7    Customizing Your Session

This chapter describes how to use the options available in the Session Manager Options menu which you can use to customize session features such as your keyboard, language, window colors, and security settings. Where appropriate, this chapter also describes how to customize the screen display for three types of workstations:

• Monochrome systemSupports black-and-white output only

• Intensity systemSupports shades of gray

• Color systemSupports a full spectrum of color

7.1    Customizing Your Startup Environment

You can customize the session manager to automatically start the applications you use each day.

To customize your startup environment:

1. Choose Automatic Startup... from the Session Manager Options menu.

   Session Manager displays the AutoStart dialog box.

2. Click on an application item in the left-hand list box to add it to your automatic startup list.

   The applications are started in the order in which they appear in this list.

   If you want to start one application several times, you must add the application to the startup list for each time you want it started. For example, click on DECterm three times to enable the start of three DECterm windows each time you start a session.

The Motif window manager (mwm) is a main component of your DECwindows working environment. Do not remove the mwm window manager from your automatic startup list unless you are replacing it with another window manager.

7.2    Changing Your Session Manager Settings

You can change certain characteristics of the Session Manager itself. To change your Session Manager settings, choose Session Manager... from Session Manager Options menu. Session Manager displays the Customize Session Manager dialog box.

You can change the following settings from the Customize Session Manager dialog box:

Startup State

Session Manager is displayed as a window at the start of each session. Click on the Icon button under the Startup State title to specify that Session Manager be stored as an icon at the start of every session.

Confirm End Session

When you quit a session, Session Manager asks you for confirmation. To disable this option, click on the Confirm Quit Session button. You do not receive a confirmation message when you end your session.

Pause Screen Message

When you select Pause from Session Managers Session menu, your screen is cleared and a message is displayed in the Pause Session dialog box. You can change the message by editing the text in the Pause Screen text-entry box. To see your new message, choose Pause from the Session Manager Session Menu. See Section 2.1.3.

7.2.1    Customizing Window Patterns and Colors

To change window managers, background, and window colors, choose Window... from the Session Manager Options menu. The Session Manager displays the Window Options dialog box.

From the Window Options dialog box, you can change any of the following settings:

Window Manager

To choose a window manager, enter the directory path to the window manager file in the text-entry box below and to the right of the title Window Manager then click on the Default or Other button.

Screen Saver

Screen Saver extends the life of your monitor by shutting off its display after a specified time. By default, the monitor shuts off its display after 10 minutes of keyboard or mouse inactivity. Drag the arrow in the slider right or left to change the length of time or click on the Disable button if you prefer to keep the display on indefinitely.

Screen Background Pattern

To change the default background pattern, click on a pattern in Screen Background Pattern section of the Window Options dialog box. The selected pattern is displayed in the pattern viewer. Click on OK or Apply to see your selection in effect.

To choose a solid background or foreground instead of a pattern, click on the boxes to the left of the Default Pattern button. To display the default pattern, click on the Default Pattern button.

Solid Foreground

The screen pattern, when set to anything other than the default pattern, consists of a screen foreground (the filled area in the pattern) and a screen background (the pattern's outline). The selected pattern is displayed in the pattern viewer.

To change the default screen color on intensity and color systems, click on the Screen Foreground Color box. The Session Manager displays a Color Attributes dialog box. For more information about mixing colors, see Section 4.3.

To see your new setting, click on Apply or OK.

Solid Background

This setting applies to intensity and color systems only. To change the default screen background color, click on the Screen Background Color box. Session Manager displays a Color Attributes dialog box.

Note

As explained below, window color changes do not take effect immediately.

Window Background Color

To change the default window background color, click on the Window Background Color box. Session Manager displays a Color Attributes dialog box.

If you save your changes by clicking on Apply or OK in the Customize Windows dialog box, your new setting takes effect when you start your next session.

Window Foreground Color

Changing the Window Foreground Color setting in a window that contains text also changes the color of that text. If the window contains graphics, the color of the graphics changes.

To change the default window foreground color, click on the Window Foreground Color box. Session Manager displays a Color Attributes dialog box.

If you save your changes by clicking on Apply or OK in the Customize Window dialog box, your new setting takes effect when you start your next session.

You can also change the pattern used for highlighting. This is especially useful on monochrome and 4-plane color systems.

Window Highlight Color

Changing the Window Highlight Color setting determines the color surrounding any button in a dialog box.

Window Border Color

Changing the Window Border Color setting determines the color surrounding buttons selected in dialog boxes.

7.2.2    Changing Your Security Settings

DECwindows software allows you to run applications from another computer for display on your workstation monitor. By default, your workstation monitor can display only those applications that are running on your workstation. This prevents users on other systems in the network from displaying applications on your workstation monitor and from capturing and displaying your keystrokes (including your password) on another monitor.

From the Session Manager Security Options dialog box, you can authorize yourself or others to use your monitor to display applications that are running on other systems.

To grant access to specified remote hosts, choose Security from the Session Manager Options menu. A dialog box appears:

To add a name to the list of authorized hosts:

1. Enter the host name in the Hostname text-entry box.

   If the connection between your system, and the remote host is through the DECnet network, use DECnet syntax, which requires two colons (::) after the host name. If your connection to the remote host is through the TCP/IP network, colons are unnecessary.

2. Click on the Add button.

   The host name appears on the list of authorized hosts.

3. Click on OK to use the new list of authorized hosts.

To save the authorized host list for use in future sessions, select Save Current Settings from the Session Manager Options menu.

7.3    Customizing Keyboard Settings

To change your keyboard settings, choose Keyboard... from the Session Manager Options menu.

