IDL fails to acquire window rendering context when running PLOT()

Issue

User reported the following error message when trying to plot in IDL when connected to it over SSH with X forwarding: IDLGRSRCDEST::GETTEXTDIMENSIONS: Failure to acquire window rendering context.

The following Errors may appear:

• X windows protocol error: GLXBadContext.
• X windows protocol error: 0.
• IDLITWINDOW::DOHITTEST: Failure to acquire window rendering context.
• IDLGRSRCDEST::GETTEXTDIMENSIONS: Failure to acquire window rendering context.
• Unable to acquire device context.

Environment

macOS connecting to RHEL workstation with ssh and X forwarding

Cause

Hardware rendering is not working correctly or is having trouble with a specific plot.

Resolution

1. Open IDL.
2. Run the following command to change rendering to software: IDL> PREF_SET, 'IDL_GR_X_RENDERER', 1, /COMMIT

Hardware rendering can be re-enabled by replacing the 1 with a 0, as follows:

IDL> PREF_SET, 'IDL_GR_X_RENDERER', 0, /COMMIT

External resources

More information:

• Found solution