Screen resolution file?

[Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)]

Hi,

Running OpenSuSe 11.2 and a 11.3 on separate hardware both with KDE and
would like to find out which file I can edit using my trusty Kate or
kwrite text editor that would control the screen resolution.

I currently need to use krandrtray to set the resolution from the system
auto default of 1680x1050 to a more respectable/readable 1024x768. If I
logoff or power down the machine, I need to visit krandrtray each time
to set the screen resolution as it defaults to the auto setting of
1680x1050 when I logon again.

I have already Googled and looked at the mailing list archives and have
not seen anything specific other than what I have tried already.

What I would like to know is which filename, read by the OS on user
logon, decides the screen resolution for that user. Can I edit the
contents of this/these file/s using the Kate/Kwrite text editor?

Appreciated

Hylton

[Tejas Guruswamy]

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
Hi,
Running OpenSuSe 11.2 and a 11.3 on separate hardware both with KDE and
would like to find out which file I can edit using my trusty Kate or
kwrite text editor that would control the screen resolution.
I currently need to use krandrtray to set the resolution from the system
auto default of 1680x1050 to a more respectable/readable 1024x768. If I
logoff or power down the machine, I need to visit krandrtray each time
to set the screen resolution as it defaults to the auto setting of
1680x1050 when I logon again.
I have already Googled and looked at the mailing list archives and have
not seen anything specific other than what I have tried already.
What I would like to know is which filename, read by the OS on user
logon, decides the screen resolution for that user. Can I edit the
contents of this/these file/s using the Kate/Kwrite text editor?
Appreciated
Hylton

You are looking for the files in /etc/X11 (specifically
/etc/X11/xorg.conf on 11.2 and on 11.3 the snippets in
/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/). You'll have to edit them wth root privileges.
Run "kdesu kate" and then open the file.

Look for help in "man xorg.conf" and in the various Linux distributions'
documentation (e.g. there's a fairly good page at
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xorg ).

Just a comment though: if you are running on an LCD, turning down the
resolution is really not the recommended way to improve readability. LCD
screens have what is called a "native resolution" - which appears to be
1680x1050 on your machine - and generally display pretty badly at other
resolutions. Instead of turning down the resolution, consider increasing
font and icon sizes in your application/KDE settings, and/or tweaking
the DPI. The image will be much, much clearer.

Regards,
Tejas

[Dave Howorth]

Post by Tejas Guruswamy
Just a comment though: if you are running on an LCD, turning down the
resolution is really not the recommended way to improve readability. LCD
screens have what is called a "native resolution" - which appears to be
1680x1050 on your machine - and generally display pretty badly at other
resolutions. Instead of turning down the resolution, consider increasing
font and icon sizes in your application/KDE settings, and/or tweaking
the DPI. The image will be much, much clearer.

I'd second what Tejas says. Changing the font and icon sizes is the best
way to go if possible, since changing the DPI means that setting the
magnification to 100% in programs like gimp or acroread no longer works
properly. Also the DPI is sometimes set automatically with modern LCD
displays, I believe (via the EDID).

Cheers, Dave

[Philipp Thomas]

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
I currently need to use krandrtray to set the resolution from the system
auto default of 1680x1050 to a more respectable/readable 1024x768.

My resolution is to leave the resolution and just increase font size in the
applications because I refuse to part with any part of the screen real
estate.

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
If I logoff or power down the machine, I need to visit krandrtray each time
to set the screen resolution as it defaults to the auto setting of
1680x1050 when I logon again.

Just add the call to krandrtray from your ~/.xinitrc and it'll be executed
each time your X session starts.

Philipp

[Felix Miata]

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
Running OpenSuSe 11.2 and a 11.3 on separate hardware both with KDE and
would like to find out which file I can edit using my trusty Kate or
kwrite text editor that would control the screen resolution.

Which file(s) to edit, and how, may depend on which video driver you use, but
generally, in 11.2 this is /etc/X11/xorg.conf. In 11.3, /etc/X11/xorg.conf
may or may not produce expected results. If it doesn't, you'll need to try
the files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/.

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
I currently need to use krandrtray to set the resolution from the system
auto default of 1680x1050 to a more respectable/readable 1024x768. If I
logoff or power down the machine, I need to visit krandrtray each time

Krandrtray is designed for temporary changes.

