About this book

Table of contents

• About this book
  • How this book is organized
    • How to use the chapters in this book
  • Related documentation
    • For further reading
  • Typographical conventions
  • How can we improve this book?

You will find the information you need more quickly if you are familiar with:

• ``How this book is organized''

• ``Related documentation''

• ``Typographical conventions''

This section describes the chapters presented in this book, as well as information on how the chapters are structured.

This book contains the following chapters:

• Chapter 1, ``Overview of the Graphical Environment'' presents an introduction to software that composes the SCO OpenServer Graphical Environment and how you can customize it. It also provides an overview of many of the files you will use to configure the Graphical Environment.

• Chapter 2, ``Configuring the Graphical Environment from the Desktop'' discusses the various aspects of the Graphical Environment you can configure directly from the Desktop, including colors, fonts, and window background patterns.

• Chapter 3, ``Customizing startup of the Graphical Environment'' explains how to use scologin, the startx script, and scosession to manage your X server sessions. It also includes instructions for configuring scologin to manage multiple displays, including X terminals, and information on how to start a Graphical Environment session on an X terminal.

• Chapter 4, ``Running remote programs'' explains how to run remote clients during an Graphical Environment session. This chapter includes information on X security issues related to remote clients accessing your display.

• Chapter 5, ``Understanding resources'' provides an overview of some basic concepts in customizing the appearance and behavior of clients, including how to define resource specifications and how to use the resource database. This chapter is a useful reference for other chapters in this guide that discuss the specifics of setting different types of resources.

• Chapter 6, ``Changing colors'' discusses how to change the colors using resources and how to use the scocolor client for administrative purposes.

• Chapter 7, ``Changing fonts'' discusses how to specify the fonts that are used during Graphical Environment sessions, including how to set font resources and how to define font aliases.

• Chapter 8, ``Configuring window size and location'' covers how to specify a window's geometry, including the size and location of the Desktop if you choose not to use it as your Root window.

• Chapter 9, ``Changing cursor appearance'' explains how to change the cursor appearance on the Desktop, in scoterm windows, and on the Root window.

• Chapter 10, ``Configuring mouse behavior'' describes how to modify the functionality of your mouse so it accommodates left- or right-handed use. This chapter also discusses modifying the rate of speed at which the mouse cursor moves on your screen and the time allowed between clicks when a user performs a double-click operation.

• Chapter 11, ``Configuring the keyboard for the server'' provides information on how to configure the X server to accommodate different keyboards and how to modify the keyboard layout to suit personal tastes.

• Chapter 12, ``Customizing the window manager'' provides an overview of the window manager configuration file, including a list of the window manager functions that you can specify in this file, and describes how to switch the SCO Panner window manager from the default pmwm mode to mwm. This chapter is useful as a reference when using the following chapters that cover specific aspects of window manager configuration.

• Chapter 13, ``Customizing window manager menus'' explains how to create and modify window manager menus, including the Window and Root menus.

• Chapter 14, ``Configuring window manager button bindings'' describes how to customize the results of pressing various mouse button combinations in different contexts.

• Chapter 15, ``Configuring window manager key bindings'' describes how to customize the results of pressing a key or sequence of keys in various contexts.

• Chapter 16, ``Customizing the Desktop with rules'' provides an overview of the rules and rule files that control the behavior of the Desktop.

• Chapter 17, ``Using Desktop modules'' describes how to customize the Desktop for all users without having to edit the system rule file.

• Chapter 18, ``Defining Desktop user types'' describes how to customize the Desktop for groups of users.

• Chapter 19, ``Defining Desktop triggers'' describes how to perform an action specific to a particular icon or window.

• Chapter 20, ``Creating objects for the Desktop'' explains how to create objects for accessing applications from the Desktop, either using the object builder (objbld) or manually. On the surface, objects are impossible to distinguish from Desktop icons, but the actions performed by an object are implemented differently than they are for icons.

• Chapter 21, ``Configuring icons'' describes how to configure the actions and appearance of Desktop icons, using icon rules.

