.if n .sp 1
.if t .sp .5
..
-.TH XScreenSaver 1 "29-Mar-2001 (3.31)" "X Version 11"
+.TH XScreenSaver 1 "14-Aug-2004 (4.18)" "X Version 11"
.SH NAME
-xscreensaver - graphics hack and screen locker, launched when the user is idle
+xscreensaver - extensible screen saver framework, plus locking
.SH SYNOPSIS
.B xscreensaver
[\-display \fIhost:display.screen\fP] \
-[\-timeout \fIint\fP] \
-[\-cycle \fIint\fP] \
-[\-lock\-mode] \
-[\-no\-lock\-mode] \
-[\-lock\-timeout \fIint\fP] \
-[\-visual \fIvisual\fP] \
-[\-install] \
-[\-no\-install] \
[\-verbose] \
-[\-silent] \
-[\-timestamp] \
-[\-capture\-stderr] \
[\-no\-capture\-stderr] \
-[\-splash] \
-[\-no\-splash] \
-[\-nice \fIint\fP] \
-[\-mit\-extension] \
-[\-no\-mit\-extension] \
-[\-sgi\-extension] \
-[\-no\-sgi\-extension] \
-[\-xidle\-extension] \
-[\-no\-xidle\-extension] \
-[\-proc\-interrupts] \
-[\-no\-proc\-interrupts] \
-[\-xrm \fIresources\fP]
+[\-no\-splash]
.SH DESCRIPTION
The \fIxscreensaver\fP program waits until the keyboard and mouse have been
idle for a period, and then runs a graphics demo chosen at random. It
This program can lock your terminal in order to prevent others from using it,
though its default mode of operation is merely to display pretty pictures on
-your screen when it is not in use.
+your screen when it is not in use.
-The benefit that this program has over the combination of the
-.BR xlock (1)
-and
-.BR xautolock (1)
-programs is the ease with which new graphics hacks can be installed. You
-don't need to recompile (or even re-run) this program to add a new display
-mode.
+It also provides configuration and control of your monitor's power-saving
+features.
.SH GETTING STARTED
For the impatient, try this:
.EX
.EE
The
.BR xscreensaver-demo (1)
-program should pop up a dialog box that lets you experiment with the
-xscreensaver settings and graphics modes.
+program pops up a dialog box that lets you configure the screen saver,
+and experiment with the various display modes.
.B Note:
unlike
program, and change the settings through the GUI. The rest of this
manual page describes lower level ways of changing settings.
+I'll repeat that because it's important:
+
+.RS 4
+The easy way to configure xscreensaver is to run the
+.BR xscreensaver-demo (1)
+program. You shouldn't need to know any of the stuff described
+in \fIthis\fP manual unless you are trying to do something tricky,
+like customize xscreensaver for site-wide use or something.
+.RE
+
Options to \fIxscreensaver\fP are stored in one of two places: in
a \fI.xscreensaver\fP file in your home directory; or in the X resource
database. If the \fI.xscreensaver\fP file exists, it overrides any settings
If you change a setting in your X resource database, or if you want
xscreensaver to notice your changes immediately instead of the next time
-it wakes up, then you will need to tell the running xscreensaver process
-to re-initialize itself, like so:
-.EX
-xscreensaver-command -restart
-.EE
-Note that if you changed the \fI.Xdefaults\fP file, you might also need to run
-.BR xrdb (1):
+it wakes up, then you will need to reload your \fI.Xdefaults\fP file,
+and then tell the running xscreensaver process to restart itself, like so:
.EX
xrdb < ~/.Xdefaults
+xscreensaver-command -restart
.EE
If you want to set the system-wide defaults, then make your edits to
the xscreensaver app-defaults file, which should have been installed
.RE
.TP 8
.B installColormap\fP (class \fBBoolean\fP)
-Install a private colormap while the screensaver is active, so that the
-graphics hacks can get as many colors as possible. This is the
-default. (This only applies when the screen's default visual is being
-used, since non-default visuals get their own colormaps automatically.)
-This can also be overridden on a per-hack basis: see the discussion of
-the \fBdefault\-n\fP name in the section about the \fBprograms\fP resource.
+On PseudoColor (8-bit) displays, install a private colormap while the
+screensaver is active, so that the graphics hacks can get as many
+colors as possible. This is the default. (This only applies when the
+screen's default visual is being used, since non-default visuals get
+their own colormaps automatically.) This can also be overridden on a
+per-hack basis: see the discussion of the \fBdefault\-n\fP name in the
+section about the \fBprograms\fP resource.
+
+This does nothing if you have a TrueColor (16-bit or deeper) display.
.TP 8
.B verbose\fP (class \fBBoolean\fP)
Whether to print diagnostics. Default false.
.TP 8
.B timestamp\fP (class \fBBoolean\fP)
Whether to print the time of day along with any other diagnostic messages.
