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-<H1>terminfo 5 File Formats</H1>
-<HR>
+<H1 class="no-header">terminfo 5 File Formats</H1>
<PRE>
-<!-- Manpage converted by man2html 3.0.1 -->
<STRONG><A HREF="terminfo.5.html">terminfo(5)</A></STRONG> File Formats <STRONG><A HREF="terminfo.5.html">terminfo(5)</A></STRONG>
-</PRE>
-<H2>NAME</H2><PRE>
+</PRE><H2><a name="h2-NAME">NAME</a></H2><PRE>
terminfo - terminal capability data base
-</PRE>
-<H2>SYNOPSIS</H2><PRE>
+</PRE><H2><a name="h2-SYNOPSIS">SYNOPSIS</a></H2><PRE>
/usr/share/terminfo/*/*
-</PRE>
-<H2>DESCRIPTION</H2><PRE>
+</PRE><H2><a name="h2-DESCRIPTION">DESCRIPTION</a></H2><PRE>
<EM>Terminfo</EM> is a data base describing terminals, used by
- screen-oriented programs such as <STRONG><A HREF="nvi.1.html">nvi(1)</A></STRONG>, <STRONG><A HREF="rogue.1.html">rogue(1)</A></STRONG> and
+ screen-oriented programs such as <STRONG>nvi(1)</STRONG>, <STRONG>rogue(1)</STRONG> and
libraries such as <STRONG><A HREF="ncurses.3x.html">curses(3x)</A></STRONG>. <EM>Terminfo</EM> describes termi-
nals by giving a set of capabilities which they have, by
specifying how to perform screen operations, and by speci-
fying padding requirements and initialization sequences.
- This describes <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> version 5.6 (patch 20080621).
+ This describes <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> version 6.0 (patch 20160521).
Entries in <EM>terminfo</EM> consist of a sequence of `,' separated
fields (embedded commas may be escaped with a backslash or
Terminal names (except for the last, verbose entry) should
be chosen using the following conventions. The particular
piece of hardware making up the terminal should have a
- root name, thus ``hp2621''. This name should not contain
+ root name, thus "hp2621". This name should not contain
hyphens. Modes that the hardware can be in, or user pref-
erences, should be indicated by appending a hyphen and a
mode suffix. Thus, a vt100 in 132 column mode would be
vt100-w. The following suffixes should be used where pos-
sible:
-
<STRONG>Suffix</STRONG> <STRONG>Meaning</STRONG> <STRONG>Example</STRONG>
-<EM>nn</EM> Number of lines on the screen aaa-60
-<EM>n</EM>p Number of pages of memory c100-4p
-ns No status line hp2626-ns
-rv Reverse video c100-rv
-s Enable status line vt100-s
-
-vb Use visible bell instead of beep wy370-vb
+
-w Wide mode (> 80 columns, usually 132) vt100-w
For more on terminal naming conventions, see the <STRONG>term(7)</STRONG>
manual page.
- <STRONG>Capabilities</STRONG>
+
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Predefined-Capabilities">Predefined Capabilities</a></H3><PRE>
The following is a complete table of the capabilities
included in a terminfo description block and available to
terminfo-using code. In each line of the table,
These are the boolean capabilities:
- <STRONG>Variable</STRONG> <STRONG>Cap-</STRONG> <STRONG>TCap</STRONG> <STRONG>Description</STRONG>
- <STRONG>Booleans</STRONG> <STRONG>name</STRONG> <STRONG>Code</STRONG>
- auto_left_margin bw bw cub1 wraps from col-
+ <STRONG>Variable</STRONG> <STRONG>Cap-</STRONG> <STRONG>TCap</STRONG> <STRONG>Description</STRONG>
+ <STRONG>Booleans</STRONG> <STRONG>name</STRONG> <STRONG>Code</STRONG>
+ auto_left_margin bw bw cub1 wraps from col-
umn 0 to last column
- auto_right_margin am am terminal has auto-
+ auto_right_margin am am terminal has auto-
matic margins
- back_color_erase bce ut screen erased with
+ back_color_erase bce ut screen erased with
background color
- can_change ccc cc terminal can re-
+ can_change ccc cc terminal can re-
define existing col-
ors
- ceol_standout_glitch xhp xs standout not erased
+ ceol_standout_glitch xhp xs standout not erased
by overwriting (hp)
- col_addr_glitch xhpa YA only positive motion
+ col_addr_glitch xhpa YA only positive motion
for hpa/mhpa caps
- cpi_changes_res cpix YF changing character
+
+ cpi_changes_res cpix YF changing character
pitch changes reso-
lution
- cr_cancels_micro_mode crxm YB using cr turns off
+ cr_cancels_micro_mode crxm YB using cr turns off
micro mode
- dest_tabs_magic_smso xt xt tabs destructive,
+ dest_tabs_magic_smso xt xt tabs destructive,
magic so char
(t1061)
- eat_newline_glitch xenl xn newline ignored
+ eat_newline_glitch xenl xn newline ignored
after 80 cols (con-
cept)
- erase_overstrike eo eo can erase over-
+ erase_overstrike eo eo can erase over-
strikes with a blank
- generic_type gn gn generic line type
- hard_copy hc hc hardcopy terminal
- hard_cursor chts HC cursor is hard to
+ generic_type gn gn generic line type
+ hard_copy hc hc hardcopy terminal
+ hard_cursor chts HC cursor is hard to
see
- has_meta_key km km Has a meta key
+ has_meta_key km km Has a meta key
(i.e., sets 8th-bit)
- has_print_wheel daisy YC printer needs opera-
+ has_print_wheel daisy YC printer needs opera-
tor to change char-
acter set
- has_status_line hs hs has extra status
+ has_status_line hs hs has extra status
line
- hue_lightness_saturation hls hl terminal uses only
+ hue_lightness_saturation hls hl terminal uses only
HLS color notation
(Tektronix)
- insert_null_glitch in in insert mode distin-
+ insert_null_glitch in in insert mode distin-
guishes nulls
- lpi_changes_res lpix YG changing line pitch
+ lpi_changes_res lpix YG changing line pitch
changes resolution
- memory_above da da display may be
+ memory_above da da display may be
retained above the
screen
- memory_below db db display may be
+ memory_below db db display may be
retained below the
screen
- move_insert_mode mir mi safe to move while
+ move_insert_mode mir mi safe to move while
in insert mode
- move_standout_mode msgr ms safe to move while
+ move_standout_mode msgr ms safe to move while
in standout mode
- needs_xon_xoff nxon nx padding will not
+ needs_xon_xoff nxon nx padding will not
work, xon/xoff
required
- no_esc_ctlc xsb xb beehive (f1=escape,
+ no_esc_ctlc xsb xb beehive (f1=escape,
f2=ctrl C)
- no_pad_char npc NP pad character does
+ no_pad_char npc NP pad character does
not exist
- non_dest_scroll_region ndscr ND scrolling region is
+ non_dest_scroll_region ndscr ND scrolling region is
non-destructive
- non_rev_rmcup nrrmc NR smcup does not
+ non_rev_rmcup nrrmc NR smcup does not
reverse rmcup
- over_strike os os terminal can over-
+ over_strike os os terminal can over-
strike
- prtr_silent mc5i 5i printer will not
+ prtr_silent mc5i 5i printer will not
echo on screen
- row_addr_glitch xvpa YD only positive motion
+ row_addr_glitch xvpa YD only positive motion
for vpa/mvpa caps
- semi_auto_right_margin sam YE printing in last
+ semi_auto_right_margin sam YE printing in last
column causes cr
- status_line_esc_ok eslok es escape can be used
+ status_line_esc_ok eslok es escape can be used
on the status line
- tilde_glitch hz hz cannot print ~'s
- (hazeltine)
+ tilde_glitch hz hz cannot print ~'s
+ (Hazeltine)
- transparent_underline ul ul underline character
+ transparent_underline ul ul underline character
overstrikes
- xon_xoff xon xo terminal uses
+ xon_xoff xon xo terminal uses
xon/xoff handshaking
These are the numeric capabilities:
- <STRONG>Variable</STRONG> <STRONG>Cap-</STRONG> <STRONG>TCap</STRONG> <STRONG>Description</STRONG>
- <STRONG>Numeric</STRONG> <STRONG>name</STRONG> <STRONG>Code</STRONG>
- columns cols co number of columns in
+ <STRONG>Variable</STRONG> <STRONG>Cap-</STRONG> <STRONG>TCap</STRONG> <STRONG>Description</STRONG>
+ <STRONG>Numeric</STRONG> <STRONG>name</STRONG> <STRONG>Code</STRONG>
+ columns cols co number of columns in
a line
- init_tabs it it tabs initially every
+ init_tabs it it tabs initially every
# spaces
- label_height lh lh rows in each label
- label_width lw lw columns in each
+ label_height lh lh rows in each label
+ label_width lw lw columns in each
label
- lines lines li number of lines on
+ lines lines li number of lines on
screen or page
- lines_of_memory lm lm lines of memory if >
+ lines_of_memory lm lm lines of memory if >
line. 0 means varies
- magic_cookie_glitch xmc sg number of blank
+ magic_cookie_glitch xmc sg number of blank
characters left by
smso or rmso
- max_attributes ma ma maximum combined
+ max_attributes ma ma maximum combined
attributes terminal
can handle
- max_colors colors Co maximum number of
+ max_colors colors Co maximum number of
colors on screen
- max_pairs pairs pa maximum number of
+ max_pairs pairs pa maximum number of
color-pairs on the
screen
- maximum_windows wnum MW maximum number of
- defineable windows
- no_color_video ncv NC video attributes
+ maximum_windows wnum MW maximum number of
+ definable windows
+ no_color_video ncv NC video attributes
that cannot be used
with colors
- num_labels nlab Nl number of labels on
+ num_labels nlab Nl number of labels on
screen
- padding_baud_rate pb pb lowest baud rate
+ padding_baud_rate pb pb lowest baud rate
where padding needed
- virtual_terminal vt vt virtual terminal
+ virtual_terminal vt vt virtual terminal
number (CB/unix)
- width_status_line wsl ws number of columns in
+ width_status_line wsl ws number of columns in
status line
The following numeric capabilities are present in the
man page. They came in with SVr4's printer support.
- <STRONG>Variable</STRONG> <STRONG>Cap-</STRONG> <STRONG>TCap</STRONG> <STRONG>Description</STRONG>
- <STRONG>Numeric</STRONG> <STRONG>name</STRONG> <STRONG>Code</STRONG>
- bit_image_entwining bitwin Yo number of passes for
+ <STRONG>Variable</STRONG> <STRONG>Cap-</STRONG> <STRONG>TCap</STRONG> <STRONG>Description</STRONG>
+ <STRONG>Numeric</STRONG> <STRONG>name</STRONG> <STRONG>Code</STRONG>
+ bit_image_entwining bitwin Yo number of passes for
each bit-image row
- bit_image_type bitype Yp type of bit-image
+ bit_image_type bitype Yp type of bit-image
device
- buffer_capacity bufsz Ya numbers of bytes
+ buffer_capacity bufsz Ya numbers of bytes
buffered before
printing
- buttons btns BT number of buttons on
+ buttons btns BT number of buttons on
mouse
- dot_horz_spacing spinh Yc spacing of dots hor-
+ dot_horz_spacing spinh Yc spacing of dots hor-
izontally in dots
per inch
- dot_vert_spacing spinv Yb spacing of pins ver-
+ dot_vert_spacing spinv Yb spacing of pins ver-
tically in pins per
inch
- max_micro_address maddr Yd maximum value in
+ max_micro_address maddr Yd maximum value in
micro_..._address
- max_micro_jump mjump Ye maximum value in
+ max_micro_jump mjump Ye maximum value in
parm_..._micro
- micro_col_size mcs Yf character step size
+ micro_col_size mcs Yf character step size
when in micro mode
- micro_line_size mls Yg line step size when
+ micro_line_size mls Yg line step size when
in micro mode
- number_of_pins npins Yh numbers of pins in
+ number_of_pins npins Yh numbers of pins in
print-head
- output_res_char orc Yi horizontal resolu-
+ output_res_char orc Yi horizontal resolu-
tion in units per
line
- output_res_horz_inch orhi Yk horizontal resolu-
+ output_res_horz_inch orhi Yk horizontal resolu-
tion in units per
inch
- output_res_line orl Yj vertical resolution
+ output_res_line orl Yj vertical resolution
in units per line
- output_res_vert_inch orvi Yl vertical resolution
+ output_res_vert_inch orvi Yl vertical resolution
in units per inch
- print_rate cps Ym print rate in char-
+ print_rate cps Ym print rate in char-
acters per second
- wide_char_size widcs Yn character step size
+ wide_char_size widcs Yn character step size
when in double wide
mode
prototype !?
