IRIX: system: IRIX: Setting up aterm 
(last edit: 2003-01-05)
                   
      
aterm IRIX-Look Modification

aterm IRIX-Look Modification

I've been meaning to post a special aterm modification; the patch gives aterm users 
the option to replace the default NeXT-style scrollbar with a native IRIX version. 
Many thanks go to Frank for taking the time to write this patch and then share 
it with the rest of the community.

Interested? I thought so! To install this patch simply perform the following:

Ensure the prerequisites are in place for aterm as outlined 
in my Compiling aterm On IRIX article.

Download and unpack the aterm-0.4.2.tar.gz file from http://aterm.sourceforge.net.

Download the patch:  HERE  aterm-0.4.2.sgilook.patch

Copy the patchfile into the newly extracted aterm-0.4.2 directory and enter it:

    cp aterm-0.4.2.sgilook.patch aterm-0.4.2/
    cd aterm-0.4.2
    patch -p0 < aterm-0.4.2.sgilook.patch

If all goes well, it's time to compile the newly patched aterm.

For MIPSPro 7.x, optionally set the following environment variables for an optimized 
build (skip this if using GCC):

    setenv CC cc
    setenv CFLAGS '-n32 -O3'

Then the configure command (note the new --enable-sgi-scroll option as a result of the patch):

    ./configure --enable-utmp --enable-wtmp --enable-fading --enable-sgi-scroll 
    --disable-delete-key --disable-backspace-key --enable-menubar 
    --with-xpm-library=/usr/freeware/lib32 --enable-background-image 
    --with-jpeg-library=/usr/freeware/lib32 --with-png-library=/usr/freeware/lib32 
    --with-terminfo=/usr/share/lib/terminfo --enable-xgetdefault 
    --enable-graphics --with-term=xterm

    make clean
    make
    make install

aterm should now be installed as /usr/local/bin and ready for use.


To display user and machine name (should be added to .login, .tcshrc or .cshrc):

    if ($?TERM) then
    if ($TERM == "iris-ansi" || $TERM == "iris-ansi-net") then
    if ($?CONSOLE) then
    setenv HOST `/usr/bsd/hostname`
    alias setitle 'echo -n "\033P1.y"$USER, ${host}:$cwd"\033\\"'
    setitle
    alias cd 'set old=$cwd; chdir \!*;echo $cwd; setitle'
    setitle
    endif
    endif
    if ($TERM == "aterm" || $TERM == "xterm") then
    stty intr ^C
    alias setitle 'echo -n "\033P1.y"$USER, ${HOST}:$cwd"\033\\"'
    setitle
    endif
    endif

Example .Xdefaults settings for aterm (modify to taste):

    Aterm*transparent: True
    Aterm*shading: 25
    Aterm*tinting: yellow
    Aterm*font: -*-screen-medium-r-normal--18-*-*-*-m-90-iso8859-1
    Aterm*saveLines: 500
    Aterm*termName: aterm
    Aterm*background: black
    Aterm*foreground: white
    Aterm*cursorColor: green
    Aterm*geometry: 80x24
    
    To start, download the current aterm source tarball from http://aterm.sourceforge.net

In addition to the aterm source, you'll need to download and install a few 
things from http://freeware.sgi.com:

# gcc (MipsPRO 7.x also works well)
# libxpm
# libjpg
# libpng
# gmake

After installing the above, ensure /usr/freeware/bin is in your search path. 
The easiest way to accomplish this is to use SGI's fixpath tool. 
From a terminal, enter the following command:

    /usr/freeware/bin/fixpath

I find it much easier to use SGI's precompiled binaries whenever possible; 
it's a simple matter to use them as building blocks for software not 
available direct from SGI.

Extract the aterm tarball, enter the build directory and start the configure script 
(set to build against the freeware libraries):

    ./configure --enable-utmp --enable-wtmp --enable-fading --disable-delete-key 
    --disable-backspace-key --with-xpm-library=/usr/freeware/lib32 --enable-background-image 
    --with-jpeg-library=/usr/freeware/lib32 --with-png-library=/usr/freeware/lib32 
    --with-term=xterm --with-terminfo=/usr/share/lib/terminfo --enable-xgetdefault 
    --enable-graphics --enable-menubar

Then a typical (as root if /usr/local is not user writable):

    gmake
    gmake install

It's best to add /usr/local/bin to your search path as well if you haven't done so already. 
Finally an example of a typical command line I use to start aterm:

    /usr/local/bin/aterm -tr -sh 50 -bg black -fg cyan -sl 1500

I've built aterm 0.4.2 under IRIX 6.5 with the above settings using both 
gcc3 and MipsPRO 7.x with no issues.