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
to set the screen resolution as it defaults to the auto setting of
1680x1050 when I logon again.

The auto default of 1680x1050 is your display's native 16:10 aspect ratio
resolution. All lower resolutions it supports degrades output quality. "High
resolution" is as its name implies - high quality.

Choosing 1024x768, a traditional 4:3 aspect ratio, not only lowers
resolution, it lowers it out of proportion, causing everything to be
distorted by stretching more in the horizontal direction (64%) than in the
vertical direction (37%), making everything fatter than it should be.

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
I have already Googled and looked at the mailing list archives and have
not seen anything specific other than what I have tried already.

You missed using the keyword DPI in your search. DPI is a measure of pixel
density. Bigger numbers equate to higher quality, finer (higher) resolution.

Forcing DPI upward allows the quality inherent in your display's native
resolution to be preserved. It operates functionally as a desktop-wide zoom,
negating or reducing the need to change individual settings to make such
objects as fonts and icons larger.

Unless using a proprietary NVidia video driver, which provides to set DPI
directly in xorg.conf, the traditional way to force DPI upward is via
DisplaySize, basically lying to X about your displays height & width.

If your 1680x1050 display is 21", its height is about 283mm and width 452mm,
a DPI of 99[1]. Putting 'DisplaySize 301 188' in 'Section "Monitor"', which
might possibly also need added 'Option "PreferredMode" "1680x1050"', will
result in a DPI around 144, causing X to enlarge everything about 50%.
http://fm.no-ip.com/Share/DisplaySize has some examples how this can be done
to achieve particular DPI results, mostly with 4:3 displays.

Note that various things, particularly many web pages, assume a DPI of 96,
and work poorly at other values, more so at lower values, fonts especially
so. Resolution independence would fix this, but so far it's little more than
a pipe dream.

As alternatives to /etc/X11/xorg.conf*, DPI can also be altered (system wide)
via xrandr in /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc (e.g. "xrandr -dpi 144" or "xrandr -fbmm
301x188" near the bottom where it says "# Add your own lines here"), and (for
personal DTE only) via font settings in Gnome and KDE. The simplest way to
change most, which does not work for all apps, is putting

Xft.dpi: 144

(or some other multiple of 12 according to the zoom factor that best suits
you) into ~/.Xdefaults.

See also:
http://fm.no-ip.com/PC/fonts-linux-about.html

[1] http://fm.no-ip.com/PC/displays.html
--
"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose
understanding rather than silver." Proverbs 16:16 NKJV

Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409

Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/

[Istvan Gabor]

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
Hi,
Running OpenSuSe 11.2 and a 11.3 on separate hardware both with KDE and
would like to find out which file I can edit using my trusty Kate or
kwrite text editor that would control the screen resolution.
I currently need to use krandrtray to set the resolution from the system
auto default of 1680x1050 to a more respectable/readable 1024x768. If I
logoff or power down the machine, I need to visit krandrtray each time
to set the screen resolution as it defaults to the auto setting of
1680x1050 when I logon again.
I have already Googled and looked at the mailing list archives and have
not seen anything specific other than what I have tried already.
What I would like to know is which filename, read by the OS on user
logon, decides the screen resolution for that user. Can I edit the
contents of this/these file/s using the Kate/Kwrite text editor?

Hello:

A typical problem of modern systems, when the computer thinks it knows better
what you need but it doesn't.

Ask openSUSE developers to add back sax2 for manual xorg configuration.
Actually oS 11.2 has sax2 and maybe 11.3 has it too in some build repo.
By running sax2 you can set the default resolution.

Istvan

[John Andersen]

Post by Istvan Gabor

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
I currently need to use krandrtray to set the resolution from the system
auto default of 1680x1050 to a more respectable/readable 1024x768.

A typical problem of modern systems, when the computer thinks it knows better
what you need but it doesn't.
Ask openSUSE developers to add back sax2 for manual xorg configuration.
Actually oS 11.2 has sax2 and maybe 11.3 has it too in some build repo.
By running sax2 you can set the default resolution.
Istvan

I wonder if this isn't due to the fact that modern flat screen monitors
do such a horrible job of running at lower resolutions than their native
resolution.

We are no longer simply changing the timing of a ray of electrons, but rather
we are grouping/clumping individual pixel elements electronically.