-Default false.
+Default true.
.TP 8
.B splash\fP (class \fBBoolean\fP)
Whether to display a splash screen at startup. Default true.
.B splashDuration\fP (class \fBTime\fP)
How long the splash screen should remain visible; default 5 seconds.
.TP 8
+.B quad\fP (class \fBBoolean\fP)
+If true, then \fIfour\fP screensavers will be run on each monitor.
+Use at your own risk!
+.TP 8
.B helpURL\fP (class \fBURL\fP)
The splash screen has a \fIHelp\fP button on it. When you press it, it will
display the web page indicated here in your web browser.
.TP 8
.B loadURL\fP (class \fBLoadURL\fP)
This is the shell command used to load a URL into your web browser.
-The default setting will load it into Netscape if it is already running,
-otherwise, will launch a new Netscape looking at the \fIhelpURL\fP.
+The default setting will load it into Mozilla/Netscape if it is already
+running, otherwise, will launch a new browser looking at the \fIhelpURL\fP.
.TP 8
.B demoCommand\fP (class \fBDemoCommand\fP)
This is the shell command run when the \fIDemo\fP button on the splash window
-is pressed. It defaults to \fIxscreensaver\-demo\fP.
+is pressed. It defaults to
+.BR xscreensaver\-demo (1).
.TP 8
.B prefsCommand\fP (class \fBPrefsCommand\fP)
This is the shell command run when the \fIPrefs\fP button on the splash window
.B fade\fP (class \fBBoolean\fP)
If this is true, then when the screensaver activates, the current contents
of the screen will fade to black instead of simply winking out. This only
-works on displays with writable colormaps, that is, if the screen's default
-visual is a PseudoColor visual. A fade will also be done when
-switching graphics hacks (when the \fIcycle\fP timer expires.)
-Default: true.
+works on certain systems. A fade will also be done when switching graphics
+hacks (when the \fIcycle\fP timer expires.) Default: true.
.TP 8
.B unfade\fP (class \fBBoolean\fP)
If this is true, then when the screensaver deactivates, the original contents
of the screen will fade in from black instead of appearing immediately. This
-only works on displays with writable colormaps, and if \fIfade\fP is true
-as well. Default false.
+only works on certain systems, and if \fIfade\fP is true as well.
+Default false.
.TP 8
.B fadeSeconds\fP (class \fBTime\fP)
If \fIfade\fP is true, this is how long the fade will be in
drawn on the screensaver window itself, as well as being written to the
controlling terminal of the screensaver driver process. Default true.
.TP 8
+.B ignoreUninstalledPrograms\fP (class \fBBoolean\fP)
+There may be programs in the list that are not installed on the system,
+yet are marked as "enabled." If this preference is true, then such
+programs will simply be ignored. If false, then a warning will be printed
+if an attempt is made to run the nonexistent program. Also, the
+.BR xscreensaver-demo (1)
+program will suppress the non-existent programs from the list if this
+is true. Default: false.
+.TP 8
.B font\fP (class \fBFont\fP)
The font used for the stdout/stderr text, if \fBcaptureStderr\fP is true.
Default \fB*\-medium\-r\-*\-140\-*\-m\-*\fP (a 14 point fixed-width font.)
.TP 8
+.B mode\fP (class \fBMode\fP)
+Controls the behavior of xscreensaver. Legal values are:
+.RS 8
+.TP 8
+.B random
+When blanking the screen, select a random display mode from among those
+that are enabled and applicable. This is the default.
+.TP 8
+.B one
+When blanking the screen, only ever use one particular display mode (the
+one indicated by the \fIselected\fP setting.)
+.TP 8
+.B blank
+When blanking the screen, just go black: don't run any graphics hacks.
+.TP 8
+.B off
+Don't ever blank the screen, and don't ever allow the monitor to power down.
+
+.RE
+.TP 8
+.B selected\fP (class \fBInteger\fP)
+When \fImode\fP is set to \fIone\fP, this is the one, indicated by its
+index in the \fIprograms\fP list. You're crazy if you count them and
+set this number by hand: let
+.BR xscreensaver\-demo (1)
+do it for you!
+.TP 8
.B programs\fP (class \fBPrograms\fP)
The graphics hacks which \fIxscreensaver\fP runs when the user is idle.
-The value of this resource is a string, one \fIsh\fP-syntax command per line.
-Each line must contain exactly one command: no semicolons, no ampersands.
+The value of this resource is a multi-line string, one \fIsh\fP-syntax
+command per line. Each line must contain exactly one command: no
+semicolons, no ampersands.
+
+When the screensaver starts up, one of these is selected (according to
+the \fBmode\fP setting), and run. After the \fIcycle\fP period
+expires, it is killed, and another is selected and run.
