Tejas Guruswamy wrote:

Just a comment though: if you are running on an LCD, turning down the resolution is really not the recommended way to improve readability. LCD screens have what is called a "native resolution" - which appears to be 1680x1050 on your machine - and generally display pretty badly at other resolutions. Instead of turning down the resolution, consider increasing font and icon sizes in your application/KDE settings, and/or tweaking the DPI. The image will be much, much clearer.

I'd second what Tejas says. Changing the font and icon sizes is the best way to go if possible, since changing the DPI means that setting the magnification to 100% in programs like gimp or acroread no longer works properly. Also the DPI is sometimes set automatically with modern LCD displays, I believe (via the EDID). Cheers, Dave -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On 2011/01/27 12:38 (GMT+0200) Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC) composed:

Running OpenSuSe 11.2 and a 11.3 on separate hardware both with KDE and would like to find out which file I can edit using my trusty Kate or kwrite text editor that would control the screen resolution.

Which file(s) to edit, and how, may depend on which video driver you use, but generally, in 11.2 this is /etc/X11/xorg.conf. In 11.3, /etc/X11/xorg.conf may or may not produce expected results. If it doesn't, you'll need to try the files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/.

I currently need to use krandrtray to set the resolution from the system auto default of 1680x1050 to a more respectable/readable 1024x768. If I logoff or power down the machine, I need to visit krandrtray each time

Krandrtray is designed for temporary changes.

to set the screen resolution as it defaults to the auto setting of 1680x1050 when I logon again.

The auto default of 1680x1050 is your display's native 16:10 aspect ratio resolution. All lower resolutions it supports degrades output quality. "High resolution" is as its name implies - high quality. Choosing 1024x768, a traditional 4:3 aspect ratio, not only lowers resolution, it lowers it out of proportion, causing everything to be distorted by stretching more in the horizontal direction (64%) than in the vertical direction (37%), making everything fatter than it should be.

I have already Googled and looked at the mailing list archives and have not seen anything specific other than what I have tried already.

You missed using the keyword DPI in your search. DPI is a measure of pixel density. Bigger numbers equate to higher quality, finer (higher) resolution. Forcing DPI upward allows the quality inherent in your display's native resolution to be preserved. It operates functionally as a desktop-wide zoom, negating or reducing the need to change individual settings to make such objects as fonts and icons larger. Unless using a proprietary NVidia video driver, which provides to set DPI directly in xorg.conf, the traditional way to force DPI upward is via DisplaySize, basically lying to X about your displays height & width. If your 1680x1050 display is 21", its height is about 283mm and width 452mm, a DPI of 99[1]. Putting 'DisplaySize 301 188' in 'Section "Monitor"', which might possibly also need added 'Option "PreferredMode" "1680x1050"', will result in a DPI around 144, causing X to enlarge everything about 50%. http://fm.no-ip.com/Share/DisplaySize has some examples how this can be done to achieve particular DPI results, mostly with 4:3 displays. Note that various things, particularly many web pages, assume a DPI of 96, and work poorly at other values, more so at lower values, fonts especially so. Resolution independence would fix this, but so far it's little more than a pipe dream. As alternatives to /etc/X11/xorg.conf*, DPI can also be altered (system wide) via xrandr in /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc (e.g. "xrandr -dpi 144" or "xrandr -fbmm 301x188" near the bottom where it says "# Add your own lines here"), and (for personal DTE only) via font settings in Gnome and KDE. The simplest way to change most, which does not work for all apps, is putting Xft.dpi: 144 (or some other multiple of 12 according to the zoom factor that best suits you) into ~/.Xdefaults. See also: http://fm.no-ip.com/PC/fonts-linux-about.html [1] http://fm.no-ip.com/PC/displays.html -- "How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver." Proverbs 16:16 NKJV Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On 1/27/2011 2:36 PM, Istvan Gabor wrote:

2011. január 27. 11:38 napon "Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)" írta:

...

I currently need to use krandrtray to set the resolution from the system auto default of 1680x1050 to a more respectable/readable 1024x768.

Hello:

A typical problem of modern systems, when the computer thinks it knows better what you need but it doesn't.

Ask openSUSE developers to add back sax2 for manual xorg configuration. Actually oS 11.2 has sax2 and maybe 11.3 has it too in some build repo. By running sax2 you can set the default resolution.

Istvan

I wonder if this isn't due to the fact that modern flat screen monitors do such a horrible job of running at lower resolutions than their native resolution. We are no longer simply changing the timing of a ray of electrons, but rather we are grouping/clumping individual pixel elements electronically. A better approach would be scaling/zooming content rather reducing resolution. Perhaps adjusting your minimum fonts setting would be a better approach. Certainly worth a try, and it is specific to each user. When people in my office complain about small print and want things zoomed up, I often suggest they get Computer prescription. I also have them try live with the high rez for a week, and magically the bitching disappears when they realize how much more real estate they have on their screens. We spent a lot of time an money trying to get high resolution screens, and it seems a shame to make them emulate the crap we had before. -- _____________________________________ ---This space for rent--- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On 2011/01/27 16:48 (GMT+0100) Philipp Thomas composed:

Hylton Conacher composed:

...

