open-x11(7) Mac OS X Darwin ZSH customization open-x11(7) NAME open-x11 - function that replaces Apple's open-x11 with one that works better SYNOPSIS open-x11 program [ args ] DESCRIPTION The open-x11 command runs a program within the environment of the X- server running in the current user's session. In this augmented ver- sion, the function first opens the X11.app application if it finds it is not already running. It then correctly assigns the DISPLAY vari- able, permitting Fast User Switching compatibility when hosting several simultaneous X11 users. If fink is present, it detects that and sources the /sw/bin/init.sh file, setting all of the required environ- ment variables. USAGE The program can be any X11-dependent executable in the PATH, or you can provide the entire path. Unlike the Apple version, this version of open-x11 permits you to give arguments to the program in the usual man- ner. Only one executable can be launched per invokation of open-x11. EXAMPLES open-x11 xeyes runs the 'xeyes' program so that it is able to connect to the current X server. open-x11 rxvt -bg black -fg white -cr grey -ls -geometry 80X25 -colorBD yellow -troughColor grey -font 9x15 -sr -scrollColor RoyalBlue3 -inter- nalBorder 5 & is an example of a standard unix command that the Apple version seems incapable of coping with. UNSOLICITED ADVICE If you set up your environment correctly, as is done with zsh-tem- plates, you can launch any X11-based executable in the standard way without having to use open-X11. The function customize_x11 will aid you in doing this, but all you really need to do is put X11.app in your Accounts login items. HISTORY The open-x11 shell script first appeared in Mac OS X 10.3. I discov- ered it didn't work right, and that it did a bad job of setting the DISPLAY variable and accepting arguments, so I rewrote it. AUTHOR William Scott MAINTAINER W. G. Scott wgscott@users.sourceforge.net Mac OS X August 5, 2005 open-x11(7)