How to interpret this Perl Tk.pm error?

newbie00 has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hello.

I wrote a test scipt that uses the Tk.pm module on a server. I am just beginning to find uses for what Tk.pm has to offer.

The script is:

#!/usr/bin/perl

use Tk;
$win_main = MainWindow->new();
$win_main->title ("Main Window");
$button = $win_main->Button(text => 'OK', width => 10, height => 4);

$button->pack();
MainLoop();
[download]

When I invoked the script, I received the following message:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_X11TransSocketUNIXConnect: Can't connect: errno = 2
_X11TransSocketUNIXConnect: Can't connect: errno = 2
_X11TransSocketUNIXConnect: Can't connect: errno = 2
_X11TransSocketUNIXConnect: Can't connect: errno = 2
_X11TransSocketUNIXConnect: Can't connect: errno = 2
_X11TransSocketUNIXConnect: Can't connect: errno = 2
couldn't connect to display ":0" at
../foo_path/5.005/i386-bsdos/Tk/MainWindow.pm line 55.
MainWindow->new() at testtk.cgi line 4

(notice - the path was changed here to a generic path)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The reply I received from the sys admin was the following:

"That error signifies that the script can not connect to the Unix Xwindows system that you are logging in from. You do not have $DISPLAY set up properly in your .Xauth or rc files."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How do I do whatever this response is telling me to do in order to use Tk.pm?

Thank you.

Comment on How to interpret this Perl Tk.pm error? Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: How to interpret this Perl Tk.pm error? by Rich36 (Chaplain) on Dec 14, 2001 at 00:07 UTC
Try setting your shell variable $DISPLAY as your ip address. Find out your IP address (for example 123.12.342.12) and use the following syntax. This tells the system what terminal or machine to display the GUI/Tk elements. If you're running on a PC using a emulator, you can open a DOS command shell and type "ipconfig" to get your IP. On a UNIX box, you can use your hostname instead of the IP address. `# C shell syntax setenv DISPLAY 123.12.342.12:0` [download] Rich36 There's more than one way to screw it up...	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Re: How to interpret this Perl Tk.pm error? by newbie00 (Beadle) on Dec 14, 2001 at 00:28 UTC
Thank you for your reply. I guess I have a misconception about the Tk.pm module. After reading about its features, I was under the impression that this module could be used to add graphics to my scipts so that anyone who invokes a script that uses Tk.pm will all see the graphics. Based on the responses, it appears that 'individual' computer terminals must set a parameter on their computer in order to see the graphics, which is why I have to set the '$Display' parameter on my computer to my IP address. Is this correct? If so, is there another way to integrate graphics into Perl scripts via a 3rd party software program or other method? Thank you. --newbie00	[reply]
Re: How to interpret this Perl Tk.pm error? by Zaxo (Archbishop) on Dec 14, 2001 at 00:18 UTC
Your test script runs fine locally. Are you sure that you want to open an X connection through a cgi interface? I hope not. Typically, one would open a remote X session through 'ssh -X host' with proper authentication all round. After Compline, Zaxo	[reply]
Re: Re: How to interpret this Perl Tk.pm error? by newbie00 (Beadle) on Dec 14, 2001 at 00:39 UTC
Thank you for your reply. I do not know what 'X session' or a 'ssh -X host' or '.Xauth' or 'rc files' are, therefore I cannot answer your question. Shown below, is my reply to someone who just replied to my question. Maybe this can shed some more light on my 'newbie-knowledge' or lack thereof. I am open for alternative methods for using this module if those methods are available. I am also open to other alternatives if this module is not for what I am seeking for my scripts. Here is my reply to the other reply I received: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I guess I have a misconception about the Tk.pm module. After reading about its features, I was under the impression that this module could be used to add graphics to my scipts so that anyone who invokes a script that uses Tk.pm will all see the graphics. Based on the responses, it appears that 'individual' computer terminals must set a parameter on their computer in order to see the graphics, which is why I have to set the '$Display' parameter on my computer to my IP address. Is this correct? If so, is there another way to integrate graphics into Perl scripts via a 3rd party software program or other method?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thank you. --newbie00	[reply]
Re: Re: Re: How to interpret this Perl Tk.pm error? by scratch (Sexton) on Dec 14, 2001 at 02:42 UTC
Tk allows you to write perl programs with a graphical user interface - you know, buttons to click, entry fields to type in text - a nice 'point and click' interface. Is this what you want to do? If you really do just want to 'add graphics' to your scripts I think additional information is necessary. What sort of graphics do you want to add? For charts and graphs you might want to check out the GD.pm module.	[reply]
Re: Re: Re: Re: How to interpret this Perl Tk.pm error? by newbie00 (Beadle) on Dec 14, 2001 at 03:40 UTC
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: How to interpret this Perl Tk.pm error? by Chmrr (Vicar) on Dec 14, 2001 at 04:31 UTC
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