes titled Right File and Left File. Use these dialog boxes to specify the files you want to compare.
Exit Closes the Differences application. You are prompted to save settings.

When you select the Open... menu item, each dialog box lists the files in your current directory (folder). You can select a file from that directory, or change to another directory. Changing directories in one dialog box does not affect the contents of the other dialog box. You must select a file from each dialog box for the left and right text regions of the Differences window.

Text does not appear in the text regions until you specify how it is to be displayed using the Differences menu.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.1.2    Displaying Differences

The Differences application window has a left and right text region window. Once you select two files to compare, you can specify where the files are displayed. Use one of the following options from the Differences menu to display text for comparison:

Menu Item Description
Do Differences Displays files in the text regions of the main window.
Do Differences in New Opens a new window and displays selected files in the text regions of the new window.

If you display files in the Differences main window, then later choose to compare a different set of files in the main window, the contents of the text regions are overwritten by your latest selection. If you display files in a new window, the number following the title is incremented by one. Files displayed in the main window are unaffected.

If there are no differences between the selected files, the files are not in ASCII format, or you specified a directory instead of a file, a message dialog box is displayed.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.1.3    Changing Display Characteristics

Use the Differences Options menu to specify attributes that change the display of differences.

Menu Item Description
Linked Vertical Scrolling Off
Linked Vertical Scrolling On
Turns vertical scrolling on or off. By default, linked vertical scrolling is enabled. That is, scrolling through one text region affects the other text region in the same manner.
Linked Horizontal Scrolling Off
Linked Horizontal Scrolling On
Turns horizontal scrolling on or off. By default, linked horizontal scrolling is enabled. That is, scrolling through one text region affects the other text region in the same manner.
Render Differences as Lines
Render Differences as Polygons
Emphasizes the differences between files as polygons or lines. By default, differences are displayed as polygons. Polygons appear as filled regions.
No Diff Line Numbers
Display Diff Line Numbers
Enables or disables the display of line numbers. By default, line numbers are enabled. Line numbers specify the location in each file where differences occur.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.1.4    Moving Between Differences

Differences in files are highlighted and line numbers specify the location of the difference in each file by default. Common text between the file is not highlighted. To move between differences in the displayed files, use the scroll bars or use the Next Diff and Prev Diff push buttons located at the bottom of the window.

Each text region has a set of vertical and horizontal scroll bars. By default, moving the scroll bars affects both text regions. The Next Diff push button does a forward search through the file to the next difference. The Prev Diff push buttons performs a backward search through the file to the previous difference.

To change the display characteristics when comparing files, see Section 5.3.1.3.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.2    Using Image Viewer

The Image Viewer application can be used to view a variety of image files including: GIF, JPEG, TIFF, XPM, XBM, PPM, BMP, and PCX. When Image Viewer is started, a window is opened that contains an optional toolbar, menu bar, and optional scroll bars that provide horizontal scrolling, vertical scrolling, or both. In the Image Viewer window, you can display images in various formats and manipulate the image views using either the toolbar icons or menus.

For detailed information on using Image Viewer, see the online help volume. To access the online help volume, start Image Viewer, then click on the Help menu.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.3    Using Input Methods

The Input Methods application is a tool for advanced users. You can use this application to specify an input method and to change how keystroke characters are interpreted by the system. For example, Asian (multibyte) characters such as Japanese Kanji or Chinese Hanzi characters can be entered from the keyboard by using this application. To start this application, follow these steps:

  1. Open a terminal emulator window.

  2. Enter the following:

    /usr/dt/bin/dtimsstart

When the Input Methods application starts, a dialog box lists options for Style Preference and Input Methods. The following sections describe these options.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.3.1    Selecting Style Preference Options

Style Preferences specifies the keyboard behavior to use when entering multiple keystrokes. Entering multiple keystrokes to compose a single character is called preediting. The following table defines the preediting modes.

Option Description
Over the Spot Displays data in an input box that is positioned over the text insertion point.
Off the Spot Displays data in an input box. The input box window is not located over the insertion point, but it is often located at the bottom of the application window.
Root Window Displays data in a preedit window that is outside the application window.
On the Spot Displays data in the application window. Text is moved in the application window to enable the insertion of the preedit data at the text insertion point.

