Re: FVWM: strange behavior with graphics programs

From: Jan T. Kim <kim_at_mpiz-koeln.mpg.de>
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 11:59:13 +0100

On Sun, Mar 19, 2000 at 07:59:01PM -0800, TJ wrote:
> I ran into an unexpected problem when updating to fvwm 2.2.2 with my
> SuSE 6.3 distribution. FVWM2 has always worked in the past and I can't
> quite figure out what to do now. I'm no expert at this.
>
> When loading some graphics programs, notably Gimp and Compupic, windows
> in the mouse focus are colored properly, but those out of focus have
> some really strange "reversed" colors.

Probably, you use an X server that is able to display only a limited
amount of colors. In such cases, the X server uses the colors it can
display to show the window which has the focus in the colors it has
requested. As a consequence, all other windows are shown in random,
psychedelic false colors, and this pattern changes abruptly when the
keyboard focus is moved to another window -- a phenomenon known as
colormap flashing.

> In addition, after closing one
> of these programs I have to restart FVWM2 because subsequent windows
> come up without the border and in the upper left of the screen, making
> them unusable.

I don't know about this one.

> I have tried two different graphics cards, one a plain
> vanilla S3-Virge. The behavior has me scratching my head because I've
> run these programs for years without problems.

Did you try the cards without installing the corresponding X server? In
that case, you are likey using the generic VGA X server, which has only
16 colors. (This doesn't mean your card can't do better, just the plain
vanilla VGA X server never uses such capabilities, thix X server is
commonly used as a least common denominator for initial system installations
and the like.)

If you have used the X server for your card, try running it in true color
mode (``startx -- -bpp 24'' or ``startx -- -bpp 32''). If this doesn't
work, check your XF86Config file.

Since these issues are only indirectly related to fvwm, you might ask
your question on a SuSE or Linux related newsgroup or mailing list, as
people there may be able to give you more competent advice.

Greetinx, Jan
-- 
 +- Jan T. Kim -------------------------------------------------------+
 |             email: kim_at_mpiz-koeln.mpg.de                           |
 |             WWW:   http://www.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~kim/              |
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Received on Mon Mar 20 2000 - 05:00:20 GMT

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