[ncurses.git] / man / ncurses.3x

.\" $Id: ncurses.3x,v 1.19 1997/01/05 00:42:39 tom Exp $
.TH ncurses 3X ""
.ds n 5
.ds d @DATADIR@/terminfo
.SH NAME
\fBncurses\fR - CRT screen handling and optimization package
.SH SYNOPSIS
\fB#include <curses.h>\fR
.br
.SH DESCRIPTION
The \fBcurses\fR library routines give the user a terminal-independent method
of updating character screens with reasonable optimization.  This
implementation is ``new curses'' (ncurses) and is the approved replacement for
4.4BSD classic curses, which has been discontinued.

The \fBncurses\fR routines emulate the \fBcurses\fR(3X) library of System V
Release 4 UNIX, and the XPG4 curses standard (XSI curses) but the \fBncurses\fR
library is freely redistributable in source form.  Differences from the SVr4
curses are summarized under the EXTENSIONS and BUGS sections below and
described in detail in the EXTENSIONS and BUGS sections of individual man
pages.

A program using these routines must be linked with the \fB-lncurses\fR option,
or (if it has been generated) with the debugging library \fB-lncurses_g\fR. 
(Your system integrator may also have installed these libraries under
the names \fB-lcurses\fR and \fB-lcurses_g\fR.)
The ncurses_g library generates trace logs (in a file called 'trace' in the
current directory) that describe curses actions.

The \fBncurses\fR package supports: overall screen, window and pad
manipulation; output to windows and pads; reading terminal input; control over
terminal and \fBcurses\fR input and output options; environment query
routines; color manipulation; use of soft label keys; terminfo capabilities;
and access to low-level terminal-manipulation routines.

To initialize the routines, the routine \fBinitscr\fR or \fBnewterm\fR
must be called before any of the other routines that deal with windows
and screens are used.  The routine \fBendwin\fR must be called before
exiting.  To get character-at-a-time input without echoing (most
interactive, screen oriented programs want this), the following
sequence should be used:

      \fBinitscr(); cbreak(); noecho();\fR

Most programs would additionally use the sequence:

      \fBnonl();\fR
      \fBintrflush(stdscr, FALSE);\fR
      \fBkeypad(stdscr, TRUE);\fR

Before a \fBcurses\fR program is run, the tab stops of the terminal
should be set and its initialization strings, if defined, must be
output.  This can be done by executing the \fBtput init\fR command
after the shell environment variable \fBTERM\fR has been exported.
\fBtset(1)\fR is usually responsible for doing this.
[See \fBterminfo\fR(\*n) for further details.]

The \fBcurses\fR library permits manipulation of data structures,
called \fIwindows\fR, which can be thought of as two-dimensional
arrays of characters representing all or part of a CRT screen.  A
default window called \fBstdscr\fR, which is the size of the terminal
screen, is supplied.  Others may be created with \fBnewwin\fR.

Note that \fBcurses\fR does not handle overlapping windows, that's done by
the \fBpanels(3x)\fR library. This means that you can either use
\fBstdscr\fR or divide the screen into tiled windows and not using
\fBstdscr\fR at all. Mixing the two will result in unpredictable, and
undesired, effects.

Windows are referred to by variables declared as \fBWINDOW *\fR.
These data structures are manipulated with routines described here and
elsewhere in the \fBncurses\fR manual pages.  Among which the most basic
routines are \fBmove\fR and \fBaddch\fR.  More general versions of
these routines are included with names beginning with \fBw\fR,
allowing the user to specify a window.  The routines not beginning
with \fBw\fR affect \fBstdscr\fR.)

After using routines to manipulate a window, \fBrefresh\fR is called,
telling \fBcurses\fR to make the user's CRT screen look like
\fBstdscr\fR.  The characters in a window are actually of type
\fBchtype\fR, (character and attribute data) so that other information
about the character may also be stored with each character.

Special windows called \fIpads\fR may also be manipulated.  These are windows
which are not constrained to the size of the screen and whose contents need not
be completely displayed.  See curs_pad(3X) for more information.

