X Windows

Supported X Windows Visuals

This section contains device specific information needed to run Starbase programs in X11 windows. If you need a general, device-independent explanation of using Starbase in X11 windows, refer to the "Using Starbase with the X Window System" chapter of the Starbase Graphics Techniques manual.

How to Read the Supported Visuals Tables

The tables of Supported "X" Windows Visuals contain information for programmers using either Xlib graphics or Starbase. These tables list what depths of windows and color map access modes are supported for a given graphics device. They also indicate whether or not backing store (aka "retained raster") is available for a given visual.

You can use these tables to decipher the contents of the X*screens file on your system. The first two columns in the table show information that may be in the X*screens file. Look up the depth= specification in the first column. If there is no doublebuffer keyword in the file, look up No in the second column. Otherwise, look up Yes. The other entries in that row will tell you information about supported visual classes and backing store support.

You can also use the tables to determine what to put in the X*screens file in order to make a given visual available. For example, suppose that you want 8-plane windows with two buffers for double-buffering in Starbase. Look for "8/8" in the table to see if this type of visual is supported. If it is, then you will need to specify "double-buffer" in the X*screens file. You will find the "depth=" specification as the first entry in that row of the table.

The supported server modes are Combined and Overlay.

The supported server modes are Combined and Image.

X11 Cursors and Starbase Echos

The following list shows default positions where the Starbase echo and X11 cursor (called echo and cursor, respectively) reside for each of the X11 server operating modes.