create_window cwin CW define a window #1
from #2,#3 to #4,#5
- cursor_address cup cm move to row #1
- columns #2
+ cursor_address cup cm move to row #1 col-
+ umns #2
cursor_down cud1 do down one line
cursor_home home ho home cursor (if no
cup)
zero_motion zerom Zx No motion for subse-
quent character
- The following string capabilities are present in the
- SVr4.0 term structure, but were originally not documented
+ The following string capabilities are present in the
+ SVr4.0 term structure, but were originally not documented
in the man page.
multiple codesets
color_names colornm Yw Give name for
color #1
- define_bit_image_region defbi Yx Define rectan-
- gualar bit image
- region
+ define_bit_image_region defbi Yx Define rectangular
+ bit image region
device_type devt dv Indicate lan-
guage/codeset sup-
port
set_page_length slines YZ Set page length to
#1 lines
+
set_tb_margin smgtb MT Sets both top and
bottom margins to
#1, #2
- The XSI Curses standard added these. They are some
- post-4.1 versions of System V curses, e.g., Solaris 2.5
- and IRIX 6.x. The <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> termcap names for them are
- invented; according to the XSI Curses standard, they have
- no termcap names. If your compiled terminfo entries use
- these, they may not be binary-compatible with System V
- terminfo entries after SVr4.1; beware!
+ The XSI Curses standard added these hardcopy capabili-
+ ties. They were used in some post-4.1 versions of System
+ V curses, e.g., Solaris 2.5 and IRIX 6.x. Except for <STRONG>YI</STRONG>,
+ the <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> termcap names for them are invented. Accord-
+ ing to the XSI Curses standard, they have no termcap
+ names. If your compiled terminfo entries use these, they
+ may not be binary-compatible with System V terminfo
+ entries after SVr4.1; beware!
<STRONG>Variable</STRONG> <STRONG>Cap-</STRONG> <STRONG>TCap</STRONG> <STRONG>Description</STRONG>
set_a_attributes sgr1 sA Define second set of
video attributes
#1-#6
- set_pglen_inch slengthsL YI Set page length
- to #1 hundredth of
- an inch
-
- <STRONG>A</STRONG> <STRONG>Sample</STRONG> <STRONG>Entry</STRONG>
+ set_pglen_inch slengthYI Set page length to
+ #1 hundredth of an
+ inch (some implemen-
+ tations use sL for
+ termcap).
+
+
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-User-Defined-Capabilities">User-Defined Capabilities</a></H3><PRE>
+ The preceding section listed the <EM>predefined</EM> capabilities.
+ They deal with some special features for terminals no
+ longer (or possibly never) produced. Occasionally there
+ are special features of newer terminals which are awkward
+ or impossible to represent by reusing the predefined capa-
+ bilities.
+
+ <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> addresses this limitation by allowing user-defined
+ capabilities. The <STRONG>tic</STRONG> and <STRONG>infocmp</STRONG> programs provide the <STRONG>-x</STRONG>
+ option for this purpose. When <STRONG>-x</STRONG> is set, <STRONG>tic</STRONG> treats
+ unknown capabilities as user-defined. That is, if <STRONG>tic</STRONG>
+ encounters a capability name which it does not recognize,
+ it infers its type (boolean, number or string) from the
+ syntax and makes an extended table entry for that capabil-
+ ity. The <STRONG>use_extended_names</STRONG> function makes this informa-
+ tion conditionally available to applications. The ncurses
+ library provides the data leaving most of the behavior to
+ applications:
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> User-defined capability strings whose name begins with
+ "k" are treated as function keys.
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> The types (boolean, number, string) determined by <STRONG>tic</STRONG>
+ can be inferred by successful calls on <STRONG>tigetflag</STRONG>, etc.
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> If the capability name happens to be two characters,
+ the capability is also available through the termcap
+ interface.
+
+ While termcap is said to be extensible because it does not
+ use a predefined set of capabilities, in practice it has
+ been limited to the capabilities defined by terminfo
+ implementations. As a rule, user-defined capabilities
+ intended for use by termcap applications should be limited
+ to booleans and numbers to avoid running past the 1023
+ byte limit assumed by termcap implementations and their
+ applications. In particular, providing extended sets of
+ function keys (past the 60 numbered keys and the handful
+ of special named keys) is best done using the longer names
+ available using terminfo.
+
+
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-A-Sample-Entry">A Sample Entry</a></H3><PRE>
The following entry, describing an ANSI-standard terminal,
is representative of what a <STRONG>terminfo</STRONG> entry for a modern
terminal typically looks like.
- ansi|ansi/pc-term compatible with color,
- mc5i,
- colors#8, ncv#3, pairs#64,
- cub=\E[%p1%dD, cud=\E[%p1%dB, cuf=\E[%p1%dC,
- cuu=\E[%p1%dA, dch=\E[%p1%dP, dl=\E[%p1%dM,
- ech=\E[%p1%dX, el1=\E[1K, hpa=\E[%p1%dG, ht=\E[I,
- ich=\E[%p1%d@, il=\E[%p1%dL, indn=\E[%p1%dS, .indn=\E[%p1%dT,
- kbs=^H, kcbt=\E[Z, kcub1=\E[D, kcud1=\E[B,
- kcuf1=\E[C, kcuu1=\E[A, kf1=\E[M, kf10=\E[V,
- kf11=\E[W, kf12=\E[X, kf2=\E[N, kf3=\E[O, kf4=\E[P,
- kf5=\E[Q, kf6=\E[R, kf7=\E[S, kf8=\E[T, kf9=\E[U,
- kich1=\E[L, mc4=\E[4i, mc5=\E[5i, nel=\r\E[S,
- op=\E[37;40m, rep=%p1%c\E[%p2%{1}%-%db,
- rin=\E[%p1%dT, s0ds=\E(B, s1ds=\E)B, s2ds=\E*B,
- s3ds=\E+B, setab=\E[4%p1%dm, setaf=\E[3%p1%dm,
- setb=\E[4%?%p1%{1}%=%t4%e%p1%{3}%=%t6%e%p1%{4}%=%t1%e%p1%{6}%=%t3%e%p1%d%;m,
- setf=\E[3%?%p1%{1}%=%t4%e%p1%{3}%=%t6%e%p1%{4}%=%t1%e%p1%{6}%=%t3%e%p1%d%;m,
- sgr=\E[0;10%?%p1%t;7%;%?%p2%t;4%;%?%p3%t;7%;%?%p4%t;5%;%?%p6%t;1%;%?%p7%t;8%;%?%p8%t;11%;%?%p9%t;12%;m,
- sgr0=\E[0;10m, tbc=\E[2g, u6=\E[%d;%dR, u7=\E[6n,
- u8=\E[?%[;0123456789]c, u9=\E[c, vpa=\E[%p1%dd,
+ ansi|ansi/pc-term compatible with color,
+ am, mc5i, mir, msgr,
+ colors#8, cols#80, it#8, lines#24, ncv#3, pairs#64,
+ acsc=+\020\,\021-\030.^Y0\333`\004a\261f\370g\361h\260
+ j\331k\277l\332m\300n\305o~p\304q\304r\304s_t\303
+ u\264v\301w\302x\263y\363z\362{\343|\330}\234~\376,
+ bel=^G, blink=\E[5m, bold=\E[1m, cbt=\E[Z, clear=\E[H\E[J,
+ cr=^M, cub=\E[%p1%dD, cub1=\E[D, cud=\E[%p1%dB, cud1=\E[B,
+ cuf=\E[%p1%dC, cuf1=\E[C, cup=\E[%i%p1%d;%p2%dH,
+ cuu=\E[%p1%dA, cuu1=\E[A, dch=\E[%p1%dP, dch1=\E[P,
+ dl=\E[%p1%dM, dl1=\E[M, ech=\E[%p1%dX, ed=\E[J, el=\E[K,
+ el1=\E[1K, home=\E[H, hpa=\E[%i%p1%dG, ht=\E[I, hts=\EH,
+ ich=\E[%p1%d@, il=\E[%p1%dL, il1=\E[L, ind=^J,
+ indn=\E[%p1%dS, invis=\E[8m, kbs=^H, kcbt=\E[Z, kcub1=\E[D,
+ kcud1=\E[B, kcuf1=\E[C, kcuu1=\E[A, khome=\E[H, kich1=\E[L,
+ mc4=\E[4i, mc5=\E[5i, nel=\r\E[S, op=\E[39;49m,
+ rep=%p1%c\E[%p2%{1}%-%db, rev=\E[7m, rin=\E[%p1%dT,
+ rmacs=\E[10m, rmpch=\E[10m, rmso=\E[m, rmul=\E[m,
+ s0ds=\E(B, s1ds=\E)B, s2ds=\E*B, s3ds=\E+B,
+ setab=\E[4%p1%dm, setaf=\E[3%p1%dm,
+ sgr=\E[0;10%?%p1%t;7%;
+ %?%p2%t;4%;
+ %?%p3%t;7%;
+ %?%p4%t;5%;
+ %?%p6%t;1%;
+ %?%p7%t;8%;
+ %?%p9%t;11%;m,
+ sgr0=\E[0;10m, smacs=\E[11m, smpch=\E[11m, smso=\E[7m,
+ smul=\E[4m, tbc=\E[3g, u6=\E[%i%d;%dR, u7=\E[6n,
+ u8=\E[?%[;0123456789]c, u9=\E[c, vpa=\E[%i%p1%dd,
Entries may continue onto multiple lines by placing white
space at the beginning of each line except the first.
- Comments may be included on lines beginning with ``#''.
- Capabilities in <EM>terminfo</EM> are of three types: Boolean capa-
- bilities which indicate that the terminal has some partic-
- ular feature, numeric capabilities giving the size of the
- terminal or the size of particular delays, and string
- capabilities, which give a sequence which can be used to
- perform particular terminal operations.
+ Comments may be included on lines beginning with "#".
+ Capabilities in <EM>terminfo</EM> are of three types:
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> Boolean capabilities which indicate that the terminal
+ has some particular feature,
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> numeric capabilities giving the size of the terminal
+ or the size of particular delays, and
- <STRONG>Types</STRONG> <STRONG>of</STRONG> <STRONG>Capabilities</STRONG>
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> string capabilities, which give a sequence which can
+ be used to perform particular terminal operations.
+
+
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Types-of-Capabilities">Types of Capabilities</a></H3><PRE>
All capabilities have names. For instance, the fact that
ANSI-standard terminals have <EM>automatic</EM> <EM>margins</EM> (i.e., an
automatic return and line-feed when the end of a line is
reached) is indicated by the capability <STRONG>am</STRONG>. Hence the
description of ansi includes <STRONG>am</STRONG>. Numeric capabilities are
- followed by the character `#' and then a positive value.
+ followed by the character "#" and then a positive value.
Thus <STRONG>cols</STRONG>, which indicates the number of columns the ter-
- minal has, gives the value `80' for ansi. Values for
+ minal has, gives the value "80" for ansi. Values for
numeric capabilities may be specified in decimal, octal or
hexadecimal, using the C programming language conventions
(e.g., 255, 0377 and 0xff or 0xFF).
Finally, string valued capabilities, such as <STRONG>el</STRONG> (clear to
end of line sequence) are given by the two-character code,
- an `=', and then a string ending at the next following
- `,'.
+ an "=", and then a string ending at the next following
+ ",".
A number of escape sequences are provided in the string
valued capabilities for easy encoding of characters there.
