Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!ispd-newsserver!ism.isc.com!ico!attc!marbru
From: marbru@attc.UUCP (Martin Brunecky)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: Design problem in XtVaGetApplicationResources
Message-ID: <1281@attc.UUCP>
Date: 20 Mar 91 15:47:09 GMT
References: <3108@laura.UUCP> <12721@adobe.UUCP> <3114@laura.UUCP>
Reply-To: marbru@auto-trol.UUCP (Martin Brunecky)
Organization: Auto-trol Technology, Denver
Lines: 35

In article <3114@laura.UUCP> klute@tommy.informatik.uni-dortmund.de (Rainer Klute) writes:
>
>I hope I have made clear that from a database's point of view there is no
>inherent relation between the database and an X server. Xt should not
>oblige such a relation, forcing the user to use the Xrm primitives. Ok?
>
     Xrm is an independent (but very special) database. No doubt it can
     be used completely independently from Xt, and then there truly is
     no relation between the database and an X server.

     However. Xt decided to use the Xrm database for a very specific
     purpose: defining application resource with respect to several
     important "environment" features.  Therefore, Xt defines a hierarchy 
     of (Xrm file) sources for it's database. It automatically wants to 
     take in account (in  no particular order here):
     - application preferences
     - server (display) preferences and features (such as monochrome/color)
     - user preferences (either resource files or command line options)
     - localle/language

     Note that many of those features are display specific. For example,
     my application outputs to two displays, one monochrome 15'' and another
     one color 19''. Sure I want to use different resources for each display.
     Therefore, the Xt Xrm database is attached to the display, and it may
     contain display(server) dependent data. 

     Of course, if your application wants to use Xrm database for some other 
     purpose, go ahead and create your own one. But please, don't impose
     your needs (such as display independency) upon the X toolkit.

-- 
=*= Opinions presented here are solely of my own and not those of Auto-trol =*=
Martin Brunecky                           {...}sunpeaks!auto-trol!marbru
(303) 252-2499                        (sometimes also:  marbru@auto-trol.COM )
Auto-trol Technology Corp. 12500 North Washington St., Denver, CO 80241-2404