NAME

       mkxlax - xlax and xterm startup program

SYNOPSIS

       mkxlax [options] sendString [more sendStrings ...]

DESCRIPTION

       Mkxlax is an perl script that will start up a number of xterms configured to work together
       with xlax, and then start up an xlax to communicate with the xterms.

       Mkxlax will start an xterm for each argument (send string) provided.  Each xterm will have
       it's  name  hint  (the `-name' option) set to xlax:sendString, where the sendString is the
       argument provided to mkxlax.  The xterms will all be  started  with  send  events  enabled
       (required for xlax).

       The  xterms  will  be  arranged  in  a  cascasde  from  upper  left to lower right.  Other
       arrangements are possible based on the provided options.

OPTIONS

       -group name
               An alternate prefix should be used with xlax  instead  of  `xlax:'.   This  allows
               multiple  groups  of  xlax  windows to be run at the same time without interfering
               with each other.

       -layout name
               Selects a predefined, named layout screen (from your $HOME/.mkxlax file), and uses
               that layout information (and group name, if given) for the created windows.

       -x num  The starting x location of the first xterm

       -y num  The starting y location of the first xterm

       -dx num The amount to add in x to the position of each additional xterm

       -dy num The amount to add in y to the position of each additional xterm

       -wrapx num
               If x is greater than this value, x wraps back around to it's starting value.

       -wrapy num
               If y is greater than this value, y wraps back around to it's starting value.

       -wrapdx num
               If  a  wrap  occurs,  add  this  value to x.  Typically this is used together with
               `-wrapy', so that when y returns to zero, x is shifted.

       -wrapdy num
               If a wrap occurs, add this value to y.   Typically  this  is  used  together  with
               `-wrapx', so that when x returns to zero, y is shifted.

       -termsize WIDTHxHEIGHT
               The  width and height (columns and rows) for the xterm that will be started.  Note
               that this is not a full  geometry  specifcation,  as  mkxlax  handles  the  window
               positioning.  Default is "80x24"

       -termopts optionstring
               Additional  options to pass on to the xterm.  String must be quoted if it contains
               spaces.  Also, you can not use geometry or name options here.

       -geometry geometrystring
               geometry for the xlax window (NOT the xterms).  This  is  a  standard  format  X11
               geometry, e.g. WIDTHxHEIGHT+XOFFSET+YOFFSET.

       --      Ends option processing (in case a sendString needs to start with a dash).

       If no options are given, the defaults are `-x 0 -y 0 -dx 20 -dy 50 -wrapy 750 -wrapdx 200'

       It's possible to provide options that probably don't make any sense.  The EXAMPLES section
       shows a few reasonable usages.

LAYOUT CONFIGURATION

       Custom layouts can be added by putting them in the configuration file .mkxlax in your home
       directory.   The  file  contains  lines  with  a layout name followed by a colon, and then
       command line options to set for that layout.  For example:
                tile: -group tilexlax -dx 510 -wrapx 1000 -wrapdy 345 -geometry +740-2
       This creates a layout called "tile", with those options set.  Once this is in your .mkxlax
       file, you can then run:
                mkxlax -layout tile host1 host2 ...
       And  all of the options associated with "tile" will apply.  Note that the config file will
       override any command-line options which are before  the  "-layout";  command-line  options
       after the "-layout" will override those in the config file.

       You  can  also  list  sendStrings  after  the  options  in  the layout configuration, so a
       frequently used list of strings can be accessed with  a  simple  layout.   Any  additional
       sendStrings provided on the command line will be added to those found in the layout.

EXAMPLES

       This starts up five xterms with the default cascade positioning.
              example% mkxlax host1 host2 host3 host4 host5

       If  you  run  more  than  one  group  of  mkxlax  windows, you need different group names,
       otherwise later xlaxes will find windows from earlier mkxlax commands.
              example% mkxlax -group foo: host1 host2 host3

       To lay out tiled, by row:
              example% mkxlax -dx 400 -wrapx 1000 -wrapdy 300 host1 host2 ...

       To lay out tiled, by column:
              example% mkxlax -dy 300 -wrapy 700 -wrapdx 400 host1 host2 ...

ENVIRONMENT

       DISPLAY To get default host and display number.

FILES

       $HOME/.mkxlax
              Layout customization information

BUGS

       Probably something, but nothing that comes to mind.

SEE ALSO

       xterm(1), xlax(1)

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright 2007, Thomas A. Fine