In addition to drawing characters on the screen, video attributes and colors
may be supported, causing the characters to show up in such modes as
underlined, in reverse video, or in color on terminals that support such
display enhancements.  Line drawing characters may be specified to be output.
On input, \fBcurses\fR is also able to translate arrow and function keys that
transmit escape sequences into single values.  The video attributes, line
drawing characters, and input values use names, defined in \fB<curses.h>\fR,
such as \fBA_REVERSE\fR, \fBACS_HLINE\fR, and \fBKEY_LEFT\fR.

If the environment variables \fBLINES\fR and \fBCOLUMNS\fR are set, or if the
program is executing in a window environment, line and column information in
the environment will override information read by \fIterminfo\fR.  This would
effect a program running in an AT&T 630 layer, for example, where the size of a
screen is changeable.

If the environment variable \fBTERMINFO\fR is defined, any program using
\fBcurses\fR checks for a local terminal definition before checking in the
standard place.  For example, if \fBTERM\fR is set to \fBatt4424\fR, then the
compiled terminal definition is found in

      \fB\*d/a/att4424\fR.

(The \fBa\fR is copied from the first letter of \fBatt4424\fR to avoid
creation of huge directories.)  However, if \fBTERMINFO\fR is set to
\fB$HOME/myterms\fR, \fBcurses\fR first checks

      \fB$HOME/myterms/a/att4424\fR,

and if that fails, it then checks

      \fB\*d/a/att4424\fR.

This is useful for developing experimental definitions or when write
permission in \fB\*d\fR is not available.

The integer variables \fBLINES\fR and \fBCOLS\fR are defined in
\fB<curses.h>\fR and will be filled in by \fBinitscr\fR with the size of the
screen.  The constants \fBTRUE\fR and \fBFALSE\fR have the values \fB1\fR and
\fB0\fR, respectively.

The \fBcurses\fR routines also define the \fBWINDOW *\fR variable \fBcurscr\fR
which is used for certain low-level operations like clearing and redrawing a
screen containing garbage.  The \fBcurscr\fR can be used in only a few
routines.

.SS Routine and Argument Names
Many \fBcurses\fR routines have two or more versions.  The routines prefixed
with \fBw\fR require a window argument.  The routines prefixed with \fBp\fR
require a pad argument.  Those without a prefix generally use \fBstdscr\fR.

The routines prefixed with \fBmv\fR require a \fIy\fR and \fIx\fR
coordinate to move to before performing the appropriate action.  The
\fBmv\fR routines imply a call to \fBmove\fR before the call to the
other routine.  The coordinate \fIy\fR always refers to the row (of
the window), and \fIx\fR always refers to the column.  The upper
left-hand corner is always (0,0), not (1,1).

The routines prefixed with \fBmvw\fR take both a window argument and
\fIx\fR and \fIy\fR coordinates.  The window argument is always
specified before the coordinates.

In each case, \fIwin\fR is the window affected, and \fIpad\fR is the
pad affected; \fIwin\fR and \fIpad\fR are always pointers to type
\fBWINDOW\fR.

Option setting routines require a Boolean flag \fIbf\fR with the value
\fBTRUE\fR or \fBFALSE\fR; \fIbf\fR is always of type \fBbool\fR.  The
variables \fIch\fR and \fIattrs\fR below are always of type
\fBchtype\fR.  The types \fBWINDOW\fR, \fBSCREEN\fR, \fBbool\fR, and
\fBchtype\fR are defined in \fB<curses.h>\fR.  The type \fBTERMINAL\fR
is defined in \fB<term.h>\fR.  All other arguments are integers.

.SS Routine Name Index
The following table lists each \fBcurses\fR routine and the name of
the manual page on which it is described.  Routines flagged with `*'
are ncurses-specific, not described by XPG4 or present in SVr4.