If I logoff or power down the machine, I need to visit krandrtray each time to set the screen resolution as it defaults to the auto setting of 1680x1050 when I logon again.

Just add the call to krandrtray from your ~/.xinitrc and it'll be executed each time your X session starts.

It's been many weeks, maybe months, since I tried affecting X by adding anything to ~/.xinitrc. When I did, specifically xrandr commands, the effect was as if ~/.xinitrc entirely superseded /etc/xinit/xinitrc, effectively preventing X from functioning. -- "How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver." Proverbs 16:16 NKJV Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Felix Miata wrote:

On 2011/01/27 14:09 (GMT) Dave Howorth composed:

...

Changing the font and icon sizes is the best way to go if possible, since changing the DPI means that setting the magnification to 100% in programs like gimp or acroread no longer works properly.

People changing to a lower screen resolution to make things bigger are obviously not interested in whatever 100% size or magnification level are supposed to be being accurate. It's legibility they are after, even at the expense of wild distortions. :-)

Since they can have both good legibility and high resolution, why cripple their possibilities by supporting an inappropriate path? BTW, one other thing that hasn't been mentioned yet IIRC is the existence of screen magnifier applications. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On 2011/01/28 06:16 (GMT-0500) Dave Howorth composed:

Felix Miata wrote:

...

On 2011/01/27 14:09 (GMT) Dave Howorth composed:

...

...

Changing the font and icon sizes is the best way to go if possible, since changing the DPI means that setting the magnification to 100% in programs like gimp or acroread no longer works properly.

...

People changing to a lower screen resolution to make things bigger are obviously not interested in whatever 100% size or magnification level are supposed to be being accurate. It's legibility they are after, even at the expense of wild distortions. :-)

Since they can have both good legibility and high resolution, why cripple their possibilities by supporting an inappropriate path?

Because it's what they figured out "works" on Windoz? :-) I think devs forget, or never learn in the first place, that it's much easier for people with good eyesight to manage to make things smaller to suit than the converse. -- "How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver." Proverbs 16:16 NKJV Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

First off Thank you all. The rest of my posting is bottom posted. On 28/01/11 13:16, Dave Howorth wrote:

Felix Miata wrote:

...

On 2011/01/27 14:09 (GMT) Dave Howorth composed:

...

Changing the font and icon sizes is the best way to go if possible, since changing the DPI means that setting the magnification to 100% in programs like gimp or acroread no longer works properly.

People changing to a lower screen resolution to make things bigger are obviously not interested in whatever 100% size or magnification level are supposed to be being accurate. It's legibility they are after, even at the expense of wild distortions. :-)

Since they can have both good legibility and high resolution, why cripple their possibilities by supporting an inappropriate path?

BTW, one other thing that hasn't been mentioned yet IIRC is the existence of screen magnifier applications. I wish the story was as simple as more clarity or DPI. Unfortunately I am short sighted, wear glasses and need to sit approximately 1m away from my screen, a 22" Samsung SyncMaster. I am finding that I am straining my eyes to read text and without actually losing screen real estate, I can adjust the resolution so that teh estate is readable from end to end, given that I have already increased the size of the Kicker(Task) Bar.

The resized estate also increases the font size but keeps it all in relation to the rest, thus satidfying me that images I am looking at are probably distorted but mostly in relation to everything else. In addition the BIGGEST bonis is that I can read the text without having to magnify it to such an extent that I would forever be moving scroll-bats. Thanks again, and I'll report back after making the changes. Hylton -- ======================================================================== Hylton is a Lions Club member of Fish Hoek Lions Club(District 410A) Part of the worlds largest NGO Lions Clubs Int http://www.lionsclubs.org This Lion is using openSuSE Linux since v9.0 with KDE ======================================================================== -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On 28/01/11 09:48, Felix Miata wrote:

On 2011/01/27 14:09 (GMT) Dave Howorth composed:

...

Changing the font and icon sizes is the best way to go if possible, since changing the DPI means that setting the magnification to 100% in programs like gimp or acroread no longer works properly.

People changing to a lower screen resolution to make things bigger are obviously not interested in whatever 100% size or magnification level are supposed to be being accurate. It's legibility they are after, even at the expense of wild distortions. :-)

Felix, Thank you, you have hit the nail on the head! :) -- ======================================================================== Hylton is a Lions Club member of Fish Hoek Lions Club(District 410A) Part of the worlds largest NGO Lions Clubs Int http://www.lionsclubs.org This Lion is using openSuSE Linux since v9.0 with KDE ======================================================================== -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On 27/01/11 18:24, Felix Miata wrote:

On 2011/01/27 12:38 (GMT+0200) Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC) composed:

...

