NAME

xsetroot - root window parameter setting utility for X

SYNOPSIS

xsetroot [-help] [-def] [-display _d_i_s_p_l_a_y] [-cursor _c_u_r_s_o_r_f_i_l_e _m_a_s_k_f_i_l_e] [-cursor_name _c_u_r_s_o_r_n_a_m_e] [-bitmap _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e] [-mod _x _y] [-gray] [-grey] [-fg _c_o_l_o_r] [-bg _c_o_l_o_r] [-rv] [-solid _c_o_l_o_r] [-name _s_t_r_i_n_g]

DESCRIPTION

The setroot program allows you to tailor the appearance of the background ("root") window on a workstation display running 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:

--hheellpp Print a usage message and exit.
--ddeeff Reset unspecified attributes to the default values. (Restores the background
to the familiar gray mesh and the cursor to the hollow x shape.)
--ccuurrssoorr _c_u_r_s_o_r_f_i_l_e _m_a_s_k_f_i_l_e 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 probably want the mask file to be all black until you get used to the way masks work.
--ccuurrssoorr__nnaammee _c_u_r_s_o_r_n_a_m_e This lets you change the pointer cursor to one of the standard
cursors from the cursor font. Refer to appendix B of the X protocol for the names (except that the XC_ prefix is elided for this option).
--bbiittmmaapp _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e Use the bitmap specified in the file to set the window pattern. You can
make your own bitmap files (little pictures) using the bitmap(1) program. The entire background will be made up of repeated "tiles" of the bitmap.
--mmoodd _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.
--ggrraayy Make the entire background gray. (Easier on the eyes.)
--ggrreeyy Make the entire background grey.
--ffgg _c_o_l_o_r Use ``color'' as the foreground color. Foreground and background colors
are meaningful only in combination with -cursor, -bitmap, or -mod.
--bbgg _c_o_l_o_r Use ``color'' as the background color.
--rrvv This exchanges the foreground and background colors. Normally the foreground
color is black and the background color is white.
--ssoolliidd _c_o_l_o_r This sets the background of the root window to the specified color. This
option is only useful on color servers.
--nnaammee _s_t_r_i_n_g 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 background.
--ddiissppllaayy _d_i_s_p_l_a_y Specifies the server to connect to; see _X_(_7_).

SEE ALSO

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

AUTHOR

Mark Lillibridge, MIT Project Athena