terminfo - terminal capability data base
/usr/share/terminfo.db
/usr/share/terminfo/*/*
Terminfo is a data base describing terminals, used by
screen-oriented programs such as vi(1), rogue(1) and
libraries such as curses(3). Terminfo describes terminals
by giving a set of capabilities which they have, by specifying
how to perform screen operations, and by specifying
padding requirements and initialization sequences.
Entries in terminfo consist of a sequence of `,' separated
fields (embedded commas may be escaped with a backslash
or notated as 72). White space after the `,' separator
is ignored. The first entry for each terminal gives the
names which are known for the terminal, separated by `|'
characters. The first name given is the most common
abbreviation for the terminal, the last name given should
be a long name fully identifying the terminal, and all
others are understood as synonyms for the terminal name.
All names but the last should be in lower case and contain
no blanks; the last name may well contain upper case and
blanks for readability.
Terminal names (except for the last, verbose entry) should
be chosen using the following conventions. The particular
piece of hardware making up the terminal should have a
root name, thus ``hp2621''. This name should not contain
hyphens. Modes that the hardware can be in, or user preferences,
should be indicated by appending a hyphen and a
mode suffix. Thus, a vt100 in 132 column mode would be
vt100-w. The following suffixes should be used where possible:
Suffix Meaning Example
-nn Number of lines on the screen aaa-60
-np Number of pages of memory c100-4p
-am With automargins (usually the default) vt100-am
-m Mono mode; suppress color ansi-m
-mc Magic cookie; spaces when highlighting wy30-mc
-na No arrow keys (leave them in local) c100-na
-nam Without automatic margins vt100-nam
-nl No status line
att4415-nl
-ns No status line hp2626-ns
-rv Reverse video c100-rv
-s Enable status line vt100-s
-vb Use visible bell instead of beep wy370-vb
-w Wide mode (> 80 columns, usually 132) vt100-w
For more on terminal naming conventions, see the term(7)
manual page.
Capabilities [Toc] [Back]
The following is a complete table of the capabilities
included in a terminfo description block and available to
terminfo-using code. In each line of the table,
The variable is the name by which the programmer (at the
terminfo level) accesses the capability.
The capname is the short name used in the text of the
database, and is used by a person updating the database.
Whenever possible, capnames are chosen to be the same as
or similar to the ANSI X3.64-1979 standard (now superseded
by ECMA-48, which uses identical or very similar names).
Semantics are also intended to match those of the specification.
The termcap code is the old termcap capability name (some
capabilities are new, and have names which termcap did not
originate).
Capability names have no hard length limit, but an informal
limit of 5 characters has been adopted to keep them
short and to allow the tabs in the source file Caps to
line up nicely.
Finally, the description field attempts to convey the
semantics of the capability. You may find some codes in
the description field:
(P) indicates that padding may be specified
#[1-9] in the description field indicates that the string
is passed through tparm with parms as given (#i).
(P*) indicates that padding may vary in proportion to
the number of lines affected
(#i) indicates the ith parameter.
These are the boolean capabilities:
Variable Cap- TCap Description
Booleans name Code
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 ut screen erased with
background color
can_change ccc cc terminal can redefine
existing colors
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
dest_tabs_magic_smso xt xt tabs destructive,
magic so char
(t1061)
eat_newline_glitch xenl xn newline ignored
after 80 cols (concept)
erase_overstrike eo eo can erase overstrikes
with a blank
generic_type gn gn generic line type
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 while
in standout mode
needs_xon_xoff nxon nx padding won't work,
xon/xoff required
no_esc_ctlc xsb xb beehive (f1=escape,
f2=ctrl C)
no_pad_char npc NP pad character does
not exist
non_dest_scroll_region ndscr ND scrolling region is
non-destructive
non_rev_rmcup nrrmc NR smcup does not
reverse rmcup
over_strike os os terminal can overstrike
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
status_line_esc_ok eslok es escape can be used
on the status line
tilde_glitch hz hz can't print ~'s
(hazeltine)
transparent_underline ul ul underline character
overstrikes
xon_xoff xon xo terminal uses
xon/xoff handshaking
These are the numeric capabilities:
Variable Cap- TCap Description
Numeric name Code
columns cols co number of columns in
a line
init_tabs it it tabs initially every
# spaces
label_height lh lh rows in each label
label_width lw lw columns in each
label
lines lines li number of lines on
screen or page
lines_of_memory lm lm lines of memory if >
line. 0 means varies
magic_cookie_glitch xmc sg number of blank
characters left by
smso or rmso
max_attributes ma ma maximum combined
attributes terminal
can handle
max_colors colors Co maximum number of
colors on screen
max_pairs pairs pa maximum number of
color-pairs on the
screen
maximum_windows wnum MW maximum number of
defineable windows
no_color_video ncv NC video attributes
that can't be used
with colors
num_labels nlab Nl number of labels on
screen
padding_baud_rate pb pb lowest baud rate
where padding needed
virtual_terminal vt vt virtual terminal
number (CB/unix)
width_status_line wsl ws number of columns in
status line
The following numeric capabilities are present in the
SVr4.0 term structure, but are not yet documented in the
man page. They came in with SVr4's printer support.
