X Windows System Administrator's Guide, Vol 8 (Definitive Guides to the X Window System)

G

Error Messages

This appendix lists error messages that you might get when running X clients. We not only list errors from X programs but also UNIX errors that you often encounter when running or compiling X programs.

In This Appendix:

X Errors

UNIX Errors

Compilation Errors

G

Error Messages

This appendix lists error messages that you might get when running X clients. This appendix is broken up into the following categories:

X Errors

Errors that you may get from X clients.

UNIX Errors

Errors that you may get when running X clients, but which reflect problems more closely associated with UNIX.

Compilation Errors

Errors that you may get when compiling programs under UNIX.

G.1 X Errors

Can't Open display

or

Unable to open display

There is a problem with the DISPLAY variable or with the display specified using the -display option. The DISPLAY variable may not be set properly, or the specified host may be unknown. The host may also not have access to the specified display. Correct the setting of the DISPLAY variable, or extend server access as appropriate using either xhost or xauth. See Section 2.3.1 for more information on setting the DISPLAY variable, or Chapter 4 for information on server access control.

(This particular error is actually generated by the application, so it may not be worded exactly like this. “Can't open display” is the wording generated by Xt-based applications.)

Unknown preprocessor directive

or

n: undefined control

You might get this error from xrdb if you ...