A better approach would be scaling/zooming content rather reducing
resolution. Perhaps adjusting your minimum fonts setting would be a better
approach. Certainly worth a try, and it is specific to each user.

When people in my office complain about small print and want things zoomed
up, I often suggest they get Computer prescription. I also have them try live
with the high rez for a week, and magically the bitching disappears when they
realize how much more real estate they have on their screens.

We spent a lot of time an money trying to get high resolution
screens, and it seems a shame to make them emulate the crap we had before.

[Sven Burmeister]

Post by Istvan Gabor
A typical problem of modern systems, when the computer thinks it knows
better what you need but it doesn't.

In case of sax it is just a move to have the settings within userspace and not
only accessible for root. What sense does it make that I have to be root in
order to set my resolution or touchpad/mouse settings?

Post by Istvan Gabor
Ask openSUSE developers to add back sax2 for manual xorg configuration.
Actually oS 11.2 has sax2 and maybe 11.3 has it too in some build repo.
By running sax2 you can set the default resolution.

You can set a resolution in e.g. KDE's systemsettings > display.

Sven

[Felix Miata]

Post by Philipp Thomas

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
If I logoff or power down the machine, I need to visit krandrtray each time
to set the screen resolution as it defaults to the auto setting of
1680x1050 when I logon again.

Just add the call to krandrtray from your ~/.xinitrc and it'll be executed
each time your X session starts.

It's been many weeks, maybe months, since I tried affecting X by adding
anything to ~/.xinitrc. When I did, specifically xrandr commands, the effect
was as if ~/.xinitrc entirely superseded /etc/xinit/xinitrc, effectively
preventing X from functioning.
--
"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose
understanding rather than silver." Proverbs 16:16 NKJV

Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409

Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/

[Felix Miata]

Post by Dave Howorth
Changing the font and icon sizes is the best
way to go if possible, since changing the DPI means that setting the
magnification to 100% in programs like gimp or acroread no longer works
properly.

People changing to a lower screen resolution to make things bigger are
obviously not interested in whatever 100% size or magnification level are
supposed to be being accurate. It's legibility they are after, even at the
expense of wild distortions. :-)
--
"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose
understanding rather than silver." Proverbs 16:16 NKJV

Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409

Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/

[Dave Howorth]

Post by Felix Miata

Post by Dave Howorth
Changing the font and icon sizes is the best
way to go if possible, since changing the DPI means that setting the
magnification to 100% in programs like gimp or acroread no longer works
properly.

People changing to a lower screen resolution to make things bigger are
obviously not interested in whatever 100% size or magnification level
are supposed to be being accurate. It's legibility they are after, even
at the expense of wild distortions. :-)

Since they can have both good legibility and high resolution, why
cripple their possibilities by supporting an inappropriate path?

BTW, one other thing that hasn't been mentioned yet IIRC is the
existence of screen magnifier applications.

[Philipp Thomas]

commands, the effect was as if ~/.xinitrc entirely superseded
/etc/xinit/xinitrc, effectively preventing X from functioning.

It's /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc and why should it prevent X from running? It's
been like this on my systems for ages and hasn't stopped X from working.

Philipp

[Felix Miata]

Post by Dave Howorth

Post by Felix Miata

Post by Dave Howorth
Changing the font and icon sizes is the best
way to go if possible, since changing the DPI means that setting the
magnification to 100% in programs like gimp or acroread no longer works
properly.

People changing to a lower screen resolution to make things bigger are
obviously not interested in whatever 100% size or magnification level
are supposed to be being accurate. It's legibility they are after, even
at the expense of wild distortions. :-)

Since they can have both good legibility and high resolution, why
cripple their possibilities by supporting an inappropriate path?

Because it's what they figured out "works" on Windoz? :-)

I think devs forget, or never learn in the first place, that it's much easier
for people with good eyesight to manage to make things smaller to suit than
the converse.
--
"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose
understanding rather than silver." Proverbs 16:16 NKJV

Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409

Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/

[Tejas Guruswamy]

Post by Felix Miata
It's been many weeks, maybe months, since I tried affecting X by
adding anything to ~/.xinitrc. When I did, specifically xrandr
commands, the effect was as if ~/.xinitrc entirely superseded
/etc/xinit/xinitrc, effectively preventing X from functioning.

This is how it's always been AFAIK. What you do is copy
/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc to ~/.xinitrc, and then edit it. Unlike profile
or bashrc, commands from one or the other are run, never both.