Variable Cap- TCap Description
Numeric name Code
bit_image_entwining bitwin Yo number of passes for
each bit-image row
bit_image_type bitype Yp type of bit-image
device
buffer_capacity bufsz Ya numbers of bytes
buffered before
printing
buttons btns BT number of buttons on
mouse
dot_horz_spacing spinh Yc spacing of dots horizontally
in dots
per inch
dot_vert_spacing spinv Yb spacing of pins vertically
in pins per
inch
max_micro_address maddr Yd maximum value in
micro_..._address
max_micro_jump mjump Ye maximum value in
parm_..._micro
micro_col_size mcs Yf character step size
when in micro mode
micro_line_size mls Yg line step size when
in micro mode
number_of_pins npins Yh numbers of pins in
print-head
output_res_char orc Yi horizontal resolution
in units per
line
output_res_horz_inch orhi Yk horizontal resolution
in units per
inch
output_res_line orl Yj vertical resolution
in units per line
output_res_vert_inch orvi Yl vertical resolution
in units per inch
print_rate cps Ym print rate in characters
per second
wide_char_size widcs Yn character step size
when in double wide
mode
These are the string capabilities:
Variable Cap- TCap Description
String name Code
acs_chars acsc ac graphics charset
pairs, based on
vt100
back_tab cbt bt back tab (P)
bell bel bl audible signal
(bell) (P)
carriage_return cr cr carriage return (P*)
(P*)
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 region to
line #1 to line #2
(P)
char_padding rmp rP like ip but when in
insert mode
clear_all_tabs tbc ct clear all tab stops
(P)
clear_margins mgc MC clear right and left
soft margins
clear_screen clear cl clear screen and
home cursor (P*)
clr_bol el1 cb Clear to beginning
of line
clr_eol el ce clear to end of line
(P)
clr_eos ed cd clear to end of
screen (P*)
column_address hpa ch horizontal position
#1, absolute (P)
command_character cmdch CC terminal settable
cmd character in
prototype !?
