- Both <STRONG>\E</STRONG> and <STRONG>\e</STRONG> map to an ESCAPE character, <STRONG>^x</STRONG> maps to a
- control-x for any appropriate x, and the sequences <STRONG>\n</STRONG> <STRONG>\l</STRONG>
- <STRONG>\r</STRONG> <STRONG>\t</STRONG> <STRONG>\b</STRONG> <STRONG>\f</STRONG> <STRONG>\s</STRONG> give a newline, line-feed, return, tab,
+ Both <STRONG>\E</STRONG> and <STRONG>\e</STRONG> map to an ESCAPE character, <STRONG>^x</STRONG> maps to a
+ control-x for any appropriate x, and the sequences <STRONG>\n</STRONG> <STRONG>\l</STRONG>
+ <STRONG>\r</STRONG> <STRONG>\t</STRONG> <STRONG>\b</STRONG> <STRONG>\f</STRONG> <STRONG>\s</STRONG> give a newline, line-feed, return, tab,
- A delay in milliseconds may appear anywhere in a string
- capability, enclosed in $<..> brackets, as in <STRONG>el</STRONG>=\EK$<5>,
- and padding characters are supplied by <EM>tputs</EM> to provide
- this delay. The delay must be a number with at most one
+ A delay in milliseconds may appear anywhere in a string
+ capability, enclosed in $<..> brackets, as in <STRONG>el</STRONG>=\EK$<5>,
+ and padding characters are supplied by <EM>tputs</EM> to provide
+ this delay. The delay must be a number with at most one
- affected.) Normally, padding is advisory if the device
- has the <STRONG>xon</STRONG> capability; it is used for cost computation
- but does not trigger delays. A `/' suffix indicates that
- the padding is mandatory and forces a delay of the given
- number of milliseconds even on devices for which <STRONG>xon</STRONG> is
+ affected.) Normally, padding is advisory if the device
+ has the <STRONG>xon</STRONG> capability; it is used for cost computation
+ but does not trigger delays. A `/' suffix indicates that
+ the padding is mandatory and forces a delay of the given
+ number of milliseconds even on devices for which <STRONG>xon</STRONG> is
- If TERMINFO is not set, the <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> version of the ter-
- minfo reader code will instead look in the directory
- <STRONG>$HOME/.terminfo</STRONG> for a compiled description. If it fails
- to find one there, and the environment variable TER-
- MINFO_DIRS is set, it will interpret the contents of that
- variable as a list of colon- separated directories to be
- searched (an empty entry is interpreted as a command to
- search <EM>/usr/share/terminfo</EM>). If no description is found
- in any of the TERMINFO_DIRS directories, the fetch fails.
+ If TERMINFO is not set, the <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> version of the ter-
+ minfo reader code will instead look in the directory
+ <STRONG>$HOME/.terminfo</STRONG> for a compiled description. If it fails
+ to find one there, and the environment variable TER-
+ MINFO_DIRS is set, it will interpret the contents of that
+ variable as a list of colon- separated directories to be
+ searched (an empty entry is interpreted as a command to
+ search <EM>/usr/share/terminfo</EM>). If no description is found
+ in any of the TERMINFO_DIRS directories, the fetch fails.
- The only local motion which is defined from the left edge
- is if <STRONG>bw</STRONG> is given, then a <STRONG>cub1</STRONG> from the left edge will
- move to the right edge of the previous row. If <STRONG>bw</STRONG> is not
- given, the effect is undefined. This is useful for draw-
- ing a box around the edge of the screen, for example. If
- the terminal has switch selectable automatic margins, the
- <EM>terminfo</EM> file usually assumes that this is on; i.e., <STRONG>am</STRONG>.
- If the terminal has a command which moves to the first
- column of the next line, that command can be given as <STRONG>nel</STRONG>
- (newline). It does not matter if the command clears the
- remainder of the current line, so if the terminal has no
- <STRONG>cr</STRONG> and <STRONG>lf</STRONG> it may still be possible to craft a working <STRONG>nel</STRONG>
+ The only local motion which is defined from the left edge
+ is if <STRONG>bw</STRONG> is given, then a <STRONG>cub1</STRONG> from the left edge will
+ move to the right edge of the previous row. If <STRONG>bw</STRONG> is not
+ given, the effect is undefined. This is useful for draw-
+ ing a box around the edge of the screen, for example. If
+ the terminal has switch selectable automatic margins, the
+ <EM>terminfo</EM> file usually assumes that this is on; i.e., <STRONG>am</STRONG>.
