Running Ferret without X Windows

Question:

Solutions:

• GIF mode - GIF output without X windows

 Ferret can run in batch mode -- without an X server. Invoke batch mode by starting up Ferret with the -gif option:
   > ferret -gif

Graphical output is buffered, and can be stored in a GIF file by executing the FRAME command. For example:
   yes? frame/file=picture.gif
sends the stored graphical output from Ferret to the GIF file picture.gif.

Please note the following when using batch mode:

• Window resizing only works if the window is cleared before resizing the window. For instance:

   yes? set window/clear/size=0.25
will resize the window while
   yes? set window/size=0.25/clear
will cause an error.
 
• Avoid metafile commands when running in batch mode. In particular,

   yes? set mode meta
may cause problems.
 
• Don't create new Ferret windows when running without an X server. The following command:
     yes? set window/new

will cause Ferret to crash.
 
• PostScript mode - PostScript output without X windows

 Ferret can also generate PostScript files without an X server. This is an experimental feature and not fully supported. If you wish to use this mode, start Ferret with the -batch option:
   > ferret -batch <file>.ps
where <file> is the name of the output file. Note that the filename must end with ".ps".

 Please note the following when using PostScript mode:

• The PostScript output will not be fully written to the output file until you exit from Ferret.
• Window sizing commands do not have any effect on PostScript output.
• Avoid metafile commands when running in PostScript mode.
• Don't create new Ferret windows when running without an X server. The following command:
     yes? set window/new

will cause Ferret to crash.