Can I set a default configuration for Dummy?

[yihuanlin]

I use an external 4k display with my MBP m1 Pro. The only setting that works for me is to mirror an around 981x1744@60Hz HiDPi Dummy to my display set at 4k 60Hz. When I log in macOS (or Dummy) will set both of them to 2K HiDPi which appears stretched and blurry. I wrote an AppleScript to help me reset it but it have to delay at the line "click menu bar item 1 of menu bar 1" for a second, as the case described here: https://macscripter.net/viewtopic.php?id=37635. I am just wondering if there is a workaround for my AppleScript issue or a way to set a default configuration for Dummy that will not be automatically overridden by macOS on startup.

Thank you. My AppleScript is as follow:

tell application "System Events"
	tell application "BetterDummy" to activate
	tell application process "BetterDummy"
		click menu bar item 1 of menu bar 1
		click menu item 2 of menu 1 of menu bar 1
		click menu item "981x1744, 60Hz" of menu 1 of menu item "Set resolution" of menu 1 of menu bar 1
		click menu bar item 1 of menu bar 1
		click menu item 16 of menu 1 of menu bar 1
		try
			click menu item 17 of menu 1 of menu item 16 of menu 1 of menu bar 1
		on error
			click menu item 18 of menu 1 of menu item 16 of menu 1 of menu bar 1
		end try
	end tell
end tell

[yihuanlin]

I replaced "click menu bar item 1 of menu bar 1" with clicking the coordinate of the button. Now scripting is much faster. ```
set x to value of attribute "AXPosition" of menu bar item 1 of menu bar 1 as list
do shell script "opt/homebrew/bin/cliclick c:" & item 1 of x & "," & item 2 of x

[waydabber]

Hmm. MacOS should remember the last set dummy resolution. If I understand correctly this somehow does not happen with your setup. Is the problem related to using a portrait resolution?

I could add an option "Force set last used resolution upon connect" as a dummy option if this is helpful on some configs.

[yihuanlin]

Hmm. MacOS should remember the last set dummy resolution. If I understand correctly this somehow does not happen with your setup. Is the problem related to using a portrait resolution?

I could add an option "Force set last used resolution upon connect" as a dummy option if this is helpful on some configs.

Hello there. Thank you for your reply. I am indeed using portrait mode but I think my issue can also be seen in landscape view. It would be very helpful if there is the option to set a resolution upon reconnecting. I also suggest adding the option to set/remember to alignment of multiple screen if possible. Thank you.

[waydabber]

Hi @yihuanlin - normally both alignment and last resolutions are saved by macOS for each combination of displays. If they aren't saved then something is wrong there, you might have to reset the display configuration maybe?

[yihuanlin]

Hi @yihuanlin - normally both alignment and last resolutions are saved by macOS for each combination of displays. If they aren't saved then something is wrong there, you might have to reset the display configuration maybe?

Yeah. Is weird that adjusting resolution in System Preferences does not work for me. Both Dummy and my external display are "1197x2128 HiDPI" in System Preferences. But I set Dummy to 981x1744 HiDPI and my mirror display to 4k standard.

[yihuanlin]

I am thinking of replacing plist file to restore settings. I found com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist in /Library/Preferences, which looks like the profile for display preferences. But I do not which process to killall after replacing that profile.

[waydabber]

Hi @yihuanlin

You can delete this file and also the one under your user's Library/Prefernces/ByHosts folder and restart the Mac. This should reset your display configuration and maybe force macOS to properly store configurations again.

If you want to restore or edit BetterDummy's preferences, look at me.waydabber.BetterDummy under your Library/Preferences folder.

[waydabber]

I'll convert this one into a discussion, but I created a new enhancement which I definetly plan to implement as this would be a great feature.

#382

[yihuanlin]

Hello there,
I've just updated BetterDummy to the latest beta 6.
I found that the native and default setting for my 4K screen is 1024*1280, which is not even 16:9. I think that's the reason why macOS did not set it up properly.
Is there a way to force macOS into thinking this display prefer 4K resolution?
Thank you.

[waydabber]

Sadly I don't know any way to do that on M1. On Intel you can override the display's EDID to fix the misidentification but on M1 it does not seem to be possible. Take a look at this thread for more info: https://gist.github.com/ejdyksen/8302862

You can use full screen streaming to alleviate the issue (you need to set the screen to 2160x3840 manually and enable the Do not force native mode for full screen stream under Advances in Preferences...).