.TS
center tab(/);
l l
l l .
\fBcurses\fR Routine Name/Manual Page Name
=
addch/curs_addch(3X)
addchnstr/curs_addchstr(3X)
addchstr/curs_addchstr(3X)
addnstr/curs_addstr(3X)
addstr/curs_addstr(3X)
attroff/curs_attr(3X)
attron/curs_attr(3X)
attrset/curs_attr(3X)
baudrate/curs_termattrs(3X)
beep/curs_beep(3X)
bkgd/curs_bkgd(3X)
bkgdset/curs_bkgd(3X)
border/curs_border(3X)
box/curs_border(3X)
can_change_color/curs_color(3X)
cbreak/curs_inopts(3X)
clear/curs_clear(3X)
clearok/curs_outopts(3X)
clrtobot/curs_clear(3X)
clrtoeol/curs_clear(3X)
color_content/curs_color(3X)
copywin/curs_overlay(3X)
curs_set/curs_kernel(3X)
def_prog_mode/curs_kernel(3X)
def_shell_mode/curs_kernel(3X)
del_curterm/curs_terminfo(3X)
delay_output/curs_util(3X)
delch/curs_delch(3X)
deleteln/curs_deleteln(3X)
delscreen/curs_initscr(3X)
delwin/curs_window(3X)
derwin/curs_window(3X)
doupdate/curs_refresh(3X)
dupwin/curs_window(3X)
echo/curs_inopts(3X)
echochar/curs_addch(3X)
endwin/curs_initscr(3X)
erase/curs_clear(3X)
erasechar/curs_termattrs(3X)
filter/curs_util(3X)
flash/curs_beep(3X)
flushinp/curs_util(3X)
getbegyx/curs_getyx(3X)
getch/curs_getch(3X)
getmaxyx/curs_getyx(3X)
getmouse/curs_mouse(3X)*
getparyx/curs_getyx(3X)
getstr/curs_getstr(3X)
getsyx/curs_kernel(3X)
getwin/curs_util(3X)
getyx/curs_getyx(3X)
halfdelay/curs_inopts(3X)
has_colors/curs_color(3X)
has_ic/curs_termattrs(3X)
has_il/curs_termattrs(3X)
has_key/curs_getch(3X)*
hline/curs_border(3X)
idcok/curs_outopts(3X)
idlok/curs_outopts(3X)
immedok/curs_outopts(3X)
inch/curs_inch(3X)
inchnstr/curs_inchstr(3X)
inchstr/curs_inchstr(3X)
init_color/curs_color(3X)
init_pair/curs_color(3X)
initscr/curs_initscr(3X)
innstr/curs_instr(3X)
insch/curs_insch(3X)
insdelln/curs_deleteln(3X)
insertln/curs_deleteln(3X)
insnstr/curs_insstr(3X)
insstr/curs_insstr(3X)
instr/curs_instr(3X)
intrflush/curs_inopts(3X)
is_linetouched/curs_touch(3X)
is_wintouched/curs_touch(3X)
isendwin/curs_initscr(3X)
keyname/curs_util(3X)
keypad/curs_inopts(3X)
killchar/curs_termattrs(3X)
leaveok/curs_outopts(3X)
longname/curs_termattrs(3X)
mcprint/curs_print(3X)*
meta/curs_inopts(3X)
mouseinterval/curs_mouse(3X)*
mousemask/curs_mouse(3X)*
move/curs_move(3X)
mvaddch/curs_addch(3X)
mvaddchnstr/curs_addchstr(3X)
mvaddchstr/curs_addchstr(3X)