+ If the terminal has a command which moves to the first
+ column of the next line, that command can be given as <STRONG>nel</STRONG>
+ (newline). It does not matter if the command clears the
+ remainder of the current line, so if the terminal has no
+ <STRONG>cr</STRONG> and <STRONG>lf</STRONG> it may still be possible to craft a working <STRONG>nel</STRONG>
- Cursor addressing and other strings requiring parameters
- in the terminal are described by a parameterized string
- capability, with <STRONG><A HREF="printf.3S.html">printf(3S)</A></STRONG> like escapes <STRONG>%x</STRONG> in it. For
- example, to address the cursor, the <STRONG>cup</STRONG> capability is
+ Cursor addressing and other strings requiring parameters
+ in the terminal are described by a parameterized string
+ capability, with <STRONG><A HREF="printf.3.html">printf(3)</A></STRONG> like escapes <STRONG>%x</STRONG> in it. For
+ example, to address the cursor, the <STRONG>cup</STRONG> capability is
- The parameter mechanism uses a stack and special <STRONG>%</STRONG> codes
- to manipulate it. Typically a sequence will push one of
- the parameters onto the stack and then print it in some
- format. Print (e.g., "%d") is a special case. Other
- operations, including "%t" pop their operand from the
+ The parameter mechanism uses a stack and special <STRONG>%</STRONG> codes
+ to manipulate it. Typically a sequence will push one of
+ the parameters onto the stack and then print it in some
+ format. Print (e.g., "%d") is a special case. Other
+ operations, including "%t" pop their operand from the
- The terms "static" and "dynamic" are misleading.
- Historically, these are simply two different sets of
- variables, whose values are not reset between calls
- to <STRONG>tparm</STRONG>. However, that fact is not documented in
- other implementations. Relying on it will adversely
+ The terms "static" and "dynamic" are misleading.
+ Historically, these are simply two different sets of
+ variables, whose values are not reset between calls
+ to <STRONG>tparm</STRONG>. However, that fact is not documented in
+ other implementations. Relying on it will adversely
- This forms an if-then-else. The %e <EM>elsepart</EM> is
- optional. Usually the %? <EM>expr</EM> part pushes a value
- onto the stack, and %t pops it from the stack, test-
- ing if it is nonzero (true). If it is zero (false),
+ This forms an if-then-else. The %e <EM>elsepart</EM> is
+ optional. Usually the %? <EM>expr</EM> part pushes a value
+ onto the stack, and %t pops it from the stack, test-
+ ing if it is nonzero (true). If it is zero (false),
that tabs are never expanded, so \t is safe to send. This
turns out to be essential for the Ann Arbor 4080.)
A final example is the LSI ADM-3a, which uses row and col-
umn offset by a blank character, thus "cup=\E=%p1%'
that tabs are never expanded, so \t is safe to send. This
turns out to be essential for the Ann Arbor 4080.)
A final example is the LSI ADM-3a, which uses row and col-
umn offset by a blank character, thus "cup=\E=%p1%'
- '%+%c%p2%' '%+%c". After sending `\E=', this pushes the
- first parameter, pushes the ASCII value for a space (32),
- adds them (pushing the sum on the stack in place of the
- two previous values) and outputs that value as a charac-
- ter. Then the same is done for the second parameter.
+ '%+%c%p2%' '%+%c". After sending `\E=', this pushes the
+ first parameter, pushes the ASCII value for a space (32),
+ adds them (pushing the sum on the stack in place of the
+ two previous values) and outputs that value as a charac-
+ ter. Then the same is done for the second parameter.