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,
- backspace, form-feed, and space. Other escapes include <STRONG>\^</STRONG>
- for <STRONG>^</STRONG>, <STRONG>\\</STRONG> for <STRONG>\</STRONG>, <STRONG>\</STRONG>, for comma, <STRONG>\:</STRONG> for <STRONG>:</STRONG>, and <STRONG>\0</STRONG> for null.
- (<STRONG>\0</STRONG> will produce \200, which does not terminate a string
- but behaves as a null character on most terminals, provid-
- ing CS7 is specified. See <STRONG><A HREF="stty.1.html">stty(1)</A></STRONG>.) Finally, characters
- may be given as three octal digits after a <STRONG>\</STRONG>.
+ backspace, form-feed, and space. Other escapes include
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>\^</STRONG> for <STRONG>^</STRONG>,
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>\\</STRONG> for <STRONG>\</STRONG>,
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>\</STRONG>, for comma,
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>\:</STRONG> for <STRONG>:</STRONG>,
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> and <STRONG>\0</STRONG> for null.
+
+ <STRONG>\0</STRONG> will produce \200, which does not terminate a
+ string but behaves as a null character on most termi-
+ nals, providing CS7 is specified. See <STRONG>stty(1)</STRONG>.
+
+ The reason for this quirk is to maintain binary com-
+ patibility of the compiled terminfo files with other
+ implementations, e.g., the SVr4 systems, which docu-
+ ment this. Compiled terminfo files use null-termi-
+ nated strings, with no lengths. Modifying this would
+ require a new binary format, which would not work with
+ other implementations.
+
+ Finally, characters may be given as three octal digits
+ after a <STRONG>\</STRONG>.
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
decimal place of precision; it may be followed by suffixes
- `*' or '/' or both. A `*' indicates that the padding
+ "*" or "/" or both. A "*" indicates that the padding
required is proportional to the number of lines affected
by the operation, and the amount given is the per-
affected-unit padding required. (In the case of insert
character, the factor is still the number of <EM>lines</EM>
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
+ 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
present to indicate flow control.
example, see the second <STRONG>ind</STRONG> in the example above.
- <STRONG>Fetching</STRONG> <STRONG>Compiled</STRONG> <STRONG>Descriptions</STRONG>
- If the environment variable TERMINFO is set, it is inter-
- preted as the pathname of a directory containing the com-
- piled description you are working on. Only that directory
- is searched.
-
- If TERMINFO is not set, the <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> version of the ter-
- minfo reader code will instead look in the directory
- <STRONG>$HOME/.terminfo</STRONG> for a compiled description. If it fails
- to find one there, and the environment variable TER-
- MINFO_DIRS is set, it will interpret the contents of that
- variable as a list of colon- separated directories to be
- searched (an empty entry is interpreted as a command to
- search <EM>/usr/share/terminfo</EM>). If no description is found
- in any of the TERMINFO_DIRS directories, the fetch fails.
-
- If neither TERMINFO nor TERMINFO_DIRS is set, the last
- place tried will be the system terminfo directory,
- <EM>/usr/share/terminfo</EM>.
-
- (Neither the <STRONG>$HOME/.terminfo</STRONG> lookups nor TERMINFO_DIRS
- extensions are supported under stock System V ter-
- minfo/curses.)
-
-
- <STRONG>Preparing</STRONG> <STRONG>Descriptions</STRONG>
- We now outline how to prepare descriptions of terminals.
- The most effective way to prepare a terminal description
- is by imitating the description of a similar terminal in
- <EM>terminfo</EM> and to build up a description gradually, using
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Fetching-Compiled-Descriptions">Fetching Compiled Descriptions</a></H3><PRE>
+ The <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> library searches for terminal descriptions in
+ several places. It uses only the first description found.
+ The library has a compiled-in list of places to search
+ which can be overridden by environment variables. Before
+ starting to search, <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> eliminates duplicates in its
+ search list.
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> If the environment variable TERMINFO is set, it is
+ interpreted as the pathname of a directory containing
+ the compiled description you are working on. Only
+ that directory is searched.
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> If TERMINFO is not set, <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> will instead look in
+ the directory <STRONG>$HOME/.terminfo</STRONG> for a compiled descrip-
+ tion.
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> Next, if the environment variable TERMINFO_DIRS is
+ set, <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> will interpret the contents of that vari-
+ able as a list of colon-separated directories (or
+ database files) to be searched.
+
+ An empty directory name (i.e., if the variable begins
+ or ends with a colon, or contains adjacent colons) is
+ interpreted as the system location <EM>/usr/share/ter-</EM>
+ <EM>minfo</EM>.
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> Finally, <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> searches these compiled-in locations:
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> a list of directories
+ (/usr/local/ncurses/share/terminfo:/usr/share/ter-
+ minfo), and
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> the system terminfo directory, <EM>/usr/share/terminfo</EM>
+ (the compiled-in default).
+
+
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Preparing-Descriptions">Preparing Descriptions</a></H3><PRE>
+ We now outline how to prepare descriptions of terminals.
+ The most effective way to prepare a terminal description
+ is by imitating the description of a similar terminal in
+ <EM>terminfo</EM> and to build up a description gradually, using
partial descriptions with <EM>vi</EM> or some other screen-oriented
- program to check that they are correct. Be aware that a
+ program to check that they are correct. Be aware that a
very unusual terminal may expose deficiencies in the abil-
- ity of the <EM>terminfo</EM> file to describe it or bugs in the
+ ity of the <EM>terminfo</EM> file to describe it or bugs in the
screen-handling code of the test program.
- To get the padding for insert line right (if the terminal
+ To get the padding for insert line right (if the terminal
manufacturer did not document it) a severe test is to edit
- a large file at 9600 baud, delete 16 or so lines from the
- middle of the screen, then hit the `u' key several times
- quickly. If the terminal messes up, more padding is usu-
- ally needed. A similar test can be used for insert char-
+ a large file at 9600 baud, delete 16 or so lines from the
+ middle of the screen, then hit the "u" key several times
+ quickly. If the terminal messes up, more padding is usu-
+ ally needed. A similar test can be used for insert char-
acter.
- <STRONG>Basic</STRONG> <STRONG>Capabilities</STRONG>
- The number of columns on each line for the terminal is
- given by the <STRONG>cols</STRONG> numeric capability. If the terminal is
- a CRT, then the number of lines on the screen is given by
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Basic-Capabilities">Basic Capabilities</a></H3><PRE>
+ The number of columns on each line for the terminal is
+ given by the <STRONG>cols</STRONG> numeric capability. If the terminal is
+ a CRT, then the number of lines on the screen is given by
the <STRONG>lines</STRONG> capability. If the terminal wraps around to the
- beginning of the next line when it reaches the right mar-
+ beginning of the next line when it reaches the right mar-
gin, then it should have the <STRONG>am</STRONG> capability. If the termi-
- nal can clear its screen, leaving the cursor in the home
- position, then this is given by the <STRONG>clear</STRONG> string capabil-
- ity. If the terminal overstrikes (rather than clearing a
- position when a character is struck over) then it should
- have the <STRONG>os</STRONG> capability. If the terminal is a printing
- terminal, with no soft copy unit, give it both <STRONG>hc</STRONG> and <STRONG>os</STRONG>.
- (<STRONG>os</STRONG> applies to storage scope terminals, such as TEKTRONIX
- 4010 series, as well as hard copy and APL terminals.) If
+ nal can clear its screen, leaving the cursor in the home
+ position, then this is given by the <STRONG>clear</STRONG> string capabil-
+ ity. If the terminal overstrikes (rather than clearing a
+ position when a character is struck over) then it should
+ have the <STRONG>os</STRONG> capability. If the terminal is a printing
+ terminal, with no soft copy unit, give it both <STRONG>hc</STRONG> and <STRONG>os</STRONG>.
+ (<STRONG>os</STRONG> applies to storage scope terminals, such as TEKTRONIX
+ 4010 series, as well as hard copy and APL terminals.) If
there is a code to move the cursor to the left edge of the
current row, give this as <STRONG>cr</STRONG>. (Normally this will be car-
- riage return, control M.) If there is a code to produce
+ riage return, control M.) If there is a code to produce
an audible signal (bell, beep, etc) give this as <STRONG>bel</STRONG>.
- If there is a code to move the cursor one position to the
- left (such as backspace) that capability should be given
- as <STRONG>cub1</STRONG>. Similarly, codes to move to the right, up, and
+ If there is a code to move the cursor one position to the
+ left (such as backspace) that capability should be given
+ as <STRONG>cub1</STRONG>. Similarly, codes to move to the right, up, and
down should be given as <STRONG>cuf1</STRONG>, <STRONG>cuu1</STRONG>, and <STRONG>cud1</STRONG>. These local
- cursor motions should not alter the text they pass over,
- for example, you would not normally use `<STRONG>cuf1</STRONG>= ' because
+ cursor motions should not alter the text they pass over,
+ for example, you would not normally use "<STRONG>cuf1</STRONG>= " because
the space would erase the character moved over.
- A very important point here is that the local cursor
- motions encoded in <EM>terminfo</EM> are undefined at the left and
- top edges of a CRT terminal. Programs should never
- attempt to backspace around the left edge, unless <STRONG>bw</STRONG> is
+ A very important point here is that the local cursor
+ motions encoded in <EM>terminfo</EM> are undefined at the left and
+ top edges of a CRT terminal. Programs should never
+ attempt to backspace around the left edge, unless <STRONG>bw</STRONG> is
given, and never attempt to go up locally off the top. In
- order to scroll text up, a program will go to the bottom
+ order to scroll text up, a program will go to the bottom
left corner of the screen and send the <STRONG>ind</STRONG> (index) string.
To scroll text down, a program goes to the top left corner
described as
33|tty33|tty|model 33 teletype,
- bel=^G, cols#72, cr=^M, cud1=^J, hc, ind=^J, os,
+ bel=^G, cols#72, cr=^M, cud1=^J, hc, ind=^J, os,
while the Lear Siegler ADM-3 is described as
adm3|3|lsi adm3,
- am, bel=^G, clear=^Z, cols#80, cr=^M, cub1=^H, cud1=^J,
- ind=^J, lines#24,
+ am, bel=^G, clear=^Z, cols#80, cr=^M, cub1=^H, cud1=^J,
+ ind=^J, lines#24,
- <STRONG>Parameterized</STRONG> <STRONG>Strings</STRONG>
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Parameterized-Strings">Parameterized Strings</a></H3><PRE>
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
+ capability, with <EM>printf</EM>-like escapes such as <EM>%x</EM> in it.
+ For example, to address the cursor, the <STRONG>cup</STRONG> capability is
given, using two parameters: the row and column to address
to. (Rows and columns are numbered from zero and refer to
the physical screen visible to the user, not to any unseen
The <STRONG>%</STRONG> encodings have the following meanings:
+ <STRONG>%%</STRONG> outputs "%"
- %% outputs `%'
-
- %<EM>[[</EM>:<EM>]flags][width[.precision]][</EM>doxXs<EM>]</EM>
- as in <STRONG>printf</STRONG>, flags are [-+#] and space. Use a `:'
- to allow the next character to be a `-' flag, avoid-
+ <STRONG>%</STRONG><EM>[[</EM>:<EM>]flags][width[.precision]][</EM><STRONG>doxXs</STRONG><EM>]</EM>
+ as in <STRONG>printf</STRONG>, flags are <EM>[-+#]</EM> and <EM>space</EM>. Use a ":"
+ to allow the next character to be a "-" flag, avoid-
ing interpreting "%-" as an operator.
%c print pop() like %c in <STRONG>printf</STRONG>
- %s print pop() like %s in <STRONG>printf</STRONG>
+ <STRONG>%s</STRONG> print pop() like %s in <STRONG>printf</STRONG>
- %p[1-9]
+ <STRONG>%p</STRONG><EM>[1-9]</EM>
push <EM>i</EM>'th parameter
- %P[a-z]
- set dynamic variable [a-z] to pop()
+ <STRONG>%P</STRONG><EM>[a-z]</EM>
+ set dynamic variable <EM>[a-z]</EM> to pop()
- %g[a-z]
- get dynamic variable [a-z] and push it
+ <STRONG>%g</STRONG><EM>[a-z]/</EM>
+ get dynamic variable <EM>[a-z]</EM> and push it
- %P[A-Z]
- set static variable [a-z] to pop()
+ <STRONG>%P</STRONG><EM>[A-Z]</EM>
+ set static variable <EM>[a-z]</EM> to <EM>pop()</EM>
- %g[A-Z]
- get static variable [a-z] and push it
+ <STRONG>%g</STRONG><EM>[A-Z]</EM>
+ get static variable <EM>[a-z]</EM> and push it
The terms "static" and "dynamic" are misleading.