create_window cwin CW define a window #1
from #2,#3 to #4,#5
cursor_address cup cm move to row #1
columns #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
civis/cvvis)
cursor_right cuf1 nd non-destructive
space (move right
one space)
cursor_to_ll ll ll last line, first
column (if no cup)
cursor_up cuu1 up up one line
cursor_visible cvvis vs make cursor very
visible
define_char defc ZE Define a character
delete_character dch1 dc delete character
(P*)
delete_line dl1 dl delete line (P*)
dial_phone dial DI dial number #1
dis_status_line dsl ds disable status line
display_clock dclk DK display clock at
(#1,#2)
down_half_line hd hd half a line down
ena_acs enacs eA enable alternate
char set
enter_alt_charset_mode smacs as start alternate
character set (P)
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 start programs
using cup
enter_delete_mode smdc dm enter delete mode
enter_dim_mode dim mh turn on half-bright
mode
enter_doublewide_mode swidm ZF Enter double-wide
mode
enter_draft_quality sdrfq ZG Enter draft-quality
mode
enter_insert_mode smir im enter insert mode
enter_italics_mode sitm ZH Enter italic mode
enter_leftward_mode slm ZI Start leftward carriage
motion
enter_micro_mode smicm ZJ Start micro-motion
mode
enter_near_letter_quality snlq ZK Enter NLQ mode
enter_normal_quality snrmq ZL Enter normal-quality
mode
enter_protected_mode prot mp turn on protected
mode
enter_reverse_mode rev mr turn on reverse
video mode
enter_secure_mode invis mk turn on blank mode
(characters invisible)
enter_shadow_mode sshm ZM Enter shadow-print
mode
enter_standout_mode smso so begin standout mode
enter_subscript_mode ssubm ZN Enter subscript mode
enter_superscript_mode ssupm ZO Enter superscript
mode
enter_underline_mode smul us begin underline mode
enter_upward_mode sum ZP Start upward carriage
motion
enter_xon_mode smxon SX turn on xon/xoff
handshaking
erase_chars ech ec erase #1 characters
(P)
exit_alt_charset_mode rmacs ae end alternate character
set (P)
exit_am_mode rmam RA turn off automatic
margins
exit_attribute_mode sgr0 me turn off all
attributes
exit_ca_mode rmcup te strings to end programs
using cup
exit_delete_mode rmdc ed end delete mode
exit_doublewide_mode rwidm ZQ End double-wide mode
exit_insert_mode rmir ei exit insert mode
exit_italics_mode ritm ZR End italic mode
exit_leftward_mode rlm ZS End left-motion mode
exit_micro_mode rmicm ZT End micro-motion
mode
exit_shadow_mode rshm ZU End shadow-print
mode
exit_standout_mode rmso se exit standout mode
exit_subscript_mode rsubm ZV End subscript mode
exit_superscript_mode rsupm ZW End superscript mode
exit_underline_mode rmul ue exit underline mode
exit_upward_mode rum ZX End reverse character
motion
exit_xon_mode rmxon RX turn off xon/xoff
handshaking
fixed_pause pause PA pause for 2-3 seconds
flash_hook hook fh flash switch hook
flash_screen flash vb visible bell (may
not move cursor)
form_feed ff ff hardcopy terminal
page eject (P*)
from_status_line fsl fs return from status
line
goto_window wingo WG go to window #1
hangup hup HU hang-up phone
init_1string is1 i1 initialization
string
init_2string is2 is initialization
string
init_3string is3 i3 initialization
string
init_file if if name of initialization
file
init_prog iprog iP path name of program
for initialization
initialize_color initc Ic initialize color #1
to (#2,#3,#4)
initialize_pair initp Ip Initialize color
pair #1 to
fg=(#2,#3,#4),
bg=(#5,#6,#7)
insert_character ich1 ic insert character (P)
insert_line il1 al insert line (P*)
insert_padding ip ip insert padding after
inserted character
key_a1 ka1 K1 upper left of keypad
key_a3 ka3 K3 upper right of keypad
key_b2 kb2 K2 center of keypad
key_backspace kbs kb backspace key
key_beg kbeg @1 begin key
