R png() require X11 and fail in queued jobs

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Because the R png() function requires an active X11 session, png() calls in 
segtools jobs run on schedulers fail.  From perusing the internet, a common 
alternative is the CairoPNG function available in the R Cairo package, which is 
mostly a drop-in replacement and does not require an active X11 session.  Or is 
there a workaround to forward an X11 connection to a running job?

From an LSF job:

Loading <class 'segtools.Segmentation'>:
  Checking for overlapping segments... done
Saving tab file... done
Saving tab file... done
Saving plots with R function: 'save.length'...Error creating image: 
PK23.pos/identify/length_distribution/length_distribution.png. Error message: 
unable to start device PNG
Error creating image: 
PK23.pos/identify/length_distribution/length_distribution.slide.png. Error 
message: unable to start device PNG
Error creating image: 
PK23.pos/identify/length_distribution/length_distribution.thumb.png. Error 
message: unable to start device PNG
Warning messages:
1: In device(filepath, ...) : unable to open connection to X11 display ''
2: In device(filepath, ...) : unable to open connection to X11 display ''

Original issue reported on code.google.com by jay.hesselberth on 7 May 2011 at 7:32

[GoogleCodeExporter]

segtools now uses Cairo for plotting, as suggested. Segtools now works without 
a dependency on X11. The fix should be in the next release.

Original comment by epa...@uw.edu on 18 Oct 2012 at 11:50

• Changed state: Fixed

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Awesome.

Original comment by hoffman...@gmail.com on 18 Oct 2012 at 11:51