terminfo(4) terminfo(4)
terminfo - terminal capability data base
/usr/share/lib/terminfo/?/*
terminfo is a database produced by tic that describes the capabilities of
devices such as terminals and printers. Devices are described in
terminfo source files by specifying a set of capabilities, by quantifying
certain aspects of the device, and by specifying character sequences that
effect particular results. This database is often used by screen
oriented applications such as vi and curses programs, as well as by some
UNIX system commands such as ls and more. This usage allows them to work
with a variety of devices without changes to the programs.
terminfo source files consist of one or more device descriptions. Each
description consists of a header (beginning in column 1) and one or more
lines that list the features for that particular device. Every line in a
terminfo source file must end in a comma (,). Every line in a terminfo
source file except the header must be indented with one or more white
spaces (either spaces or tabs).
Entries in terminfo source files consist of a number of comma-separated
fields. White space after each comma is ignored. Embedded commas must
be escaped by using a backslash. The following example shows the format
of a terminfo source file.
alias | alias | ... | alias | longname,
<white space> am, lines #24, n
<white space> home=\Eeh,
The first line, commonly referred to as the header line, must begin in
column one and must contain at least two aliases separated by vertical
bars. The last field in the header line must be the long name of the
device and it may contain any string. Alias names must be unique in the
terminfo database and they must conform to UNIX system file naming
conventions [see tic(1M)]; they cannot, for example, contain white space
or slashes.
Every device must be assigned a name, such as "vt100". Device names
(except the long name) should be chosen using the following conventions.
The name should not contain hyphens because hyphens are reserved for use
when adding suffixes that indicate special modes.
These special modes may be modes that the hardware can be in, or user
preferences. To assign a special mode to a particular device, append a
suffix consisting of a hyphen and an indicator of the mode to the device
name. For example, the -w suffix means "wide mode"; when specified, it
allows for a width of 132 columns instead of the standard 80 columns.
Therefore, if you want to use a vt100 device set to wide mode, name the
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terminfo(4) terminfo(4)
device "vt100-w." Use the following suffixes where possible.
Suffix Meaning Example
-w Wide mode (more than 80 columns) 5410-w
-am With auto. margins (usually default) vt100-am
-nam Without automatic margins vt100-nam
-n Number of lines on the screen 2300-40
-na No arrow keys (leave them in local) c100-na
-np Number of pages of memory c100-4p
-rv Reverse video 4415-rv
The terminfo reference manual page is organized in two sections: "DEVICE
CAPABILITIES" and "PRINTER CAPABILITIES."
PART 1: DEVICE CAPABILITIES
Capabilities in terminfo are of three types: Boolean capabilities (which
show that a device has or does not have a particular feature), numeric
capabilities (which quantify particular features of a device), and string
capabilities (which provide sequences that can be used to perform
particular operations on devices).
In the following table, a Variable is the name by which a C programmer
accesses a capability (at the terminfo level). A Capname is the short
name for a capability specified in the terminfo source file. It is used
by a person updating the source file and by the tput command. A Termcap
Code is a two-letter sequence that corresponds to the termcap capability
name. (Note that termcap is no longer supported.)
Capability names have no real length limit, but an informal limit of five
characters has been adopted to keep them short. Whenever possible,
capability names are chosen to be the same as or similar to those
specified by the ANSI X3.64-1979 standard. Semantics are also intended
to match those of the ANSI standard.
All string capabilities listed below may have padding specified, with the
exception of those used for input. Input capabilities, listed under the
Strings section in the following tables, have names beginning with key_.
The #i symbol in the description field of the following tables refers to
the ith parameter.