- upper left corner of screen) then this can be given as
- <STRONG>home</STRONG>; similarly a fast way of getting to the lower left-
- hand corner can be given as <STRONG>ll</STRONG>; this may involve going up
- with <STRONG>cuu1</STRONG> from the home position, but a program should
- never do this itself (unless <STRONG>ll</STRONG> does) because it can make
- no assumption about the effect of moving up from the home
- position. Note that the home position is the same as
+ upper left corner of screen) then this can be given as
+ <STRONG>home</STRONG>; similarly a fast way of getting to the lower left-
+ hand corner can be given as <STRONG>ll</STRONG>; this may involve going up
+ with <STRONG>cuu1</STRONG> from the home position, but a program should
+ never do this itself (unless <STRONG>ll</STRONG> does) because it can make
+ no assumption about the effect of moving up from the home
+ position. Note that the home position is the same as
- beginning of the line to the current position inclusive,
- leaving the cursor where it is, this should be given as
- <STRONG>el1</STRONG>. If the terminal can clear from the current position
- to the end of the display, then this should be given as
- <STRONG>ed</STRONG>. <STRONG>Ed</STRONG> is only defined from the first column of a line.
- (Thus, it can be simulated by a request to delete a large
+ beginning of the line to the current position inclusive,
+ leaving the cursor where it is, this should be given as
+ <STRONG>el1</STRONG>. If the terminal can clear from the current position
+ to the end of the display, then this should be given as
+ <STRONG>ed</STRONG>. <STRONG>Ed</STRONG> is only defined from the first column of a line.
+ (Thus, it can be simulated by a request to delete a large
- The boolean <STRONG>non_dest_scroll_region</STRONG> should be set if each
- scrolling window is effectively a view port on a screen-
- sized canvas. To test for this capability, create a
- scrolling region in the middle of the screen, write some-
- thing to the bottom line, move the cursor to the top of
+ The boolean <STRONG>non_dest_scroll_region</STRONG> should be set if each
+ scrolling window is effectively a view port on a screen-
+ sized canvas. To test for this capability, create a
+ scrolling region in the middle of the screen, write some-
+ thing to the bottom line, move the cursor to the top of
- scrolled off the bottom of the region by the <STRONG>ri</STRONG> re-
- appears, then scrolling is non-destructive. System V and
- XSI Curses expect that <STRONG>ind</STRONG>, <STRONG>ri</STRONG>, <STRONG>indn</STRONG>, and <STRONG>rin</STRONG> will simu-
- late destructive scrolling; their documentation cautions
- you not to define <STRONG>csr</STRONG> unless this is true. This <STRONG>curses</STRONG>
+ scrolled off the bottom of the region by the <STRONG>ri</STRONG> re-
+ appears, then scrolling is non-destructive. System V and
+ XSI Curses expect that <STRONG>ind</STRONG>, <STRONG>ri</STRONG>, <STRONG>indn</STRONG>, and <STRONG>rin</STRONG> will simu-
+ late destructive scrolling; their documentation cautions
+ you not to define <STRONG>csr</STRONG> unless this is true. This <STRONG>curses</STRONG>
- If the terminal can retain display memory above, then the
- <STRONG>da</STRONG> capability should be given; if display memory can be
- retained below, then <STRONG>db</STRONG> should be given. These indicate
- that deleting a line or scrolling may bring non-blank
- lines up from below or that scrolling back with <STRONG>ri</STRONG> may
+ If the terminal can retain display memory above, then the
+ <STRONG>da</STRONG> capability should be given; if display memory can be
+ retained below, then <STRONG>db</STRONG> should be given. These indicate
+ that deleting a line or scrolling may bring non-blank
+ lines up from below or that scrolling back with <STRONG>ri</STRONG> may
- There are two basic kinds of intelligent terminals with
- respect to insert/delete character which can be described
- using <EM>terminfo.</EM> The most common insert/delete character
- operations affect only the characters on the current line
- and shift characters off the end of the line rigidly.
- Other terminals, such as the Concept 100 and the Perkin
- Elmer Owl, make a distinction between typed and untyped
- blanks on the screen, shifting upon an insert or delete
- only to an untyped blank on the screen which is either
- eliminated, or expanded to two untyped blanks. You can
- determine the kind of terminal you have by clearing the
- screen and then typing text separated by cursor motions.
