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A new set of Unix and X-windows defaults have been developed
by the WAM staff. A default is an action that a
computer performs if no alternatives are specified. The
system defaults can be used as a starting point for
developing a personal set of defaults.
The new defaults are designed to allow the underlying
computer system to be modified and upgraded without forcing
users to modify any of their customized defaults, or to have
to repeatedly re-install the defaults.
The new defaults modify the behavior of five different
aspects of the computer system: terminal settings, the Unix
shell, X-windows programs, the X-windows manager and logout
processing.
These defaults are completely new to WAM, and probably
different than what you are used to using. Please report any
problems that you have with them. If they are not to your
liking, this handout will tell you what files you need to
change. If you had made changes to the old defaults, this
document will tell you how to change the new defaults to
incorporate your changes.
How to install the new defaults
All WAM users are urged to switch to the new defaults. This
is done by typing the command:
newdefaults
If you get the message Command not found, try typing
the command:
/usr/local/scripts/newdefaults
If this does not work, contact the system staff.
The newdefaults command copies files into your home
directory. If a file with the same name as a new defaults
file already exists, the old existing file is renamed. This
gives you a backup copy. The new name of the file consists of
the file's old name concatenated with the date. For example,
if the file .Xdefaults exists in your home directory and
today's date is September 23, 1991, the newdefaults command
will rename .Xdefaults to .Xdefaults-91-09-23, and put a new
copy of .Xdefaults in its place.
The newdefaults command can be run whenever you want to get a
fresh copy of the defaults. This can be useful if you make a
change to a start-up file that results in undesirable
behavior.
The New Default Files:
Here is a brief description of each file that is copied into
your home directory:
Files that are used to affect the shell:
.cshrc the commands in this file are performed each
time a shell is started. This file contains commands that
configures your shell. Do not edit this file.
.environment this file contains customized
environment variable settings in C-shell syntax. The
newdefaults command gives you a . environment file with a
couple of lines as an example. This file can be deleted if
you do not wish to change any environment variables.
.path this file contains your customized search
path. The specified path will be used in place of the default
path. The file provided by the command newdefaults gives you
the same path as the system default; it is provided to give
you an example of how the file should look. This file can be
deleted if you do not wish to change your search path.
.cshrc.mine contains commands that are performed
each time a shell is started. This is the file that you use
to modify shell variables. This file can be deleted if you do
not wish to change any variables.
.aliases contains C-shell command aliases. You can
use it to add your own aliases, or re-define system aliases.
This file can be deleted if you do not wish to change any
aliases. Files that are used to affect terminal settings:
. login commands in this file are performed each
time you login to a computer using a workstation's console or
network connection. This file contains commands that
configures your terminal. Do not edit this file.
.startup.tty contains the customized terminal
settings which are performed when logging in from a terminal.
The .startup.tty can be deleted if you do not wish to change
any of the terminal settings.
Files that are used to affect X-windows:
.xinitrc commands in this file are performed when
X-windows is started. It calls a system-wide program that
performs various system functions. These functions can be
overridden by using environment variables in your .
environment file. Do not edit this file.
. startup .X contains commands that are performed
when X-windows is started. It is called by the system file
that is called by .xinitrc. It contains the commands that put
up the xterms, the clock and the xbiff that you see when you
log in and start X-windows. Modify this file if you wish to
modify the set of tools to be run.
.Xdefaults contains values of X-windows resources.
These affect how X-windows applications look and act. You can
override an application's default resources by adding lines
to this file. The newdefaults command gives you a .Xdefaults
file with a couple of lines as an example. This file can be
deleted if you do not wish to change any resources.
.xserverrc Do not modify this file.
.xsession a link to your .xinitrc file. Do not
modify this file.
Files that are used to affect logout processing:
. logout the commands in this file are performed
when you log off of the system console or remote login. Do
not edit this file.
. logout . mine this file contains commands that you
want to have performed when you logout. This file can be
deleted if you do not wish to add any special commands to be
performed when you log out.
How to convert your old start-up files to the newdefaults
start-up files:
You can just rename the .aliases backup file that was created
by the newdefaults command to be the . aliases file.
The old .cshrc file contained both system commands and any of
your modifications. Your modifications should be distributed
amongst the files .cshrc.mine, .path, .environment, and
.aliases, as appropriate.
The old .login file contained both system commands and any of
your modifications. Your modifications should be put in the
file .startup.tty.
The old .logout file contained both system commands and any
of your modifications. Your modifications should be put in
the file .logout.mine.
What happens when logging in and starting X-windows:
If you are logging in on an X-terminal, go to Part B.
Part A.
You log in, either via a network connection or on a
workstation running in console mode. Here's which files are
used. Each level of indentation indicates one file invoking
another.
-
~/ . environment
-
~/.path
-
/local/software/bin/.twigrc
-
~/.cshrc.mine
-
~/.aliases
-
~/.login
-
~ /.startup.tty (only if using a tty)
Part B.
You are logging in on an X-terminal, or workstation console
and have started X. These files are used:
-
/local/lib/init/cshrc (see above)
-
xrdb is called, using:
-
/local/lib/init/Xdefaults
-
~/.Xdefaults
-
-
-
fvwm2 is called using:
-
/local/lib/init/fvwm2rc (if it exists)
-
else
Part C.
You are logging out from the console or remotely, these are
the files used.
Part D.
You are logging out of an X-terminal, no files are used.
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