Command line tool
Prev | Chapter 3. Usage | Next

## Command line tool

The command line tool is useful for debugging purpose, and to create automatic scripts.

### Note

We won't present everything you can do with ddccontrol, if you want more information, type:

    # ddccontrol -h

### Usage example

This example explains how to list all available controls and then change the brightness parameter.

#### List available controls

To list available controls, type:

    # ddccontrol -p

This probes for available monitors, then takes the first probed monitor and lists controls supported by it. This should give you an output like this (this example uses a Samsung Syncmaster 173P and a nVidia GeForce FX 5700):

    ddccontrol version 0.1
    Copyright 2004 Oleg I. Vdovikin (oleg-at-cs.msu.su)
    Copyright 2004 Nicolas Boichat (nicolas-at-boichat.ch)
    This program comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
    You may redistribute copies of this program under the terms of the GNU General Public License.

    Device : pci:01:00.0-0
    Error while reading write message answer: Bad message
    Reading EDID 0x50 failed.
    Device : pci:01:00.0-1
    Device : pci:01:00.0-2
    Detected monitors :
     - Device : pci:01:00.0-1
       DDC/CI supported : Yes
       Monitor Name : Samsung SyncMaster 173P (DVI)
       Input type : Digital
      (Automatically selected)
     - Device : pci:01:00.0-2
       DDC/CI supported : Yes
       Monitor Name : NEC Multisync 2080UX+
       Input type : Analog
    Reading EDID and initializing DDC/CI at bus pci:01:00.0-1...
    Device : pci:01:00.0-1

    EDID readings:
       Plug and Play ID: SAM00E2 [Samsung SyncMaster 173P (DVI)]
       Input type: Digital

    = Samsung SyncMaster 173P (DVI)
    > Color settings
       > Brightness and Contrast
          > id=brightness, name=Brightness, address=0x10, delay=-1ms, type=0
            supported, value=55, maximum=100
          > id=contrast, name=Contrast, address=0x12, delay=-1ms, type=0
            supported, value=60, maximum=100
          > id=magicbright, name=Magic Bright Mode, address=0xdc, delay=-1ms, type=2
            Possible values:
             > id=text - name=Text, value=1
             > id=internet - name=Internet, value=2
             > id=entertain - name=Entertain, value=3
             > id=custom - name=Custom, value=4
            supported, value=4, maximum=4
    > Others
       > Restore defaults
          > id=defaults, name=Restore Factory Defaults, address=0x4, delay=-1ms, type=1
            Possible values:
             > id=default - name=Restore Factory Defaults, value=1
            supported, value=0, maximum=1
          > id=defaultluma, name=Restore Brightness and Contrast, address=0x5, delay=-1ms, type=1
            Possible values:
             > id=default - name=Restore Brightness and Contrast, value=1
            supported, value=0, maximum=1
          > id=settings, name=Settings, address=0xb0, delay=-1ms, type=1
            Possible values:
             > id=store - name=Save Current Settings, value=1
             > id=restorefactory - name=Restore Factory Settings, value=2
            supported, value=0, maximum=2
       > Input settings
          > id=inputsource, name=Input Source Select, address=0x60, delay=-1ms, type=2
            Possible values:
             > id=analog - name=Analog, value=1
             > id=digital - name=Digital, value=3
            supported, value=3, maximum=3
       > Power control
          > id=dpms, name=DPMS Control, address=0xd6, delay=-1ms, type=2
            Possible values:
             > id=on - name=On, value=1
             > id=standby - name=Standby, value=4
            supported, value=1, maximum=4

#### Change the brightness

The lines concerning brightness in the available controls list are:

          > id=brightness, name=Brightness, address=0x10, delay=-1ms, type=0
            supported, value=55, maximum=100

The important elements are address (here: `0x10`), current value (`55`) and maximum value (`100`).

To change the brightness value to 70/100, type:

    ddccontrol -p -r 0x10 -w 70

The last lines of the output should be:

    Writing 0x10, 0x46(70)...
    Control 0x10: +/70/100 [Brightness]

Prev | Up | Next
Gnome panel applet | Home | Appendix A. Report problems and successes