- Type "abc def" using local cursor motions (not spaces)
+ There are two basic kinds of intelligent terminals with
+ respect to insert/delete character which can be described
+ using <EM>terminfo.</EM> The most common insert/delete character
+ operations affect only the characters on the current line
+ and shift characters off the end of the line rigidly.
+ Other terminals, such as the Concept 100 and the Perkin
+ Elmer Owl, make a distinction between typed and untyped
+ blanks on the screen, shifting upon an insert or delete
+ only to an untyped blank on the screen which is either
+ eliminated, or expanded to two untyped blanks. You can
+ determine the kind of terminal you have by clearing the
+ screen and then typing text separated by cursor motions.
+ Type "abc def" using local cursor motions (not spaces)
- minal does not distinguish between blanks and untyped
- positions. If the "abc" shifts over to the "def" which
- then move together around the end of the current line and
- onto the next as you insert, you have the second type of
- terminal, and should give the capability <STRONG>in</STRONG>, which stands
+ minal does not distinguish between blanks and untyped
+ positions. If the "abc" shifts over to the "def" which
+ then move together around the end of the current line and
+ onto the next as you insert, you have the second type of
+ terminal, and should give the capability <STRONG>in</STRONG>, which stands
- If your terminal has both, insert mode is usually prefer-
- able to <STRONG>ich1</STRONG>. Technically, you should not give both
- unless the terminal actually requires both to be used in
- combination. Accordingly, some non-curses applications
- get confused if both are present; the symptom is doubled
+ If your terminal has both, insert mode is usually prefer-
+ able to <STRONG>ich1</STRONG>. Technically, you should not give both
+ unless the terminal actually requires both to be used in
+ combination. Accordingly, some non-curses applications
+ get confused if both are present; the symptom is doubled
- in insert mode, give this as a number of milliseconds
- padding in <STRONG>rmp</STRONG>.
-
- It is occasionally necessary to move around while in
- insert mode to delete characters on the same line (e.g.,
- if there is a tab after the insertion position). If your
- terminal allows motion while in insert mode you can give
- the capability <STRONG>mir</STRONG> to speed up inserting in this case.
- Omitting <STRONG>mir</STRONG> will affect only speed. Some terminals
+ in insert mode, give this as a number of milliseconds pad-
+ ding in <STRONG>rmp</STRONG>.
+
+ It is occasionally necessary to move around while in
+ insert mode to delete characters on the same line (e.g.,
+ if there is a tab after the insertion position). If your
+ terminal allows motion while in insert mode you can give
+ the capability <STRONG>mir</STRONG> to speed up inserting in this case.
+ Omitting <STRONG>mir</STRONG> will affect only speed. Some terminals
- Finally, you can specify <STRONG>dch1</STRONG> to delete a single charac-
- ter, <STRONG>dch</STRONG> with one parameter, <EM>n</EM>, to delete <EM>n</EM> <EM>characters,</EM>
- and delete mode by giving <STRONG>smdc</STRONG> and <STRONG>rmdc</STRONG> to enter and exit
- delete mode (any mode the terminal needs to be placed in
+ Finally, you can specify <STRONG>dch1</STRONG> to delete a single charac-
+ ter, <STRONG>dch</STRONG> with one parameter, <EM>n</EM>, to delete <EM>n</EM> <EM>characters,</EM>
+ and delete mode by giving <STRONG>smdc</STRONG> and <STRONG>rmdc</STRONG> to enter and exit
+ delete mode (any mode the terminal needs to be placed in
- eyes, format for highlighting error messages and other
- attention getters. (If you have a choice, reverse video
- plus half-bright is good, or reverse video alone.) The
- sequences to enter and exit standout mode are given as
- <STRONG>smso</STRONG> and <STRONG>rmso</STRONG>, respectively. If the code to change into
- or out of standout mode leaves one or even two blank
- spaces on the screen, as the TVI 912 and Teleray 1061 do,
+ eyes, format for highlighting error messages and other
+ attention getters. (If you have a choice, reverse video
+ plus half-bright is good, or reverse video alone.) The
+ sequences to enter and exit standout mode are given as
+ <STRONG>smso</STRONG> and <STRONG>rmso</STRONG>, respectively. If the code to change into
+ or out of standout mode leaves one or even two blank spa-
+ ces on the screen, as the TVI 912 and Teleray 1061 do,
-
- <STRONG>Glyph</STRONG> <STRONG>ACS</STRONG> <STRONG>Ascii</STRONG> <STRONG>VT100</STRONG>
- <STRONG>Name</STRONG> <STRONG>Name</STRONG> <STRONG>Default</STRONG> <STRONG>Name</STRONG>
- UK pound sign ACS_STERLING f }
- arrow pointing down ACS_DARROW v .
