Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!helios!tamsun!eagle.tamu.edu!j1h9453
From: j1h9453@eagle.tamu.edu (Joel Andrew Huddleston)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.ultrix
Subject: Re: Ultrix 4.2 gripe
Message-ID: <2167@tamsun.TAMU.EDU>
Date: 27 Jun 91 15:27:12 GMT
References: <17826@helios.TAMU.EDU> <1991Jun26.135718@wsl.dec.com>
Sender: usenet@tamsun.TAMU.EDU
Reply-To: j1h9453@zeus.tamu.edu
Organization: Academic Computing Services
Lines: 55

In article <1991Jun26.135718@wsl.dec.com>, gringort@wsl.dec.com (Joel Gringorten) writes:
|> In article <17826@helios.TAMU.EDU>, j1h9453@eagle.tamu.edu (Joel Andrew Huddleston) writes:

|> |> I thought I might warn people out there supporting DECStations.  I
|> |> don't know how far this goes back in the version list, but under
|> |> Ultrix 4.2, there is a file in /usr/skel called .Xdefaults.  This
|> |> is a swell initialization file for someone who already knows how
|> |> to set up X applications or for someone who never wants to change
|> |> a thing.  However, the Session Manager supplied by DEC can't
|> |> understand this file well enough to change what it does.

|> Customizations in the session manager have always worked just fine as
|> far as I know. Manual mods to my .Xdefaults always work fine as well
|> and don't bother the session manager one bit.  I think if this stopped
|> working we'd be getting an awful lot of problems reports -- and we're
|> not.
|> I hate to say this, but what makes more sense is that perhaps you're doing 
|> something wrong.

Did you try using the file I mentioned as your .Xdefaults and making some
color changes? NO.  Did you check to see what that file as a .Xdefaults
does?  NO!  Did you even LOOK at the file I mentioned?  NO!

flame on

And *I* am doing something wrong!?!  This, *this* is *just* exactly what
I am talking about.  You assume it works.  You don't try it to see, but
you are willing to go to the trouble of posting a response claiming that
it is my problem.  Well, you're *right*; DEC *is* my problem.  I have to
support these stupid workstations and people from DEC are not making it
any easier by claiming that "I think...we'd be getting an awful lot of
problem reports..."  and "...always worked just fine as far as I know."
Why don't you test this stuff in house first or at least check out a
complaint before you *assume* that the complainer is an idiot.

flame off

Try this, just once.
Create a new account using the user account manager.  This process
will, by default, copy all of the .??* files in /usr/skel to the
new account's home directory.  Log in to this account.  Notice the
pretty colors chosen for you by DEC.  Try to change the colors in
the session manager. (yes, some of this works)  Set the window
foreground color to a light blue and set the window background
color to, say, black.  Notice that changes won't take effect until
you log off and log back in.  Save the customized changes.  Log
off and log back in.  Notice the unchanged DECterm colors.  Notice
how easy it is to read the session manager.

Then post a formal apology to one of you customers.
-- 
Joel Huddleston  eka j1h9453@zeus.tamu.edu
     Peace: Not just the absence of war but the absence of fear.
       War: Not just the absence of peace but the absence of cowardice.
Disclaimer: Not just the absence of blame but the absence of repsponsiblilty.