Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!husc6!encore!bzs@encore.com
From: bzs@encore.com (Barry Shein)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: physical screen dimensions on a Sun
Message-ID: <4089@encore.UUCP>
Date: 4 Nov 88 02:53:43 GMT
References: <8811010704.AA01663@sparky> <387@auspex.UUCP>
Sender: news@husc6.harvard.edu
Reply-To: bzs@encore.com (Barry Shein)
Organization: Encore Computer Corp
Lines: 17
In-reply-to: guy@auspex.UUCP (Guy Harris)

Although I agree there's probably no way for a machine to know what
size screen (physically) is attached to it this could be solved by
simply adding yet another command-line switch to the X servers, I
assume the human could ascertain it (I guess it's not really screen
size but dimensions of the useable display area which contains the
pixel height/width which is desired, could be an inch or more smaller
than the screen size.)

Obviously one could make a screen which somehow told the system its
dimensions but hey, another nuisance for third-party vendors to play
catchup with. It is useful if your goal in life is to make a one-inch
line actually be an inch, or a 12-pt type face measure 12 points etc.

Now, if one's screen is suddenly hit with one of those shrinking rays
from Zryx maybe we need a SIGCRTCH?

	-Barry Shein, ||Encore||