Properties For RandR 1.3 Discussed Again

RandR 1.3 has been in planning for some time as the first update to the Resize and Rotate extension since the prominent 1.2 release that added output hot-plugging support and other features. RandR 1.3 wasn't finished in time for X Server 1.5 / X.Org 7.4, but Keith Packard has called for it in the next X Server 1.6 release.

When the X.Org developers raided the Edinburgh Zoo for their X Developers' Summit in September, Keith had intended to close RandR 1.3 in roughly one month. It's late, but we're now approaching November and discussion surrounding the much talked about properties support for the RandR 1.3 protocol has been rejuvenated by Novell's Matthias Hopf.

Matthias is trying to set the standard properties for RandR 1.3. The known properties in his second draft include standard properties for EDID data, signal format, connector types, connector numbers, maximum bandwidth for the selected signal format, a list of all output and signal format pairs, clone list, and panning area.

The RandR 1.3 properties addition is described in the protocol specification as:

"Properties are used for output specific parameters, and for announcing static or rarely changing data. Announced data is typically immutable. Properties are also used for evaluating new parameters before adding them to the RandR protocol."

The discussion surrounding RandR 1.3 properties can be read on the X.Org mailing list. For those looking to learn how to use the command-line xrandr utility, check out A Newbie's Guide To RandR 1.2.