+
+If a line begins with a dash (-) then that particular program is
+disabled: it won't be selected at random (though you can still select
+it explicitly using the
+.BR xscreensaver\-demo (1)
+program.)
-When the screensaver starts up, one of these is selected at random, and
-run. After the \fIcycle\fP period expires, it is killed, and another
-is selected and run.
+If all programs are disabled, then the screen will just be made blank,
+as when \fImode\fP is set to \fIblank\fP.
-If the value of this resource is empty, then no programs will be run; the
-screen will simply be made black.
+To disable a program, you must mark it as disabled with a dash instead
+of removing it from the list. This is because the system-wide (app-defaults)
+and per-user (.xscreensaver) settings are merged together, and if a user
+just \fIdeletes\fP an entry from their programs list, but that entry still
+exists in the system-wide list, then it will come back. However, if the
+user \fIdisables\fP it, then their setting takes precedence.
If the display has multiple screens, then a different program will be run
for each screen. (All screens are blanked and unblanked simultaniously.)
.RE
.PP
.PP
-Normally you won't need to change the following resources:
+You shouldn't ever need to change the following resources:
.PP
.TP 8
.B pointerPollTime\fP (class \fBTime\fP)
\fIxscreensaver\fP is started during your login procedure, and the window
state may be in flux. Default 0. (This used to default to 30, but that was
back in the days when slow machines and X terminals were more common...)
-.TP 8
-.B sgiSaverExtension\fP (class \fBBoolean\fP)
+.RE
+.PP
There are a number of different X server extensions which can make
xscreensaver's job easier. The next few resources specify whether these
extensions should be utilized if they are available.
-
+.TP 8
+.B sgiSaverExtension\fP (class \fBBoolean\fP)
This resource controls whether the SGI \fBSCREEN_SAVER\fP server extension
will be used to decide whether the user is idle. This is the default
if \fIxscreensaver\fP has been compiled with support for this
it must not be \fBcsh\fP.
.SH COMMAND-LINE OPTIONS
.I xscreensaver
-also accepts the following command line options. Except for
-the \fI\-display\fP option, these command-line options are all
-simply shorthand for the X resources described in
-the \fIConfiguration\fP section, above.
+also accepts a few command-line options, mostly for use when debugging:
+for normal operation, you should configure things via the \fI~/.xscreensaver\fP
+file.
.TP 8
.B \-display \fIhost:display.screen\fP
-The X display to use. For displays with multiple screens, XScreenSaver
-will manage all screens on the display simultaniously; the \fIscreen\fP
-argument (the ``default'' screen) says which screen should be used for
-dialog boxes (the password window, \fIDemo Mode\fP, etc.)
-.TP 8
-.B \-timeout \fIminutes\fP
-Same as the \fItimeout\fP resource.
-.TP 8
-.B \-cycle \fIminutes\fP
-Same as the \fIcycle\fP resource.
-.TP 8
-.B \-lock\-mode
-Same as setting the \fIlock\fP resource to \fItrue\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-no\-lock\-mode
-Same as setting the \fIlock\fP resource to \fIfalse\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-lock\-timeout \fIminutes\fP
-Same as the \fIlockTimeout\fP resource.
-.TP 8
-.B \-visual \fIvisual\fP
-Same as the \fIvisualID\fP resource.
-.TP 8
-.B \-install
-Same as setting the \fIinstallColormap\fP resource to \fItrue\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-no\-install
-Same as setting the \fIinstallColormap\fP resource to \fIfalse\fP.
+The X display to use. For displays with multiple screens, XScreenSaver
+will manage all screens on the display simultaniously.
.TP 8
.B \-verbose
-Same as setting the \fIverbose\fP resource to \fItrue\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-silent
-Same as setting the \fIverbose\fP resource to \fIfalse\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-timestamp
-Same as setting the \fItimestamp\fP resource to \fItrue\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-capture\-stderr
-Same as setting the \fIcaptureStderr\fP resource to \fItrue\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-no\-capture\-stderr
-Same as setting the \fIcaptureStderr\fP resource to \fIfalse\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-splash
-Same as setting the \fIsplash\fP resource to \fItrue\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-no\-splash
-Same as setting the \fIsplash\fP resource to \fIfalse\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-nice \fIinteger\fP
-Same as the \fInice\fP resource.
-.TP 8
-.B \-sgi\-extension
-Same as setting the \fIsgiSaverExtension\fP resource to \fItrue\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-no\-sgi\-extension
-Same as setting the \fIsgiSaverExtension\fP resource to \fIfalse\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-mit\-extension
-Same as setting the \fImitSaverExtension\fP resource to \fItrue\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-no\-mit\-extension
-Same as setting the \fImitSaverExtension\fP resource to \fIfalse\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-xidle\-extension
-Same as setting the \fIxidleExtension\fP resource to \fItrue\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-no\-xidle\-extension
-Same as setting the \fIxidleExtension\fP resource to \fIfalse\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-proc\-interrupts
-Same as setting the \fIprocInterrupts\fP resource to \fItrue\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-no\-proc\-interrupts
-Same as setting the \fIprocInterrupts\fP resource to \fIfalse\fP.