Regards,
Tejas

[Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)]

First off Thank you all. The rest of my posting is bottom posted.

Post by Dave Howorth

Post by Felix Miata

Post by Dave Howorth
Changing the font and icon sizes is the best
way to go if possible, since changing the DPI means that setting the
magnification to 100% in programs like gimp or acroread no longer works
properly.

People changing to a lower screen resolution to make things bigger are
obviously not interested in whatever 100% size or magnification level
are supposed to be being accurate. It's legibility they are after, even
at the expense of wild distortions. :-)

Since they can have both good legibility and high resolution, why
cripple their possibilities by supporting an inappropriate path?
BTW, one other thing that hasn't been mentioned yet IIRC is the
existence of screen magnifier applications.

I wish the story was as simple as more clarity or DPI. Unfortunately I
am short sighted, wear glasses and need to sit approximately 1m away
from my screen, a 22" Samsung SyncMaster. I am finding that I am
straining my eyes to read text and without actually losing screen real
estate, I can adjust the resolution so that teh estate is readable from
end to end, given that I have already increased the size of the
Kicker(Task) Bar.

The resized estate also increases the font size but keeps it all in
relation to the rest, thus satidfying me that images I am looking at are
probably distorted but mostly in relation to everything else. In
addition the BIGGEST bonis is that I can read the text without having to
magnify it to such an extent that I would forever be moving scroll-bats.

Thanks again, and I'll report back after making the changes.
Hylton

[Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)]

Post by Istvan Gabor

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
Hi,
Running OpenSuSe 11.2 and a 11.3 on separate hardware both with KDE and
would like to find out which file I can edit using my trusty Kate or
kwrite text editor that would control the screen resolution.
I currently need to use krandrtray to set the resolution from the system
auto default of 1680x1050 to a more respectable/readable 1024x768. If I
logoff or power down the machine, I need to visit krandrtray each time
to set the screen resolution as it defaults to the auto setting of
1680x1050 when I logon again.
I have already Googled and looked at the mailing list archives and have
not seen anything specific other than what I have tried already.
What I would like to know is which filename, read by the OS on user
logon, decides the screen resolution for that user. Can I edit the
contents of this/these file/s using the Kate/Kwrite text editor?

A typical problem of modern systems, when the computer thinks it knows better
what you need but it doesn't.
Ask openSUSE developers to add back sax2 for manual xorg configuration.
Actually oS 11.2 has sax2 and maybe 11.3 has it too in some build repo.
By running sax2 you can set the default resolution.

In sax2 on 11.2 the resolution is set to what I want it yet if I logout
and back in again I am given a resolution of 1680 x 1024 instead of
1024 x800.

Sven, Going via KDE's systemsettings > display from the kicker is also
only a temporary fix.

Hylton

[Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)]

Post by Felix Miata

Post by Dave Howorth
Changing the font and icon sizes is the best
way to go if possible, since changing the DPI means that setting the
magnification to 100% in programs like gimp or acroread no longer works
properly.

People changing to a lower screen resolution to make things bigger are
obviously not interested in whatever 100% size or magnification level
are supposed to be being accurate. It's legibility they are after, even
at the expense of wild distortions. :-)

Felix, Thank you, you have hit the nail on the head! :)

[Sven Burmeister]

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
Sven, Going via KDE's systemsettings > display from the kicker is also
only a temporary fix.

It should be fixed in KDE 4.6.0 according to
https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=163707

You could update to KDF or wait a few days for KR46.
http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:KDE_upgrade

Sven

[Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)]

Post by Felix Miata

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
Running OpenSuSe 11.2 and a 11.3 on separate hardware both with KDE and
would like to find out which file I can edit using my trusty Kate or
kwrite text editor that would control the screen resolution.

Which file(s) to edit, and how, may depend on which video driver you
use, but generally, in 11.2 this is /etc/X11/xorg.conf.