mvaddnstr/curs_addstr(3X)
mvaddstr/curs_addstr(3X)
mvcur/curs_terminfo(3X)
mvdelch/curs_delch(3X)
mvderwin/curs_window(3X)
mvgetch/curs_getch(3X)
mvgetstr/curs_getstr(3X)
mvinch/curs_inch(3X)
mvinchnstr/curs_inchstr(3X)
mvinchstr/curs_inchstr(3X)
mvinnstr/curs_instr(3X)
mvinsch/curs_insch(3X)
mvinsnstr/curs_insstr(3X)
mvinsstr/curs_insstr(3X)
mvinstr/curs_instr(3X)
mvprintw/curs_printw(3X)
mvscanw/curs_scanw(3X)
mvwaddch/curs_addch(3X)
mvwaddchnstr/curs_addchstr(3X)
mvwaddchstr/curs_addchstr(3X)
mvwaddnstr/curs_addstr(3X)
mvwaddstr/curs_addstr(3X)
mvwdelch/curs_delch(3X)
mvwgetch/curs_getch(3X)
mvwgetstr/curs_getstr(3X)
mvwin/curs_window(3X)
mvwinch/curs_inch(3X)
mvwinchnstr/curs_inchstr(3X)
mvwinchstr/curs_inchstr(3X)
mvwinnstr/curs_instr(3X)
mvwinsch/curs_insch(3X)
mvwinsnstr/curs_insstr(3X)
mvwinsstr/curs_insstr(3X)
mvwinstr/curs_instr(3X)
mvwprintw/curs_printw(3X)
mvwscanw/curs_scanw(3X)
napms/curs_kernel(3X)
newpad/curs_pad(3X)
newterm/curs_initscr(3X)
newwin/curs_window(3X)
nl/curs_outopts(3X)
nocbreak/curs_inopts(3X)
nodelay/curs_inopts(3X)
noecho/curs_inopts(3X)
nonl/curs_outopts(3X)
noqiflush/curs_inopts(3X)
noraw/curs_inopts(3X)
notimeout/curs_inopts(3X)
overlay/curs_overlay(3X)
overwrite/curs_overlay(3X)
pair_content/curs_color(3X)
pechochar/curs_pad(3X)
pnoutrefresh/curs_pad(3X)
prefresh/curs_pad(3X)
printw/curs_printw(3X)
putp/curs_terminfo(3X)
putwin/curs_util(3X)
qiflush/curs_inopts(3X)
raw/curs_inopts(3X)
redrawwin/curs_refresh(3X)
refresh/curs_refresh(3X)
reset_prog_mode/curs_kernel(3X)
reset_shell_mode/curs_kernel(3X)
resetty/curs_kernel(3X)
resizeterm/resizeterm(3x)*
restartterm/curs_terminfo(3X)
ripoffline/curs_kernel(3X)
savetty/curs_kernel(3X)
scanw/curs_scanw(3X)
scr_dump/curs_scr_dump(3X)
scr_init/curs_scr_dump(3X)
scr_restore/curs_scr_dump(3X)
scr_set/curs_scr_dump(3X)
scrl/curs_scroll(3X)
scroll/curs_scroll(3X)
scrollok/curs_outopts(3X)
set_curterm/curs_terminfo(3X)
set_term/curs_initscr(3X)
setscrreg/curs_outopts(3X)
setsyx/curs_kernel(3X)
setterm/curs_terminfo(3X)
setupterm/curs_terminfo(3X)
slk_attr/curs_slk(3X)*
slk_attroff/curs_slk(3X)
slk_attron/curs_slk(3X)
slk_attrset/curs_slk(3X)
slk_clear/curs_slk(3X)
slk_init/curs_slk(3X)
slk_label/curs_slk(3X)
slk_noutrefresh/curs_slk(3X)
slk_refresh/curs_slk(3X)
slk_restore/curs_slk(3X)