Historically, these are simply two different sets of
other implementations. Relying on it will adversely
impact portability to other implementations.
- %'<EM>c</EM>' char constant <EM>c</EM>
+ <STRONG>%'</STRONG><EM>c</EM><STRONG>'</STRONG> char constant <EM>c</EM>
- %{<EM>nn</EM>}
+ <STRONG>%{</STRONG><EM>nn</EM><STRONG>}</STRONG>
integer constant <EM>nn</EM>
- %l push strlen(pop)
+ <STRONG>%l</STRONG> push strlen(pop)
- %+ %- %* %/ %m
- arithmetic (%m is mod): push(pop() op pop())
+ <STRONG>%+</STRONG>, <STRONG>%-</STRONG>, <STRONG>%*</STRONG>, <STRONG>%/</STRONG>, <STRONG>%m</STRONG>
+ arithmetic (%m is mod): <EM>push(pop()</EM> <EM>op</EM> <EM>pop())</EM>
- %& %| %^
- bit operations (AND, OR and exclusive-OR): push(pop()
- op pop())
+ <STRONG>%&</STRONG>, <STRONG>%|</STRONG>, <STRONG>%^</STRONG>
+ bit operations (AND, OR and exclusive-OR): <EM>push(pop()</EM>
+ <EM>op</EM> <EM>pop())</EM>
- %= %> %<
- logical operations: push(pop() op pop())
+ <STRONG>%=</STRONG>, <STRONG>%></STRONG>, <STRONG>%<</STRONG>
+ logical operations: <EM>push(pop()</EM> <EM>op</EM> <EM>pop())</EM>
- %A, %O
+ <STRONG>%A</STRONG>, <STRONG>%O</STRONG>
logical AND and OR operations (for conditionals)
- %! %~
+ <STRONG>%!</STRONG>, <STRONG>%~</STRONG>
unary operations (logical and bit complement):
push(op pop())
- %i add 1 to first two parameters (for ANSI terminals)
+ <STRONG>%i</STRONG> add 1 to first two parameters (for ANSI terminals)
- %? <EM>expr</EM> %t <EM>thenpart</EM> %e <EM>elsepart</EM> %;
- 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-
+ <STRONG>%?</STRONG> <EM>expr</EM> <STRONG>%t</STRONG> <EM>thenpart</EM> <STRONG>%e</STRONG> <EM>elsepart</EM> <STRONG>%;</STRONG>
+ This forms an if-then-else. The <STRONG>%e</STRONG> <EM>elsepart</EM> is
+ optional. Usually the <STRONG>%?</STRONG> <EM>expr</EM> part pushes a value
+ onto the stack, and <STRONG>%t</STRONG> pops it from the stack, test-
ing if it is nonzero (true). If it is zero (false),
- control passes to the %e (else) part.
+ control passes to the <STRONG>%e</STRONG> (else) part.
It is possible to form else-if's a la Algol 68:
- %? c1 %t b1 %e c2 %t b2 %e c3 %t b3 %e c4 %t b4 %e %;
+ <STRONG>%?</STRONG> c1 <STRONG>%t</STRONG> b1 <STRONG>%e</STRONG> c2 <STRONG>%t</STRONG> b2 <STRONG>%e</STRONG> c3 <STRONG>%t</STRONG> b3 <STRONG>%e</STRONG> c4 <STRONG>%t</STRONG> b4 <STRONG>%e</STRONG> <STRONG>%;</STRONG>
where ci are conditions, bi are bodies.
Use the <STRONG>-f</STRONG> option of <STRONG>tic</STRONG> or <STRONG>infocmp</STRONG> to see the struc-
- ture of if-the-else's. Some strings, e.g., <STRONG>sgr</STRONG> can
+ ture of if-then-else's. Some strings, e.g., <STRONG>sgr</STRONG> can
be very complicated when written on one line. The <STRONG>-f</STRONG>
- option splits the string into lines with the parts
+ option splits the string into lines with the parts
indented.
Binary operations are in postfix form with the operands in
- the usual order. That is, to get x-5 one would use
- "%gx%{5}%-". %P and %g variables are persistent across
+ the usual order. That is, to get x-5 one would use
+ "%gx%{5}%-". <STRONG>%P</STRONG> and <STRONG>%g</STRONG> variables are persistent across
escape-string evaluations.
Consider the HP2645, which, to get to row 3 and column 12,
- needs to be sent \E&a12c03Y padded for 6 milliseconds.
- Note that the order of the rows and columns is inverted
- here, and that the row and column are printed as two dig-
+ needs to be sent \E&a12c03Y padded for 6 milliseconds.
+ Note that the order of the rows and columns is inverted
+ here, and that the row and column are printed as two dig-
its. Thus its <STRONG>cup</STRONG> capability is "cup=6\E&%p2%2dc%p1%2dY".
The Microterm ACT-IV needs the current row and column sent
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
+ '%+%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-
More complex arithmetic is possible using the stack.
- <STRONG>Cursor</STRONG> <STRONG>Motions</STRONG>
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Cursor-Motions">Cursor Motions</a></H3><PRE>
If the terminal has a fast way to home the cursor (to very
upper left corner of screen) then this can be given as
<STRONG>home</STRONG>; similarly a fast way of getting to the lower left-
<STRONG>hpa</STRONG> (horizontal position absolute) and <STRONG>vpa</STRONG> (vertical posi-
tion absolute). Sometimes these are shorter than the more
general two parameter sequence (as with the hp2645) and
- can be used in preference to <STRONG>cup</STRONG>. If there are
- parameterized local motions (e.g., move <EM>n</EM> spaces to the
- right) these can be given as <STRONG>cud</STRONG>, <STRONG>cub</STRONG>, <STRONG>cuf</STRONG>, and <STRONG>cuu</STRONG> with a
- single parameter indicating how many spaces to move.
- These are primarily useful if the terminal does not have
- <STRONG>cup</STRONG>, such as the TEKTRONIX 4025.
+ can be used in preference to <STRONG>cup</STRONG>. If there are parameter-
+ ized local motions (e.g., move <EM>n</EM> spaces to the right)
+ these can be given as <STRONG>cud</STRONG>, <STRONG>cub</STRONG>, <STRONG>cuf</STRONG>, and <STRONG>cuu</STRONG> with a single
+ parameter indicating how many spaces to move. These are
+ primarily useful if the terminal does not have <STRONG>cup</STRONG>, such
+ as the TEKTRONIX 4025.
If the terminal needs to be in a special mode when running
a program that uses these capabilities, the codes to enter
<STRONG>rmcup</STRONG>), specify <STRONG>nrrmc</STRONG>.
- <STRONG>Area</STRONG> <STRONG>Clears</STRONG>
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Area-Clears">Area Clears</a></H3><PRE>
If the terminal can clear from the current position to the
end of the line, leaving the cursor where it is, this
should be given as <STRONG>el</STRONG>. If the terminal can clear from the
number of lines, if a true <STRONG>ed</STRONG> is not available.)
- <STRONG>Insert/delete</STRONG> <STRONG>line</STRONG> <STRONG>and</STRONG> <STRONG>vertical</STRONG> <STRONG>motions</STRONG>
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Insert_delete-line-and-vertical-motions">Insert/delete line and vertical motions</a></H3><PRE>
If the terminal can open a new blank line before the line
where the cursor is, this should be given as <STRONG>il1</STRONG>; this is
done only from the first position of a line. The cursor
bring down non-blank lines.
- <STRONG>Insert/Delete</STRONG> <STRONG>Character</STRONG>
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Insert_Delete-Character">Insert/Delete Character</a></H3><PRE>
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
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)
- between the "abc" and the "def". Then position the cursor
- before the "abc" and put the terminal in insert mode. If
- typing characters causes the rest of the line to shift
- rigidly and characters to fall off the end, then your ter-
- 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
- for "insert null". While these are two logically separate
- attributes (one line versus multi-line insert mode, and
- special treatment of untyped spaces) we have seen no ter-
- minals whose insert mode cannot be described with the sin-
- gle attribute.
+ eliminated, or expanded to two untyped blanks.
+
+ You can determine the kind of terminal you have by clear-
+ ing the screen and then typing text separated by cursor
+ motions. Type "abc def" using local cursor motions
+ (not spaces) between the "abc" and the "def". Then posi-
+ tion the cursor before the "abc" and put the terminal in
+ insert mode. If typing characters causes the rest of the
+ line to shift rigidly and characters to fall off the end,
+ then your terminal 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 for "insert null".
+
+ While these are two logically separate attributes (one
+ line versus multi-line insert mode, and special treatment
+ of untyped spaces) we have seen no terminals whose insert
+ mode cannot be described with the single attribute.
Terminfo can describe both terminals which have an insert
mode, and terminals which send a simple sequence to open a
blank position on the current line. Give as <STRONG>smir</STRONG> the
sequence to get into insert mode. Give as <STRONG>rmir</STRONG> the
sequence to leave insert mode. Now give as <STRONG>ich1</STRONG> any
- sequence needed to be sent just before sending the
- character to be inserted. Most terminals with a true
- insert mode will not give <STRONG>ich1</STRONG>; terminals which send a
- sequence to open a screen position should give it here.
+ sequence needed to be sent just before sending the charac-
+ ter to be inserted. Most terminals with a true insert
+ mode will not give <STRONG>ich1</STRONG>; terminals which send a sequence
+ to open a screen position should give it here.
If your terminal has both, insert mode is usually prefer-
able to <STRONG>ich1</STRONG>. Technically, you should not give both
milliseconds in <STRONG>ip</STRONG> (a string option). Any other sequence
which may need to be sent after an insert of a single
character may also be given in <STRONG>ip</STRONG>. If your terminal needs
- both to be placed into an `insert mode' and a special code
+ both to be placed into an "insert mode" and a special code
to precede each inserted character, then both <STRONG>smir</STRONG>/<STRONG>rmir</STRONG>
and <STRONG>ich1</STRONG> can be given, and both will be used. The <STRONG>ich</STRONG>
capability, with one parameter, <EM>n</EM>, will repeat the effects
of <STRONG>ich1</STRONG> <EM>n</EM> times.
If padding is necessary between characters typed while not
- in insert mode, give this as a number of milliseconds
- padding in <STRONG>rmp</STRONG>.
+ 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.,
with one parameter.
- <STRONG>Highlighting,</STRONG> <STRONG>Underlining,</STRONG> <STRONG>and</STRONG> <STRONG>Visible</STRONG> <STRONG>Bells</STRONG>
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Highlighting_-Underlining_-and-Visible-Bells">Highlighting, Underlining, and Visible Bells</a></H3><PRE>
If your terminal has one or more kinds of display
attributes, these can be represented in a number of dif-
ferent ways. You should choose one display form as <EM>stand-</EM>
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,
+ or out of standout mode leaves one or even two blank spa-
+ ces on the screen, as the TVI 912 and Teleray 1061 do,
then <STRONG>xmc</STRONG> should be given to tell how many spaces are left.
- Codes to begin underlining and end underlining can be
- given as <STRONG>smul</STRONG> and <STRONG>rmul</STRONG> respectively. If the terminal has
- a code to underline the current character and move the
+ Codes to begin underlining and end underlining can be
+ given as <STRONG>smul</STRONG> and <STRONG>rmul</STRONG> respectively. If the terminal has
+ a code to underline the current character and move the
cursor one space to the right, such as the Microterm Mime,
this can be given as <STRONG>uc</STRONG>.