• Chapter 22, ``Configuring Desktop windows'' describes how to configure the appearance and behavior of the main Desktop and other desktop windows.

• Chapter 23, ``Configuring directory windows'' describes how to configure the characteristics of directory windows, including the results of dropping an icon in a directory window.

• Chapter 24, ``Configuring Desktop menus'' describes how to create and modify desktop and directory menus.

• Chapter 25, ``Writing Deskshell commands'' describes the Deskshell script language, including the conventions and syntax for coding the scripts. These scripts are used in the various rule files and object scripts.

• Chapter 26, ``Mapping mouse triggers for the Desktop'' describes how to configure the actions that result when mouse actions such as clicking and dragging are performed on the Desktop.

• Appendix A, ``OSF/Motif window manager resources'' provides a list and description of the resources you can use to configure the window manager.

• Appendix B, ``Desktop resources'' provides a list and description of the resources you can use to configure the Desktop.

• Appendix C, ``Deskshell command summary'' provides an alphabetical list of all Deskshell commands.

Most of the chapters in this book describe how to perform a general task, such as changing colors, or creating new window manager menus. Other chapters are more reference-oriented, providing overviews of how to use major configuration components of the Graphical Environment, such as X resources and Desktop rules.

In general, the task-oriented chapters consist of several sections:

• Background information, such as important concepts and terms, is presented first.

• The next sections cover the procedures that relate to performing the task covered by the chapter. (In many cases, not all of the procedures covered in a chapter are necessary to perform a task.) For example, the chapter that covers the task of changing fonts includes several related procedures, including how to preview available fonts on your system, how to create font aliases, and how to implement a font resource specification for a client.

  The procedure sections are designed to accommodate both new and experienced users. Each procedure begins with a list of steps that provides the essential information for completing the procedure. Following the list of steps are several subsections, one for each step required by the procedure. These subsections provide details on performing the steps, including explanations of command or file syntax. If you are unclear about the goal or desired outcome of performing a particular step, refer to that step's subsection for more information.

• Finally, most chapters provide an example section. These examples describe realistic scenarios and tie together many of the concepts and procedures described throughout the chapter.

SCO OpenServer systems include comprehensive documentation. Depending on which SCO OpenServer system you have, the following books are available in online and/or printed form. Access online books by double-clicking on the Desktop Help icon. Additional printed versions of the books are also available. The Desktop and most SCO OpenServer programs and utilities are linked to extensive context-sensitive help, which in turn is linked to relevant sections in the online versions of the following books. See ``Getting help'' in the SCO OpenServer Handbook.

Release Notes

contain important late-breaking information about installation, hardware requirements, and known limitations. The Release Notes also highlight the new features added for this release.

SCO OpenServer Handbook

provides the information needed to get your SCO OpenServer system up and running, including installation and configuration instructions, and introductions to the Desktop, online documentation, system administration, and troubleshooting.

Graphical Environment help

provides online context-sensitive help for Calendar, Edit, the Desktop, Help, Mail, Paint, the SCO Panner window manager, and the UNIX® command-line window.

Graphical Environment Reference

contains the manual pages for the X server (section X), the Desktop, and X clients from SCO and MIT (section XC).

Guide to Gateways for LAN Servers

describes how to set up SCO® Gateway for NetWare® and LAN Manager Client software on an SCO OpenServer system to access printers, filesystems, and other services provided by servers running Novell® NetWare® and by servers running LAN Manager over DOS, OS/2®, or UNIX systems. This book contains the manual pages for LAN Manager Client commands (section LMC).

Mail and Messaging Guide

describes how to configure and administer your mail system. Topics include sendmail, MMDF, SCO Shell Mail, mailx, and the Post Office Protocol (POP) server.

Networking Guide

provides information on configuring and administering TCP/IP, NFS®, and IPX/SPX^(TM) software to provide networked and distributed functionality, including system and network management, applications support, and file, name, and time services.

Networking Reference

contains the command, file, protocol, and utility manual pages for the IPX/SPX (section PADM), NFS (sections NADM, NC, and NF), and TCP/IP (sections ADMN, ADMP, SFF, and TC) networking software.