In 11.2 there is a file named /etc/X11/xorg.conf that has the following
snipped text included:

***Start of paste:***

Section "Monitor"
Option "CalcAlgorithm" "XServerPool"
DisplaySize 494 320
HorizSync 30-81
Identifier "Monitor[0]"
ModelName "SAMSUNG SYNCMASTER"
Option "DPMS"
Option "PreferredMode" "1024x600"
VendorName "SAM"
VertRefresh 43-75
UseModes "Modes[0]"
EndSection

Section "Modes"
Identifier "Modes[0]"
Modeline "1680x1050" 119.00 1680 1728 1760 1840 1050 1053 1059 1080
EndSection
*** End of paste ***

In the Section "Monitor", the "PreferredMode" "1024x600" is set
correctly, however further down the file in the Mode section the
Modeline is wrong:

Section "Modes"
Identifier "Modes[0]"
Modeline "1680x1050" 119.00 1680 1728 1760 1840 1050 1053 1059 1080
EndSection

I'm thinking either to change the Nodeline to "1024x768" and deleting
the rest of the line.

Alternatively add a section "Modes, with an identifier of Modes(1) ie:

Section "Modes"
Identifier "Modes[1]"
Modeline "1024x768"
EndSection

AND then also change the UseModes entry in
Section "Monitor" to

UseModes "Modes[1]"

*************************************************************. Complete
Which is the better option or would both accomplish the same?

Post by Felix Miata
In 11.3,
/etc/X11/xorg.conf may or may not produce expected results. If it
doesn't, you'll need to try the files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/.

There are a few files there namely:
10-evdev.conf
11-mouse.conf
20-synaptics.conf
20-wacom.conf
50-device.conf
50-montor.conf
50-screen.conf
50-vmmouse.conf
60-vboxmouse.conf
90-keytable.conf

None of the above files have anything in them mentioning resolution ie
1680x1024 etc.

<snip>

Post by Felix Miata
Krandrtray is designed for temporary changes.

Thanks but also figured out given each time I logged on I needed to
reset display :|

Post by Felix Miata
The auto default of 1680x1050 is your display's native 16:10 aspect
ratio resolution. All lower resolutions it supports degrades output
quality. "High resolution" is as its name implies - high quality.
Choosing 1024x768, a traditional 4:3 aspect ratio, not only lowers
resolution, it lowers it out of proportion, causing everything to be
distorted by stretching more in the horizontal direction (64%) than in
the vertical direction (37%), making everything fatter than it should be.

As you said earlier, the joy of text being legible is better. Thankfully
I have upgrade my viewing from the older 640x480 and 800x600.

I also had a look at the man page for xorg.conf and it scared me.

Regards
Hylton

[Felix Miata]

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
In 11.2 there is a file named /etc/X11/xorg.conf that has the following
***Start of paste:***
Section "Monitor"
Option "CalcAlgorithm" "XServerPool"
DisplaySize 494 320
HorizSync 30-81
Identifier "Monitor[0]"
ModelName "SAMSUNG SYNCMASTER"
Option "DPMS"
Option "PreferredMode" "1024x600"
VendorName "SAM"
VertRefresh 43-75
UseModes "Modes[0]"
EndSection

1-Save this version of xorg.conf so you can come back to it easily if
something goes wrong.
2-Remove the UseModes line
3-Replace 1024x600 with 1680x1050
4-Replace 494 with 320
5-Replace 320 with 200
6-Restart X
7-Do from "run command" or Konsole 'kcmshell4 xserver'
8-Report back here the results, both from the XServer window, and your
impression of the overall sizing on your desktop.

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
Section "Modes"
Identifier "Modes[0]"
Modeline "1680x1050" 119.00 1680 1728 1760 1840 1050 1053 1059 1080
EndSection

Delete the whole section. It's 99.997% likely unnecessary, and almost as
likely counter-productive.

In 11.2 (which can't work in 11.3) as an alternative to the above, or prior
thereto, your choice:

1-log out of KDE
2-Ctrl-Alt-F2
3-login as root
4-init 3
5-sax2
6-click the "Change" button next to "Monitor"
7-Click the "Display Size" tab
8-Change the "X Axis" number to 320
9-Change the "Y Axis" number to 200
10-OK
11-OK
12-init 5
13-login
14-Do from "run command" or Konsole 'kcmshell4 xserver'
15-Report back here the results, both from the XServer window, and your
impression of the overall sizing on your desktop.

You can tweak those Axis numbers, directly in xorg.conf if desired, as often
as you like until the results are to your satisfaction. Bigger numbers make
your screen objects _smaller_.

If you get something you like, copy it to 11.3, test, report back here.

