Manual: xsetroot

XSETROOT(1)				   General Commands Manual				 XSETROOT(1)

NAME
       xsetroot - root window parameter setting utility for X

SYNOPSIS
       xsetroot	 [-help]  [-version]  [-def]  [-display display] [-cursor cursorfile maskfile] [-cursor_name
       cursorfontname] [-xcf cursorfile cursorsize] [-bitmap filename | -mod x y | -gray |  -grey  |  -solid
       color] [-bg color] [-fg color] [-rv] [-name string] [-d display]

DESCRIPTION
       The xsetroot program allows you to tailor the appearance of the background ("root") window on a work‐
       station 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 op‐
       tions are specified, or if -def is specified, the window is reset to its default state.	The -def op‐
       tion can be specified along with other options and only the non-specified characteristics will be re‐
       set 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.

       -version
	      Print a version message and exit.

       -def, -default
	      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	out‐
	      side 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.

       -cursor_name cursorfontname
	      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).

       -xcf cursorfile cursorsize
	      This lets you change the pointer cursor to one loaded from an Xcursor file as defined by libX‐
	      cursor, at the specified size.

       -bitmap filename
	      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.

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

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

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

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

       -rv, -reverse
	      This exchanges the foreground and background colors.  Normally the foreground color  is  black
	      and the background color is white.

       -solid color
	      This  sets the background of the root window to the specified color.  This option is only use‐
	      ful 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 background.

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

SEE ALSO
       X(7), xset(1), xrdb(1), Xcursor(3)

AUTHOR
       Mark Lillibridge, MIT Project Athena

X Version 11				       xsetroot 1.1.3					 XSETROOT(1)