./README_alphax

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* README for IBM Visualization Data Explorer for DEC 3000 APX 
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* 
* 
  
  
The information contained in this file consists of hints for using the 
system, help with functions that may not be apparent, and last minute updates 
to the existing documentation.  It is advisable to review this file any time 
Data Explorer updates are applied. 
  
======================================================================== 
  
CONTENTS 
  
    To go directly to an item, search for the item number beginning 
    at the left margin. 
  
    1. System Configuration  
       A. Keyboard Mappings 
       B. X warnings during drag and drop  
    2. Hardware Rendering Considerations 
       A. Shared Library Support for Hardware Rendering 
       B. Hardware Rendering Not Available Message 
       C. Transparency not enabled on the PXG adaptor family 
  
======================================================================== 
  
  
1. System Configuration  
  
A. Keyboard Mappings 
The DEC Alpha may issue a warning message when dx is started.  The message 
complains about an illegal mnemonic character that it could not do a  
keysym to keycode conversion on.  The offending key is the "End" key.  The 
solution is use the xmodmap facility to "change the keycaps" on the DEC 
keyboard.  The Alpha executes a file called .X11Startup in your home  
directory when you log in.  Place the following line of code in the 
.X11Startup in your home directory: 
  
    xmodmap -e "keycode 0x74 = End" 
  
This will cause the F14 key on the DEC LK401 (American) keyboard to 
behave like the "End" key. 
  
This will handle the case where you log into the DEC Alpha.  If you are 
running from another workstation and displaying to the DEC Alpha, you 
should execute the following commands (in order): 
  
    1. export DISPLAY=alpha_system_name:0 (ksh) or 
       setenv DISPLAY alpha_system_name:0 (csh) 
    2. xmodmap -e "keycode 0x74 = End" 
    3. dx 
  
                                 /-----| 
    Data Explorer interpets the <   X  |  above the Return key as "Delete". 
                                 \-----| 
  
B. X warnings during drag and drop  
The X server on OSF/1 V2 can exhaust its resources during drag and drop 
operations.  If you see several Xlib warnings on stderr while dragging 
several nodes in the Visual Program Editor, then the following change  
to /usr/lib/X11/xdm/Xservers will solve the problem: 
  
before: 
:0 local /usr/bin/X11/X 
  
after: 
:0 local /usr/bin/X11/X -bs -su 
   
This disables backing store and save unders.  After making this 
change the X server must be restarted, this is most easily accomplished 
with the following (as root): 
  
/sbin/init.d/xdm stop 
/sbin/init.d/xdm start  
 
  
2. Hardware Rendering Considerations 
  
A. Shared Library Support for Hardware Rendering 
When hardware rendering is requested for the first time, the executive 
dynamically loads /usr/local/dx/bin_alphax/DXhwddOGL.o and the OpenGL shared  
libraries.  If one of these is not present then hardware rendering will  
be disabled. 
  
B. Hardware Rendering Not Available Message 
When the message 'Hardware rendering not available: /usr/lib/libGL.a not 
found' appears, then OpenGL shared library or run-time support has  
not been installed.  
  
C. Transparency not enabled on the PXG adaptor family 
When using hardware rendering, transparency is not enabled on the  
PXG family of graphic adaptors because of performance reasons. 
However, the existance of the environment variable DX_PXG_TRANSPARENCY 
will enable the use of transparency on that adaptor. 
  
  
---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  
The following trademarks apply to this information: 
  
DEC 3000 APX is a registered trademark of Digital Equipment Corp. 
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. 
IBM Visualization Data Explorer is a trademark of International 
    Business Machines Corporation. 
Motif, OSF, and OSF/Motif are trademarks of Open Software Foundation, Inc. 
OpenGL is a trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc.