Re: FVWM: How do you run fvwm?

From: Phil Romig <romig_at_bierstadt.unl.edu>
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 11:55:50 -0500 (CDT)

>
> Phil,
>
> I tried to make .xsession using pico. I cant see the file though.
>
>
> My file actually uses these paths.
>
> #! /bin/sh
> /usr/X11R6/bin/xterm
> /usr/X11R6/bin/xbiff
> /exec /usr/lib/X11/fvwm95-2
>
> How do I run that startup file?
>
> I tried /.xsession but got permission denied.
>
> For the flavor of unix I am running? It is redhat 4.2 with kernel source of
> 2.0.35
>


Joe;

  Just running the .xsession file will not work, it needs to be run
by another process which is starting X.

 A few tips:
   1) you want that last line to be "exec" not "/exec". I may have had
      a typo in my first e-mail.
      
   2) You probably need to set the .xsession file to executable, use
      the chmod command: chmod u+x .xsession
      
   3) Ric was very correct in pointing out that I messed up my
      little sample .xsession file, you must put everything but the
      window manager in the background by adding an ampersand (i.e. &) to
      the end of each line (except the first and the last ones..)
      
         #! /bin/sh
         /usr/X11R6/bin/xterm &
         /usr/X11R6/bin/xbiff &
         exec /usr/X11R6/bin/fvwm2
      
   4) I'm not sure that you have the right path to fvwm95-2. The path
      you have (/usr/lib/X11/fvwm95-2) actually points to the configuration
      directory, not to the binary. In UNIX packages install their
      binaries (a.k.a. the program you actually run) in a directory
      called bin. You can tell if a file is a directory or a file
      with the ls command. For example:
      
         romig> ls -ld /usr/lib/X11/fvwm95-2
         drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1024 Nov 20 1997 /usr/lib/X11/fvwm95-2/
       and
         romig> ls -ld /usr/bin/X11/fvwm95-2
        -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 117636 Nov 20 1996 /usr/bin/X11/fvwm95-2
        
        
      Notice that the first listing has a "d" in the first column, but
      the other line does not. This indicates that the first is a
      directory, the other a "normal" file.
    
   5) I don't know if the version of redHat you are using turns on
      the xdm automatically. The xdm is a program which starts the
      X window system and puts up a login screen. If you log in via
      graphical box in the middle of the screen you are using xdm, if
      you login via a textual prompt you are not using xdm.
      
      5a) If you are using xdm, then then the .xsessions file will work,
           once you have made the adjustments I mention above.
           
      5b) You you are not using the xdm then (1) could start it,
           probably by logging in as root and typing "/sbin/init 5"
           or (2) you can use the startx script to start X. As Ric
           mentioned, if you are using startx then the startx script
           will read the .xinitrc file (or the .Xclients file as per Ric).
           To use startx you login as yourself and type "startx".
           
      5c) What I do is make my .xinitrc file a link to my .xsession file,
           so either way I am working I get the same thing. Create your
           .xsession file and then type "ln -s ~/.xsession ~/.xinitrc".
           

Let us know how it is going.
Phil
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Received on Tue Oct 06 1998 - 11:56:09 BST

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