- Other capabilities to enter various highlighting modes
- include <STRONG>blink</STRONG> (blinking) <STRONG>bold</STRONG> (bold or extra bright) <STRONG>dim</STRONG>
- (dim or half-bright) <STRONG>invis</STRONG> (blanking or invisible text)
- <STRONG>prot</STRONG> (protected) <STRONG>rev</STRONG> (reverse video) <STRONG>sgr0</STRONG> (turn off <EM>all</EM>
- attribute modes) <STRONG>smacs</STRONG> (enter alternate character set
- mode) and <STRONG>rmacs</STRONG> (exit alternate character set mode).
- Turning on any of these modes singly may or may not turn
+ Other capabilities to enter various highlighting modes
+ include <STRONG>blink</STRONG> (blinking) <STRONG>bold</STRONG> (bold or extra bright) <STRONG>dim</STRONG>
+ (dim or half-bright) <STRONG>invis</STRONG> (blanking or invisible text)
+ <STRONG>prot</STRONG> (protected) <STRONG>rev</STRONG> (reverse video) <STRONG>sgr0</STRONG> (turn off <EM>all</EM>
+ attribute modes) <STRONG>smacs</STRONG> (enter alternate character set
+ mode) and <STRONG>rmacs</STRONG> (exit alternate character set mode).
+ Turning on any of these modes singly may or may not turn
off other modes.
- If there is a sequence to set arbitrary combinations of
- modes, this should be given as <STRONG>sgr</STRONG> (set attributes), tak-
- ing 9 parameters. Each parameter is either 0 or nonzero,
+ If there is a sequence to set arbitrary combinations of
+ modes, this should be given as <STRONG>sgr</STRONG> (set attributes), tak-
+ ing 9 parameters. Each parameter is either 0 or nonzero,
as the corresponding attribute is on or off. The 9 param-
- eters are, in order: standout, underline, reverse, blink,
- dim, bold, blank, protect, alternate character set. Not
- all modes need be supported by <STRONG>sgr</STRONG>, only those for which
+ eters are, in order: standout, underline, reverse, blink,
+ dim, bold, blank, protect, alternate character set. Not
+ all modes need be supported by <STRONG>sgr</STRONG>, only those for which
corresponding separate attribute commands exist.
For example, the DEC vt220 supports most of the modes:
-
- <STRONG>tparm</STRONG> <STRONG>parameter</STRONG> <STRONG>attribute</STRONG> <STRONG>escape</STRONG> <STRONG>sequence</STRONG>
-
- none none \E[0m
- p1 standout \E[0;1;7m
- p2 underline \E[0;4m
- p3 reverse \E[0;7m
- p4 blink \E[0;5m
- p5 dim not available
- p6 bold \E[0;1m
- p7 invis \E[0;8m
- p8 protect not used
- p9 altcharset ^O (off) ^N (on)
-
- We begin each escape sequence by turning off any existing
- modes, since there is no quick way to determine whether
+ <STRONG>tparm</STRONG> <STRONG>parameter</STRONG> <STRONG>attribute</STRONG> <STRONG>escape</STRONG> <STRONG>sequence</STRONG>
+
+ none none \E[0m
+ p1 standout \E[0;1;7m
+ p2 underline \E[0;4m
+ p3 reverse \E[0;7m
+ p4 blink \E[0;5m
+ p5 dim not available
+ p6 bold \E[0;1m
+ p7 invis \E[0;8m
+ p8 protect not used
+ p9 altcharset ^O (off) ^N (on)
+
+ We begin each escape sequence by turning off any existing
+ modes, since there is no quick way to determine whether
they are active. Standout is set up to be the combination
- of reverse and bold. The vt220 terminal has a protect
- mode, though it is not commonly used in sgr because it
- protects characters on the screen from the host's era-
- sures. The altcharset mode also is different in that it
- is either ^O or ^N, depending on whether it is off or on.
- If all modes are turned on, the resulting sequence is
+ of reverse and bold. The vt220 terminal has a protect
+ mode, though it is not commonly used in sgr because it
+ protects characters on the screen from the host's era-
+ sures. The altcharset mode also is different in that it
+ is either ^O or ^N, depending on whether it is off or on.
+ If all modes are turned on, the resulting sequence is
\E[0;1;4;5;7;8m^N.
- Some sequences are common to different modes. For exam-
- ple, ;7 is output when either p1 or p3 is true, that is,
+ Some sequences are common to different modes. For exam-
+ ple, ;7 is output when either p1 or p3 is true, that is,
if either standout or reverse modes are turned on.
- Writing out the above sequences, along with their depen-
+ Writing out the above sequences, along with their depen-
dencies yields
+ <STRONG>sequence</STRONG> <STRONG>when</STRONG> <STRONG>to</STRONG> <STRONG>output</STRONG> <STRONG>terminfo</STRONG> <STRONG>translation</STRONG>
- <STRONG>sequence</STRONG> <STRONG>when</STRONG> <STRONG>to</STRONG> <STRONG>output</STRONG> <STRONG>terminfo</STRONG> <STRONG>translation</STRONG>
-
- \E[0 always \E[0
- ;1 if p1 or p6 %?%p1%p6%|%t;1%;
- ;4 if p2 %?%p2%|%t;4%;
- ;5 if p4 %?%p4%|%t;5%;
-
- ;7 if p1 or p3 %?%p1%p3%|%t;7%;
- ;8 if p7 %?%p7%|%t;8%;
- m always m
- ^N or ^O if p9 ^N, else ^O %?%p9%t^N%e^O%;
+ \E[0 always \E[0
+ ;1 if p1 or p6 %?%p1%p6%|%t;1%;
+ ;4 if p2 %?%p2%|%t;4%;
+ ;5 if p4 %?%p4%|%t;5%;
+ ;7 if p1 or p3 %?%p1%p3%|%t;7%;
+ ;8 if p7 %?%p7%|%t;8%;
+ m always m
+ ^N or ^O if p9 ^N, else ^O %?%p9%t^N%e^O%;
Putting this all together into the sgr sequence gives:
- sgr=\E[0%?%p1%p6%|%t;1%;%?%p2%t;4%;%?%p1%p3%|%t;7%;
- %?%p4%t;5%;%?%p7%t;8%;m%?%p9%t\016%e\017%;,
+ sgr=\E[0%?%p1%p6%|%t;1%;%?%p2%t;4%;%?%p4%t;5%;
+ %?%p1%p3%|%t;7%;%?%p7%t;8%;m%?%p9%t\016%e\017%;,
- Remember that if you specify sgr, you must also specify
- sgr0. Also, some implementations rely on sgr being given
- if sgr0 is, Not all terminfo entries necessarily have an
- sgr string, however. Many terminfo entries are derived
- from termcap entries which have no sgr string. The only
- drawback to adding an sgr string is that termcap also
- assumes that sgr0 does not exit alternate character set
+ Remember that if you specify sgr, you must also specify
+ sgr0. Also, some implementations rely on sgr being given
+ if sgr0 is, Not all terminfo entries necessarily have an
+ sgr string, however. Many terminfo entries are derived
+ from termcap entries which have no sgr string. The only
+ drawback to adding an sgr string is that termcap also
+ assumes that sgr0 does not exit alternate character set
mode.
- Terminals with the ``magic cookie'' glitch (<STRONG>xmc</STRONG>) deposit
- special ``cookies'' when they receive mode-setting
- sequences, which affect the display algorithm rather than
- having extra bits for each character. Some terminals,
- such as the HP 2621, automatically leave standout mode
- when they move to a new line or the cursor is addressed.
- Programs using standout mode should exit standout mode
- before moving the cursor or sending a newline, unless the
- <STRONG>msgr</STRONG> capability, asserting that it is safe to move in
+ Terminals with the "magic cookie" glitch (<STRONG>xmc</STRONG>) deposit
+ special "cookies" when they receive mode-setting
+ sequences, which affect the display algorithm rather than
+ having extra bits for each character. Some terminals,
+ such as the HP 2621, automatically leave standout mode
+ when they move to a new line or the cursor is addressed.
+ Programs using standout mode should exit standout mode
+ before moving the cursor or sending a newline, unless the
+ <STRONG>msgr</STRONG> capability, asserting that it is safe to move in
standout mode, is present.
- If the terminal has a way of flashing the screen to indi-
- cate an error quietly (a bell replacement) then this can
+ If the terminal has a way of flashing the screen to indi-
+ cate an error quietly (a bell replacement) then this can
be given as <STRONG>flash</STRONG>; it must not move the cursor.
- If the cursor needs to be made more visible than normal
+ If the cursor needs to be made more visible than normal
when it is not on the bottom line (to make, for example, a
- non-blinking underline into an easier to find block or
+ non-blinking underline into an easier to find block or
blinking underline) give this sequence as <STRONG>cvvis</STRONG>. If there
- is a way to make the cursor completely invisible, give
+ is a way to make the cursor completely invisible, give
that as <STRONG>civis</STRONG>. The capability <STRONG>cnorm</STRONG> should be given which
undoes the effects of both of these modes.
If your terminal correctly generates underlined characters
- (with no special codes needed) even though it does not
- overstrike, then you should give the capability <STRONG>ul</STRONG>. If a
- character overstriking another leaves both characters on
+ (with no special codes needed) even though it does not
+ overstrike, then you should give the capability <STRONG>ul</STRONG>. If a
+ character overstriking another leaves both characters on
the screen, specify the capability <STRONG>os</STRONG>. If overstrikes are
- erasable with a blank, then this should be indicated by
+ erasable with a blank, then this should be indicated by
giving <STRONG>eo</STRONG>.
- <STRONG>Keypad</STRONG> <STRONG>and</STRONG> <STRONG>Function</STRONG> <STRONG>Keys</STRONG>
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Keypad-and-Function-Keys">Keypad and Function Keys</a></H3><PRE>
If the terminal has a keypad that transmits codes when the
- keys are pressed, this information can be given. Note
+ keys are pressed, this information can be given. Note
that it is not possible to handle terminals where the key-
pad only works in local (this applies, for example, to the
- unshifted HP 2621 keys). If the keypad can be set to
- transmit or not transmit, give these codes as <STRONG>smkx</STRONG> and
+ unshifted HP 2621 keys). If the keypad can be set to
+ transmit or not transmit, give these codes as <STRONG>smkx</STRONG> and
<STRONG>rmkx</STRONG>. Otherwise the keypad is assumed to always transmit.
+
The codes sent by the left arrow, right arrow, up arrow,
down arrow, and home keys can be given as <STRONG>kcub1,</STRONG> <STRONG>kcuf1,</STRONG>
<STRONG>kcuu1,</STRONG> <STRONG>kcud1,</STRONG> and <STRONG>khome</STRONG> respectively. If there are func-
tion keys such as f0, f1, ..., f10, the codes they send
can be given as <STRONG>kf0,</STRONG> <STRONG>kf1,</STRONG> <STRONG>...,</STRONG> <STRONG>kf10</STRONG>. If these keys have
labels other than the default f0 through f10, the labels
- can be given as <STRONG>lf0,</STRONG> <STRONG>lf1,</STRONG> <STRONG>...,</STRONG> <STRONG>lf10</STRONG>. The codes
- transmitted by certain other special keys can be given:
- <STRONG>kll</STRONG> (home down), <STRONG>kbs</STRONG> (backspace), <STRONG>ktbc</STRONG> (clear all tabs),
- <STRONG>kctab</STRONG> (clear the tab stop in this column), <STRONG>kclr</STRONG> (clear
- screen or erase key), <STRONG>kdch1</STRONG> (delete character), <STRONG>kdl1</STRONG>
- (delete line), <STRONG>krmir</STRONG> (exit insert mode), <STRONG>kel</STRONG> (clear to end
- of line), <STRONG>ked</STRONG> (clear to end of screen), <STRONG>kich1</STRONG> (insert
- character or enter insert mode), <STRONG>kil1</STRONG> (insert line), <STRONG>knp</STRONG>
- (next page), <STRONG>kpp</STRONG> (previous page), <STRONG>kind</STRONG> (scroll for-
- ward/down), <STRONG>kri</STRONG> (scroll backward/up), <STRONG>khts</STRONG> (set a tab stop
- in this column). In addition, if the keypad has a 3 by 3
- array of keys including the four arrow keys, the other
- five keys can be given as <STRONG>ka1</STRONG>, <STRONG>ka3</STRONG>, <STRONG>kb2</STRONG>, <STRONG>kc1</STRONG>, and <STRONG>kc3</STRONG>.