key_btab kcbt kB back-tab key
key_c1 kc1 K4 lower left of keypad
key_c3 kc3 K5 lower right of keypad
key_cancel kcan @2 cancel key
key_catab ktbc ka clear-all-tabs key
key_clear kclr kC clear-screen or
erase key
key_close kclo @3 close key
key_command kcmd @4 command key
key_copy kcpy @5 copy key
key_create kcrt @6 create key
key_ctab kctab kt clear-tab key
key_dc kdch1 kD delete-character key
key_dl kdl1 kL delete-line key
key_down kcud1 kd down-arrow key
key_eic krmir kM sent by rmir or smir
in insert mode
key_end kend @7 end key
key_enter kent @8 enter/send key
key_eol kel kE clear-to-end-of-line
key
key_eos ked kS clear-to-end-ofscreen
key
key_exit kext @9 exit key
key_f0 kf0 k0 F0 function key
key_f1 kf1 k1 F1 function key
key_f10 kf10 k; F10 function key
key_f11 kf11 F1 F11 function key
key_f12 kf12 F2 F12 function key
key_f13 kf13 F3 F13 function key
key_f14 kf14 F4 F14 function key
key_f15 kf15 F5 F15 function key
key_f16 kf16 F6 F16 function key
key_f17 kf17 F7 F17 function key
key_f18 kf18 F8 F18 function key
key_f19 kf19 F9 F19 function key
key_f2 kf2 k2 F2 function key
key_f20 kf20 FA F20 function key
key_f21 kf21 FB F21 function key
key_f22 kf22 FC F22 function key
key_f23 kf23 FD F23 function key
key_f24 kf24 FE F24 function key
key_f25 kf25 FF F25 function key
key_f26 kf26 FG F26 function key
key_f27 kf27 FH F27 function key
key_f28 kf28 FI F28 function key
key_f29 kf29 FJ F29 function key
key_f3 kf3 k3 F3 function key
key_f30 kf30 FK F30 function key
key_f31 kf31 FL F31 function key
key_f32 kf32 FM F32 function key
key_f33 kf33 FN F33 function key
key_f34 kf34 FO F34 function key
key_f35 kf35 FP F35 function key
key_f36 kf36 FQ F36 function key
key_f37 kf37 FR F37 function key
key_f38 kf38 FS F38 function key
key_f39 kf39 FT F39 function key
key_f4 kf4 k4 F4 function key
key_f40 kf40 FU F40 function key
key_f41 kf41 FV F41 function key
key_f42 kf42 FW F42 function key
key_f43 kf43 FX F43 function key
key_f44 kf44 FY F44 function key
key_f45 kf45 FZ F45 function key
key_f46 kf46 Fa F46 function key
key_f47 kf47 Fb F47 function key
key_f48 kf48 Fc F48 function key
key_f49 kf49 Fd F49 function key
key_f5 kf5 k5 F5 function key
key_f50 kf50 Fe F50 function key
key_f51 kf51 Ff F51 function key
key_f52 kf52 Fg F52 function key
key_f53 kf53 Fh F53 function key
key_f54 kf54 Fi F54 function key
key_f55 kf55 Fj F55 function key
key_f56 kf56 Fk F56 function key
key_f57 kf57 Fl F57 function key
key_f58 kf58 Fm F58 function key
key_f59 kf59 Fn F59 function key
key_f6 kf6 k6 F6 function key
key_f60 kf60 Fo F60 function key
key_f61 kf61 Fp F61 function key
key_f62 kf62 Fq F62 function key
key_f63 kf63 Fr F63 function key
key_f7 kf7 k7 F7 function key
key_f8 kf8 k8 F8 function key
key_f9 kf9 k9 F9 function key
key_find kfnd @0 find key
key_help khlp %1 help key
key_home khome kh home key
key_ic kich1 kI insert-character key
key_il kil1 kA insert-line key
key_left kcub1 kl left-arrow key
key_ll kll kH lower-left key (home
down)
key_mark kmrk %2 mark key
key_message kmsg %3 message key
key_move kmov %4 move key
key_next knxt %5 next key
key_npage knp kN next-page key
key_open kopn %6 open key
key_options kopt %7 options key
key_ppage kpp kP previous-page key
key_previous kprv %8 previous key
key_print kprt %9 print key
key_redo krdo %0 redo key
key_reference kref &1 reference key
key_refresh krfr &2 refresh key
key_replace krpl &3 replace key
key_restart krst &4 restart key
key_resume kres &5 resume key
key_right kcuf1 kr right-arrow key
key_save ksav &6 save key
key_sbeg kBEG &9 shifted begin key
key_scancel kCAN &0 shifted cancel key
key_scommand kCMD *1 shifted command key
key_scopy kCPY *2 shifted copy key
key_screate kCRT *3 shifted create key
key_sdc kDC *4 shifted delete-character
key