To select a preediting style, click on the preferred style then press the Apply button. Depending on the Input Method you use, not all preediting modes are available.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.3.2    Selecting an Input Method

The operating system has a default Input Method server. If you want to specify an Input Method server other than the default, select the Other option listed under Input Methods, then click on the text entry box and enter the name of your server.

The name of an input method is governed by the input method server. The name should be the same as the setting of the XMODIFIERS environment variable.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.4    Using Keyboard Options

The Keyboard Options application is a tool for advanced users. Use this tool to customize keyboard settings. This tool is used usually after the initial setup of your system only to set options that cannot be specified during the installation.

When the Keyboard Options application is started, a dialog box appears with several options. The following sections describe these options and then describe how to save and load settings.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.4.1    Specifying Keyboard Attributes

The Keyboard Options dialog box lists several options that you can use to set attributes for your keyboard. The following table lists these options.

Option Description
Keyboard Type Displays a list of available keyboard types. Keyboard types are located in the /usr/lib/X11/keymaps file. To highlight the default keyboard type, click on the System Default button.
Language Type Displays a list of available language types if you have the X Keyboard Extension (X11R6 XKB) installed on your system. To highlight the default language type, click on the System Default button.
Lock Key Specifies how keys are interpreted when you use the Caps Lock key. You have the option of selecting a Caps Locked or a Shift Lock state. The default lock state is Caps Lock.

A Caps Locked state has the following behavior: typed letters appear in uppercase; typed numbers appear as numerics; symbols above numbers appear when you press and hold the shift key while pressing the corresponding symbol.

A Shift Lock state has the following behavior: typed letters appear in uppercase and typed numerics display the symbol above the numeric.

Keyboard Style Specifies whether the keyboard exhibits the behavior of a typewriter or data processor. This option is available only if the Keyboard type supports these modes.
Keycaps... Starts the Keycaps Application, which is used to modify keyboard mappings.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.4.2    Saving and Loading Settings

Customized keyboard settings created with this application are in effect once you press the OK or Apply button. When you end a session, settings are saved in the file $HOME/DXkeyboard. To use these settings during your next session, edit your .profile, .cshrc, or .login file and add the following line:

/usr/dt/bin/dxkeyboard -load


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.5    Using Keycaps

The Keycaps application is a tool for advanced users. Use this application to display and edit keyboard mappings. The following sections discuss the keyboard display, simulating key events, modifying settings, and by using the Commands menu.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.5.1    Displaying the Keyboard

When you start this application, a window is opened that contains a status list in the top left corner and a drawing of a keyboard at the bottom of the window. The title bar of the window specifies the type of keyboard displayed.

The status list provides information on keycodes (KeyCode), key symbols (KeySym), modifiers, and the auto repeat (AutoRepeat) functions of each key.

Table 5-2: Keycaps Status List

Status Item Use of Option
KeyCode Displays the text printed on each key and the keycode generated by that key.
KeySym Displays symbols generated by this key in its current state.
Modifiers Displays bits that modify the behavior of this key. For example, modifiers include keys such as the Shift or Control key.
AutoRepeat Specifies whether or not the key, when typed, repeats its action until depressed.

The keyboard drawing shows all available keys on the keyboard, and printed on each is the character and hexadecimal keycode generated by that key. Information in the status list changes as you move the mouse pointer over each key in the keyboard drawing.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.5.2    Simulating Key Events

You can press and release a key on the keyboard drawing by using the mouse, keyboard attached to your workstation, or both. When you press a key using the mouse or keyboard, that key is highlighted. When you release the key, highlighting of the key stops. This enables you to generate key-chords such as CTRL/C.

To use the mouse to perform key events, follow these steps:

  1. Position the mouse pointer over any key.

  2. Click on mouse button 1. This highlights the pressed key and simulates a KeyPress event.

  3. Click on mouse button 1 again to release the key. This simulates a KeyRelease event and the key is no longer highlighted.