slk_set/curs_slk(3X)
slk_touch/curs_slk(3X)
standend/curs_attr(3X)
standout/curs_attr(3X)
start_color/curs_color(3X)
subpad/curs_pad(3X)
subwin/curs_window(3X)
syncok/curs_window(3X)
termattrs/curs_termattrs(3X)
termname/curs_termattrs(3X)
tgetent/curs_termcap(3X)
tgetflag/curs_termcap(3X)
tgetnum/curs_termcap(3X)
tgetstr/curs_termcap(3X)
tgoto/curs_termcap(3X)
tigetflag/curs_terminfo(3X)
tigetnum/curs_terminfo(3X)
tigetstr/curs_terminfo(3X)
timeout/curs_inopts(3X)
touchline/curs_touch(3X)
touchwin/curs_touch(3X)
tparm/curs_terminfo(3X)
tputs/curs_termcap(3X)
tputs/curs_terminfo(3X)
typeahead/curs_inopts(3X)
unctrl/curs_util(3X)
ungetch/curs_getch(3X)
ungetmouse/curs_mouse(3X)*
untouchwin/curs_touch(3X)
use_env/curs_util(3X)
vidattr/curs_terminfo(3X)
vidputs/curs_terminfo(3X)
vline/curs_border(3X)
vwprintw/curs_printw(3X)
vwscanw/curs_scanw(3X)
waddch/curs_addch(3X)
waddchnstr/curs_addchstr(3X)
waddchstr/curs_addchstr(3X)
waddnstr/curs_addstr(3X)
waddstr/curs_addstr(3X)
wattroff/curs_attr(3X)
wattron/curs_attr(3X)
wattrset/curs_attr(3X)
wbkgd/curs_bkgd(3X)
wbkgdset/curs_bkgd(3X)
wborder/curs_border(3X)
wclear/curs_clear(3X)
wclrtobot/curs_clear(3X)
wclrtoeol/curs_clear(3X)
wcursyncup/curs_window(3X)
wdelch/curs_delch(3X)
wdeleteln/curs_deleteln(3X)
wechochar/curs_addch(3X)
wenclose/curs_mouse(3X)*
werase/curs_clear(3X)
wgetch/curs_getch(3X)
wgetnstr/curs_getstr(3X)
wgetstr/curs_getstr(3X)
whline/curs_border(3X)
winch/curs_inch(3X)
winchnstr/curs_inchstr(3X)
winchstr/curs_inchstr(3X)
winnstr/curs_instr(3X)
winsch/curs_insch(3X)
winsdelln/curs_deleteln(3X)
winsertln/curs_deleteln(3X)
winsnstr/curs_insstr(3X)
winsstr/curs_insstr(3X)
winstr/curs_instr(3X)
wmove/curs_move(3X)
wnoutrefresh/curs_refresh(3X)
wprintw/curs_printw(3X)
wredrawln/curs_refresh(3X)
wrefresh/curs_refresh(3X)
wresize/wresize(3x)*
wscanw/curs_scanw(3X)
wscrl/curs_scroll(3X)
wsetscrreg/curs_outopts(3X)
wstandend/curs_attr(3X)
wstandout/curs_attr(3X)
wsyncdown/curs_window(3X)
wsyncup/curs_window(3X)
wtimeout/curs_inopts(3X)
wtouchln/curs_touch(3X)
wvline/curs_border(3X)
.TE
.SH RETURN VALUE
Routines that return an integer return \fBERR\fR upon failure and an
integer value other than \fBERR\fR upon successful completion, unless
otherwise noted in the routine descriptions.