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
In the Section "Monitor", the "PreferredMode" "1024x600" is set
correctly, however further down the file in the Mode section the

Reducing PreferredMode on a flat panel display is never correct unless your
eyesight is truly truly awful. Making things larger via DPI is the closest
there is to correct. DisplaySize with most drivers is a better method to
manipulate DPI. So is xrandr in xinitrc. There needs to be an overall desktop
zoom level tool, but Xorg hasn't given us anything close to a user friendly
one yet. (Neither has Windows or Mac.)

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
As you said earlier, the joy of text being legible is better. Thankfully
I have upgrade my viewing from the older 640x480 and 800x600.

This statement makes it unclear what you have accomplished.

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
I also had a look at the man page for xorg.conf and it scared me.

It's a complicated subject, better left to automatic tools if they work. 11.2
is the last chance (SaX2) for that to happen for those needing to override
fully automatic.
--
"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose
understanding rather than silver." Proverbs 16:16 NKJV

Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409

Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/

[Felix Miata]

Post by Felix Miata
8-Report back here the results, both from the XServer window

I meant to say the DPI and resolution info from that window, not all of it.
--
"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose
understanding rather than silver." Proverbs 16:16 NKJV

Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409

Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/

[Dave Howorth]

Post by Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC)
I wish the story was as simple as more clarity or DPI. Unfortunately I
am short sighted, wear glasses and need to sit approximately 1m away
from my screen, a 22" Samsung SyncMaster. I am finding that I am
straining my eyes to read text and without actually losing screen real
estate, I can adjust the resolution so that teh estate is readable from
end to end, given that I have already increased the size of the
Kicker(Task) Bar.

Well FWIW my prescription is about -8.5 so you could say I'm
short-sighted too :) "need to sit approximately 1m away" is a
misunderstanding of how optics should work. You go to your optician, you
tell them how far away you want to sit* and they make your computer
glasses to suit.

It's quite important to have a specific pair of specs for your computer
if you normally wear varifocals. The computer pair should be
single-focus so that as you move your eyes around the screen, it all
stays in focus. Because they're single focus and don't need to be the
highest tech or latest style they can be quite cheap. Correcting
astigmatism is important for reading screens though.

Only when you have the right prescription is it time to start optimising
the display, IMHO.

Cheers, Dave

* typically 600-800 mm.

[John Andersen]

Post by Dave Howorth
It's quite important to have a specific pair of specs for your computer
if you normally wear varifocals. The computer pair should be
single-focus so that as you move your eyes around the screen, it all
stays in focus.

No its not necessary to have single focus lenses for a computer
prescription.

A good optometrist will be able to give you a varifocal (Progressive)
lenses in your computer prescription. Typically this is simply just
an offset adjustment to your normal prescription.

For a "computer prescription" as it is often called in the US, the
focal range is anywhere from about 10-20 feet down to 6 inches, depending
on your eyes.

This is much more useful than a fixed focus lens because you can actually
work in a normal office environment without everything being out of focus
beyond your desk, or having to constantly change your glasses.

The sweep spot of a varifocal is much wider at to bottom for computer presciption
than it is on typical varifocal lens designed for every day use.
Consequently much more of your screen remains in sharp focus even towards
the periphery than would be the case.

This "sweet spot" of focuse is typically a inverted triangle area,
(or as my doc says: Picture a woman's bikini bottom),
wider at the top than at the bottom. It can be very narrow at the
bottom for normal use glasses. This is forced wider for Readers or
Computer glasses. This technology is at the limit of current lens
grinding capabilities, but future laser grinding may allow clear
focus on all portions of the lens.

Its important to let your doc know about your working environment.
I had my wife snap a photo of me at my desk with my twin monitors at
arms length, and showed that to the optometrist. He said he wished
he could get that from all his patients.

[Dave Howorth]

Post by John Andersen

Post by Dave Howorth
It's quite important to have a specific pair of specs for your computer
if you normally wear varifocals. The computer pair should be
single-focus so that as you move your eyes around the screen, it all
stays in focus.

No its not necessary to have single focus lenses for a computer
prescription.
A good optometrist will be able to give you a varifocal (Progressive)
lenses in your computer prescription. Typically this is simply just
an offset adjustment to your normal prescription.

I'm pleased such a prescription works for you. For many people,
including me, such prescriptions are just a recipe for headaches.

What is your prescription, BTW?

Cheers, Dave