re: redesktop without windowmanager

[Ben McKeegan <Ben.McKeegan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Now the list archive is up I can see that:

On Wed, 18 Oct 2000 Daniel Fischer wrote:

> I have a problem starting X in a script and then rdesktop.
> What the script does:
> 1. Starts X in 8 bits per pixel mode on a new vt
> 2. Starts rdekstop with width and height values.

> So if you try this you only get a black screen from rdesktop. I believe
> this has somewhat to do with the colour mapping, because if you start a
> window manager like twm between the starting of the X Server and
> rdesktop all works fine.  But normally for starting only one application
> under an X Server I do not need a windowmanager.

I was having exactly the same problem.   I got around it by configuring it
to run twm in the background and configuring twm to hide itself entirely
by removing all the menus, window borders and window titles and turning
off all the twm features I don't need.

Running a window manager is also desireable as without it you get a cross
instead of an arrow for your mouse cursor, which doesn't look very nice. 

I use the following in the twm rc file:

BorderWidth 0
DontMoveOff
FramePadding 0
NoBackingStore
NoGrabServer
NoHighlight
NoIconManagers
NoTitle
UsePPosition "on"
AutoRaise
{
   "rdesktop"
}


I also patched rdesktop to set the PPosition window manager hint,
otherwise twm does not auto place the window and you have to click to
place it.   My window manager hint patch was included as part of the
keyboard patches I submitted here a few days ago.  (you can find it on
http://ziggy.fitz.cam.ac.uk/ )



/   Ben McKeegan, I.T. Manager                                         \
\   Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, UK.                  /