- These keys are useful when the effects of a 3 by 3 direc-
- tional pad are needed.
-
- Strings to program function keys can be given as <STRONG>pfkey</STRONG>,
- <STRONG>pfloc</STRONG>, and <STRONG>pfx</STRONG>. A string to program screen labels should
- be specified as <STRONG>pln</STRONG>. Each of these strings takes two
- parameters: the function key number to program (from 0 to
- 10) and the string to program it with. Function key num-
- bers out of this range may program undefined keys in a
- terminal dependent manner. The difference between the
- capabilities is that <STRONG>pfkey</STRONG> causes pressing the given key
- to be the same as the user typing the given string; <STRONG>pfloc</STRONG>
+ can be given as <STRONG>lf0,</STRONG> <STRONG>lf1,</STRONG> <STRONG>...,</STRONG> <STRONG>lf10</STRONG>.
+
+ The codes transmitted by certain other special keys can be
+ given:
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>kll</STRONG> (home down),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>kbs</STRONG> (backspace),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>ktbc</STRONG> (clear all tabs),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>kctab</STRONG> (clear the tab stop in this column),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>kclr</STRONG> (clear screen or erase key),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>kdch1</STRONG> (delete character),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>kdl1</STRONG> (delete line),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>krmir</STRONG> (exit insert mode),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>kel</STRONG> (clear to end of line),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>ked</STRONG> (clear to end of screen),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>kich1</STRONG> (insert character or enter insert mode),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>kil1</STRONG> (insert line),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>knp</STRONG> (next page),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>kpp</STRONG> (previous page),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>kind</STRONG> (scroll forward/down),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>kri</STRONG> (scroll backward/up),
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> <STRONG>khts</STRONG> (set a tab stop in this column).
+
+ In addition, if the keypad has a 3 by 3 array of keys
+ including the four arrow keys, the other five keys can be
+ given as <STRONG>ka1</STRONG>, <STRONG>ka3</STRONG>, <STRONG>kb2</STRONG>, <STRONG>kc1</STRONG>, and <STRONG>kc3</STRONG>. These keys are use-
+ ful when the effects of a 3 by 3 directional pad are
+ needed.
+
+ Strings to program function keys can be given as <STRONG>pfkey</STRONG>,
+ <STRONG>pfloc</STRONG>, and <STRONG>pfx</STRONG>. A string to program screen labels should
+ be specified as <STRONG>pln</STRONG>. Each of these strings takes two
+ parameters: the function key number to program (from 0 to
+ 10) and the string to program it with. Function key num-
+ bers out of this range may program undefined keys in a
+ terminal dependent manner. The difference between the
+ capabilities is that <STRONG>pfkey</STRONG> causes pressing the given key
+ to be the same as the user typing the given string; <STRONG>pfloc</STRONG>
causes the string to be executed by the terminal in local;
- and <STRONG>pfx</STRONG> causes the string to be transmitted to the com-
+ and <STRONG>pfx</STRONG> causes the string to be transmitted to the com-
puter.
The capabilities <STRONG>nlab</STRONG>, <STRONG>lw</STRONG> and <STRONG>lh</STRONG> define the number of pro-
- grammable screen labels and their width and height. If
- there are commands to turn the labels on and off, give
- them in <STRONG>smln</STRONG> and <STRONG>rmln</STRONG>. <STRONG>smln</STRONG> is normally output after one
+ grammable screen labels and their width and height. If
+ there are commands to turn the labels on and off, give
+ them in <STRONG>smln</STRONG> and <STRONG>rmln</STRONG>. <STRONG>smln</STRONG> is normally output after one
or more pln sequences to make sure that the change becomes
visible.
- <STRONG>Tabs</STRONG> <STRONG>and</STRONG> <STRONG>Initialization</STRONG>
- If the terminal has hardware tabs, the command to advance
- to the next tab stop can be given as <STRONG>ht</STRONG> (usually control
- I). A ``back-tab'' command which moves leftward to the
- preceding tab stop can be given as <STRONG>cbt</STRONG>. By convention, if
- the teletype modes indicate that tabs are being expanded
- by the computer rather than being sent to the terminal,
- programs should not use <STRONG>ht</STRONG> or <STRONG>cbt</STRONG> even if they are
- present, since the user may not have the tab stops prop-
- erly set. If the terminal has hardware tabs which are
- initially set every <EM>n</EM> spaces when the terminal is powered
- up, the numeric parameter <STRONG>it</STRONG> is given, showing the number
- of spaces the tabs are set to. This is normally used by
- the <EM>tset</EM> command to determine whether to set the mode for
- hardware tab expansion, and whether to set the tab stops.
- If the terminal has tab stops that can be saved in non-
- volatile memory, the terminfo description can assume that
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Tabs-and-Initialization">Tabs and Initialization</a></H3><PRE>
+ If the terminal has hardware tabs, the command to advance
+ to the next tab stop can be given as <STRONG>ht</STRONG> (usually control
+ I). A "back-tab" command which moves leftward to the pre-
+ ceding tab stop can be given as <STRONG>cbt</STRONG>. By convention, if
+ the teletype modes indicate that tabs are being expanded
+ by the computer rather than being sent to the terminal,
+ programs should not use <STRONG>ht</STRONG> or <STRONG>cbt</STRONG> even if they are
+ present, since the user may not have the tab stops prop-
+ erly set. If the terminal has hardware tabs which are
+ initially set every <EM>n</EM> spaces when the terminal is powered
+ up, the numeric parameter <STRONG>it</STRONG> is given, showing the number
+ of spaces the tabs are set to. This is normally used by
+ the <EM>tset</EM> command to determine whether to set the mode for
+ hardware tab expansion, and whether to set the tab stops.
+ If the terminal has tab stops that can be saved in non-
+ volatile memory, the terminfo description can assume that
they are properly set.
- Other capabilities include <STRONG>is1</STRONG>, <STRONG>is2</STRONG>, and <STRONG>is3</STRONG>, initializa-
- tion strings for the terminal, <STRONG>iprog</STRONG>, the path name of a
- program to be run to initialize the terminal, and <STRONG>if</STRONG>, the
- name of a file containing long initialization strings.
- These strings are expected to set the terminal into modes
- consistent with the rest of the terminfo description.
+ Other capabilities include <STRONG>is1</STRONG>, <STRONG>is2</STRONG>, and <STRONG>is3</STRONG>, initializa-
+ tion strings for the terminal, <STRONG>iprog</STRONG>, the path name of a
+ program to be run to initialize the terminal, and <STRONG>if</STRONG>, the
+ name of a file containing long initialization strings.
+ These strings are expected to set the terminal into modes
+ consistent with the rest of the terminfo description.
They are normally sent to the terminal, by the <EM>init</EM> option
- of the <EM>tput</EM> program, each time the user logs in. They
+ of the <EM>tput</EM> program, each time the user logs in. They
will be printed in the following order:
run the program
and finally
output <STRONG>is3</STRONG>.
- Most initialization is done with <STRONG>is2</STRONG>. Special terminal
+ Most initialization is done with <STRONG>is2</STRONG>. Special terminal
modes can be set up without duplicating strings by putting
- the common sequences in <STRONG>is2</STRONG> and special cases in <STRONG>is1</STRONG> and
+ the common sequences in <STRONG>is2</STRONG> and special cases in <STRONG>is1</STRONG> and
<STRONG>is3</STRONG>.
A set of sequences that does a harder reset from a totally
unknown state can be given as <STRONG>rs1</STRONG>, <STRONG>rs2</STRONG>, <STRONG>rf</STRONG> and <STRONG>rs3</STRONG>, analo-
- gous to <STRONG>is1</STRONG> <STRONG>,</STRONG> <STRONG>is2</STRONG> <STRONG>,</STRONG> <STRONG>if</STRONG> and <STRONG>is3</STRONG> respectively. These
- strings are output by the <EM>reset</EM> program, which is used
- when the terminal gets into a wedged state. Commands are
- normally placed in <STRONG>rs1</STRONG>, <STRONG>rs2</STRONG> <STRONG>rs3</STRONG> and <STRONG>rf</STRONG> only if they pro-
- duce annoying effects on the screen and are not necessary
- when logging in. For example, the command to set the
- vt100 into 80-column mode would normally be part of <STRONG>is2</STRONG>,
- but it causes an annoying glitch of the screen and is not
- normally needed since the terminal is usually already in
+ gous to <STRONG>is1</STRONG> <STRONG>,</STRONG> <STRONG>is2</STRONG> <STRONG>,</STRONG> <STRONG>if</STRONG> and <STRONG>is3</STRONG> respectively. These
+ strings are output by the <EM>reset</EM> program, which is used
+ when the terminal gets into a wedged state. Commands are
+ normally placed in <STRONG>rs1</STRONG>, <STRONG>rs2</STRONG> <STRONG>rs3</STRONG> and <STRONG>rf</STRONG> only if they pro-
+ duce annoying effects on the screen and are not necessary
+ when logging in. For example, the command to set the
+ vt100 into 80-column mode would normally be part of <STRONG>is2</STRONG>,
+ but it causes an annoying glitch of the screen and is not
+ normally needed since the terminal is usually already in
80 column mode.
The <EM>reset</EM> program writes strings including <STRONG>iprog</STRONG>, etc., in
- the same order as the <EM>init</EM> program, using <STRONG>rs1</STRONG>, etc.,
+ the same order as the <EM>init</EM> program, using <STRONG>rs1</STRONG>, etc.,
instead of <STRONG>is1</STRONG>, etc. If any of <STRONG>rs1</STRONG>, <STRONG>rs2</STRONG>, <STRONG>rs3</STRONG>, or <STRONG>rf</STRONG> reset
- capability strings are missing, the <EM>reset</EM> program falls
+ capability strings are missing, the <EM>reset</EM> program falls
back upon the corresponding initialization capability
string.
If there are commands to set and clear tab stops, they can
- be given as <STRONG>tbc</STRONG> (clear all tab stops) and <STRONG>hts</STRONG> (set a tab
- stop in the current column of every row). If a more com-
- plex sequence is needed to set the tabs than can be
- described by this, the sequence can be placed in <STRONG>is2</STRONG> or
+ be given as <STRONG>tbc</STRONG> (clear all tab stops) and <STRONG>hts</STRONG> (set a tab
+ stop in the current column of every row). If a more com-
+ plex sequence is needed to set the tabs than can be
+ described by this, the sequence can be placed in <STRONG>is2</STRONG> or
<STRONG>if</STRONG>.
- <STRONG>Delays</STRONG> <STRONG>and</STRONG> <STRONG>Padding</STRONG>
- Many older and slower terminals do not support either
+
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Delays-and-Padding">Delays and Padding</a></H3><PRE>
+ Many older and slower terminals do not support either
XON/XOFF or DTR handshaking, including hard copy terminals
- and some very archaic CRTs (including, for example, DEC
- VT100s). These may require padding characters after cer-
+ and some very archaic CRTs (including, for example, DEC
+ VT100s). These may require padding characters after cer-
tain cursor motions and screen changes.
If the terminal uses xon/xoff handshaking for flow control
- (that is, it automatically emits ^S back to the host when
+ (that is, it automatically emits ^S back to the host when
its input buffers are close to full), set <STRONG>xon</STRONG>. This capa-
- bility suppresses the emission of padding. You can also
- set it for memory-mapped console devices effectively that
- do not have a speed limit. Padding information should
- still be included so that routines can make better deci-
+ bility suppresses the emission of padding. You can also
+ set it for memory-mapped console devices effectively that
+ do not have a speed limit. Padding information should
+ still be included so that routines can make better deci-
sions about relative costs, but actual pad characters will
not be transmitted.
- If <STRONG>pb</STRONG> (padding baud rate) is given, padding is suppressed
- at baud rates below the value of <STRONG>pb</STRONG>. If the entry has no
- padding baud rate, then whether padding is emitted or not
+ If <STRONG>pb</STRONG> (padding baud rate) is given, padding is suppressed
+ at baud rates below the value of <STRONG>pb</STRONG>. If the entry has no
+ padding baud rate, then whether padding is emitted or not
is completely controlled by <STRONG>xon</STRONG>.