All macros return the value of the \fBw\fR version, except \fBsetscrreg\fR,
\fBwsetscrreg\fR, \fBgetyx\fR, \fBgetbegyx\fR, \fBgetmaxyx\fR.  The return
values of \fBsetscrreg\fR, \fBwsetscrreg\fR, \fBgetyx\fR, \fBgetbegyx\fR, and
\fBgetmaxyx\fR are undefined (\fIi\fR.\fIe\fR., these should not be used as the
right-hand side of assignment statements).

Routines that return pointers return \fBNULL\fR on error.
.SH SEE ALSO
\fBterminfo\fR(\*n) and 3X pages whose names begin "curs_" for detailed routine
descriptions.
.SH EXTENSIONS
The \fBcurses\fR library can be compiled with an option (\fB-DTERMCAP_FILE\fR)
that falls back to the old-style /etc/termcap file if the terminal setup code
cannot find a terminfo entry corresponding to \fBTERM\fR.  Use of this feature
is not recommended, as it essentially includes an entire termcap compiler in
the \fBcurses\fR startup code, at significant cost in core and startup cycles.

Compiling with \fB-DTERMCAP_FILE\fR changes the library's initialization
sequence in a way intended to mimic the behavior of 4.4BSD curses.  If there is
no local or system terminfo entry matching \fBTERM\fR, then the library looks
for termcap entries in the following places: (1) if \fBTERMINFO\fR is
undefined, in the file named by \fBTERMCAP_FILE\fR; (2) if \fBTERMINFO\fR is
defined and begins with a slash, it is interpreted as the name of a termcap
file to search for \fBTERM\fR; (3) otherwise, if \fBTERMINFO\fR has a leading
string that looks like a terminal entry name list, and it matches \fBTERM\fR,
the contents of \fBTERMINFO\fR is interpreted as a termcap; (4) if
\fBTERMINFO\fR looks like a termcap but doesn't match \fBTERM\fR, the termcap
file is searched for among the colon-separated paths in the environment
variable \fBTERMPATHS\fR if that is defined, and in ~/.termcap and the file
value of \fBTERMCAP_FILE\fR otherwise.

Versions of \fBcurses\fR compiled on PC clones support display of the PC ROM
characters (including ROM characters 0-31, which stock SVr4 curses cannot
display). See the EXTENSIONS sections of \fBcurs_addch\fR(3x) and
\fBcurs_attr\fR(3x).

The \fBcurses\fR library includes facilities for capturing mouse events on
certain terminals (including xterm). See the \fBcurs_mouse\fR(3X)
manual page for details.

