---
name: "xphone"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gtalk"
version: "0.99.10-13"
release: "Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xphone"
---

# xphone(1)

GNU X phone icon

## NAME

xphone - GNU X phone icon

## SYNOPSIS

**xphone** \[ **-hvs --bellcommand \<unix command\>** **--idlecommand \<unix command &\>** **--ringcommand \<unix command &\>** **--geometry \<position\>** **--iforeground \<color\> --ibackground \<color\>** **--rforeground \<color\> --rbackground \<color\>** **--idleimage \<X11 bitmap file\> --ringimage \<X11 bitmap file\>** **--version** \]\

## DESCRIPTION

*xphone* is a simple program which creates a window on an X display which contains a phone icon.  If the system uses the GNU talk daemon, then this phone icon will **ring** whenever someone attempts to make a talk connection to you.  When this happens, the phone icon will change, and the terminal will beep.

Command line switches are:

- **--bellcommand \<unix command line\>**

  This option provides a hook into how one wishes a "bell" to be sounded.  Setting this command to something like "play ring.au" will play a recorded sound instead of calling xbell.  Any command which can be run from the **[system(3)](/system/3.md)** call can be used.

- **--idlecommand \<unix command\>**

  Provide an alternate unix command to execute when clickon on the idle xphone icon.  The default is "gtalk &".  Be sure to append an & to the command being executed.  Any command which can be run from the **[system(3)](/system/3.md)** call can be used.

- **--ringcommand \<unix command\>**

  Provide an alternate unix command to execute when clickon on the idle xphone icon.  The default is "gtalk -r &".  Be sure to append an & to the command being executed.  Any command which can be run from the **[system(3)](/system/3.md)** call can be used.

- **--geometry**

  Change the default location of the window when it first starts up. Only the position is used, size is determined by the icon used.

- **-h, --help**

  Print process help.

- **--ifg --iforeground \<color\>**

  The foreground color to use on the idle phone icon.

- **--ibg --ibackground \<color\>**

  The background color to use on the idle phone icon.

- **--idleimage \<X11 bitmap file\>**

  A file which contains an X11 bitmap file created by the **[bitmap(1)](/bitmap/1.md)** command which represents an idle phone status.

- **--rfg --rforeground \<color\>**

  The foreground color to use on the ringing phone icon.

- **--rbg --rbackground \<color\>**

  The background color to use on the ringing phone icon.

- **--ringimage \<X11 bitmap file\>**

  A file which contains an X11 bitmap file created by the **[bitmap(1)](/bitmap/1.md)** command which indicates a ringing phone status.

- **-s --silent**

  Do not print out ring information to stdout.

- **-v, --verbose**

  Print out verbose information, or verbose syslog information.

- **--version**

  Print out the current version of xphone.

## X RESOURCES

- **xphone.geometry**

  Default position at start up.

- **xphone.title**

  Name of the window in the window managers title bar

- **xphone.iconname**

  Name placed under the icon

- **xphone.ringcommand**

  Alternate command used to make a ringing sound

- **xphone.idle.clickcommand**

  Alternate program to run when clicking on xphone when no calls are pending. Default is "gtalk".

- **xphone.ring.clickcommand**

  Alternate program to run when clicking on xphone when calls are pending. Default is "gtalk -r".

- **xphone.idle.foreground**

  Foreground color of idle phone

- **xphone.idle.background**

  Background color of idle phone

- **xphone.ring.foreground**

  Foreground color of ringing phone

- **xphone.ring.background**

  Background color of ringing phone

- **xphone.idle.bitmap**

  Alternate bitmap for idle phone

- **xphone.ring.bitmap**

  Alternate bitmap for ringing phone @end table

## FILES AND ENVIRONMENT

- **~/.ringer**

  This is the "ringer" file which  *gtalkd* reads.  it holds a definition of a UDP socket address in host byte order. *Gtalkd* then sends the announcement to this socket instead of to the terminal associated with the user.  If the definition in this file describes a host other than the one the talk daemon is on (a common occurrence in a network which uses NFS heavily), then a *LOOK\_HERE* message is returned.

- **$DISPLAY**

  This variable describes an X display xphone will attempt to use when initializing the X interface.

## AUTHOR

Eric M Ludlam \<zappo@gnu.ai.mit.edu\>

## BUGS

Report bugs to \<zappo@gnu.ai.mit.edu\>.  This system has never been tested in a high volume situation due to my limited resources.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 1995, 1996 Eric M. Ludlam for Free Software Foundation.

## AVAILABILITY

The newest version of xphone can be found within the etalk distribution.  As of the writing of this manual, it can be found on ftp.ultranet.com:/pub/zappo/gtalk-\*.tar.gz

## SEE ALSO

[**gtalkd**(8)](/gtalkd/8.md) [**gtalk**(1)](/gtalk/1.md)