To use the keyboard attached to your workstation to perform key events, enter any character from your keyboard. As you type keys, the keyboard display highlights each key typed.

To use both the mouse and keyboard to perform key events, position the mouse pointer over a character modifier such as CTRL, then type a character from the keyboard that can be modified.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.5.3    Modifying Key Settings

To modify key settings, use the pop-up menu provided with the Keycaps application. The pop-up menu can be used to exchange keys, duplicate keys, edit key mappings, or restore settings. The following table describes each menu item.

Menu Item Description
Exchange Keys Interchanges the behavior of one key for another.
Duplicate Keys Makes a copy of a key. In duplicating a key, you are producing two keys that use the same set of symbols and modifiers. The first key selected becomes a copy of the second key.
Edit KeySyms Opens a dialog box that you can use to change key symbols and modifiers. A list of modifier bits, and two lists of optional key symbols are displayed that you can use to modify current settings.
Reset to Default Restores the keyboard to its default state. If you execute this command while displaying a keyboard other than the default, the keymaps are scrambled.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.5.4    Using the Keycaps Commands Menu

Use the Commands menu to list alternate keyboard types, reset the keyboard, save settings, and to exit from the application. The following table describes the menu items available in the Commands menu.

Menu Item Use of Menu Item
Keyboard Lists alternate keyboard types that you can display. By default, the keyboard type attached to your workstation is displayed. Click on any item in this list to change the keyboard display.
Reset to Default Restores the keyboard to its default state. If you execute this command while displaying a keyboard other than the default, the keymaps are scrambled.
Save Saves all keycaps bindings selected in the file $HOME/ .dxkeycaps. Changes remain in effect for your next session.
Exit Closes the Keycaps application. You must save any changes you want available during your next session.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.6    Using Print Screen

By using the Print Screen application, you can capture a screen portion or the entire screen. The screen capture can then be output to a file, printer, or both.

When the Print Screen application is started, a dialog box is displayed that offers several options. Once you select the options you want, use the Print Screen menus to capture the screen and specify attributes of the screen capture. The following sections describe the Print Screen options and menus.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.6.1    Using the Print Screen Options

The Print Screen application offers several options that you can use to specify how the screen capture is handled. Table 5-3 describes these options.

Table 5-3: Print Screen Options

Option Button Option Description
Capture Portion of the Screen Takes a picture of part of the screen. The pointer turns to a plus sign (+). Drag the mouse to enclose the area you want captured. This is the default.
  Entire Screen Takes a picture of the whole screen.
Time Delay 0 to 100 seconds Pauses the specified seconds before capturing a screen. Use the mouse to move the slider from zero (0) to 100. Zero (0) is the default.
Send To File Saves a screen capture to a file. You can use a default filename or specify a new filename by using the Output File Name option. This is the default.
  Print Prints a screen capture on the default printer (unless otherwise specified). To actually print the screen capture, you must select the Print or Print... option from the File menu.
  Both Saves a screen capture to a file and prints it on the printer.
Output File Name   Enables you to specify an output filename for a screen capture. Click on the text entry box to enter a filename. The default filename is printscreen.ps.
Ribbon Saver Positive Image Captures a screen that looks like a photograph. This is the default.
  Negative Image Captures a screen looks like a photograph negative. A negative image reverses black and white areas. If you use this option, you must also use the Output Color option to specify either the Black and White or Grayscale option.
Print Orientation Best Fit Prints a screen capture in portrait mode, if screen capture is longer than it is wide. Otherwise, prints the screen capture in landscape mode.
  Portrait Prints a screen capture vertically across the paper. That is, the capture is longer than it is wide. This is the default.
  Landscape Prints a screen capture horizontally across the paper. That is, the screen capture is wider than it is long.
Output Color Black and White Captures a screen in black and white. This is the default.
  Color Captures a screen in color. For use with color monitors only.
  Gray Scale Captures a screen in gray scale. For use with gray scale or color monitors only.
Fit-to-Paper Scale to Fit Sizes the screen capture to fit as much of the paper as possible.
  Reduce Only Minimizes the size of the screen capture if the capture exceeds the paper size.
  Crop Excess Prints as much of the screen capture as possible on the paper and crops parts that do not fit. This is the default.
  Increase 2:1 Doubles the size of the screen capture.
  Decrease 2:1 Reduces the size of the screen capture by 50 percent.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.6.2    Using the File Menu

Use the File menu to specify print options and exit from the Print Screen application. The following table describes the menu items available.