- If the terminal requires other than a null (zero) charac-
- ter as a pad, then this can be given as <STRONG>pad</STRONG>. Only the
+ If the terminal requires other than a null (zero) charac-
+ ter as a pad, then this can be given as <STRONG>pad</STRONG>. Only the
first character of the <STRONG>pad</STRONG> string is used.
- <STRONG>Status</STRONG> <STRONG>Lines</STRONG>
- Some terminals have an extra `status line' which is not
- normally used by software (and thus not counted in the
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Status-Lines">Status Lines</a></H3><PRE>
+ Some terminals have an extra "status line" which is not
+ normally used by software (and thus not counted in the
terminal's <STRONG>lines</STRONG> capability).
- The simplest case is a status line which is cursor-
- addressable but not part of the main scrolling region on
- the screen; the Heathkit H19 has a status line of this
- kind, as would a 24-line VT100 with a 23-line scrolling
- region set up on initialization. This situation is indi-
+ The simplest case is a status line which is cursor-
+ addressable but not part of the main scrolling region on
+ the screen; the Heathkit H19 has a status line of this
+ kind, as would a 24-line VT100 with a 23-line scrolling
+ region set up on initialization. This situation is indi-
cated by the <STRONG>hs</STRONG> capability.
Some terminals with status lines need special sequences to
- access the status line. These may be expressed as a
+ access the status line. These may be expressed as a
string with single parameter <STRONG>tsl</STRONG> which takes the cursor to
- a given zero-origin column on the status line. The capa-
+ a given zero-origin column on the status line. The capa-
bility <STRONG>fsl</STRONG> must return to the main-screen cursor positions
- before the last <STRONG>tsl</STRONG>. You may need to embed the string
- values of <STRONG>sc</STRONG> (save cursor) and <STRONG>rc</STRONG> (restore cursor) in <STRONG>tsl</STRONG>
+ before the last <STRONG>tsl</STRONG>. You may need to embed the string
+ values of <STRONG>sc</STRONG> (save cursor) and <STRONG>rc</STRONG> (restore cursor) in <STRONG>tsl</STRONG>
and <STRONG>fsl</STRONG> to accomplish this.
- The status line is normally assumed to be the same width
- as the width of the terminal. If this is untrue, you can
+ The status line is normally assumed to be the same width
+ as the width of the terminal. If this is untrue, you can
specify it with the numeric capability <STRONG>wsl</STRONG>.
- A command to erase or blank the status line may be speci-
+ A command to erase or blank the status line may be speci-
fied as <STRONG>dsl</STRONG>.
- The boolean capability <STRONG>eslok</STRONG> specifies that escape
+ The boolean capability <STRONG>eslok</STRONG> specifies that escape
sequences, tabs, etc., work ordinarily in the status line.
The <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> implementation does not yet use any of these
become important.
- <STRONG>Line</STRONG> <STRONG>Graphics</STRONG>
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Line-Graphics">Line Graphics</a></H3><PRE>
Many terminals have alternate character sets useful for
forms-drawing. Terminfo and <STRONG>curses</STRONG> build in support for
the drawing characters supported by the VT100, with some
characters from the AT&T 4410v1 added. This alternate
character set may be specified by the <STRONG>acsc</STRONG> capability.
-
- <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
+ <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,
ACSC string.
- <STRONG>Color</STRONG> <STRONG>Handling</STRONG>
- Most color terminals are either `Tektronix-like' or `HP-
- like'. Tektronix-like terminals have a predefined set of
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Color-Handling">Color Handling</a></H3><PRE>
+ Most color terminals are either "Tektronix-like" or "HP-
+ like". Tektronix-like terminals have a predefined set of
N colors (where N usually 8), and can set character-cell
foreground and background characters independently, mixing
them into N * N color-pairs. On HP-like terminals, the
these as it likes, but the RGB values indicate normal
locations in color space.
-
<STRONG>Color</STRONG> <STRONG>#define</STRONG> <STRONG>Value</STRONG> <STRONG>RGB</STRONG>
black <STRONG>COLOR_BLACK</STRONG> 0 0, 0, 0
red <STRONG>COLOR_RED</STRONG> 1 max,0,0
magenta <STRONG>COLOR_MAGENTA</STRONG> 5 max,0,max
yellow <STRONG>COLOR_YELLOW</STRONG> 6 max,max,0
white <STRONG>COLOR_WHITE</STRONG> 7 max,max,max
+
It is important to not confuse the two sets of color capa-
bilities; otherwise red/blue will be interchanged on the
display.
ors are enabled. The correspondence with the attributes
understood by <STRONG>curses</STRONG> is as follows:
-
- <STRONG>Attribute</STRONG> <STRONG>Bit</STRONG> <STRONG>Decimal</STRONG>
- A_STANDOUT 0 1
- A_UNDERLINE 1 2
- A_REVERSE 2 4
- A_BLINK 3 8
- A_DIM 4 16
- A_BOLD 5 32
- A_INVIS 6 64
- A_PROTECT 7 128
- A_ALTCHARSET 8 256
+ <STRONG>Attribute</STRONG> <STRONG>Bit</STRONG> <STRONG>Decimal</STRONG> <STRONG>Set</STRONG> <STRONG>by</STRONG>
+ A_STANDOUT 0 1 sgr
+ A_UNDERLINE 1 2 sgr
+ A_REVERSE 2 4 sgr
+ A_BLINK 3 8 sgr
+ A_DIM 4 16 sgr
+ A_BOLD 5 32 sgr
+ A_INVIS 6 64 sgr
+ A_PROTECT 7 128 sgr
+ A_ALTCHARSET 8 256 sgr
+ A_HORIZONTAL 9 512 sgr1
+ A_LEFT 10 1024 sgr1
+ A_LOW 11 2048 sgr1
+ A_RIGHT 12 4096 sgr1
+ A_TOP 13 8192 sgr1
+ A_VERTICAL 14 16384 sgr1
+ A_ITALIC 15 32768 sitm
For example, on many IBM PC consoles, the underline
attribute collides with the foreground color blue and is
and optimizes the output in favor of colors.
- <STRONG>Miscellaneous</STRONG>
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Miscellaneous">Miscellaneous</a></H3><PRE>
If the terminal requires other than a null (zero) charac-
ter as a pad, then this can be given as pad. Only the
first character of the pad string is used. If the termi-
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
- the same as `xxxxxxxxxx'.
+ the same as "xxxxxxxxxx".
If the terminal has a settable command character, such as
the TEKTRONIX 4025, this can be indicated with <STRONG>cmdch</STRONG>. A
<EM>virtual</EM> terminal descriptions for which the escape
sequences are known.)
- If the terminal has a ``meta key'' which acts as a shift
+ If the terminal has a "meta key" which acts as a shift
key, setting the 8th bit of any character transmitted,
this fact can be indicated with <STRONG>km</STRONG>. Otherwise, software
will assume that the 8th bit is parity and it will usually
- be cleared. If strings exist to turn this ``meta mode''
- on and off, they can be given as <STRONG>smm</STRONG> and <STRONG>rmm</STRONG>.
+ be cleared. If strings exist to turn this "meta mode" on
+ and off, they can be given as <STRONG>smm</STRONG> and <STRONG>rmm</STRONG>.
If the terminal has more lines of memory than will fit on
the screen at once, the number of lines of memory can be
printer while an <STRONG>mc5p</STRONG> is in effect.
- <STRONG>Glitches</STRONG> <STRONG>and</STRONG> <STRONG>Braindamage</STRONG>
- Hazeltine terminals, which do not allow `~' characters to
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Glitches-and-Braindamage">Glitches and Braindamage</a></H3><PRE>
+ Hazeltine terminals, which do not allow "~" characters to
be displayed should indicate <STRONG>hz</STRONG>.
Terminals which ignore a line-feed immediately after an <STRONG>am</STRONG>
wrap, such as the Concept and vt100, should indicate <STRONG>xenl</STRONG>.
- If <STRONG>el</STRONG> is required to get rid of standout (instead of
- merely writing normal text on top of it), <STRONG>xhp</STRONG> should be
+ If <STRONG>el</STRONG> is required to get rid of standout (instead of
+ merely writing normal text on top of it), <STRONG>xhp</STRONG> should be
given.
- Teleray terminals, where tabs turn all characters moved
- over to blanks, should indicate <STRONG>xt</STRONG> (destructive tabs).
- Note: the variable indicating this is now
- `dest_tabs_magic_smso'; in older versions, it was tel-
+ Teleray terminals, where tabs turn all characters moved
+ over to blanks, should indicate <STRONG>xt</STRONG> (destructive tabs).
+ Note: the variable indicating this is now
+ "dest_tabs_magic_smso"; in older versions, it was tel-
eray_glitch. This glitch is also taken to mean that it is
- not possible to position the cursor on top of a ``magic
- cookie'', that to erase standout mode it is instead neces-
+ not possible to position the cursor on top of a "magic
+ cookie", that to erase standout mode it is instead neces-
sary to use delete and insert line. The ncurses implemen-
tation ignores this glitch.
- The Beehive Superbee, which is unable to correctly trans-
- mit the escape or control C characters, has <STRONG>xsb</STRONG>, indicat-
- ing that the f1 key is used for escape and f2 for control
- C. (Only certain Superbees have this problem, depending
- on the ROM.) Note that in older terminfo versions, this
- capability was called `beehive_glitch'; it is now
- `no_esc_ctl_c'.
+ The Beehive Superbee, which is unable to correctly trans-
+ mit the escape or control C characters, has <STRONG>xsb</STRONG>, indicat-
+ ing that the f1 key is used for escape and f2 for control
+ C. (Only certain Superbees have this problem, depending
+ on the ROM.) Note that in older terminfo versions, this
+ capability was called "beehive_glitch"; it is now
+ "no_esc_ctl_c".
- Other specific terminal problems may be corrected by
+ Other specific terminal problems may be corrected by
adding more capabilities of the form <STRONG>x</STRONG><EM>x</EM>.
- <STRONG>Similar</STRONG> <STRONG>Terminals</STRONG>
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Similar-Terminals">Similar Terminals</a></H3><PRE>
If there are two very similar terminals, one (the variant)
- can be defined as being just like the other (the base)
- with certain exceptions. In the definition of the vari-
- ant, the string capability <STRONG>use</STRONG> can be given with the name
- of the base terminal. The capabilities given before <STRONG>use</STRONG>
- override those in the base type named by <STRONG>use</STRONG>. If there
- are multiple <STRONG>use</STRONG> capabilities, they are merged in reverse
- order. That is, the rightmost <STRONG>use</STRONG> reference is processed
- first, then the one to its left, and so forth. Capabili-
- ties given explicitly in the entry override those brought
+ can be defined as being just like the other (the base)
+ with certain exceptions. In the definition of the vari-
+ ant, the string capability <STRONG>use</STRONG> can be given with the name
+ of the base terminal. The capabilities given before <STRONG>use</STRONG>
+ override those in the base type named by <STRONG>use</STRONG>. If there
+ are multiple <STRONG>use</STRONG> capabilities, they are merged in reverse
+ order. That is, the rightmost <STRONG>use</STRONG> reference is processed
+ first, then the one to its left, and so forth. Capabili-
+ ties given explicitly in the entry override those brought
in by <STRONG>use</STRONG> references.
A capability can be canceled by placing <STRONG>xx@</STRONG> to the left of
- the use reference that imports it, where <EM>xx</EM> is the capa-
+ the use reference that imports it, where <EM>xx</EM> is the capa-
bility. For example, the entry
- 2621-nl, smkx@, rmkx@, use=2621,
+ 2621-nl, smkx@, rmkx@, use=2621,
- defines a 2621-nl that does not have the <STRONG>smkx</STRONG> or <STRONG>rmkx</STRONG>
- capabilities, and hence does not turn on the function key
- labels when in visual mode. This is useful for different
+ defines a 2621-nl that does not have the <STRONG>smkx</STRONG> or <STRONG>rmkx</STRONG>
+ capabilities, and hence does not turn on the function key
+ labels when in visual mode. This is useful for different
modes for a terminal, or for different user preferences.
