dexconf(f)                                             dexconf(f)



NAME
       dexconf  -  generate  XFree86  X server configuration file
       from debconf database values

SYNOPSIS
       dexconf

DESCRIPTION
       Dexconf retrieves values from debconf's database and  uses
       them  to build an XF86Config or XF86Config-4 (depending on
       the default X server selected) file.

       The information that dexconf uses is typically entered via
       a  debconf  frontend  (or  possibly  in  part  by hardware
       autodetection tools).  Note that dexconf itself  does  not
       set  any values in the debconf database; it only retrieves
       them.  If configuration parameters of the debconf database
       need  to be changed, dpkg-reconfigure(e) should be used to
       do so.

       It is also important to note that dexconf, and the  corre-
       sponding debconf questions whose answers it retrieves, are
       not intended to replace a full-featured X server  configu-
       ration tool; that is the province of xf86cfg(g), currently
       under development by the XFree86  Project,  Inc.   In  the
       meantime,  however, users inexperienced with the syntax of
       the XF86Config (or XF86Config-4) file may use  dexconf  to
       generate  the  X  server configuration file with a minimal
       amount of detailed knowledge of their hardware  character-
       istics.

       More  experienced  users  should feel free to use Dexconf-
       generated configuration files  as  a  starting  point  for
       their  customizations,  since  individual preferences vary
       greatly.

       Dexconf decides which file (XF86Config or XF86Config-4) to
       generate  based  upon  the name of the default X server (a
       debconf question).

       Dexconf writes only to the area between
              ### BEGIN DEBCONF SECTION
       and
              ### END DEBCONF SECTION
       in the configuration file.  Anything outside  this  region
       is preserved.  If either or both of the above marker lines
       is missing, dexconf will exit with an error.

       The above feature is useful especially in conjuction  with
       the  version  4 XFree86 X server, so that additional input
       devices, display devices, and monitors can be  configured,
       and  multiple  screens and layouts defined.  For instance,
       the first ServerLayout section encountered in the configu-
       ration file is the one XFree86 4 uses as its default, so a
       typical customization is to write a  ServerLayout  section
       at  the  top of the file, before the beginning of the deb-
       conf area.  See XF86Config-4(4) and the Debian X FAQ --
              /usr/share/doc/xfree86-common/FAQ/gz
       -- for more information.

OUTPUT FILES
       /etc/X11/XF86Config-4
              Configuration file for the XFree86 4.x X server.

       /etc/X11/XF86Config
              Configuration file for XFree86 3.x X servers.

AUTHOR
       Dexconf was written by Branden Robinson for Progeny  Linux
       Systems, Inc., and Debian GNU/Linux.

SEE ALSO
       XF86Config(g),      XF86Config-4(4),     XF86Config-v3(3),
       xf86cfg(g), dpkg-reconfigure(e)



Debian GNU/Linux            2001-12-11                 dexconf(f)