-.TP 8
-.B \-xrm \fIresource-specification\fP
-As with all other Xt programs, you can specify X resources on the command-line
-using the \fI\-xrm\fP argument. Most of the interesting resources have
-command-line equivalents, however.
+Same as setting the \fIverbose\fP resource to \fItrue\fP: print diagnostics
+on stderr and on the xscreensaver window.
+.TP 8
+.B \-no-capture-stderr
+Same as setting the \fIcaptureStderr\fP resource to \fIfalse\fP: do not
+redirect the stdout and stderr streams to the xscreensaver window itself.
+If xscreensaver is crashing, you might need to do this in order to see
+the error message.
.SH HOW IT WORKS
When it is time to activate the screensaver, a full-screen black window is
created on each screen of the display. Each window is created in such a way
graphics demos on a black screen. An attempt will also be made to
explicitly power the monitor back up as soon as user activity is detected.
-As of version 3.28, the \fI~/.xscreensaver\fP file controls the
+As of version 3.28 (Feb 2001), the \fI~/.xscreensaver\fP file controls the
configuration of your display's power management settings: if you have
used
.BR xset (1)
If you're using a laptop, don't be surprised if changing the DPMS
settings has no effect: many laptops have monitor power-saving behavior
built in at a very low level that is invisible to Unix and X. On such
-systems, you can typically only adjust the power-saving delays by
+systems, you can typically adjust the power-saving delays only by
changing settings in the BIOS in some hardware-specific way.
+
+If DPMS seems not to be working with XFree86, make sure the "DPMS"
+option is set in your \fI/etc/X11/XF86Config\fP file. See the
+.BR XF86Config (5)
+manual for details.
.SH USING XDM(1)
You can run \fIxscreensaver\fP from your
.BR xdm (1)
and
.BR xhost (1).
.SH USING GDM(1)
-The instructions for using \fIxscreensaver\fP with
-.BR gdm (1)
-are almost the same as for using
-.BR xdm (1),
-above. There are only two differences, really: instead
-of editing \fI/usr/lib/X11/xdm/Xsetup\fP, edit the
-file \fI/etc/X11/gdm/Init/Default\fP; and instead of
-editing \fI/usr/lib/X11/xdm/Xsession\fP, edit one or all of the
-files in the \fI/etc/X11/gdm/Sessions/\fP directory. (Note that
-the default session (\fI/etc/X11/gdm/Sessions/Default\fP) usually
-simply executes \fI/usr/lib/X11/xdm/Xsession\fP, so be careful
-you aren't initializing xscreensaver twice.)
-
-All the same caveats apply for
+Using xscreensaver with
.BR gdm (1)
-as for
-.BR xdm (1).
+is easy, because gdm has a configuration tool. Just fire up
+.BR gdmconfig (1)
+and on the \fIBackground\fP page, type \fB"xscreensaver -nosplash"\fP into
+the \fIBackground Program\fP field. That will cause gdm to run xscreensaver
+while nobody is logged in, and kill it as soon as someone does log in.
+(The user will then be responsible for starting xscreensaver on their
+own, if they want.)
+
+Another way to accomplish the same thing is to edit the
+file \fI/etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf\fP to include:
+.EX
+BackgroundProgram=xscreensaver -nosplash
+RunBackgroundProgramAlways=true
+.EE
+In this situation, the \fIxscreensaver\fP process will probably be running
+as user \fIgdm\fP instead of \fIroot\fP. You can configure the settings
+for this nobody-logged-in state (timeouts, DPMS, etc.) by editing
+the \fI~gdm/.xscreensaver\fP file.
+.SH USING KDE (K DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT)
+I understand that KDE has invented their own wrapper around xscreensaver,
+that is inferior to
+.BR xscreensaver-demo (1)
+in any number of ways. I've never actually seen it, but I'm told that
+this is the way you disable it:
+.RS 4
+.TP 3
+\fB1: Switch off KDE's screen saver.\fP
+Open the ``\fIControl Center\fP'' and
+select the ``\fILook and Feel / Screensaver\fP'' page.
+Turn off the ``\fIEnable Screensaver\fP'' checkbox.
+.TP 3
+\fB2: Find your Autostart directory.\fP
+Open the ``\fILook and Feel / Desktop / Paths\fP'' page,
+and see what your ``Autostart'' directory is set to: it will
+probably be \fI~/.kde3/Autostart/\fP or something similar.
