[SOLVED] Scaling of Display and corresponding apps

JohnnyTheSmith · 2019-02-05 07:25:37

Hi there community,

I got a question regarding the scaling of apps when my notebook is either docked in a docking station or undocked when working mobile.

So first part will be my setup:

# Hardware
Dell Presicion 7520
i7
16 GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro M1200

# Software
Arch linux 4.20.6-arch1-1-ARCH
i3-gaps (i3 version 4.16.1 (2019-01-27))

So now for the problem.
In office I work with a multi monitor setup. My laptop will be far right. Then there will be a center display and a display far left. The Displays both have a resolution of 1920x1200 whereas the builtin display will have a resolution of 1920x1080.
I am using a docking station at the office so I will dock in the notebook, open the lid and start. After starting i3 there will be a script running an arandr config script to maintain my display setup. All this is working just fine.

When I am out of office and working at customer side or at home I will have a problem with the scaling of my appliactions. I will just open my notebook and boot. Arch and i3 will boot up fine and everything but here comes the problem.
A lot of applications (pidging, cherrytree, ...) and the tabs of i3 are out of scale somehow. They are oversized. Please refer to the attached screenshots as well.

In the images you can see output of pidging preferences, cherrytree menu and the tab overview of i3 on one workspace. For reference you can see normal sized output (characters, text, ...) in the background. Just to clarify. If the notebook is docked in every content, even the i3 tabs overwiew as well as every menu or submenu in said applications are sized normal, like the cli output or the note field within the screenshots. Not that gigantic sized menus and such.

I already tried manipulating the xrandr settings (dpi, resolution) without success. I read a few wiki entries and forum threads without a hint where to look at.
So I was hoping someone might be able to help me.

If you need further logs or cli output just ask. I am not sure what output might help so I did not provide any.

Thanks in advance and best regards,
Patrick

--

https://imgur.com/pdVSUdD
https://imgur.com/VsEvkph
https://imgur.com/CR3BE1g

Last edited by JohnnyTheSmith (2019-02-05 09:05:06)

seth · 2019-02-05 08:36:51

I already tried manipulating the xrandr settings (dpi, resolution) without success.

Dump "xdpyinfo | grep resolution" and "xrandr -q" in either setup and specify how exactly you tried to manipulate the DPI (actual commands and outputs, scripts, etc.)

One major aspect: "xrandr --dpi foo" will generally only impact processes started after that call.

JohnnyTheSmith · 2019-02-05 08:51:04

seth wrote:

Dump "xdpyinfo | grep resolution" and "xrandr -q" in either setup and specify how exactly you tried to manipulate the DPI (actual commands and outputs, scripts, etc.)
One major aspect: "xrandr --dpi foo" will generally only impact processes started after that call.

Tanks for your reply. Here is the dump:

--- ~ » xdpyinfo | grep resolution
  resolution:    144x144 dots per inch
--- ~ » xrandr -q
Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384
VGA-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-3 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-4 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 344mm x 193mm
   1920x1080     60.43*+
DP-5 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-6 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

I tried using xrandr --dpi as you mentioned.

I tried it this instance with xrandr --dpi 192 and started pidgin afterwards. It makes it even worse. The submenus are more gigantic now!
So how do I calculate a good dpi and how do I make this permanent from start on without having to call that command first.
And how do I make this setting independant no matter if I am docked in or not?

edit: tried another setting. xrandr --dpi 96 seams to to what I want. Now pidging for instance looks like it is supposed to.

edit2: I figured. Just put the xrandr --dpi 96 into xinitrc and you are set.
Thanks for the nudge though. Topic solved.

Last edited by JohnnyTheSmith (2019-02-05 09:03:59)

seth · 2019-02-05 09:03:38

The display has a resolution of ~142DPI, you're probably using font sizes which rather match 96dpi - and there's a good chance that this is the resolution of (at least one of) the external displays.
Add "xrandr --dpi 96" to your .xinitrc (before exec i3wm), resp. the nvidia blob also supports an

Option  "DPI" "96x96"

entry in some /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-nvidia.conf, Device section.

Arch Linux

#1 2019-02-05 07:25:37

[SOLVED] Scaling of Display and corresponding apps

#2 2019-02-05 08:36:51

Re: [SOLVED] Scaling of Display and corresponding apps

#3 2019-02-05 08:51:04

Re: [SOLVED] Scaling of Display and corresponding apps

#4 2019-02-05 09:03:38

Re: [SOLVED] Scaling of Display and corresponding apps

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