MirBSD manpage: xsetroot(1)


XSETROOT(1)         UNIX Programmer's Manual          XSETROOT(1)

NAME

     xsetroot - root window parameter setting utility for X

SYNOPSIS

     xsetroot [-help] [-def] [-display display] [-cursor cursor-
     file maskfile] [-cursor_name cursorname] [-bitmap filename]
     [-mod x y] [-gray] [-grey] [-fg color] [-bg color] [-rv] [-
     solid color] [-name string]

DESCRIPTION

     The setroot program allows you to tailor the appearance of
     the background ("root") window on a workstation display run-
     ning X.  Normally, you experiment with xsetroot until you
     find a personalized look that you like, then put the
     xsetroot command that produces it into your X startup file.
     If no options are specified, or if -def is specified, the
     window is reset to its default state.  The -def option can
     be specified along with other options and only the non-
     specified characteristics will be reset to the default
     state.

     Only one of the background color/tiling changing options (-
     solid, -gray, -grey, -bitmap, and -mod) may be specified at
     a time.

OPTIONS

     The various options are as follows:

     -help
          Print a usage message and exit.

     -def Reset unspecified attributes to the default values.
          (Restores the background to the familiar gray mesh and
          the cursor to the hollow x shape.)

     -cursor cursorfile maskfile
          This lets you change the pointer cursor to whatever you
          want when the pointer cursor is outside of any window.
          Cursor and mask files are bitmaps (little pictures),
          and can be made with the bitmap(1) program.  You prob-
          ably want the mask file to be all black until you get
          used to the way masks work.

     -cursor_name cursorname
          This lets you change the pointer cursor to one of the
          standard cursors from the cursor font.  Refer to appen-
          dix B of the X protocol for the names (except that the
          XC_ prefix is elided for this option).

     -bitmap filename
          Use the bitmap specified in the file to set the window
          pattern.  You can make your own bitmap files (little

XFree86                   Version 4.5.0                         1

XSETROOT(1)         UNIX Programmer's Manual          XSETROOT(1)

          pictures) using the bitmap(1) program.  The entire
          background will be made up of repeated "tiles" of the
          bitmap.

     -mod x y
          This is used if you want a plaid-like grid pattern on
          your screen. x and y are integers ranging from 1 to 16.
          Try the different combinations. Zero and negative
          numbers are taken as 1.

     -gray
          Make the entire background gray.  (Easier on the eyes.)

     -grey
          Make the entire background grey.

     -fg color
          Use ``color'' as the foreground color.  Foreground and
          background colors are meaningful only in combination
          with -cursor, -bitmap, or -mod.

     -bg color
          Use ``color'' as the background color.

     -rv  This exchanges the foreground and background colors.
          Normally the foreground color is black and the back-
          ground color is white.

     -solid color
          This sets the background of the root window to the
          specified color.  This option is only useful on color
          servers.

     -name string
          Set the name of the root window to ``string''.  There
          is no default value. Usually a name is assigned to a
          window so that the window manager can use a text
          representation when the window is iconified. This
          option is unused since you can't iconify the back-
          ground.

     -display display
          Specifies the server to connect to; see X(7).

SEE ALSO

     X(7), xset(1), xrdb(1)

AUTHOR

     Mark Lillibridge, MIT Project Athena

XFree86                   Version 4.5.0                         2

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