- <STRONG>Pitfalls</STRONG> <STRONG>of</STRONG> <STRONG>Long</STRONG> <STRONG>Entries</STRONG>
- Long terminfo entries are unlikely to be a problem; to
- date, no entry has even approached terminfo's 4096-byte
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Pitfalls-of-Long-Entries">Pitfalls of Long Entries</a></H3><PRE>
+ Long terminfo entries are unlikely to be a problem; to
+ date, no entry has even approached terminfo's 4096-byte
string-table maximum. Unfortunately, the termcap transla-
tions are much more strictly limited (to 1023 bytes), thus
- termcap translations of long terminfo entries can cause
+ termcap translations of long terminfo entries can cause
problems.
- The man pages for 4.3BSD and older versions of <STRONG>tgetent()</STRONG>
- instruct the user to allocate a 1024-byte buffer for the
- termcap entry. The entry gets null-terminated by the
+ The man pages for 4.3BSD and older versions of <STRONG>tgetent()</STRONG>
+ instruct the user to allocate a 1024-byte buffer for the
+ termcap entry. The entry gets null-terminated by the
termcap library, so that makes the maximum safe length for
- a termcap entry 1k-1 (1023) bytes. Depending on what the
- application and the termcap library being used does, and
+ a termcap entry 1k-1 (1023) bytes. Depending on what the
+ application and the termcap library being used does, and
where in the termcap file the terminal type that <STRONG>tgetent()</STRONG>
is searching for is, several bad things can happen.
- Some termcap libraries print a warning message or exit if
- they find an entry that's longer than 1023 bytes; others
- do not; others truncate the entries to 1023 bytes. Some
+ Some termcap libraries print a warning message or exit if
+ they find an entry that's longer than 1023 bytes; others
+ do not; others truncate the entries to 1023 bytes. Some
application programs allocate more than the recommended 1K
for the termcap entry; others do not.
Each termcap entry has two important sizes associated with
it: before "tc" expansion, and after "tc" expansion. "tc"
- is the capability that tacks on another termcap entry to
- the end of the current one, to add on its capabilities.
- If a termcap entry does not use the "tc" capability, then
+ is the capability that tacks on another termcap entry to
+ the end of the current one, to add on its capabilities.
+ If a termcap entry does not use the "tc" capability, then
of course the two lengths are the same.
- The "before tc expansion" length is the most important
- one, because it affects more than just users of that par-
- ticular terminal. This is the length of the entry as it
+ The "before tc expansion" length is the most important
+ one, because it affects more than just users of that par-
+ ticular terminal. This is the length of the entry as it
exists in /etc/termcap, minus the backslash-newline pairs,
which <STRONG>tgetent()</STRONG> strips out while reading it. Some termcap
- libraries strip off the final newline, too (GNU termcap
+ libraries strip off the final newline, too (GNU termcap
does not). Now suppose:
- * a termcap entry before expansion is more than 1023
- bytes long,
-
- * and the application has only allocated a 1k buffer,
-
- * and the termcap library (like the one in BSD/OS 1.1
- and GNU) reads the whole entry into the buffer, no
- matter what its length, to see if it is the entry it
- wants,
-
- * and <STRONG>tgetent()</STRONG> is searching for a terminal type that
- either is the long entry, appears in the termcap file
- after the long entry, or does not appear in the file
- at all (so that <STRONG>tgetent()</STRONG> has to search the whole
- termcap file).
-
- Then <STRONG>tgetent()</STRONG> will overwrite memory, perhaps its stack,
- and probably core dump the program. Programs like telnet
- are particularly vulnerable; modern telnets pass along
- values like the terminal type automatically. The results
- are almost as undesirable with a termcap library, like
- SunOS 4.1.3 and Ultrix 4.4, that prints warning messages
- when it reads an overly long termcap entry. If a termcap
- library truncates long entries, like OSF/1 3.0, it is
- immune to dying here but will return incorrect data for
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> a termcap entry before expansion is more than 1023
+ bytes long,
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> and the application has only allocated a 1k buffer,
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> and the termcap library (like the one in BSD/OS 1.1
+ and GNU) reads the whole entry into the buffer, no
+ matter what its length, to see if it is the entry it
+ wants,
+
+ <STRONG>o</STRONG> and <STRONG>tgetent()</STRONG> is searching for a terminal type that
+ either is the long entry, appears in the termcap file
+ after the long entry, or does not appear in the file
+ at all (so that <STRONG>tgetent()</STRONG> has to search the whole
+ termcap file).
+
+ Then <STRONG>tgetent()</STRONG> will overwrite memory, perhaps its stack,
+ and probably core dump the program. Programs like telnet
+ are particularly vulnerable; modern telnets pass along
+ values like the terminal type automatically. The results
+ are almost as undesirable with a termcap library, like
+ SunOS 4.1.3 and Ultrix 4.4, that prints warning messages
+ when it reads an overly long termcap entry. If a termcap
+ library truncates long entries, like OSF/1 3.0, it is
+ immune to dying here but will return incorrect data for
the terminal.
The "after tc expansion" length will have a similar effect
to the above, but only for people who actually set TERM to
- that terminal type, since <STRONG>tgetent()</STRONG> only does "tc" expan-
- sion once it is found the terminal type it was looking
+ that terminal type, since <STRONG>tgetent()</STRONG> only does "tc" expan-
+ sion once it is found the terminal type it was looking
for, not while searching.
In summary, a termcap entry that is longer than 1023 bytes
- can cause, on various combinations of termcap libraries
- and applications, a core dump, warnings, or incorrect
- operation. If it is too long even before "tc" expansion,
+ can cause, on various combinations of termcap libraries
+ and applications, a core dump, warnings, or incorrect
+ operation. If it is too long even before "tc" expansion,
it will have this effect even for users of some other ter-
- minal types and users whose TERM variable does not have a
+ minal types and users whose TERM variable does not have a
termcap entry.
When in -C (translate to termcap) mode, the <STRONG>ncurses</STRONG> imple-
mentation of <STRONG><A HREF="tic.1m.html">tic(1m)</A></STRONG> issues warning messages when the pre-
- tc length of a termcap translation is too long. The -c
- (check) option also checks resolved (after tc expansion)
+ tc length of a termcap translation is too long. The -c
+ (check) option also checks resolved (after tc expansion)
lengths.
- <STRONG>Binary</STRONG> <STRONG>Compatibility</STRONG>
- It is not wise to count on portability of binary terminfo
- entries between commercial UNIX versions. The problem is
- that there are at least two versions of terminfo (under
+
+</PRE><H3><a name="h3-Binary-Compatibility">Binary Compatibility</a></H3><PRE>
+ It is not wise to count on portability of binary terminfo
+ entries between commercial UNIX versions. The problem is
+ that there are at least two versions of terminfo (under
HP-UX and AIX) which diverged from System V terminfo after
- SVr1, and have added extension capabilities to the string
- table that (in the binary format) collide with System V
+ SVr1, and have added extension capabilities to the string
+ table that (in the binary format) collide with System V
and XSI Curses extensions.
-</PRE>
-<H2>EXTENSIONS</H2><PRE>
+</PRE><H2><a name="h2-EXTENSIONS">EXTENSIONS</a></H2><PRE>
+ Searching for terminal descriptions in <STRONG>$HOME/.terminfo</STRONG> and
+ TERMINFO_DIRS is not supported by older implementations.
+
Some SVr4 <STRONG>curses</STRONG> implementations, and all previous to
SVr4, do not interpret the %A and %O operators in parame-
ter strings.
and emulators like xterm that can return mouse-tracking
information in the keyboard-input stream.
+ X/Open Curses does not mention italics. Portable applica-
+ tions must assume that numeric capabilities are signed
+ 16-bit values. This includes the <EM>no</EM><STRONG>_</STRONG><EM>color</EM><STRONG>_</STRONG><EM>video</EM> (ncv)
+ capability. The 32768 mask value used for italics with
+ ncv can be confused with an absent or cancelled ncv. If
+ italics should work with colors, then the ncv value must
+ be specified, even if it is zero.
+
Different commercial ports of terminfo and curses support
different subsets of the XSI Curses standard and (in some
cases) different extension sets. Here is a summary, accu-
through 63, plus a number of incompatible string table
extensions.
- <STRONG>OSF</STRONG> -- Supports both the SVr4 set and the AIX extensions.
+ <STRONG>OSF</STRONG> -- Supports both the SVr4 set and the AIX extensions.
-</PRE>
-<H2>FILES</H2><PRE>
+</PRE><H2><a name="h2-FILES">FILES</a></H2><PRE>
/usr/share/terminfo/?/* files containing terminal
descriptions
-</PRE>
-<H2>SEE ALSO</H2><PRE>
- <STRONG><A HREF="tic.1m.html">tic(1m)</A></STRONG>, <STRONG><A HREF="infocmp.1m.html">infocmp(1m)</A></STRONG>, <STRONG><A HREF="ncurses.3x.html">curses(3x)</A></STRONG>, <STRONG><A HREF="printf.3.html">printf(3)</A></STRONG>, <STRONG><A HREF="term.5.html">term(5)</A></STRONG>.
+</PRE><H2><a name="h2-SEE-ALSO">SEE ALSO</a></H2><PRE>
+ <STRONG><A HREF="tic.1m.html">tic(1m)</A></STRONG>, <STRONG><A HREF="infocmp.1m.html">infocmp(1m)</A></STRONG>, <STRONG><A HREF="ncurses.3x.html">curses(3x)</A></STRONG>, <STRONG>printf(3)</STRONG>, <STRONG><A HREF="term.5.html">term(5)</A></STRONG>.
+ <STRONG><A HREF="term_variables.3x.html">term_variables(3x)</A></STRONG>.
-</PRE>
-<H2>AUTHORS</H2><PRE>
+</PRE><H2><a name="h2-AUTHORS">AUTHORS</a></H2><PRE>
Zeyd M. Ben-Halim, Eric S. Raymond, Thomas E. Dickey.
Based on pcurses by Pavel Curtis.
<STRONG><A HREF="terminfo.5.html">terminfo(5)</A></STRONG>
</PRE>
-<HR>
-<ADDRESS>
-Man(1) output converted with
-<a href="http://www.oac.uci.edu/indiv/ehood/man2html.html">man2html</a>
-</ADDRESS>
+<div class="nav">
+<ul>
+<li><a href="#h2-NAME">NAME</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h2-SYNOPSIS">SYNOPSIS</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h2-DESCRIPTION">DESCRIPTION</a>
+<ul>
+<li><a href="#h3-Predefined-Capabilities">Predefined Capabilities</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-User-Defined-Capabilities">User-Defined Capabilities</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-A-Sample-Entry">A Sample Entry</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Types-of-Capabilities">Types of Capabilities</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Fetching-Compiled-Descriptions">Fetching Compiled Descriptions</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Preparing-Descriptions">Preparing Descriptions</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Basic-Capabilities">Basic Capabilities</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Parameterized-Strings">Parameterized Strings</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Cursor-Motions">Cursor Motions</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Area-Clears">Area Clears</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Insert_delete-line-and-vertical-motions">Insert/delete line and vertical motions</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Insert_Delete-Character">Insert/Delete Character</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Highlighting_-Underlining_-and-Visible-Bells">Highlighting, Underlining, and Visible Bells</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Keypad-and-Function-Keys">Keypad and Function Keys</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Tabs-and-Initialization">Tabs and Initialization</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Delays-and-Padding">Delays and Padding</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Status-Lines">Status Lines</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Line-Graphics">Line Graphics</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Color-Handling">Color Handling</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Miscellaneous">Miscellaneous</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Glitches-and-Braindamage">Glitches and Braindamage</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Similar-Terminals">Similar Terminals</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Pitfalls-of-Long-Entries">Pitfalls of Long Entries</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h3-Binary-Compatibility">Binary Compatibility</a></li>
+</ul>
+</li>
+<li><a href="#h2-EXTENSIONS">EXTENSIONS</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h2-FILES">FILES</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h2-SEE-ALSO">SEE ALSO</a></li>
+<li><a href="#h2-AUTHORS">AUTHORS</a></li>
+</ul>
+</div>
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