X-Windows Applications and Tools

X-Windows Applications and Tools

Here are a number of useful programs that you can use with your X-Windows display. On most of these tools, visual effects can be set by adding the following arguments:

-fg foreground-color
-bg background-color
-geometry size specs

where size specs are indicated by widthXheight+/-xpos+/-ypos.

In addition, adding the argument or flag "-help" will usually display a list of valid options for the program.

For example:

xclock -help displays the options available for xclock
xclock -bg goldenrod -geometry 400x200+90-90 displays a 400x200 clock with background color "goldenrod", placed 90 pixels away from the left edge of the screen and 90 pixels above the bottom edge

  1. Xbiff

    Xbiff monitors your mail file and announces when new mail arrives. In the normal state, xbiff displays a mailbox with its flag down. When new mail arrives, xbiff reverses the colors in its window, raises the flag, and beeps.

    To run xbiff from the command line, type xbiff. Additional arguments are:

    -update num
    where num is the number of seconds before xbiff checks for new mail. The default is every 60 seconds.

    -file filename
    where filename is the name of the mail folder that xbiff will check. The default is /usr/spool/mail/username where /username is your login name.

    See the man page for more information.

  2. Xclock

    Xclock displays a clock on your screen with the current time. Options are available to configure xclock to your liking.

    -digital
    With this option xclock displays a digital clock instead of analog.

    -update num
    where num is the number of seconds after which the clock should be updated. Default is every 60 seconds.

    -chime
    rings a chime once on the half-hour and twice on the hour.

    See the man page for more information.

  3. XCalc

    XCalc creates a scientific calculator for your desktop. It can be used either with the leftmost mouse button as a "fingertip", or with the keyboard (using the +, -, *, / and = keys as you would expect).

    Command-line options are:

    -stipple
    improves appearance on monochrome displays by stippling background and foreground colors.

    -rpn
    applies Reverse Polish Notation, which will make the calculator behave like an HP-10C (without the flag, the default is TI-30 emulation).

    To quit Xcalc, press the rightmost mouse button on "AC" or "ON", or press Q.

    See the man page for more information.

  4. Xman

    Xman is a manual page display program for XWindows. Instead of typing "man command" at the Unix prompt, you can type "xman", and find the help you need in a separate display.

    When presented with the box as shown above, click on Manual Page to display a list of commonly referenced commands. To change to a different section of the manual, click and hold the Sections menu at the top of the window, and move the mouse pointer to the section you wish to look at.

    You can also search for a command by selecting Search from the Options menu.

    For more help on Xman, check the man page.

    Back to XWindows Help Menus page