GRASS for Monochrome X-Windows Terminal

[Allan B Branscomb]

Bary writes :

>I would like to know if it is possible to run GRASS 4.0 on a monochrome
>X-Windows terminal. We are using a HP730 with Motif as our primary machine,
>but would like to use a black and white Visual X-19 Display Station as a
>remote terminal.  Any help in solving this problem would be much apreciated.

We are, with difficulty, using a grey-scale (2 bits, four levels) X server as a
terminal for GRASS executing on a Sun 600/mp4; the server machine is a NeXT
using Motif on top of CoXist.  This version has a 'pseudo 8 bit' mode which
presents a color look-up table to the GRASS X routines which are, in fact,
expecting to open a color X server (the GRASS machine's X is the 'client' in
the X world).  

It is a kludge to be sure, and the mouse button and other interface elements
are shaky and cause various operational anomalies.  As soon as we are able to
afford a proper color X server we will use it since map production, and even
visual 'analysis' on the screen are seriously compromised using a monochrome
device.  

In an environment in which the major financial commitment is to the GRASS data-
execute server, and the remote machine bears only the burdens of control and
display, low cost stations make sense if good X software is available.  Recent
devlopments are making this more hopeful, QuarterDeck is releasing X for DOS
machines, and if Apple gets its act together its X software might suffice;
currently, it only supports a one-button mouse.

Good luck, my suggestion is that you try to go directly to color as soon as
you can, it might not be as expensive as imagined.

allan