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NAME

       dexconf - generate Xorg X server configuration file from debconf data

SYNOPSIS

       dexconf [ options ]

DESCRIPTION

       dexconf  retrieves  values  from debconf(7)'s database and uses them to
       build an xorg.conf 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(8) should be used  to  do
       so.

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

OPTIONS

       -h, --help
              Display a usage message and exit.

       -o file, --output=file
              By  default,  dexconf  writes  to /etc/X11/xorg.conf This option
              instructs dexconf to write to file instead.  Note  that  dexconf
              unconditionally  overwrites  its  destination  file  if  it  has
              sufficient access rights to do so.

ENVIRONMENT

       COLUMNS
              This variable is used to format diagnostic messages so that they
              fit  the width of the terminal.  If not set, a terminal width of
              80 columns is assumed.

       TMPDIR dexconf creates a subdirectory of the directory name  stored  in
              this variable, and uses that subdirectory as a scratch area.  If
              not set, /tmp is used as the parent of the scratch directory.

OUTPUT FILES

       /etc/X11/xorg.conf
              is the configuration file for the Xorg X server.

DIAGNOSTICS

       dexconf produces diagnostic messages upon  encountering  various  error
       conditions.   These  messages are prefixed with the name of the command
       and a colon; for example:
              dexconf: message
       A list of diagnostic messages currently issued by dexconf follows.

       This option, and XFree86 3.x output, are no longer supported.
              dexconf no longer supports the -f,  --format  option.   See  the
              "HISTORY" section below.

       cannot  create  temporary  work directory; dirname does not exist or is
       not a directory
              dexconf  was  unable  to  create  a scratch directory to work in
              because the parent directory (dirname) was not does not exist or
              is  not  a  directory.   Create  dirname and set its permissions
              properly, or set the TMPDIR environment variable to the name  of
              an existing directory.

       cannot  create  temporary  work  directory  in  dirname;  directory not
       writable
              dexconf  had  insufficient  permissions to create a directory in
              dirname.  Change the permissions on dirname or  set  the  TMPDIR
              environment variable to the of a writeable directory.

       cannot generate configuration file; question not set
              An  answer to the indicated question was expected in the debconf
              database, but none was found.   dexconf  cannot  write  a  valid
              configuration  file  without this information.  This problem can
              be rectified by reconfiguring the  X  server  package  with  the
              dpkg-reconfigure(8) command.

       creation of temporary work directory dirname failed
              dexconf  was  unable  to create a scratch directory (dirname) to
              work in.  This diagnostic  is  only  issued  after  dexconf  has
              checked  to  ensure  that  the  parent  directory  of dirname is
              writable, and after the temporary directory to be used has  been
              removed  (if necessary).  This diagnostic message could indicate
              that  something  on  the  system  is   attempting   to   use   a
              temporary-file   race   condition  to  compromise  the  system's
              integrity.

       error while getting options
              dexconf received an error from  getopt(1)  while  attempting  to
              interpret  the  command-line arguments.  Use only the documented
              options.

       received signal; aborting
              dexconf was sent a fatal signal; see the section on asynchronous
              events below.

       this program does not know how to configure the package X server
              dexconf  only knows how to write configuration files for XFree86
              version 4.x X servers.  The value of the shared/default-x-server
              debconf  template was set to a package name that dexconf did not
              recognize.  A different tool will have to be used  to  configure
              the  selected  X  server, or dpkg-reconfigure(8) will have to be
              used to change the default X server.

       unable to write to configfile
              dexconf was unable to write  to  configfile  because  it  lacked
              permissions to do so.  Run dexconf as a user with permissions to
              write to configfile, or specify an alternate file to write  with
              the -o or --output options.

       unrecognized option option
              An  unrecognized  option was specified.  Use only the documented
              options.

ASYNCHRONOUS EVENTS

       dexconf traps the HUP, INT, QUIT, and TERM  signals.   dexconf  removes
       its  scratch directory and exits when it receives any of these signals.

EXIT STATUS

       0      A configuration file was successfully written.

       1      An error occurred, or dexconf was interrupted.  See the  section
              on diagnostics above.

BUGS

       See         the         Debian        Bug        Tracking        System
       <http://bugs.debian.org/xserver-common>.  If you wish to report  a  bug
       in  dexconf,  please see /usr/share/doc/debian/bug-reporting.txt or the
       reportbug(1) command.

AUTHOR

       dexconf was written by Branden Robinson with sponsorship  from  Progeny
       Linux Systems.

SEE ALSO

       xorg.conf(5x), dpkg-reconfigure(8), debconf(7)