Running OpenSuSe 11.2 and a 11.3 on separate hardware both with KDE and would like to find out which file I can edit using my trusty Kate or kwrite text editor that would control the screen resolution.

Which file(s) to edit, and how, may depend on which video driver you use, but generally, in 11.2 this is /etc/X11/xorg.conf.

In 11.2 there is a file named /etc/X11/xorg.conf that has the following snipped text included: ***Start of paste:*** Section "Monitor" Option "CalcAlgorithm" "XServerPool" DisplaySize 494 320 HorizSync 30-81 Identifier "Monitor[0]" ModelName "SAMSUNG SYNCMASTER" Option "DPMS" Option "PreferredMode" "1024x600" VendorName "SAM" VertRefresh 43-75 UseModes "Modes[0]" EndSection Section "Modes" Identifier "Modes[0]" Modeline "1680x1050" 119.00 1680 1728 1760 1840 1050 1053 1059 1080 EndSection *** End of paste *** In the Section "Monitor", the "PreferredMode" "1024x600" is set correctly, however further down the file in the Mode section the Modeline is wrong: Section "Modes" Identifier "Modes[0]" Modeline "1680x1050" 119.00 1680 1728 1760 1840 1050 1053 1059 1080 EndSection I'm thinking either to change the Nodeline to "1024x768" and deleting the rest of the line. Alternatively add a section "Modes, with an identifier of Modes(1) ie: Section "Modes" Identifier "Modes[1]" Modeline "1024x768" EndSection AND then also change the UseModes entry in Section "Monitor" to UseModes "Modes[1]" *************************************************************. Complete Which is the better option or would both accomplish the same?

In 11.3, /etc/X11/xorg.conf may or may not produce expected results. If it doesn't, you'll need to try the files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/.

There are a few files there namely: 10-evdev.conf 11-mouse.conf 20-synaptics.conf 20-wacom.conf 50-device.conf 50-montor.conf 50-screen.conf 50-vmmouse.conf 60-vboxmouse.conf 90-keytable.conf None of the above files have anything in them mentioning resolution ie 1680x1024 etc. <snip>

Krandrtray is designed for temporary changes.

Thanks but also figured out given each time I logged on I needed to reset display :|

The auto default of 1680x1050 is your display's native 16:10 aspect ratio resolution. All lower resolutions it supports degrades output quality. "High resolution" is as its name implies - high quality.

Choosing 1024x768, a traditional 4:3 aspect ratio, not only lowers resolution, it lowers it out of proportion, causing everything to be distorted by stretching more in the horizontal direction (64%) than in the vertical direction (37%), making everything fatter than it should be.

As you said earlier, the joy of text being legible is better. Thankfully I have upgrade my viewing from the older 640x480 and 800x600. I also had a look at the man page for xorg.conf and it scared me. Regards Hylton -- ======================================================================== Hylton is a Lions Club member of Fish Hoek Lions Club(District 410A) Part of the worlds largest NGO Lions Clubs Int http://www.lionsclubs.org This Lion is using openSuSE Linux since v9.0 with KDE ======================================================================== -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On 2011/01/29 12:15 (GMT-0500) Felix Miata composed:

8-Report back here the results, both from the XServer window

I meant to say the DPI and resolution info from that window, not all of it. -- "How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver." Proverbs 16:16 NKJV Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On 1/31/2011 4:40 AM, Dave Howorth wrote:

It's quite important to have a specific pair of specs for your computer if you normally wear varifocals. The computer pair should be single-focus so that as you move your eyes around the screen, it all stays in focus.

No its not necessary to have single focus lenses for a computer prescription. A good optometrist will be able to give you a varifocal (Progressive) lenses in your computer prescription. Typically this is simply just an offset adjustment to your normal prescription. For a "computer prescription" as it is often called in the US, the focal range is anywhere from about 10-20 feet down to 6 inches, depending on your eyes. This is much more useful than a fixed focus lens because you can actually work in a normal office environment without everything being out of focus beyond your desk, or having to constantly change your glasses. The sweep spot of a varifocal is much wider at to bottom for computer presciption than it is on typical varifocal lens designed for every day use. Consequently much more of your screen remains in sharp focus even towards the periphery than would be the case. This "sweet spot" of focuse is typically a inverted triangle area, (or as my doc says: Picture a woman's bikini bottom), wider at the top than at the bottom. It can be very narrow at the bottom for normal use glasses. This is forced wider for Readers or Computer glasses. This technology is at the limit of current lens grinding capabilities, but future laser grinding may allow clear focus on all portions of the lens. Its important to let your doc know about your working environment. I had my wife snap a photo of me at my desk with my twin monitors at arms length, and showed that to the optometrist. He said he wished he could get that from all his patients. -- _____________________________________ ---This space for rent--- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org