Appearance
Command-line options
Syntax: qtalh [OPTIONS] [configfile]. One configuration is supported per invocation; the UI can open additional windows. A missing runtime filename means ALH-default.alhConfig. If it does not exist, interactive startup opens a file chooser. The headless validator instead reports the missing file. Configuration filenames and -a/-o arguments beginning with ./ or ../ resolve against the working directory, overriding -f, -l, and ALARMHANDLER. Absolute paths also override those directories; bare filenames use them. INCLUDE paths retain their separate configuration-directory rule.
| Option | Meaning and default |
|---|---|
-c | Configuration editor; otherwise runtime monitoring. |
-global | Use IOC ACKS/ACKT fields for global acknowledgement. Default: local acknowledgement. |
-S | Passive mode: suppress CA writes and operator acknowledgement. |
-caputackt | Apply configured transient acknowledgement settings at startup in global active mode. |
-D | Disable alarm and operation file logging. Does not disable CA writes or configured helper queues. |
-s | Start with Silence Forever enabled; it can be changed in Setup. |
-p file | Play a local audio file instead of the system beep. Formats depend on the installed Qt Multimedia backend; the suite exercises Ogg/Vorbis. |
-f dir | Configuration and INCLUDE directory. Default: ALARMHANDLER, or the working directory (.). |
-l dir | Log directory. Default: the configuration directory. Create it before starting. |
-a file | Alarm filename, relative to the log directory unless absolute or explicitly prefixed with ./ or ../. Default: ALH-default.alhAlarm. |
-o file | Operation filename, relative to the log directory unless absolute or explicitly prefixed with ./ or ../. Default: ALH-default.alhOpmod. |
-m count | Alarm retention in records; default 2000, or unlimited with -L. An explicit -m overrides either default; 0 means unlimited. Does not bound the operation log. |
-T | Append .yyyy-MM-dd to each log filename, using local dates. The alarm record limit still applies. |
-xml | Write legacy XML-like entry records; these are not a complete XML document. |
-L | Coordinate master/slave alarm logging with a lock. Alarm retention defaults to unlimited unless -m is supplied. |
-Lfile basename | Override the lock basename; requires -L to enable locking. Default: resolved configuration filename. |
-B | Enable file-based message, reload, and temporary stop-logging broadcasts. |
-P key | Send alarm records to a printer System V queue; positive decimal integer, Linux/macOS only. |
-O key | Send database records to a System V queue; positive decimal integer, Linux/macOS only. |
-filter no|active|unack | Initial display filter; default no. Active includes active or unacknowledged alarms. Filtering does not stop monitoring. |
-mainwindow | Open the main runtime window at startup. |
-maskcolor | Color the mask controls. |
-noerrorpopup | Suppress error message boxes; errors still appear in the window message area, Qt diagnostic output, and operation log when logging is enabled. |
-desc_field | Subscribe to each channel record's .DESC field for descriptions. |
-debug | Timestamped startup, alarm, CA, command, logging, and broadcast diagnostics on stderr. Default: off. |
-display display, --display display | Set DISPLAY before opening the GUI (for X11). |
-geometry geometry | Initial geometry of the compact runtime window, or the main window with -mainwindow or -c. Accepts dimensions and/or position, such as 1000x600+20+20 or -20-20; negative offsets measure from the available screen’s right/bottom edges. |
-fn font, -font font | Runtime button font; defaults to ALHMAINFONT when set. XLFD fonts are approximated. |
-platform platform | Qt platform selection, for example offscreen or xcb. |
-style name, -style=name | Appearance: motif (default), fusion, or an installed Qt Widgets style. Names are case-insensitive; the last occurrence wins. |
-help, --help, -h | Print help without opening a display. |
-version, --version, -v | Print ALH, Qt, and EPICS version information without opening a display. |
--validate | Parse the configuration and includes, report group/channel counts, then exit. |
-- | End options before the configuration filename. |
Choosing an appearance
Launch with qtalh -style fusion -mainwindow facility.alhConfig for a modern interface, or qtalh -c -style fusion facility.alhConfig for the styled editor. Omit -style, or use -style motif, to retain the original Motif-influenced appearance. Selection applies to this process, including runtime windows opened from the editor; it is not saved in the alarm configuration or user preferences.
Fusion uses the system palette and fonts, standard controls, two alarm panes, grouped status/sound controls, and an expandable alarm legend. Properties uses General, Force PV, Commands, and Guidance tabs. Styled file choosers use Qt's standard dialog and match the chosen style. Alarm colors, acknowledgement, blinking, masks, and action behavior retain their meanings. Apply, Cancel, and Reset retain their existing behavior; modeless dismiss buttons are labeled Close.
Other styles depend on the Qt installation and operating system. Unknown names produce an error listing available styles before any PV connections are made. Help, version, and configuration validation do not require a display and do not check style availability. QT_STYLE_OVERRIDE alone does not enable the modern interface. -fn/-font and ALHMAINFONT continue to affect only the compact runtime button. There is no separate light/dark switch; available system palette integration depends on the Qt version and desktop.
Styled fonts default to one point smaller than the system font sizes (with a minimum of 6 points). An explicitly configured runtime-button font keeps its requested size. With any explicit style other than Motif, Ctrl+- decreases the font size, Ctrl++ (or Ctrl+=) increases it, and Ctrl+0 restores the startup size. Use Command instead of Ctrl on macOS. Each press changes the size by one point, with a UI range of 6–72 points. Changes apply throughout the process, including open dialogs and newly opened windows; monospace text and custom runtime-button fonts retain their families. Font sizes are not saved between launches. Bare + and - continue to expand and collapse the alarm tree. These font shortcuts are disabled in Motif mode.
See appearance details and screenshots for the dialog layouts and legacy comparison.
Local mode keeps acknowledgements in this runtime. Global active mode can write ACKS/ACKT and configured acknowledgement, severity, and heartbeat PVs. Passive mode still monitors alarms and can log them. It does not disable configured shell commands; -D and -s also leave command execution enabled.
EPICS Base reads the standard EPICS_CA_* environment variables. QT_QPA_PLATFORM selects Qt's display backend; QT_PLUGIN_PATH can locate plugins from a separate SDK. On Windows, COMSPEC selects the command shell (default cmd.exe). Sound paths and an explicit relative -Lfile basename resolve from the process working directory, rather than -f or -l. Unknown switches and arbitrary Xt resource overrides are errors. CDEV and CMLOG extensions are not supported by QtALH.