+.TP 3
+\fB3: Make xscreensaver be an Autostart program.\fP
+Create a file in your autostart directory
+called \fIxscreensaver.desktop\fP that contains the following five lines:
+.EX
+[Desktop Entry]
+Exec=xscreensaver
+Name=XScreensaver
+Type=Application
+X-KDE-StartupNotify=false
+.EE
+.RE
+.PP
+Now use xscreensaver normally, controlling it via the usual
+.BR xscreensaver-demo (1)
+and
+.BR xscreensaver-command (1)
+mechanisms.
.SH USING CDE (COMMON DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT)
The easiest way to use \fIxscreensaver\fP on a system with CDE is to simply
switch off the built-in CDE screensaver, and use \fIxscreensaver\fP instead;
.EX
xscreensaver &
.EE
+And make sure the sessionetc file is executable.
This will cause \fIxscreensaver\fP to be launched when you log in.
(As always, make sure that xscreensaver and the graphics demos are on
your \fB$PATH\fP; the path needs to be set in \fI.cshrc\fP
lock command.
.RE
.PP
-.SH ADDING TO MENUS
-The
-.BR xscreensaver-command (1)
-program is a perfect candidate for something to add to your window manager's
-popup menus. If you use
-.BR mwm (1),
-.BR 4Dwm (1),
-.BR twm (1),
-or (probably) any of \fItwm\fP's many descendants, you can do it like this:
-.RS 0
-.TP 3
-\fB1. Create ~/.mwmrc (or ~/.twmrc or ...)\fP
-If you don't have a \fI~/.mwmrc\fP file (or, on SGIs, a \fI~/.4Dwmrc\fP file;
-or, with twm, a \fI~/.twmrc\fP file) then create one by making a copy of
-the \fI/usr/lib/X11/system.mwmrc\fP
-file (or \fI/usr/lib/X11/twm/system.twmrc\fP, and so on.)
-.TP 3
-\fB2. Add a menu definition.\fP
-Something like this:
-.EX
-menu XScreenSaver
-{
- "Blank Screen Now" !"sleep 3; xscreensaver-command -activate"
- "Lock Screen Now" !"sleep 3; xscreensaver-command -lock"
- "Screen Saver Demo" !"xscreensaver-demo"
- "Screen Saver Preferences" !"xscreensaver-demo -prefs"
- "Reinitialize Screen Saver" !"xscreensaver-command -restart"
- "Kill Screen Saver" !"xscreensaver-command -exit"
- "Launch Screen Saver" !"xscreensaver &"
-}
-.EE
-.TP 3
-\fB3. Add the menu\fP
-For
-.BR mwm (1)
-and
-.BR 4Dwm (1),
-find the section of the file that says \fIMenu DefaultRootMenu\fP.
-For
-.BR twm (1),
-it will probably be \fImenu "defops"\fP. If you add a line somewhere
-in that menu definition that reads
-.EX
- "XScreenSaver" f.menu XScreenSaver
-.EE
-then this will add an XScreenSaver sub-menu to your default root-window
-popup menu. Alternately, you could just put the xscreensaver menu items
-directly into the root menu.
-.RE
-
-For Fvwm2, the process is similar: first create a \fI~/.fvwm2rc\fP file
-if you don't already have one, by making a copy of
-the \fI/etc/X11/fvwm2/system.fvwm2rc\fP file. Then, add a menu definition
-to it:
-.EX
-AddToMenu XScreenSaver "XScreenSaver" Title
-+ "Blank Screen Now" Exec xscreensaver-command -activate
-+ "Lock Screen Now" Exec xscreensaver-command -lock
-+ "Screen Saver Demo" Exec xscreensaver-command -demo
-+ "Screen Saver Preferences" Exec xscreensaver-command -prefs
-+ "Reinitialize Screen Saver" Exec xscreensaver-command -restart
-+ "Kill Screen Saver" Exec xscreensaver-command -exit
-+ "Launch Screen Saver" Exec xscreensaver
-+ "Run Next Demo" Exec xscreensaver-command -next
-+ "Run Previous Demo" Exec xscreensaver-command -prev
-
-# To put the XScreenSaver sub-menu at the end of the root menu:
-AddToMenu RootMenu "XScreenSaver" Popup XScreenSaver
-.EE
-The Enlightenment window manager keeps each of its menus in a separate
-file. So, you need to create a file
-named \fI~/.enlightenment/xscreensaver.menu\fP with the contents:
-.EX
-"XScreenSaver Commands"
- "Blank Screen Now" NULL exec "xscreensaver-command -activate"
- "Lock Screen Now" NULL exec "xscreensaver-command -lock"
- "Screen Saver Demo" NULL exec "xscreensaver-command -demo"
- "Screen Saver Prefs" NULL exec "xscreensaver-command -prefs"
- "Reinitialize Saver" NULL exec "xscreensaver-command -restart"
- "Kill Screen Saver" NULL exec "xscreensaver-command -exit"
- "Launch Screen Saver" NULL exec "xscreensaver"
-.EE
-then add
-.EX
- "XScreenSaver" NULL menu "xscreensaver.menu"
-.EE
-to \fI~/.enlightenment/file.menu\fP to put the XScreenSaver submenu on
-your left-button root-window menu.