Booleans [Toc] [Back]
Cap- Termcap
Variable name Code Description
auto_left_margin bw bw cub1 wraps from column 0 to
last column
auto_right_margin am am Terminal has automatic
margins
back_color_erase bce be Screen erased with background
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terminfo(4) terminfo(4)
color
can_change ccc cc Terminal can redefine
existing color
ceol_standout_glitch xhp xs Standout not erased by
overwriting (hp)
col_addr_glitch xhpa YA Only positive motion for
hpa/mhpa caps
cpi_changes_res cpix YF Changing character pitch
changes resolution
cr_cancels_micro_mode crxm YB Using cr turns off micro mode
eat_newline_glitch xenl xn Newline ignored after 80
columns (Concept)
erase_overstrike eo eo Can erase overstrikes with a
blank
generic_type gn gn Generic line type (e.g.,
dialup, switch)
hard_copy hc hc Hardcopy terminal
hard_cursor chts HC Cursor is hard to see
has_meta_key km km Has a meta key (shift, sets
parity bit)
has_print_wheel daisy YC Printer needs operator to
change character set
has_status_line hs hs Has extra "status line"
hue_lightness_saturation hls hl Terminal uses only HLS color
notation (Tektronix)
insert_null_glitch in in Insert mode distinguishes
nulls
lpi_changes_res lpix YG Changing line pitch changes
resolution
memory_above da da Display may be retained above
the screen
memory_below db db Display may be retained below
the screen
move_insert_mode mir mi Safe to move while in insert
mode
move_standout_mode msgr ms Safe to move in standout
modes
needs_xon_xoff nxon nx Padding won't work, xon/xoff
required
no_esc_ctlc xsb xb Beehive (f1=escape,
f2=ctrl C)
non_rev_rmcup nrrmc NR smcup does not reverse rmcup
no_pad_char npc NP Pad character doesn't exist
over_strike os os Terminal overstrikes on
hard-copy terminal
prtr_silent mc5i 5i Printer won't echo on screen
row_addr_glitch xvpa YD Only positive motion for
vpa/mvpa caps
semi_auto_right_margin sam YE Printing in last column
causes cr
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terminfo(4) terminfo(4)
status_line_esc_ok eslok es Escape can be used on the
status line
dest_tabs_magic_smso xt xt Destructive tabs, magic smso
char (t1061)
tilde_glitch hz hz Hazeltine; can't print
tilde (~)
transparent_underline ul ul Underline character
overstrikes
xon_xoff xon xo Terminal uses xon/xoff
handshaking
Numbers [Toc] [Back]
Cap- Termcap
Variable name Code Description
buffer_capacity bufsz Ya Number of bytes buffered before
printing
columns cols co Number of columns in a line
dot_vert_spacing spinv Yb Spacing of pins vertically in
pins per inch
dot_horz_spacing spinh Yc Spacing of dots horizontally in
dots per inch
init_tabs it it Tabs initially every # spaces
label_height lh lh Number of rows in each label
label_width lw lw Number of columns in each label
lines lines li Number of lines on a screen or a
page
lines_of_memory lm lm Lines of memory if > lines; 0
means varies
magic_cookie_glitch xmc sg Number of blank characters left
by smso or rmso
max_colors colors Co Maximum number of colors on the
screen
max_micro_address maddr Yd Maximum value in
micro_..._address
max_micro_jump mjump Ye Maximum value in parm_..._micro
max_pairs pairs pa Maximum number of color-pairs on
the screen
micro_col_size mcs Yf Character step size when in
micro mode
micro_line_size mls Yg Line step size when in micro
mode
no_color_video ncv NC Video attributes that can't be
used with colors
number_of_pins npins Yh Number of pins in print-head
num_labels nlab Nl Number of labels on screen
(start at 1)
output_res_char orc Yi Horizontal resolution in units
per character
output_res_line orl Yj Vertical resolution in units per
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line
output_res_horz_inch orhi Yk Horizontal resolution in units
per inch
output_res_vert_inch orvi Yl Vertical resolution in units per
inch
padding_baud_rate pb pb Lowest baud rate where padding
needed
virtual_terminal vt vt Virtual terminal number (UNIX
system)
wide_char_size widcs Yn Character step size when in
double wide mode
width_status_line wsl ws Number of columns in status line
Strings [Toc] [Back]
Cap- Termcap
Variable name Code Description
acs_chars acsc ac Graphic charset pairs
aAbBcC
alt_scancode_esc scesca S8 Alternate escape for
scancode emulation
(default is for vt100)
back_tab cbt bt Back tab
bell bel bl Audible signal (bell)
bit_image_repeat birep Zy Repeat bit-image cell
#1 #2 times (use
tparm)
bit_image_newline binel Zz Move to next row of the
bit image (use tparm)
bit_image_carriage_return bicr Yv Move to beginning of same
row (use tparm)
carriage_return cr cr Carriage return
change_char_pitch cpi ZA Change number of
characters per inch
change_line_pitch lpi ZB Change number of lines per
inch
change_res_horz chr ZC Change horizontal
resolution
change_res_vert cvr ZD Change vertical resolution
change_scroll_region csr cs Change to lines #1 through
#2 (vt100)
char_padding rmp rP Like ip but when in
replace mode
char_set_names csnm Zy List of character set
names
clear_all_tabs tbc ct Clear all tab stops
clear_margins mgc MC Clear all margins (top,
bottom, and sides)
clear_screen clear cl Clear screen and home
cursor
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clr_bol el1 cb Clear to beginning of
line, inclusive
clr_eol el ce Clear to end of line
clr_eos ed cd Clear to end of display
code_set_init csin ci Init sequence for multiple
codesets
color_names colornm Yw Give name for color #1
column_address hpa ch Horizontal position
absolute
command_character cmdch CC Terminal settable cmd
character in prototype
cursor_address cup cm Move to row #1 col #2
cursor_down cud1 do Down one line
cursor_home home ho Home cursor (if no cup)
cursor_invisible civis vi Make cursor invisible
cursor_left cub1 le Move left one space.
