xsetroot(1)

NAME

   xsetroot - root window parameter setting utility for X

SYNOPSIS

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

DESCRIPTION

   The xsetroot 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:

   -help  Print a usage message and exit.

   -verson
          Print a version 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 probably 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 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 libXcursor, 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 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 background 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
          background.

   -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

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Free and Open Source Software