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[ Contents | Operating Manual | New Features and Bugs Fixed | Technical Information | Authors ]

[ Options and Resources | Installation | FAQ
| Japanese Support (or Internationalization) | Fig Format 3.2 ]

It is also possible to use X resources instead of, or in addition to command-line options. There are also some xfig-related environment variables.

Mode Settings

-landscape (-lan)

Start xfig in landscape (11inch x 8.5inch) mode. This is the default. See also the -portrait option.
It is also possible to change the orientation using the Port/Land button after starting xfig. Fig files of version 3.0 and later contain the orientation information, and the mode will be changed as those files are loaded.

-portrait (-po)

Start xfig in portrait (8.5inch x 9inch) mode. The default is landscape mode. See also the -landscape option.

-inches (-inc, -imperial)

Make inches the unit of choice. This is the default. See also the -metric option and Set Units.

-metric (-me, -centimeters)

Make centimeters the unit of choice. The default is inches. See also the -inches option and Set Units.

-userscale scale (-users)

Set the multiplier used when displaying dimensions. See also Set Units.

-userunit units (-useru)

Set the unit name used when displaying dimensions. See also Set Units.

-latexfonts (-lat)

Select LaTeX fonts to start. Normally, PostScript fonts are selected.

-specialtext (-spec)

Set the Special flag of TEXT FLAGS to ON. The default is off.

-startfontsize pointsize (-startfo)

Set the initial value of TEXT SIZE. The default is 12pt.

-startpsFont font (-startps)

Select the initial PostScript font as TEXT FONT. The default is Times-Roman.

-startlatexFont font (-startla)

Select the initial LaTeX font as TEXT FONT. This is effective only if -latexfonts option is given. The default is Default.

-starttextstep stepsize (-startt)

Set the initial value of TEXT STEP. The default is 1.2.

-startfillstyle stylenumber (-startfi)

Set the initial setting (-1 to 21) of FILL STYLE. The default is -1 (No fill).

-startgridmode modenumber (-startg)

Set the initial GRID MODE. Mode 0 is None. When unit is inches, mode 1 1/8 inch, mode 2 is 1/4 inch, mode 3 is 1/2 inch, and mode 4 is 1 inch. When unit is centimeters, mode 1 2mm, mode 2 is 5mm, mode 3 is 1cm, and mode 4 is 2cm. The default is mode 0 (no grid).

-startposnmode modenumber (-startpo)

Set the initial POINT POSITION. Mode 0 is Any. When unit is inches, mode 1 is 1/16 inch, mode 2 is 1/8 inch, mode 3 is 1/4 inch, mode 4 is 1/2 inch, and mode 5 is 1 inch. When unit is centimeters, mode 1 is 1mm, mode 2 is 2mm, mode 3 is 5mm, mode 4 is 1cm, and mode 5 is 2cm. The default is mode 1 (1/16inch or 1mm).

-startlinewidth width (-startli)

Set the initial value of LINE WIDTH. The default is 1.

-zoom zoomscale

Set the initial value of ZOOM SCALE. The default is 1.0.

-exportLanguage language (-e)

Set the initial export language when Exporting. Language may be one of the following:

      box        LaTeX box (figure boundary)
      latex      LaTeX picture
      epic       LaTeX picture + epic macros
      eepic      LaTeX picture + eepic macros
      eepicemu   LaTeX picture + eepicemu macros
      pictex     PiCTeX macros
      ibmgl      IBMGL (or HPGL)
      eps        Encapsulated PostScript
      ps         PostScript
      pstex      Combined PS/LaTeX (PS part)
      pstex_t    Combined PS/LaTeX (LaTeX part)
      textyl     Textyl special commands
      tpic       TPIC
      pic        PIC
      mf         MF (MetaFont)
      acad       ACAD (AutoCAD Slide format)
      gif        GIF
      pcx        PCX
      png        PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
      jpg        JPEG (JFIF)
      tif        TIFF (no compression)
      tk         Tk (ala Tcl/Tk)
      pbm        PBM (Portable Bitmap)
      xbm        X11 Bitmap
      xpm        X11 Pixmap (XPM3 package)

The default is eps.

-center (-cente)

Select Center as Justification when Exporting or Printing. This the the default.

-flushleft (-fl)

Select Flush Left as Justification when Exporting or Printing. The default is Centered.

-magnification mag (-mag)

Set Magnification when Exporting or Printing. mag is magnification in %. The default is 100%.

-multiple (-mu)

Set Pages to Multiple when Exporting or Printing. The default is Single.

-single (-si)

Set Pages to Single when Exporting or Printing. This is the default.