From the Customize Keyboard dialog box, you can adjust or disable any of the following settings:

Bell Volume

This warning bell sounds to alert you to system messages. You can adjust the volume or toggle the bell on or off.

Keyclick Volume

You can adjust the keyclick volume or toggle the keyclick on or off.

Auto Repeat

The auto-repeat setting is indicated by a shaded button. To disable Auto Repeat, click on the Disable button.

Lock Key State

Normally the Lock key on your keyboard produces capital letters but not shifted number keys. To make your keyboard work just like a typewriter keyboard, click on the Shift Lock button. Choosing the Shift Lock option produces both capital letters and shifted number keys when you press the Lock key.

7.4    Setting Another Session Language

By default, DECwindows applications are displayed in American English, but are available in multiple languages. To use DECwindows in another language, you must have the correct language support installed on your system.

To set another session language, choose Language... from the Session Manager Options menu. Session Manager displays the Customize Language dialog box.

Scroll through the list of languages and select one. The next application you start is displayed in that language. If your system does not support the selected language, the application is displayed in American English.

Language capabilities vary between systems. For example, if your system has French language support and you select French as your session language, any applications you run on your workstation are displayed in French. However, if you run an application on a remote host that does not support French, and you direct the display to your workstation by setting the DISPLAY environment variable, the application is displayed in American English. (See Chapter 4 for information on running applications on remote hosts).

To find out if an application is available in another language, see the documentation for that application.

7.4.1    Keyboard Type

The location of specific characters on the keyboard varies depending on the keyboard model. Selecting the keyboard type that matches your keyboard model allows the system to display the correct character when you press the corresponding key.

The system default keyboard type is determined by the value of your system's console language variable and by the type of keyboard that was connected when the system was last booted.

If the keyboard on your workstation has been changed since the system was booted, you must set the keyboard type to match the keyboard model. This changes the keyboard type temporarily without permanently changing the system default keyboard type. (For example, you could plug an Austrian German keyboard into a workstation whose system default keyboard type, specified when DECwindows was installed, is French.)

To find your keyboard model number, turn the keyboard upside down and look for a label that specifies the model number. The model number should be in a format similar to LK201-xx. (The model number may also be listed as simply LK201. In this case, the xx you need is in another place on the label. Look for a number similar to nn-nnnnn-xx.) Use this number to select a keyboard type from the Keyboard Type list box. For example, if you are using an Austrian German keyboard and your keyboard model is LK201-NG, select the Austrian German LK201-NG keyboard type.

For any language other than North American or U.S., you can also specify whether you want your keyboard to act as a data processing (DP) or typewriter (TW) keyboard. Selecting a data processing keyboard type enables the characters on the right half of the keycaps. Selecting a typewriter keyboard enables the characters on the left half of the keycaps.

To use this new keyboard type for subsequent sessions, save the new setting before you end the current session. The new keyboard type is in effect for your sessions only after DECwindows verifies your password at the start of each new session.

7.5    Customizing Your Pointer

You can change the shape and color of the pointer, as well as certain mouse characteristics. To change your mouse and pointer settings, choose Pointer... from the Session Manager Options menu. Session Manager displays the Pointer Options dialog box.

The Customize Pointer dialog box looks like this on intensity and color systems:

From the Customize Pointer dialog box, you can change any of the following settings:

Pointer Acceleration

Click on one of the four options to vary the rate at which the pointer moves in relation to the mouse. The None setting keeps the pointer speed constant. The Fast setting makes the pointer move farther as you move the mouse faster. Thus, you can move the pointer to another part of the screen without moving the mouse the same relative distance. The preset option is Medium.

Mouse Double Click Timeout

DECwindows distinguishes between two successive single clicks and a double click. Drag the Double Click Timeout slider left or right to specify how fast you have click for a double click. Drag right to allow more time between clicks. You can also adjust the slider by moving the pointer to a location on the scale and clicking MB2.

Pointer Foreground Color

The pointer consists of an outline and a filled center.

On a monochrome system, the pointer's filled area is white with a black outline by default. Click on the Black On White button to reverse the fill and outline colors.

On intensity and color systems, the pointer's filled area or foreground is black by default. To change this setting, click on the Pointer Foreground Color button. Session Manager displays a Color Attributes dialog box. For more information about mixing colors, see Section 4.4.

To see your changes, click on Apply or OK in the Pointer dialog box.

Pointer Background Color

This setting applies to color and intensity systems only. To change the default pointer background color, click on the Pointer Background Color button. Session Manager displays a Color Attributes dialog box.

To see your changes, click on Apply or OK in the Pointer dialog box.

Button Arrangement

The preset mouse button arrangementMB1 on the left and MB3 on the rightis natural for a right-handed user. You can switch the mouse button arrangement by clicking on the Left Handed radio button. The right mouse button becomes MB1 and the left mouse button becomes MB3. MB2 stays the same.

Pointer Shape

By default, the pointer is a left arrow. To change the pointer shape, scroll through the list of shapes and select the one you want.

7.5.1    Saving Your New Settings

You can save your settings or reinstate other settings as follows:

Choose	To
Save Current Settings	Save the settings you just changed for use in every subsequent session.
Reset to Last Saved Settings	Reinstate the last settings you saved. Choose this menu item if you want to reset any attributes that you changed temporarily but did not save.
Reset to Default	Reinstate the default settings.

Some new settings will not be in effect until you end your current session and begin another one.

7.6    Advanced Customization

When you save your current settings, the Session Manager records the changes in the file .Xdefaults in your home directory. The Session Manager reads this file each time you start a session. In addition to the menu items available in the options menu, you can edit resources in this file to further customize your environment. See Chapter 9 for more information about modifying resources. See also the appendixes to this guide and the OSF/Motif Programmer's Guide.