cursor_mem_address mrcup CM Memory relative cursor
addressing
cursor_normal cnorm ve Make cursor appear normal
(undo vs/vi)
cursor_right cuf1 nd Non-destructive space
(cursor or carriage right)
cursor_to_ll ll ll Last line, first column
(if no cup)
cursor_up cuu1 up Upline (cursor up)
cursor_visible cvvis vs Make cursor very visible
define_bit_image_region defbi Yx Define rectangular
bit-image region (use
tparm)
define_char defc ZE Define a character in a
character setdelete_character
dch1 dc Delete character
delete_line dl1 dl Delete line
device_type devt dv Indicate language/codeset
support
dis_status_line dsl ds Disable status line
display_pc_char dispc S1 Display PC character
down_half_line hd hd Half-line down (forward
1/2 linefeed)
ena_acs enacs eA Enable alternate character
set
end_bit_image_region endbi Yy End a bit-image region
(use tparm)
enter_alt_charset_mode smacs as Start alternate character
set
enter_am_mode smam SA Turn on automatic margins
enter_blink_mode blink mb Turn on blinking
enter_bold_mode bold md Turn on bold (extra
bright) mode
enter_ca_mode smcup ti String to begin programs
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terminfo(4) terminfo(4)
that use cup
enter_delete_mode smdc dm Delete mode (enter)
enter_dim_mode dim mh Turn on half-bright mode
enter_doublewide_mode swidm ZF Enable double wide
printing
enter_draft_quality sdrfq ZG Set draft quality print
enter_insert_mode smir im Insert mode (enter)
enter_italics_mode sitm ZH Enable italics
enter_leftward_mode slm ZI Enable leftward carriage
motion
enter_micro_mode smicm ZJ Enable micro motion
capabilities
enter_near_letter_quality snlq ZK Set near-letter quality
print
enter_normal_quality snrmq ZL Set normal quality print
enter_pc_charset_mode smpch S2 Enter PC character display
mode
enter_protected_mode prot mp Turn on protected mode
enter_reverse_mode rev mr Turn on reverse video mode
enter_scancode_mode smsc S4 Enter PC scancode mode
enter_secure_mode invis mk Turn on blank mode
(characters invisible)
enter_shadow_mode sshm ZM Enable shadow printing
enter_standout_mode smso so Begin standout mode
enter_subscript_mode ssubm ZN Enable subscript printing
enter_superscript_mode ssupm ZO Enable superscript
printing
enter_underline_mode smul us Start underscore mode
enter_upward_mode sum ZP Enable upward carriage
motion
enter_xon_mode smxon SX Turn on xon/xoff
handshaking
erase_chars ech ec Erase #1 characters
exit_alt_charset_mode rmacs ae End alternate character
set
exit_am_mode rmam RA Turn off automatic margins
exit_attribute_mode sgr0 me Turn off all attributes
exit_ca_mode rmcup te String to end programs
that use cup
exit_delete_mode rmdc ed End delete mode
exit_doublewide_mode rwidm ZQ Disable double wide
printing
exit_insert_mode rmir ei End insert mode
exit_italics_mode ritm ZR Disable italics
exit_leftward_mode rlm ZS Enable rightward (normal)
carriage motion
exit_micro_mode rmicm ZT Disable micro motion
capabilities
exit_pc_charset_mode rmpch S3 Disable PC character
display mode
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exit_scancode_mode rmsc S5 Disable PC scancode mode
exit_shadow_mode rshm ZU Disable shadow printing
exit_standout_mode rmso se End standout mode
exit_subscript_mode rsubm ZV Disable subscript printing
exit_superscript_mode rsupm ZW Disable superscript
printing
exit_underline_mode rmul ue End underscore mode
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