-paper_size size (-pa)

Set the paper size when Exporting or Printing. size can be one of follows:

      Letter      8.5in x 11in
      Legal       8.5in x 14in
      Tabloid     17in x 11in
      ANSI A      8.5in x 11in
      ANSI B      11in x 17in
      ANSI C      17in x 22in
      ANSI D      22in x 34in
      ANSI E      34in x 44in
      ISO A4      21 cm x 29.7cm
      ISO A3      29.7cm x 42 cm
      ISO A2      42 cm x 59.4cm
      ISO A1      59.4cm x 84 cm
      ISO A0      84 cm x 118.8cm
      JIS B5      18.2cm x 25.7cm

-jpeg_quality quality (-j)

Set the quality used when Exporting to the JPEG (JFIF) image format.

-transparent_color xfig color number (-tran)

Set the ``transparent'' color when Exporting to the GIF image format. This is one of the xfig colors, which are numbered from -3 (Background), -2 (None), -1 (Default), 0 (Black), 1 (Blue) etc. See Colors.

-boldFont font (-bol)

Set the font used to display file names or confirmation messages, etc. The default is 8x13bold.

-buttonFont font (-butt)

Set the font used to display labels of most buttons. The default is 6x13.

-normalFont font (-nor)

Set the font used in message windows, etc. This font will also be used on the canvas when the desired font is not available. The default is 6x13.

-scalablefonts (-sc)

Allows use of the X11R5 or OpenWindows scalable fonts. This is the default. If the scalable fonts aren't available, xfig will automatically switch to non-scaling fonts.

-noscalablefonts (-nos)

Disable use of the X11R5 or OpenWindows scalable fonts. You might want to use this for debugging.

-cbg color

Set the background color of the canvas. If you want to set the background color of everything in xfig (menus, etc), use the general -bg option.

-cfg color

Set the default color of objects. If you want to set the foreground color of everything in xfig (menus, etc), use the general -fg option.

-monochrome (-mo)

Use black and white only for display.

-max_image_colors numcols (-max)

Limit the number of colors used for imported EPS, GIF, JPEG, etc. pictures to numcols. The default is 64. Xfig uses a Kohonen neural net algorithm to map the colors in imported pictures to the limited set available to it.

-dontswitchcmap (-dontsw)

Normaly, xfig will switch to a private colormap when not enough colors are available in the default colormap, but this option will inhibit the switch. See also -max_image_colors.

-visual visualname

Use visualname as the visual. visualname is one of TrueColor, StaticColor, DirectColor, StaticGray, GrayScale, and PseudoColor. xfig uses the default visual unless this is specified.
Use the xdpyinfo command to see which visuals and depths are supported. See also -depth option.

-depth (-dep)

Choose depth of visual desired.
Use xdpyinfo to see what visuals and depths are supported. See also -visual option.

-geometry [WxH]+x+y (-geom)

Set the size and/or position of the xfig window. You may use this to set the size of the main xfig window, or you may instead set the size of the drawing canvas in inches or cm using the -pwidth and -pheight options.

-iconGeometry +x+y (-iconG)

Set the position for the xfig icon on the display.

-pheight height (-ph)

Set the height of the xfig canvas to height. height is either cm or inches, depending on the selected unit.

-pwidth width (-pw)

Set the width of xfig canvas to width. width is either cm or inches, depending on the selected unit.

-but_per_row number (-but_)

Specify how many buttons wide the mode panel should be. This is useful in conjunction with the -pheight option to reduce the canvas height for small screens. The default is 2. Also, xfig may be compiled to use smaller icons for the mode panel. See Small Icons.

-left (-le)

Put the drawing and editing mode panel on the left side of the canvas. This is the default.

-right (-ri)

Put the drawing and editing mode panel on the right of the canvas. The default is left.

-showallbuttons (-showa)

Always show all the indicator buttons instead of only those relevant to the current drawing or editing mode. This takes up more screen real estate, but allows the user to see all settable parameters. Normally, each indicator button will only appear when it is relevant to the current drawing mode.

-internalBW width

Set the width of lines between all buttons and panels. The default is 2.

-help (-h)

Print all command-line options for xfig and quit.

-debug (-deb)

Turn on debugging mode. Print various debugging messages such as font names, etc.

-image_editor (-ima)

Specify the program to be invoked when the Edit Image button on the Edit Panel for PICTURE object is clicked.

-library_dir (-li)

Specify the directory where Fig object (drawing) directories are stored. See available libraries.

-showballoons (-showb)

-dontshowballoons (-dontshowb)

Popup/don't popup balloon messages when the cursor passes over buttons etc. The default is to show the balloons.

-balloon_delay msec (-bal)

Specify the delay time in milliseconds before the information balloons popup. The default is 500 milliseconds.

-showlengths (-showl)

-dontshowlengths (-dontshowl)

Makes xfig show the lengths of lines being drawn, in red text near the line itself. Also, when points are moved or added. In addition, imagine a triangle formed with the line segment being drawn as the hypotenuse, and a vertical and horizontal line forming the other two sides. These lines and their lengths are also drawn in red as the point is moved or added.

-spellcheck spell-check-command (-spel)

Specify the spell check program to use when checking spelling of text objects. The default is `spell'.

-tablet (-ta)

Specifies that xfig should use the input tablet instead of the mouse for drawing. You must have the XInputExtension in your X server and an input tablet for this to work, and xfig must be compiled with the TABLIB and USETAB variables set in the Imakefile for it to use the tablet.
Use xdpyinfo to see if your server supports the XInputExtension.

-keyFile compose-key-file (-k)

Use compose-key-file instead of CompKeyDB for compose key database. If there are no `/'s in the name, the file must reside in the xfig library directory $XFIGLIBDIR (normally /usr/local/lib/X11/xfig). If there are any `/'s in the name it is taken as is (not relative to $XFIGLIBDIR). If the name is start with `~/', it will replaced to the user's home directory.

-track (-trac)

-notrack (-not)

Turn on or off cursor (mouse) tracking arrows. The default is to track the cursor position by displaying arrows on the top and side ruler.

-international

Turn on Japanese (internationalization) facility. Xfig must be compiled with the Japanese support facility . Japanese can't be used in Japanese-xfig unless this option is specified when invoking xfig or the international resource is set to ON.

A note about xfig color resources:

Generally, the user should have a common resource `*customization: -color' set if they have a color display. This signals the X system (version 4 and later) to look for the XXX-color app-defaults file in the applications defaults directory. In that file (e.g. ``Fig-color'') the color definitions are used and it is responsible for including the main app-defaults file Fig.

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Mode Settings

landscape (Orientation)

landscape orientation will be selected if this is set ON, portrait mode otherwise.
Option: -landscape, -portrait
Default: on (landscape)

inches (Inches)

inches will be selected as the unit if this is set ON, cm otherwise.
Option: -inches (-imperial), -metric (-centimeters)
Default: on (inches)

userscale (UserScale)

Set the multiplier used when displaying dimensions.
Option: -userscale
Default: 1.0

userunit (UserUnit)

Set the unit name used when displaying dimensions.
Option: -userunit
Default: in (or cm)

latexfonts (Latexfonts)

LaTeX fonts will be used initially if this is set ON. Otherwise PostScript fonts will be used.
Option: -latexfonts
Default: off

startpsFont (StartpsFont)

Select the specified PostScript font as the initial TEXT FONT.
Option: -startpsFont
Default: Times-Roman

startlatexFont (StartlatexFont)

Select the specified LaTeX font as the initial TEXT FONT.
Option: -startlatexFont
Default: Default

startfontsize (StartFontSize)

Set initial value of TEXT SIZE.
Option: -startfontsize
Default: 12

starttextstep (StartTextStep)

Set initial value of TEXT STEP.
Option: -starttextstep
Default: 1.2

specialtext (SpecialText)

Set initial value of the Special flag of the TEXT FLAGS.
Option: -specialtext
Default: off

startfillstyle (StartFillStyle)

Set the initial value (-1 to 21) of FILL STYLE.
Option: -startfillstyle
Default: -1 (None)

startgridmode (StartGridMode)

Set the initial value (0 to 4) of GRID MODE.
Option: -startgridmode
Default: 0 (None)

startposnmode (StartPosnMode)

Set the initial value (0 to 5) of POINT POSITION.
Option: -startposnmode
Default: 1 (1/16inch, or 1mm)

startlinewidth (StartLineWidth)

Set the initial value of LINE WIDTH.
Option: -startlinewidth
Default: 1

zoom (Zoom)

Set the initial value of ZOOM SCALE.
Option: -zoom
Default: 1.0

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Settings related to PRINT or EXPORT

exportLanguage (ExportLanguage)

Set the initial export Language when Exporting.
Option: -exportLanguage
Default: eps (Encapsulated PostScript)

flushleft (FlushLeft)

Set the initial Justification when Exporting or Printing.
Option: -flushleft
Default: off (Centered)

magnification (Magnification)

Set the initial Magnification when Exporting or Printing.
Option: -magnification
Default: 100

multiple (Multiple)

Set the initial selection of Pages when Exporting or Printing.
Option: -multiple
Default: off

page_size (Pagesize)

Set the initial Paper Size when Exporting or Printing.

Option: -page_size
Default: Letter (when unit is inches), or A4 (when unit is cm)

jpeg_quality quality (Quality)

Set the quality used when Exporting to the JPEG (JFIF) image format.
Option: jpeg_quality
Default: 75

transparent xfig color number (Transparent)

Set the ``transparent'' color when Exporting to the GIF image format. This is one of the xfig colors, which are numbered from -3 (Background), -2 (None), -1 (Default), 0 (Black), 1 (Blue) etc. See Colors.
Option: -transparent_color
Default: -2 (None)

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Setting of Fonts or Colors, etc

boldFont (Font)

Set the font to use for file names or confirmation messages, etc.
Option: -bold
Default: 8x13bold

buttonFont (Font)

Set the font to use for the labels of most buttons.
Option: -button
Default: 6x13

normalFont (Font)

Set the font used in message windows, etc.
Option: -normal
Default: 6x13

scalablefonts (ScalableFonts)

Setting this ON will allow use of the X11R5 or OpenWindows scalable fonts.
Option: -scalablefonts
Default: on

canvasBackground (Background)

Set the background color of the canvas.
Option: -cbg
Default: ivory

canvasForeground (Foreground)

Set the default color of objects.
Option: -cfg
Default: black

reverseVideo (ReverseVideo)

Setting this ON will make xfig use inverse video (white on black).
Option: -inverse
Default: off

monochrome (Monochrome)

Setting this ON will make xfig use black and white only for display.
Option: -monochrome
Default: off

dont_switch_cmap (Dont_switch_cmap)

Setting this ON will inhibit switching to a private colormap even if not enough colors are available in the default colormap.
Option: -dontswitchcmap
Default: off

visual (Visual)

Use visualname as visual.
Option: -visual
Default: default screen visual

depth (Depth)

Set depth of the visual.
Option: -depth
Default: default screen depth

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Setting the Size of Windows, etc.

pheight (Height)

Set the height of the canvas.
Option: -pheight
Default: 8.5 (inches) (9 inches in portrait mode)

pwidth (Width)

Set the width of the canvas.
Option: -pwidth
Default: 11 (inches) (8.5 inches in portrait mode)

but_per_row (But_per_row)

Specify the number of buttons wide the mode panel should be.
Option: -but_per_row
Default: 2

justify (Justify)

If this is ON, drawing and editing mode panel will put to the right of the canvas.
Option: -left, -right
Default: off (left)

showallbuttons (ShowAllButtons)

If this is ON, xfig will always show all the indicator buttons instead of only those relevant to the current drawing mode.
Option: -showallbuttons
Default: off

internalborderwidth (InternalBorderWidth)

Set the width of lines between all buttons and panels.
Option: -internalBW
Default: 2 (pixels)

rulerthick (RulerThick)

Set the thickness of top and side rulers.
Option: -rulerthick
Default: 24 (pixels)
Minimum: 24

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Other Resources

debug (Debug)

Setting this ON will turn on debugging mode.
Option: -debug
Default: off

showballoons (showBalloons)

Popup popup balloon messages when the cursor passes over buttons etc.
Option: -showballoons / -dontshowballoons
Default: on (show balloons)

balloon_delay (Balloon_Delay)

Specify the delay time in milliseconds before the information balloons popup.
Option: -balloon_delay
Default: 500 milliseconds

showlengths (Debug)

Makes xfig show the lengths of lines being drawn, in red text near the line itself. Also, when points are moved or added. In addition, imagine a triangle formed with the line segment as the hypotenuse, and a vertical and horizontal line forming the other two sides. These lines and their lengths are also drawn in red as the point is moved or added.
Option: -showlengths / -dontshowlengths
Default: off

image_editor (ImageEditor)

Specify the program to be invoked when the Edit Image button on the Edit Panel for PICTURE object is clicked.
Option: -image_editor
Default: xv

library_dir (libraryDirectory)

Specify the directory where Fig object directories are stored. When the Library button is pressed this path will be parsed for Fig files and sub-directories. Each sub-directory found will be used as an object library and will appear in the pull-down menu in the library popup panel.
Option: -library_dir
Default: ~/xfiglib

keyFile (KeyFile)

Specify the file to be used as the compose key (international characters) database.
Option: -keyFile
Default: $XFIGLIBDIR/CompKeyDB
              (where $XFIGLIBDIR is the variable in the Imakefile for xfig)

max_image_colors (Max_image_colors)

Limit the number of colors used for EPS, GIF, JPEG, etc. imported pictures.
Option: -max_image_colors
Default: 64

trackCursor (Track)

Setting this ON will turn on cursor (mouse) tracking arrows.
Option: -track and -notrack
Default: on

Fig*file_panel*mask*string

Set the initial value of Filename Mask of File Panel.
Default: *.fig* (this will match compressed and normal .fig files)

Fig*browse_panel*mask*string

Set the initial value of Filename Mask of Browse Panel.
Default: *.[gjxepst][ipbcl][fgmsxd]*
      (this will match eps, gif, jpg, pcx, sld, tif, xbm, and xpm files. It won't match ps, mf, and tk files because they have only two characters in the suffix)

Fig*export_panel*mask*string

Set the initial value of Filename Mask of Export Panel.
Default: *.[gjxepst][ipbcl][fgmsxd]*

Fig*printer*string

Set the initial value of PostScript Printer of Print Panel. If this resource is not set and the environment variable $PRINTER is set, it is used as the initial value.
Default: ""

Fig*job_params*string

Set the initial value of Print Job Params of Print Panel. This resource may be used to set any options which should given to lpr (lp on System V system) when printing.
Default: ""

Resources for Japanese (International) Support

These resources are effective only for xfig with Japanese enabled (I18N Imakefile variable enabled).

international (International)

Set if the Japanese (international) facility should be enabled.
Option: -international
Default: off

japanese

If this is ON, `Times-Roman' of TEXT FONT will be replaced by `Times-Roman + Mincho', and `Times-Bold' will be replaced by `Times-Bold + Gothic'. This is effective only if the Japanese (I18N) facility is enabled.
Default: on

eucEncoding

If this is ON, it is assumed that EUC encoding is used for Japanese (I18N) text. Normally, EUC should be used. This is effective only if Japanese (I18N) facility is enabled.
Default: on

fixedFontSet (FontSet)

Set the fontset used for displaying text in conversion or status when entering text with Off the Spot or Over the Spot. This is effective only if Japanese (I18N) facility is enabled.
Default: -*-times-medium-r-normal--16-*-*-*-*-*-*-*, -*-*-medium-r-normal--16-*-*-*-*-*-*-*, -*-*-*-r-*--16-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

normalFontSet (NormalFontSet)

Set the fontset used for drawing Japanese (I18N) text when Times-Roman is selected. This is effective only if Japanese (I18N) facility is enabled. See also boldFontSet and fontSetSize.
Default: -*-times-medium-r-normal--16-*-*-*-*-*-*-*, -*-*-medium-r-normal--16-*-*-*-*-*-*-*, -*-*-*-r-*--16-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

boldFontSet (BoldFontSet)

Set the fontset used for drawing Japanese (I18N) text when Times-Bold is selected. This is effective only if Japanese (I18N) facility is enabled. See also normalFontSet and fontSetSize.
Default: -*-times-bold-r-normal--16-*-*-*-*-*-*-*, -*-*-bold-r-normal--16-*-*-*-*-*-*-*, -*-*-*-r-*--16-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

fontSetSize

Specify the size of font specified by normalFontSet and boldFontSet. This is effective only if Japanese (I18N) facility is enabled.
Default: 16

inputStyle

Set the input style when entering Japanese text with input method. The style may be selected from OffTheSpot, OverTheSpot, and Root. If this is set to None, input method will not used. This is effective only if Japanese (I18N) facility is enabled.
Default: OffTheSpot

textPreedit

Specify the pre-edit program to be invoked for entering Japanese text. This is effective only if Japanese (I18N) facility is enabled. If conversion with input method is available, this is not necessary.
Default: ""

fig2devLocalizeOption

Specify the option to be added when invoking fig2dev. This is effective only if Japanese (I18N) facility is enabled, and the string will added as an option when invoking fig2dev.
Default: -j

Environment Variables

XFIGTMPDIR

Specify the directory where temporary files should stored. If this is not set, the /tmp directory will be used.

PRINTER

Specify the default printer when printing figures with Print. If the Fig*printer*string resource is set, this variable will ignored.

LANG

Set the language to be used. For Japanese, a locale name like japanese or ja_JP.eucJP may be used.

XMODIFIERS

Specify the input method to be used for entering text. If this is not set, the default input method will be used.

FIG2DEV_LIBDIR

Specify the directory where the files needed by Japanese-fig2dev (japanese.ps) are placed. If this is not set, the setting when compiling fig2dev will be used.

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