zgv, seejpeg and framebuffer console

w1k0 · 02-13-2009, 03:42 PM

I use framebuffer console in 791 VGA mode (1024x768x64k) and I'd like to display JPEG images in the console mode. There are two programs for such purposes: seejpeg from Slackware and zgv from SlackBuilds. I installed both.

To use them I load svgalib_helper module.

In /usr/share/mc/mc.ext is registered zgv:

Code:

include/image
        Open=if [ "$DISPLAY" = "" ]; then zgv %f; else (xv %f &); fi
        View=%view{ascii} identify %f

I use two machines. On the old one I can display image using Midnight Commander and zgv. On the new one zgv started with Midnight Commander displays fuzzy pictures. When I try to change SVGA mode with the keys from F1 to F10 zgv blanks the screen and locks the keyboard so I need to power off the machine.

Moreover I can't display image on any machine using command zgv "Image File.jpg", though I can do it on the first machine with Midnight Commander. When I run that command manually it displays the message:

Quote:

zgv: not running on console and no free VTs found.

When I try to display an image using seejpeg "Image File.jpg" command as regular user the program displays the message:

Code:

svgalib: can't open /dev/console

I added that user to /etc/sudoers file and now sudo seejpeg "Image File.jpg" command displays the message:

Code:

You must be the owner of the current console to use svgalib.
Not running in a graphics capable console,
and unable to find one.

When I try to use seejpeg as root the program blanks the screen and locks the keyboard so I need to power off the machine.

What should I do to display the images in the console mode using the command zgv or seejpeg as regular user?

dive · 02-14-2009, 05:13 AM

I use zgv and it just works as normal user. You might want to check perms of /dev/svga and make sure you are added to video group:

crw-rw---- 1 root video 209, 0 2009-02-14 01:16 /dev/svga

Other than that I don't know. It just works here.

w1k0 · 02-14-2009, 09:13 AM

I tested zgv on three machines:

1. Toshiba Satellite 4030 CDT
2. ThinkPad T40
3. ThinkPad T60

On all machines I installed Slackware 12.2 with generic 2.6.27.7-smp kernel:

$ uname -r
2.6.27.7-smp

On all machines all users are members of video group:

$ cat /etc/login.defs | grep video
CONSOLE_GROUPS floppy:audio:cdrom:video

On all machines svga device has the same properties:

$ ls -l /dev/svga
crw-rw---- 1 root video 209, 0 2009-02-14 15:46 /dev/svga

On all machines I can run zgv with Midnight Commander: 1. on the first it displays valid images, 2. on the second it displays the images splitted into rectangle pieces (some of them show parts of the image and some display fuzzy image; when I quit zgv it changes colors of the console -- each time in different manner), 3. on the third machine it displays narrow stripe of fuzzy image and then blanks the screen and locks the keyboard.

On none machine I can display image using the command zgv manually as I described it in the first post.

I'm starting to suspect that video cards in the second and the third machines are incompatible with svgalib.