Operating System Administrator's Reference

contains the manual pages for system administration commands and utilities (section ADM), system file formats (section F), hardware-specific information (section HW), miscellaneous commands (section M), and SCO Visual Tcl^(TM) commands (section TCL).

Operating System Tutorial

provides a basic introduction to the SCO OpenServer operating system. This book can also be used as a refresher course or a quick-reference guide. Each chapter is a self-contained lesson designed to give hands-on experience using the SCO OpenServer operating system.

Operating System User's Guide

provides an introduction to SCO OpenServer command-line utilities, the SCO Shell utilities, working with files and directories, editing files with the vi editor, transferring files to disks and tape, using DOS disks and files in the SCO OpenServer environment, managing processes, shell programming, regular expressions, awk, and sed.

Operating System User's Reference

contains the manual pages for user-accessible operating system commands and utilities (section C).

PC-Interface Guide

describes how to set up PC-Interface^(TM) software on an SCO OpenServer system to provide print, file, and terminal emulation services to computers running PC-Interface client software under DOS or Microsoft® Windows^(TM).

Performance Guide

describes performance tuning for uniprocessor, multiprocessor, and networked systems, including those with TCP/IP, NFS, and X clients. This book discusses how the various subsystems function, possible performance constraints due to hardware limitations, and optimizing system configuration for various uses. Concepts and strategies are illustrated with case studies.

SCO Merge User's Guide

describes how to use and configure an SCO® Merge^(TM) system. Topics include installing Windows, installing DOS and Windows applications, using DOS with the SCO OpenServer operating system, configuring hardware and software resources, and using SCO Merge in an international environment.

SCO Wabi User's Guide

describes how to use SCO® Wabi^(TM) software to run Windows 3.1 applications on the SCO OpenServer operating system. Topics include installing the SCO Wabi software, setting up drives, configuring ports, managing printing operations, and installing and running applications.

System Administration Guide

describes configuration and maintenance of the base operating system, including account, filesystem, printer, backup, security, UUCP, and virtual disk management.

Many other useful publications about SCO systems by independent authors are available from technical bookstores.

For further reading

It is beyond the scope of this book to explain all the details of the industry-standard X Window System and OSF/Motif® window manager software. A number of fine books and articles are available commercially for customers who need more information.

The standard source of information about the X Window System is the X Window System set published by O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. The information in this book is particularly related to Volume 3 of the O'Reilly set (X Window System User's Guide, OSF/Motif Edition).

Typographical conventions

This publication presents commands, filenames, keystrokes, and other special elements as shown here:

Example . . . . . . . . Used for:

lp or lp(C)

commands, device drivers, programs, and utilities (names, icons, or windows); the letter in parentheses indicates the reference manual section in which the command, driver, program, or utility is documented

/new/client.list

files, directories, and desktops (names, icons, or windows)

root

system, network, or user names

filename

placeholders (replace with appropriate name or value)

<Esc>

keyboard keys

Exit program?

system output (prompts, messages)

yes or yes

user input

``Description''

field names or column headings (on screen or in database)

Cancel

button names

Edit

menu names

Copy

menu items

File → Find → Text

sequences of menus and menu items

open or open(S)

library routines, system calls, kernel functions, C keywords; the letter in parentheses indicates the reference manual section in which the file is documented

$HOME

environment or shell variables

SIGHUP

named constants or signals

``adm3a''

data values

employees

database names

orders

database tables

buf

C program structures

b_b.errno

structure members

What did you find particularly helpful in this book? Are there mistakes in this book? Could it be organized more usefully? Did we leave out information you need or include unnecessary material? If so, please tell us.

To help us implement your suggestions, include relevant details, such as book title, section name, page number, and system component. We would appreciate information on how to contact you in case we need additional explanation.

To contact us, use the card at the back of the SCO OpenServer Handbook or write to us at:

Technical Publications
Attn: CFT
The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
PO Box 1900
Santa Cruz, California 95061-9969
USA

or e-mail us at:

techpubs@sco.com or ... uunet!sco!techpubs

Thank you.