Notes to End Users

Even though 24-bit TrueColor offers fast rendering and no colormap flashing, the built-in factory default visual on the Creator accelerator is 8-bit PseudoColor. This was done to accommodate X applications that don't handle a 24-bit visual properly. It is better to have programs run and colormap flash than to not run at all. Fortunately, the majority of desktop applications do run properly with this visual.

Users who desire less colormap flashing on their desktop can run the window system with the default visual configured to 24-bit TrueColor. This is the recommended mode of running the window system on the Creator accelerator.

1. To run OpenWindows in this mode, use the following command:

   openwin -dev /dev/fbs/ffb0 defdepth 24

1. To run CDE in this mode, edit the /usr/dt/config/Xservers file and add "defdepth 24" to the appropriate X start-up command for your server.

Be aware of the following conditions when using this mode:

• Some X applications cannot handle the 24-bit default. These type of programs usually fail to run and issue a BadMatch error message. Other programs may core dump or draw incorrect colors. If you encounter such an application, you can diagnose the problem by rerunning the application under the 8-bit PseudoColor default visual. If the program works, it probably cannot handle a 24-bit TrueColor default visual. Contact the application supplier and request an upgraded program. In the meantime, use the factory default 8-bit PseudoColor visual mode until the application is fixed.

• When the default visual depth is 24-bit, pixmaps and window backing store will occupy four times the space as in an 8-bit depth. This usually does not increase the working set of the server, but it does increase swap space. If you run programs that use lots of pixmaps or backing store windows, stay in 8-bit mode.