- arrow pointing left ACS_LARROW < ,
- arrow pointing right ACS_RARROW > +
- arrow pointing up ACS_UARROW ^ -
- board of squares ACS_BOARD # h
- bullet ACS_BULLET o ~
- checker board (stipple) ACS_CKBOARD : a
- degree symbol ACS_DEGREE \ f
- diamond ACS_DIAMOND + `
- greater-than-or-equal-to ACS_GEQUAL > z
- greek pi ACS_PI * {
- horizontal line ACS_HLINE - q
- lantern symbol ACS_LANTERN # i
- large plus or crossover ACS_PLUS + n
- less-than-or-equal-to ACS_LEQUAL < y
-
- lower left corner ACS_LLCORNER + m
- lower right corner ACS_LRCORNER + j
- not-equal ACS_NEQUAL ! |
- plus/minus ACS_PLMINUS # g
- scan line 1 ACS_S1 ~ o
- scan line 3 ACS_S3 - p
- scan line 7 ACS_S7 - r
- scan line 9 ACS_S9 _ s
- solid square block ACS_BLOCK # 0
- tee pointing down ACS_TTEE + w
- tee pointing left ACS_RTEE + u
- tee pointing right ACS_LTEE + t
- tee pointing up ACS_BTEE + v
- upper left corner ACS_ULCORNER + l
- upper right corner ACS_URCORNER + k
- vertical line ACS_VLINE | x
-
- The best way to define a new device's graphics set is to
- add a column to a copy of this table for your terminal,
- giving the character which (when emitted between
- <STRONG>smacs</STRONG>/<STRONG>rmacs</STRONG> switches) will be rendered as the correspond-
- ing graphic. Then read off the VT100/your terminal char-
- acter pairs right to left in sequence; these become the
+ <STRONG>Glyph</STRONG> <STRONG>ACS</STRONG> <STRONG>Ascii</STRONG> <STRONG>VT100</STRONG>
+ <STRONG>Name</STRONG> <STRONG>Name</STRONG> <STRONG>Default</STRONG> <STRONG>Name</STRONG>
+ UK pound sign ACS_STERLING f }
+ arrow pointing down ACS_DARROW v .
+ arrow pointing left ACS_LARROW < ,
+ arrow pointing right ACS_RARROW > +
+ arrow pointing up ACS_UARROW ^ -
+ board of squares ACS_BOARD # h
+ bullet ACS_BULLET o ~
+ checker board (stipple) ACS_CKBOARD : a
+ degree symbol ACS_DEGREE \ f
+ diamond ACS_DIAMOND + `
+ greater-than-or-equal-to ACS_GEQUAL > z
+ greek pi ACS_PI * {
+ horizontal line ACS_HLINE - q
+ lantern symbol ACS_LANTERN # i
+ large plus or crossover ACS_PLUS + n
+ less-than-or-equal-to ACS_LEQUAL < y
+ lower left corner ACS_LLCORNER + m
+ lower right corner ACS_LRCORNER + j
+ not-equal ACS_NEQUAL ! |
+ plus/minus ACS_PLMINUS # g
+ scan line 1 ACS_S1 ~ o
+ scan line 3 ACS_S3 - p
+ scan line 7 ACS_S7 - r
+ scan line 9 ACS_S9 _ s
+ solid square block ACS_BLOCK # 0
+ tee pointing down ACS_TTEE + w
+ tee pointing left ACS_RTEE + u
+ tee pointing right ACS_LTEE + t
+ tee pointing up ACS_BTEE + v
+ upper left corner ACS_ULCORNER + l
+
+ upper right corner ACS_URCORNER + k
+ vertical line ACS_VLINE | x
+
+ The best way to define a new device's graphics set is to
+ add a column to a copy of this table for your terminal,
+ giving the character which (when emitted between
+ <STRONG>smacs</STRONG>/<STRONG>rmacs</STRONG> switches) will be rendered as the correspond-
+ ing graphic. Then read off the VT100/your terminal char-
+ acter pairs right to left in sequence; these become the
- the maximum numbers of colors and color-pairs that can be
- displayed simultaneously. The <STRONG>op</STRONG> (original pair) string
- resets foreground and background colors to their default
- values for the terminal. The <STRONG>oc</STRONG> string resets all colors
- or color-pairs to their default values for the terminal.
