xcmsdb

xcmsdb [ -display : ] [ -format ] [ -query | -load | -merge | -remove ] [ -property ] [ ]

-display :
    Specifies the X server to connect to.

-format
    Specifies the format of the properties to be loaded, e.g., 'Xcmsdb'.

-query
    Queries and prints the current contents of the RESOURCE_MANAGER property or the specified property.

-load
    Loads (replaces) the RESOURCE_MANAGER or specified property with the contents of the given file.

-merge
    Merges the contents of the given file with the current contents of the RESOURCE_MANAGER or specified property.

-remove
    Removes entries specified in the file from the RESOURCE_MANAGER or specified property.

-property
    Uses the specified X property instead of the default RESOURCE_MANAGER property.


    The file containing the Xcms database entries to be loaded, merged, or removed. If omitted, input is read from standard input.

xcmsdb is a utility for loading X Color Management System (Xcms) database entries into the X server. These entries, often color profiles or lookup tables, are typically stored in a file and then loaded into the RESOURCE_MANAGER property on the root window or a specific X property. This allows X applications to query and utilize color management information for accurate display of colors.

It plays a role in configuring the color behavior of an X display and is generally used in conjunction with resource management tools like xrdb.

xcmsdb relies on the X server having the Xcms extension, which is typically present but not universally used for modern color management. Its direct usage has become less common as desktop environments often provide more integrated and user-friendly color management solutions, making it a lower-level utility for specific configurations.

The input file for xcmsdb typically contains X resource specifications. These are key-value pairs that define color management parameters, such as gamma curves, white points, and color space transformations, specifically formatted for the Xcms extension.

While not a simple human-readable image profile, these files allow for precise control over how colors are rendered by the X server.

xcmsdb primarily manipulates X properties, particularly RESOURCE_MANAGER, which is also managed by xrdb. While xrdb is a general-purpose X resource database utility, xcmsdb is specialized for Xcms-specific data. It's common for an xcmsdb command to be run after xrdb has loaded general resources, or to be included within an .Xresources or .Xdefaults file that xrdb processes.

xcmsdb is a part of the X Window System utilities, developed alongside the Xcms extension to provide a programmatic interface for color management within the X server. While crucial in earlier versions of X for advanced display calibration, its direct command-line usage has seen a decline as desktop environments and operating systems have integrated higher-level color profile management tools.

xrdb(1), xrandr(1), xprop(1), xgamma(1)