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[previous article] [next article]Beth Chaney
The X Window System is a network-based graphics windowing system for workstations which was developed at MIT. The current version of the X Window System is X11R5. It provides users with the capability to run multiple windows and applications on a graphical display, thus enabling users to be more productive and to use a wider range of applications.
ECN has developed an application, XSTART, in order to provide users with a way to use and customize their X11 environments without having to completely understand HOW to configure them. It creates configuration files and provides users with the "X Session Manager" menu.
The new version of XSTART, version 2.1, which was installed on December 20, 1993, contains several enhancements as well as some subtle changes which were made to improve the user interface. Some of the enhancements include
1) XSTART now provides a separate window from which you can select third-party packages and start them in a standard way. 2) XSTART saves the window positions through the use of the "Save Workspace" menu option. Not all third-party software packages support this feature. 3) XSTART is now available for use on X-terminals. 4) The window customization utility has been modified so that users have a little more control over their color selections. 5) Application menu items which are not available on the current architecture are grayed out. Application menu items which are not valid are removed from the list, and the user is informed of these corrections.XSTART can be found in the following directories depending on the operating system
Operating System Directory SunOS 4.1.x /usr/ecn Solaris 2.3 /usr/local/binFurther information on XSTART can be obtained by attending the XSTART Short Course, reading the manpage or asking your site specialist for a help document.
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