-
-As you see, every window manager does this stuff gratuitously differently,
-just to make your life difficult. You are in a maze of twisty menu
-configuration languages, all alike.
.SH BUGS
Bugs? There are no bugs. Ok, well, maybe. If you find one, please let
me know. http://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/bugs.html explains how to
You should be sure that this is an acceptable thing to do in your
environment before doing it. See the ``\fIUsing XDM(1)\fP'' section,
above, for more details.
-
-If anyone has suggestions on how xscreensaver could be made to work with
-.BR xdm (1)
-without first turning off \fI.Xauthority\fP-based access control, please
-let me know.
.TP 8
.B Passwords
If you get an error message at startup like ``couldn't get password
If you change your password after xscreensaver has been launched, it will
continue using your old password to unlock the screen until xscreensaver
-is restarted. So, after you change your password, you'll have to do
+is restarted. On some systems, it may accept \fIboth\fP your old and new
+passwords. So, after you change your password, you'll have to do
.EX
xscreensaver-command -restart
.EE
.B Colormap lossage: TWM
The \fBinstallColormap\fP option doesn't work very well with the
.BR twm (1)
-window manager and its descendants.
+window manager and its descendants, on 8-bit screens.
There is a race condition between the screensaver and this window manager,
which can result in the screensaver's colormap not getting installed
.B Machine Load
Although this program ``nices'' the subprocesses that it starts,
graphics-intensive subprograms can still overload the machine by causing
-the X server process itself (which is not ``niced'') to suck a lot of
-cycles. Care should be taken to slow down programs intended for use as
-screensavers by inserting strategic calls to
-.BR sleep (3)
-or
-.BR usleep (3)
-(or making liberal use of any \fI\-delay\fP options which the programs
-may provide.)
-
-Note that the OpenGL-based graphics demos are real pigs on machines that
-don't have texture hardware.
-
-Also, an active screensaver will cause your X server to be pretty much
-permanently swapped in; but the same is true of any program that draws
-periodically, like
-.BR xclock (1)
-or
-.BR xload (1).
-.TP 8
-.B Latency and Responsiveness
-If the subprocess is drawing too quickly and the connection to the X
-server is a slow one (such as an X terminal running over a phone line) then
-the screensaver might not turn off right away when the user becomes active
-again (the
-.BR ico (1)
-demo has this problem if being run in full-speed mode). This can be
-alleviated by inserting strategic calls to
-.BR XSync (3)
-in code intended for use as a screensaver. This prevents too much graphics
-activity from being buffered up.
+the X server process itself (which is not ``niced'') to consume many
+cycles. Care has been taken in all the modules shipped with xscreensaver
+to sleep periodically, and not run full tilt, so as not to cause
+appreciable load.
+
+However, if you are running the OpenGL-based screen savers on a machine
+that does not have a video card with 3D acceleration, they \fIwill\fP
+make your machine slow, despite
+.BR nice (1).
+
+Your options are: don't use the OpenGL display modes; or, collect the
+spare change hidden under the cushions of your couch, and use it to
+buy a video card manufactured after 1998. (It doesn't even need to be
+\fIfast\fP 3D hardware: the problem will be fixed if there is any
+3D hardware \fIat all.\fP)
.TP 8
.B XFree86's Magic Keystrokes
The XFree86 X server traps certain magic keystrokes before client programs ever
Unfortunately, there is no way for xscreensaver itself to override the
interpretation of these keys. If you want to disable Ctrl+Alt+Backspace
globally, you need to set the \fIDontZap\fP flag in
-your \fI/etc/X11/XF86Config\fP file. See the
+your \fI/etc/X11/XF86Config\fP file. To globally disable VT switching,
+you can set the \fIDontVTSwitch\fP flag. See the
.BR XF86Config (5)
manual for details.
-
-There is no way (as far as I can tell) to disable the VT-switching keystrokes.
-
-Some Linux systems come with a VT_LOCKSWITCH ioctl, that one could
-theoretically use to prevent VT-switching while the screen is locked;
-but unfortunately, this ioctl can only be used by root, which means
-that xscreensaver can't use it (since xscreensaver disavows its privileges
-shortly after startup, for security reasons.)
-
-Any suggestions for other solutions to this problem are welcome.