- Some terminals (including many PC terminal emulators)
- erase screen areas with the current background color
- rather than the power-up default background; these should
+ the maximum numbers of colors and color-pairs that can be
+ displayed simultaneously. The <STRONG>op</STRONG> (original pair) string
+ resets foreground and background colors to their default
+ values for the terminal. The <STRONG>oc</STRONG> string resets all colors
+ or color-pairs to their default values for the terminal.
+ Some terminals (including many PC terminal emulators)
+ erase screen areas with the current background color
+ rather than the power-up default background; these should
- To change the current foreground or background color on a
- Tektronix-type terminal, use <STRONG>setaf</STRONG> (set ANSI foreground)
- and <STRONG>setab</STRONG> (set ANSI background) or <STRONG>setf</STRONG> (set foreground)
- and <STRONG>setb</STRONG> (set background). These take one parameter, the
+ To change the current foreground or background color on a
+ Tektronix-type terminal, use <STRONG>setaf</STRONG> (set ANSI foreground)
+ and <STRONG>setab</STRONG> (set ANSI background) or <STRONG>setf</STRONG> (set foreground)
+ and <STRONG>setb</STRONG> (set background). These take one parameter, the
- ground, they should be coded as <STRONG>setaf</STRONG> and <STRONG>setab</STRONG>, respec-
- tively. If the terminal supports other escape sequences
- to set background and foreground, they should be coded as
- <STRONG>setf</STRONG> and <STRONG>setb</STRONG>, respectively. The <EM>vidputs()</EM> function and
- the refresh functions use <STRONG>setaf</STRONG> and <STRONG>setab</STRONG> if they are
+ ground, they should be coded as <STRONG>setaf</STRONG> and <STRONG>setab</STRONG>, respec-
+ tively. If the terminal supports other escape sequences
+ to set background and foreground, they should be coded as
+ <STRONG>setf</STRONG> and <STRONG>setb</STRONG>, respectively. The <EM>vidputs()</EM> function and
+ the refresh functions use <STRONG>setaf</STRONG> and <STRONG>setab</STRONG> if they are
- On an HP-like terminal, <STRONG>initp</STRONG> may give a capability for
- changing a color-pair value. It will take seven parame-
- ters; a color-pair number (0 to <STRONG>max_pairs</STRONG> - 1), and two
- triples describing first background and then foreground
- colors. These parameters must be (Red, Green, Blue) or
+ On an HP-like terminal, <STRONG>initp</STRONG> may give a capability for
+ changing a color-pair value. It will take seven parame-
+ ters; a color-pair number (0 to <STRONG>max_pairs</STRONG> - 1), and two
+ triples describing first background and then foreground
+ colors. These parameters must be (Red, Green, Blue) or
- If there is a command to repeat a given character a given
- number of times (to save time transmitting a large number
- of identical characters) this can be indicated with the
- parameterized string <STRONG>rep</STRONG>. The first parameter is the
- character to be repeated and the second is the number of
- times to repeat it. Thus, tparm(repeat_char, 'x', 10) is
+ If there is a command to repeat a given character a given
+ number of times (to save time transmitting a large number
+ of identical characters) this can be indicated with the
+ parameterized string <STRONG>rep</STRONG>. The first parameter is the
+ character to be repeated and the second is the number of
+ times to repeat it. Thus, tparm(repeat_char, 'x', 10) is