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 version, the function first opens the X11.app application if it finds it is not already running. It then correctly assigns the DISPLAY variable, 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 environment 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 manner. 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 -internalBorder 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-templates, 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 discovered 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>

SEE ALSO
open(1) open-x11(1)