-.TP 8
-.B XView Clients
-Apparently there are some problems with XView programs getting confused
-and thinking that the screensaver window is the real root window even when
-the screensaver is not active: ClientMessages intended for the window manager
-are sent to the screensaver window instead. This could be solved by making
-xscreensaver forward all unrecognised ClientMessages to the real root window,
-but there may be other problems as well. If anyone has any insight on the
-cause of this problem, please let me know. (XView is an X11 toolkit that
-implements the (quite abominable) Sun OpenLook look-and-feel.)
.TP 8
.B MIT Extension and Fading
The \fBMIT-SCREEN-SAVER\fP extension is junk. Don't use it.
extension in XFree86; it's dead simple, and works far better than the
overengineered and broken \fBMIT-SCREEN-SAVER\fP extension.
.TP 8
-.B SGI Power Saver
-If you're running Irix 6.3, you might find that your monitor is powering down
-after an hour or two even if you've told it not to. This is fixed by SGI
-patches 2447 and 2537.
-
-If you're running Irix 6.5, this bug is back. I don't know a fix.
-.TP 8
-.B MesaGL and Voodoo Cards
-If you have a 3Dfx/Voodoo card, the default settings for xscreensaver will
-run the GL-based graphics demos in such a way that they will not take
-advantage of the 3D acceleration hardware. The solution is to change
-the \fBprograms\fP entries for the GL hacks from this:
-.EX
- gears -root \\n\\
-.EE
-to this:
-.EX
- MESA_GLX_FX=fullscreen gears \\n\\
-.EE
-That is, make sure that \fB$MESA_GLX_FX\fP is set to \fIfullscreen\fP, and
-don't tell the program to draw on the root window. This may seem strange,
-but the setup used by Mesa and these kinds of cards \fIis\fP strange!
-
-For those who don't know, these cards work by sitting between your normal
-video card and the monitor, and seizing control of the monitor when it's
-time to do 3D. But this means that accelerated 3D only happens in full-screen
-mode (you can't do it in a window, and you can't see the output of 3D and 2D
-programs simultaniously), and that 3D will probably drive your monitor at a
-lower resolution, as well. It's bizarre.
-
-If you find that GL programs only work properly when run as root, and not
-as normal users, then the problem is that your \fI/dev/3dfx\fP file is not
-configured properly. Check the Linux 3Dfx FAQ.
-.TP 8
.B Keyboard LEDs
If \fIprocInterrupts\fP is on (which is the default on Linux systems) and
you're using some program that toggles the state of your keyboard LEDs,
In all these years, I've not heard of even a single case of this happening,
but it is theoretically possible, so I'm mentioning it for completeness...
-.TP 8
-.B Red Hot Lava
-There need to be a lot more graphics hacks. In particular, there should be
-a simulation of a Lavalite (tm).
.SH ENVIRONMENT
.PP
.TP 8
to find the sub-programs to run.
.TP 8
.B HOME
-for the directory in which to read and write the \fI.xscreensaver\fP file.
+for the directory in which to read the \fI.xscreensaver\fP file.
.TP 8
.B XENVIRONMENT
to get the name of a resource file that overrides the global resources
stored in the RESOURCE_MANAGER property.
.SH UPGRADES
-The latest version can always be found at
-http://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/
+The latest version of xscreensaver, an online version of this manual,
+and a FAQ can always be found at http://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/
.SH SEE ALSO
.BR X (1),
+.BR Xsecurity (1),
+.BR xauth (1),
.BR xscreensaver\-demo (1),
.BR xscreensaver\-command (1),
.BR xscreensaver\-gl\-helper (1),
+.BR xscreensaver\-getimage (1),
.BR xdm (1),
+.BR gdm (1),
.BR xset (1),
-.BR Xsecurity (1),
-.BR xauth (1),
.BR xhost (1).
