Changing resolution in X

[cloverm]

Here's the scenario:

I'm setting up a laptop with Linux for our sales people to demonstrate some software at a trade show. They are obviously technically challanged, to put it in a nice way.
Laptop's screen is 1024X768. They will hook up an external LCD screen with 1280X1024 resolution. So they would have to switch resolution back and forth. Now using Ctrl-Alt-+ or Ctrl-Alt-- changes the resolution, but does not resize the desktop. They are not used to how the desktop moves in and out of the screen and it wouldn't be the desired setup, either.
Is there any way of changing resolution and resizing the desktop just like they are used to in 'doze? I have KDE 2.2 set up, maybe a different WM would do it?

[Killer_Penguin]

Usually when it doesn't size the desktop as well as the resolution, it's becuase the video card can't handle the whole thing or somethign like that... very odd....

[cloverm]

Usually when it doesn't size the desktop as well as the resolution, it's becuase the video card can't handle the whole thing or somethign like that... very odd....

Every video card worked the same way I've ever seen. If I change the resolution with Ctrl-Alt-+(-) the size of the desktop stays the same and it moves in and out of the screen as I move the mouse. Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

[boblucci]

try to rerun x config because you have it configured for a virtual desktop. I dont remember exactally what it says but it's something like, " do you want the desktop to be larger than the screen". if i remember right Xfree calls that a vitrual desktop.

try and disable it some how , maybe check in the config file.

[cloverm]

This is my config file. What do I need to change in it?

# XF86Config-4 (XFree86 server configuration file) generated by Dexconf, the
# Debian X Configuration tool, using values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the XF86Config manual page.
# (Type "man XF86Config" at the shell prompt.)

Section "Files"
   FontPath   "unix/:7100"
   FontPath   "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
   FontPath   "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
   FontPath   "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
   FontPath   "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
   FontPath   "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/TrueType"
   FontPath   "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
   FontPath   "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
   FontPath   "/usr/share/fonts/truetype"
   FontPath   "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/openoffice"
EndSection


Section "ServerFlags"
EndSection

Section "Module"
   Load   "ddc"
   Load   "GLcore"
   Load   "dbe"
   Load   "dri"
   Load   "extmod"
   Load   "glx"
   Load   "pex5"
   Load   "record"
   Load   "xie"
   Load   "bitmap"
   Load   "freetype"
   Load   "speedo"
   Load   "type1"
   Load   "vbe"
   Load   "int10"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
   Identifier   "Generic Keyboard"
   Driver      "keyboard"
   Option      "CoreKeyboard"
   Option      "XkbRules"   "xfree86"
   Option      "XkbModel"   "pc104"
   Option      "XkbLayout"   "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
   Identifier   "Generic Mouse"
   Driver      "mouse"
   Option      "CorePointer"
   Option      "Device"      "/dev/psaux"
   Option      "Protocol"      "ImPS/2"
   Option      "Emulate3Buttons"   "true"
   Option      "ZAxisMapping"      "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Device"
   Identifier   "Generic Video Card"
   Driver      "savage"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
   Identifier   "Generic Monitor"
   HorizSync   30-60
   VertRefresh   50-75
   Option      "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
   Identifier   "Default Screen"
   Device      "Generic Video Card"
   Monitor      "Generic Monitor"
   DefaultDepth   24
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth      1
      Modes      "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth      4
      Modes      "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth      8
      Modes      "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth      15
      Modes      "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth      16
      Modes      "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth      24
      Modes      "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
   Identifier   "Default Layout"
   Screen      "Default Screen"
   InputDevice   "Generic Keyboard"
   InputDevice   "Generic Mouse"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
   Mode   0666
EndSection

# end of XF86Config

In this section:

   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth      24
      Modes      "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

Try deleting "1024x768" making "800x600" the default resolution, and if that doesn't work reduce to "640x480".

[cloverm]

In this section:

 * * *EndSubSection
 * * SubSection "Display"
 * * * * * Depth * * * * * *24
 * * * * * Modes * * * * * *"1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

Try deleting "1024x768" making "800x600" the default resolution, and if that doesn't work reduce to "640x480".

All that does is reduces the resolution to 800X600 or 640X480 after I restart X, but does not help in resizing the desktop on the fly.

[mjb0314]

In this section:

 * * *EndSubSection
 * * SubSection "Display"
 * * * * * Depth * * * * * *24
 * * * * * Modes * * * * * *"1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

Try deleting "1024x768" making "800x600" the default resolution, and if that doesn't work reduce to "640x480".

All this would do is eliminate "1024x768" from his choice of resolutions and will not solve his problem.

To cloverm: *You do need to add "1280x1024" to the list of resolutions in your Display subsection.

I can't see anything in your XF86Config-4 file that could be causing you to have a virtual screen.

From the XFree86 documentation here's the entry that I would have suspected but can't find in your file:

Virtual xdim ydim
This optional entry specifies the virtual screen resolution to be used. xdim must be a multiple of either 8 or 16 for most drivers, and a multiple of 32 when running in monochrome mode. The given value will be rounded down if this is not the case. Video modes which are too large for the specified virtual size will be rejected. If this entry is not present, the virtual screen resolution will be set to accommodate all the valid video modes given in the Modes entry. Some drivers/hardware combinations do not support virtual screens. Refer to the appropriate driver-specific documentation for details.

Here's the url where I found that:
http://www.xfree86.org/4.2.0/XF86Config.5.html

Anybody else have any ideas?

[cloverm]

Yes, I will add 1280X1024 as soon as I solve the problem with the desktop size.
If your desktop automatically resizes if you hit Ctrl-Alt--, could you post your XF86Config-4 file?

[mjb0314]

Here are the sections that I think could help you out:

# **********************************************************************
# Graphics device section
# **********************************************************************

Section "Device"
 * *Identifier "Generic VGA"
 * *Driver * * "vga"
EndSection

Section "Device"
 * *Identifier *"NVIDIA GeForce2 DDR (generic)"
 * *VendorName *"Unknown"
 * *BoardName * "Unknown"
 * *Driver * * *"nvidia"
# * *VideoRam * *32768
 * *# Clock lines


 * *# Uncomment following option if you see a big white block * * * *
 * *# instead of the cursor! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 * *# * *Option * * *"sw_cursor"

 * *Option * * *"DPMS" *"on"
EndSection



# **********************************************************************
# Screen sections
# **********************************************************************


Section "Screen"
 * *Identifier "screen1"
 * *Device * * *"NVIDIA GeForce2 DDR (generic)"
 * *Monitor * * "Sony CPD-E200/E200E"
 * *DefaultColorDepth 16
 * *Subsection "Display"
 * * * *Depth * * * 8
 * * * *Modes * * * "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x400"
 * * * *ViewPort * *0 0
 * *EndSubsection
 * *Subsection "Display"
 * * * *Depth * * * 16
 * * * *Modes * * * "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 * * * *ViewPort * *0 0
 * *EndSubsection
 * *Subsection "Display"
 * * * *Depth * * * 24
 * * * *Modes * * * "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 * * * *ViewPort * *0 0
 * *EndSubsection
 * *Subsection "Display"
 * * * *Depth * * * 32
 * * * *Modes * * * "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 * * * *ViewPort * *0 0
 * *EndSubsection
EndSection


Section "ServerLayout"
 * *Identifier "layout1"
 * *Screen * * "screen1"

 * *InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"

 * *InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection