On systems lacking X11, Mathematica 7+ fails to export plots because no frontend is available. How can images be generated offline? Example:
$ math
In[1]:= graphObj = Plot[Cos[x], {x, 0, 3.14}]
Out[1]= GraphicsResult
In[2]:= WriteImageFile["result.bmp", graphObj]
Out[2]= result.bmp
hey, i once faced this and ended up using xvfb to simulate an xserver. setting the DISPLAY env var let the export run in headless mode. it’s a neat workaround for offline plotting without the actual x11 frontend.
hi, anyone tried setting a fake display and runnng math entirely in batch mode? i once gave it a go and found it quirky but promising. what tweaks have u found to fine tune the export process without x11? curious to hear ur experiance.
In my experience, a pragmatic solution to export plots without an X11 frontend involves using Mathematica’s Export function in a script executed in batch mode. For instance, I have encountered scenarios where initiating Export from within a prepared Mathematica session—ensuring that all necessary computations occur in sequence—eliminated the need for a graphical display. Adjusting environment variables and ensuring that all path references are absolute further guaranteed consistency. This approach leverages Mathematica’s capability to process graphics without a live front-end and has repeatedly proven reliable in headless setups.
In my experience, a practical approach to exporting plots without an X11 frontend is to use Mathematica’s built-in Export function rather than WriteImageFile. When running Mathematica in a headless environment, I have found that invoking the kernel with appropriate command-line options, such as starting it in batch mode, allows for successful generation of image files. Adjusting the program’s settings to use backend visualization functions can bypass the need for a graphical interface. This method has consistently produced reliable results in various script-based and remote computational setups.