Question

I need to run openoffice in batch mode to turn .doc files into pdf, but openoffice won’t start because it needs an X server. My linux box doesn’t have one.

Is there some dummy blackhole X server around I can use?

I’m using debian etch.

Answer 1

You could maybe try xvfb

In the X Window System, Xvfb or X
virtual framebuffer is an X11 server
that performs all graphical operations
in memory, not showing any screen
output. From the point of view of the
client, it acts exactly like any other
server, serving requests and sending
events and errors as appropriate.
However, no output is shown. This
virtual server does not require the
computer it is running on to even have
a screen or any input device. Only a
network layer is necessary.