---
name: "XF86Setup"
section: "1x"
platform: "linux"
package: "xf86setup"
version: "3.3.6-11potato32"
release: "Debian 2.2 (Potato)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/XF86Setup"
---

# XF86Setup(1x)

Graphical configuration utility for XFree86

## NAME

XF86Setup - Graphical configuration utility for XFree86

## SYNOPSIS

**XF86Setup** \[ -sync \] \[ -name *appname* \] \[ -nodialog \] \[ -- *arg* ...\]

**XF86Setup** \[ -sync \] \[ -name *appname* \] \[ -script \] \[ -display *display* \] \[ -geometry *geometry* \] *filename* \[ \[ -- \] *arg* ... \]

## DESCRIPTION

*XF86Setup* is normally used to either perform the initial setup of the XFree86 X servers or to make adjustments to the existing configuration.

When used to initially configure the XFree86 servers, it will start the VGA 16 server and then allow configuration settings to be entered.  Once that is completed the appropriate server for the hardware will be started and the configuration settings will be saved.

For a more complete description see the *Quick-Start Guide to* *XFree86 Setup*.

When run from within an already running server environment (e.g. from an xterm window), *XF86Setup* can be used to make adjustments to the current server configuration.

Note that when the existing XF86Config file is read, it is used to set the default values for various settings, but the complete contents of the existing file are not preserved.  For example, when the new XF86Config file is written, it will *not* contain any additional comment lines from the original file.

When a filename is specified, it is interpreted as a script file containing Tcl/Tk commands to run.  If the filename contains a slash, it is assumed that it specifies the path to the file to execute, otherwise the file is searched for in the user's PATH, unless the **-script** option is given, in which case, it is expected to exist in the *scripts* subdirectory of the *XF86Setup* library directory.

The result is entirely dependant on the contents of the file.

## ARGUMENTS

- **-sync**

  Turn on synchronization for all communication with an X server.

- **-name** *appname*

  Use *appname* as the window name.

- **-display** *display*

  Specify the display to talk to.

- **-nodialog**

  Do not use the Dialog program for text mode user interaction. Normally *XF86Setup* will use the Dialog program, if it is found in the user's PATH, otherwise a simple text interface is used.

- **-geometry** *geomspec*

  Specify the initial geometry for the window.

- **-script**

  Look for the specified filename in the *scripts* directory, instead of searching the user's PATH (if the filename doesn't specify a path).

## ENVIRONMENT

- **PATH**

  Used to search for the location of the Dialog program

- **XWINHOME**

  If set, indicates the parent directory of X bin and lib directories.

- **XF86SETUPLIB**

  If set, overrides the default location of the library directory (normally \<XRoot\>/lib/X11/XF86Setup).

- **TMPDIR**

  Directory in which to store temporary files (defaults to /tmp)

## FILES

\<XRoot\>/lib/X11/XF86Config\
 *or* /etc/XF86Config

Can optionally be read to set default values for configuration settings

## SEE ALSO

*Quick-Start Guide to XFree86 Setup*\
 [Xserver(1)](/Xserver/1.md), XFree86(1), XF86Config(4/5), [xvidtune(1)](/xvidtune/1.md), [xdm(1)](/xdm/1.md), xf86config(1), [xinit(1)](/xinit/1.md), [XF86Misc(3)](/XF86Misc/3.md), XF86VidMode(3), xmseconfig(1), [dialog(1)](/dialog/1.md)

## AUTHOR

Joe Moss, *joe@XFree86.org*

## BUGS

Does not support all possible configurations, for example, graphics tablets must be configured by editing the XF86Config file manually.