+.BR anemone (1),
.BR ant (1),
+.BR apollonian (1),
.BR atlantis (1),
.BR attraction (1),
+.BR barcode (1),
+.BR blaster (1),
.BR blitspin (1),
.BR bouboule (1),
+.BR boxed (1),
.BR braid (1),
.BR bsod (1),
.BR bubble3d (1),
.BR bubbles (1),
+.BR bumps (1),
.BR cage (1),
+.BR ccurve (1),
+.BR circuit (1),
.BR compass (1),
.BR coral (1),
+.BR cosmos (1),
.BR critical (1),
.BR crystal (1),
+.BR cubenetic (1),
.BR cynosure (1),
+.BR dangerball (1),
.BR decayscreen (1),
.BR deco (1),
.BR deluxe (1),
.BR discrete (1),
.BR distort (1),
.BR drift (1),
+.BR electricsheep (1),
+.BR endgame (1),
+.BR engine (1),
.BR epicycle (1),
+.BR eruption (1),*
+.BR euler2d (1),
+.BR extrusion (1),
.BR fadeplot (1),
.BR flag (1),
.BR flame (1),
+.BR flipscreen3d (1),
.BR flow (1),
+.BR fluidballs (1),
+.BR flurry (1),
.BR forest (1),
.BR galaxy (1),
.BR gears (1),
+.BR gflux (1),
+.BR glblur (1),
+.BR glforestfire (1),
.BR glplanet (1),
+.BR glsnake (1),
+.BR gltext (1),
+.BR goban (1),
.BR goop (1),
.BR grav (1),
.BR greynetic (1),
+.BR halftone (1),
.BR halo (1),
.BR helix (1),
.BR hopalong (1),
+.BR hyperball (1),
.BR hypercube (1),
.BR ifs (1),
.BR imsmap (1),
.BR interference (1),
.BR jigsaw (1),
+.BR juggle (1),
.BR julia (1),
.BR kaleidescope (1),
.BR kumppa (1),
.BR lament (1),
.BR laser (1),
+.BR lavalite (1),
.BR lightning (1),
.BR lisa (1),
.BR lissie (1),
.BR lmorph (1),
.BR loop (1),
.BR maze (1),
+.BR menger (1),
+.BR metaballs (1),
.BR moebius (1),
.BR moire (1),
.BR moire2 (1),
+.BR molecule (1),
.BR morph3d (1),
.BR mountain (1),
.BR munch (1),
+.BR nerverot (1),
.BR noseguy (1),
.BR pedal (1),
.BR penetrate (1),
.BR petri (1),
.BR phosphor (1),
.BR pipes (1),
+.BR polyominoes (1),
+.BR popsquares (1),
.BR pulsar (1),
.BR pyro (1),
.BR qix (1),
+.BR queens (1),
.BR rd-bomb (1),
+.BR ripples (1),
.BR rocks (1),
.BR rorschach (1),
.BR rotor (1),
+.BR rotzoomer (1),
.BR rubik (1),
+.BR sballs (1),
+.BR shadebobs (1),
.BR sierpinski (1),
+.BR sierpinski3d (1),
.BR slidescreen (1),
.BR slip (1),
.BR sonar (1),
+.BR speedmine (1),
.BR sphere (1),
+.BR sphereEversion (1),
+.BR spheremonics (1),
.BR spiral (1),
.BR spotlight (1),
.BR sproingies (1),
.BR squiral (1),
+.BR ssystem (1),
.BR stairs (1),
.BR starfish (1),
+.BR starwars (1),
+.BR stonerview (1),
.BR strange (1),
.BR superquadrics (1),
.BR swirl (1),
.BR t3d (1),
+.BR thornbird (1),
.BR triangle (1),
.BR truchet (1),
+.BR twang (1),
+.BR vermiculate (1),
+.BR vidwhacker (1),
.BR vines (1),
.BR wander (1),
+.BR webcollage (1),
+.BR whirlwindwarp (1),
+.BR whirlygig (1),
.BR worm (1),
+.BR xaos (1),
+.BR xdaliclock (1),
+.BR xearth (1),
+.BR xfishtank (1),
.BR xflame (1),
.BR xjack (1),
.BR xlyap (1),
.BR xmatrix (1),
-.BR bongo (1),
-.BR ico (1),
-.BR xaos (1),
-.BR xbouncebits (1),
-.BR xcthugha (1),
-.BR xdaliclock (1),
-.BR xfishtank (1),
.BR xmountains (1),
-.BR xsplinefun (1),
-.BR xswarm (1),
-.BR xtacy (1),
-.BR xv (1),
-.BR chbg (1),
-.BR xwave (1).
+.BR xrayswarm (1),
+.BR xsnow (1),
+.BR xspirograph (1),
+.BR xteevee (1),
+.BR zoom (1)
.SH COPYRIGHT
-Copyright \(co 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
-by Jamie Zawinski. Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell
-this software and its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted without
-fee, provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
-both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting
-documentation. No representations are made about the suitability of this
-software for any purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or implied
+Copyright \(co 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
+2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 by Jamie Zawinski. Permission to use, copy,
+modify, distribute, and sell this software and its documentation for
+any purpose is hereby granted without fee, provided that the above
+copyright notice appear in all copies and that both that copyright
+notice and this permission notice appear in supporting documentation.
+No representations are made about the suitability of this software for
+any purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or implied
warranty.
.SH AUTHOR
-Jamie Zawinski <jwz@jwz.org>. Written in late 1991; first posted
-to comp.sources.x on 13-Aug-1992.
+Jamie Zawinski <jwz@jwz.org>. Written in late 1991; version 1.0 posted
+to comp.sources.x on 17-Aug-1992.
Please let me know if you find any bugs or make any improvements.
.SH ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to Patrick Moreau for the VMS port.
-Thanks to Mark Bowyer for figuring out how to hook it up to CDE.
-
Thanks to Nat Lanza for the Kerberos support.
Thanks to Bill Nottingham for the initial PAM support.
projects / xscreensaver / blobdiff