The \fBcurses\fR library includes a function for directing application output
to a printer attached to the terminal device.  See the \fBcurs_print\fR(3X)
manual page for details.
.SH PORTABILITY
The \fBcurses\fR library is intended to be BASE-level conformant with the XSI
Curses standard.  Certain portions of the EXTENDED XSI Curses functionality
(including color support) are supported.  The following EXTENDED XSI Curses
calls in support of wide (multibyte) characters are not yet implemented:
\fBaddnwstr\fB,
\fBaddwstr\fB,
\fBmvaddnwstr\fB,
\fBmvwaddnwstr\fB,
\fBmvaddwstr\fB,
\fBwaddnwstr\fB,
\fBwaddwstr\fB,
\fBadd_wch\fB,
\fBwadd_wch\fB,
\fBmvadd_wch\fB,
\fBmvwadd_wch\fB,
\fBadd_wchnstr\fB,
\fBadd_wchstr\fB,
\fBwadd_wchnstr\fB,
\fBwadd_wchstr\fB,
\fBmvadd_wchnstr\fB,
\fBmvadd_wchstr\fB,
\fBmvwadd_wchnstr\fB,
\fBmvwadd_wchstr\fB,
\fBbkgrndset\fB,
\fBbkgrnd\fB,
\fBgetbkgrnd\fB,
\fBwbkgrnd\fB,
\fBwbkgrndset\fB,
\fBwgetbkgrnd\fB,
\fBborder_set\fB,
\fBwborder_set\fB,
\fBbox_set\fB,
\fBhline_set\fB,
\fBmvhline_set\fB,
\fBmvvline_set\fB,
\fBmvwhline_set\fB,
\fBmvwvline_set\fB,
\fBwhline_set\fB,
\fBvhline_set\fB,
\fBwvline_set\fB,
\fBecho_wchar\fB,
\fBwecho_wchar\fB,
\fBerasewchar\fB,
\fBkillwchar\fB,
\fBget_wch\fB,
\fBmvget_wch\fB,
\fBmvwget_ch\fB,
\fBwget_wch\fB,
\fBgetwchtype\fB,
\fBget_wstr\fB,
\fBgetn_wstr\fB,
\fBwget_wstr\fB,
\fBwgetn_wstr\fB,
\fBmvget_wstr\fB,
\fBmvgetn_wstr\fB,
\fBmvwget_wstr\fB,
\fBmvwgetn_wstr\fB,
\fBinnwstr\fB,
\fBinwstr\fB,
\fBwinnwstr\fB,
\fBwinwstr\fB,
\fBmvinnwstr\fB,
\fBmvinwstr\fB,
\fBmvwinnwstr\fB,
\fBmvwinwstr\fB,
\fBins_nwstr\fB,
\fBins_wstr\fB,
\fBmvins_nwstr\fB,
\fBmvins_wstr\fB,
\fBmvwins_nwstr\fB,
\fBmvwins_wstr\fB,
\fBwins_nwstr\fB,
\fBwins_wstr\fB,
\fBins_wch\fB,
\fBwins_wch\fB,
\fBmvins_wch\fB,
\fBmvwins_wch\fB,
\fBin_wch\fB,
\fBwin_wch\fB,
\fBmvin_wch\fB,
\fBmvwin_wch\fB,
\fBinwchstr\fB,
\fBinwchnstr\fB,
\fBwinwchstr\fB,
\fBwinwchnstr\fB,
\fBmvinwchstr\fB,
\fBmvinwchnstr\fB,
\fBmvinwchstr\fB,
\fBmvwinwchnstr\fB.
.PP
A small number of local differences (that is, individual differences between
the XSI Curses and \fBcurses\fR calls) are described in \fBPORTABILITY\fR
sections of the library man pages.
.PP
The routine \fBhas_key\fR is not part of XPG4, nor is it present in SVr4.  See
the \fBcurs_getch\fR(3X) manual page for details.
.PP
The routine \fBslk_attr\fR is not part of XPG4, nor is it present in SVr4.  See
the \fBcurs_slk\fR(3X) manual page for details.
.PP
The routines \fBgetmouse\fR, \fBmousemask\fR, \fBungetmouse\fR,
\fBmouseinterval\fR, and \fBwenclose\fR relating to mouse interfacing are not
part of XPG4, nor are they present in SVr4.  See the \fBcurs_mouse\fR(3X)
manual page for details.
.PP
The routine \fBmcprint\fR was not present in any previous curses
implementation.  See the \fBcurs_print\fR(3X) manual page for details.
.PP
The routine \fBwresize\fR is not part of XPG4, nor is it present in SVr4.  See
the \fBwresize\fR(3X) manual page for details.
.PP
In historic curses versions, delays embedded in the capabilities \fBcr\fR,
\fBind\fR, \fBcub1\fR, \fBff\fR and \fBtab\fR activated corresponding delay
bits in the UNIX tty driver.  In this implementation, all padding is done by
NUL sends.  This method is slightly more expensive, but narrows the interface
to the UNIX kernel significantly and increases the package's portability
correspondingly.
.PP
In the XSI standard and SVr4 manual pages, many entry points have prototype
arguments of the for \fBchar *const\fR (or \fBcchar_t *const\fR, or \fBwchar_t
*const\fR, or \fBvoid *const\fR).  Depending on one's interpretation of the
ANSI C standard (see section 3.5.4.1), these declarations are either (a)
meaningless, or (b) meaningless and illegal.  The declaration \fBconst char
*x\fR is a modifiable pointer to unmodifiable data, but \fBchar *const x\fR' is
an unmodifiable pointer to modifiable data.  Given that C passes arguments by
value, \fB<type> *const\fR as a formal type is at best dubious.  Some compilers
choke on the prototypes.  Therefore, in this implementation, they have been
changed to \fBconst <type> *\fR globally.
.SH NOTES
The header file \fB<curses.h>\fR automatically includes the header files
\fB<stdio.h>\fR and \fB<unctrl.h>\fR.

If standard output from a \fBcurses\fR program is re-directed to something
which is not a tty, screen updates will be directed to standard error.  This
was an undocumented feature of AT&T System V Release 3 curses.
.SH AUTHORS
Zeyd M. Ben-Halim, Eric S. Raymond.  Descends from the original pcurses
by Pavel Curtis.
.\"#
.\"# The following sets edit modes for GNU EMACS
.\"# Local Variables:
.\"# mode:nroff
.\"# fill-column:79
.\"# End: