[plug] Detecting an external monitor before X starts

[Adam Davin]

Hi All, 

On Fri, 8 Jun 2007 09:00:05 +0800 (WST)
Michael Holland <myk at myk.id.au> wrote:

> On Thu, 7 Jun 2007, Steve Baker wrote:
> 
> > What I would like to do is to detect at system boot time (BEFORE X
> > starts) if an external monitor is present, and pre-set the
> > appropriate
> 
> If Bill's approach doesn;t suit, you want the EDID data that he
> mentioned. 'apt-get install read-edid' and grep the output of
> 'get-edid'. Or you could run the X server with appropriate args, so
> it just logs the EDID data and quits.

I don't know if this helps or not, but...

I run X with nvidia Xinerama here, I have set up a "single screen mode"
which keeps the full size desktop but turns off one of the monitors.
I did this because several programs (games and suchlike) try to centre
in the middle of the screen which, with xinerama ends up split across
the two screens (half on one and half on the other.. ) .. by using
"C+A+ +/-" I can switch through the modes and sizes.. The last of the
"MetaModes" turns off the Secondary monitor in this case.

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Default Screen"
    Device         "ASUS V9180"
    Monitor        "ACER 1916As"
    DefaultDepth    16
    Option         "ConnectedMonitor" "CRT-0, CRT-1"
    Option         "TwinView" "true"
    Option         "MetaModes" "1280x1024, 1280x1024; 1024x768,
1024x768; 800x600,800x600;640x480,640x480; 1280x1024,NULL"
    Option         "HorizSync" "CRT-0: 31-81; CRT-1: 31-81" 
    Option         "VertRefresh" "CRT-0: 56-75; CRT-1: 56-75"
    Option         "TwinViewOrientation" "CRT-0 LeftOf CRT-1"
    Option         "UseFBDev" "true" 
	...
	...

EndSection

Regards, 

-- 

Adam Davin
Byteme IT Services
Mob: 0422 893 898
Fax: 08 9493 4462
Email: byteme-its at westnet.com.au