Menu Item Description
Print Sends the screen capture to the default printer if you selected Print from the Send To option. If you selected Both from the Send To option, the screen capture is printed to the default printer and saved in the file specified by the Output File Name option.
Print... Opens a dialog box that you can use to specify how the screen capture is printed if you selected either Print or Both from the Send To option. By using this menu item, you can select the number of copies to print, print orientation, print format, printer to use, time to print, and whether or not to delete the file after it is printed. The Options... button in this dialog box offers other print attributes you can set including the name of job.
Exit Closes the Print Screen application after prompting you to save options.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.3.6.3    Using the Options Menu

Use the Options menu to specify Sixel options or to save options set during this Print Screen session. The following table describes the menu items available.

Menu Item Description
Sixel Opens a dialog box that lists available sixel output devices.
Save Saves the current settings of the Print Screen window for your next session. If you do not set this option during the session, you are queried about saving options when exiting from the application.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.4    Using the Digital System Management Applications

Digital UNIX offers a suite of system management applications called SysMan, which provide a graphical front-end to administrative commands. These tools have been developed for the person who administers your system.

Section 5.1 describes how to access and start the SysMan applications. To use most of these applications, you must have root privileges. For information on using each application, see the application's online help volume. You can access the help volume by opening an application and clicking on the Help menu.

The suite of SysMan applications are divided into four categories:


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.4.1    Using Installation Setup

The Installation Setup application is used to set up and perform either a default or custom installation for your system. For more information, see the online help volume.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.4.2    Using the Configuration Applications

There are seven configuration applications available for use. Table 5-4 provides descriptions of each of these applications.

Table 5-4: Configuration Applications

Application Description
BIND Configuration Configures Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND) services for a single system.
Disk Configuration Manages the configuration of disks on the system.
Mail Configuration Sets up the routing and delivery of mail for the system.
Network Configuration Configures and manages the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) on your system.
NFS Configuration Manages Network File System (NFS) configuration issues.
Printer Configuration Adds, deletes, and modifies printer configurations for the system's local and remote hosts.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.4.3    Using the Daily Administrative Applications

There are nine daily administrative applications available for use. Table 5-5 provides descriptions of each of these applications.

Table 5-5: Daily Administration Applications

Application Description
Account Manager Manages user accounts on the system for both base security systems and Enhanced Security level systems.
Archiver Copies and stores multiple files to a single, named archive file or output device such as a tape or floppy disk.
Display Window Provides a graphical user interface for running commands.
File Sharing Accesses and exports NFS file systems.
Host Manager Displays icons for all hosts known to the local system and for those hosts that you specify. Use the Host Manager to set up displays and run applications from a remote system.
License Manager Adds, lists, and deletes software product licenses.
Power Manager Controls the amount of power consumed by the system when it is not active. Power Manager is to be used only with Energy Star-compatible systems.
Shutdown Manager Performs automated system shutdown.
System Information Displays and monitors operating system version, amount of Random Access Memory (RAM), CPU activity, free memory, used swap space, file system use, and disk and tape device names.


[Return to Library] [Contents] [Previous Chapter] [Previous Section] [Next Chapter] [Index] [Help]


5.4.4    Using the Monitoring and Tuning Applications

There are two monitoring and tuning applications available for use. Table 5-6 provides descriptions of each of these applications.

Table 5-6: Monitoring and Tuning Applications

Application Description
Kernel Tuner Manages the attributes of loadable kernel subsystems, handling only the kernel subsystems that conform to Digital's Configuration Management Framework (CMF).
Process Tuner Displays processes. Using this application, you can send signals to and change the priorities of processes.