key_sdl kDL *5 shifted delete-line
key
key_select kslt *6 select key
key_send kEND *7 shifted end key
key_seol kEOL *8 shifted clear-toend-of-line
key
key_sexit kEXT *9 shifted exit key
key_sf kind kF scroll-forward key
key_sfind kFND *0 shifted find key
key_shelp kHLP #1 shifted help key
key_shome kHOM #2 shifted home key
key_sic kIC #3 shifted insert-character
key
key_sleft kLFT #4 shifted left-arrow
key
key_smessage kMSG %a shifted message key
key_smove kMOV %b shifted move key
key_snext kNXT %c shifted next key
key_soptions kOPT %d shifted options key
key_sprevious kPRV %e shifted previous key
key_sprint kPRT %f shifted print key
key_sr kri kR scroll-backward key
key_sredo kRDO %g shifted redo key
key_sreplace kRPL %h shifted replace key
key_sright kRIT %i shifted right-arrow
key
key_srsume kRES %j shifted resume key
key_ssave kSAV !1 shifted save key
key_ssuspend kSPD !2 shifted suspend key
key_stab khts kT set-tab key
key_sundo kUND !3 shifted undo key
key_suspend kspd &7 suspend key
key_undo kund &8 undo key
key_up kcuu1 ku up-arrow key
keypad_local rmkx ke leave 'keyboard_transmit'
mode
keypad_xmit smkx ks enter 'keyboard_transmit'
mode
lab_f0 lf0 l0 label on function
key f0 if not f0
lab_f1 lf1 l1 label on function
key f1 if not f1
lab_f10 lf10 la label on function
key f10 if not f10
lab_f2 lf2 l2 label on function
key f2 if not f2
lab_f3 lf3 l3 label on function
key f3 if not f3
lab_f4 lf4 l4 label on function
key f4 if not f4
lab_f5 lf5 l5 label on function
key f5 if not f5
lab_f6 lf6 l6 label on function
key f6 if not f6
lab_f7 lf7 l7 label on function
key f7 if not f7
lab_f8 lf8 l8 label on function
key f8 if not f8
lab_f9 lf9 l9 label on function
key f9 if not f9
label_format fln Lf label format
label_off rmln LF turn off soft labels
label_on smln LO turn on soft labels
meta_off rmm mo turn off meta mode
meta_on smm mm turn on meta mode
(8th-bit on)
micro_column_address mhpa ZY Like column_address
in micro mode
micro_down mcud1 ZZ Like cursor_down in
micro mode
micro_left mcub1 Za Like cursor_left in
micro mode
micro_right mcuf1 Zb Like cursor_right in
micro mode
micro_row_address mvpa Zc Like row_address in
micro mode
micro_up mcuu1 Zd Like cursor_up in
micro mode
newline nel nw newline (behave like
cr followed by lf)
order_of_pins porder Ze Match software bits
to print-head pins
orig_colors oc oc Set all color pairs
to the original ones
orig_pair op op Set default pair to
its original value
pad_char pad pc padding char
(instead of null)
parm_dch dch DC delete #1 characters
(P*)
parm_delete_line dl DL delete #1 lines (P*)
parm_down_cursor cud DO down #1 lines (P*)
parm_down_micro mcud Zf Like parm_down_cursor
in micro mode
parm_ich ich IC insert #1 characters
(P*)
parm_index indn SF scroll forward #1
lines (P)
parm_insert_line il AL insert #1 lines (P*)
parm_left_cursor cub LE move #1 characters
to the left (P)
parm_left_micro mcub Zg Like parm_left_cursor
in micro mode
parm_right_cursor cuf RI move #1 characters
to the right (P*)
parm_right_micro mcuf Zh Like parm_right_cursor
in micro mode
parm_rindex rin SR scroll back #1 lines
(P)
parm_up_cursor cuu UP up #1 lines (P*)
parm_up_micro mcuu Zi Like parm_up_cursor
in micro mode
pkey_key pfkey pk program function key
#1 to type string #2
pkey_local pfloc pl program function key
#1 to execute string
#2
pkey_xmit pfx px program function key
#1 to transmit
string #2
plab_norm pln pn program label #1 to
show string #2
print_screen mc0 ps print contents of
screen
prtr_non mc5p pO turn on printer for
#1 bytes
prtr_off mc4 pf turn off printer
prtr_on mc5 po turn on printer
pulse pulse PU select pulse dialing
quick_dial qdial QD dial number #1 without
checking
remove_clock rmclk RC remove clock
repeat_char rep rp repeat char #1 #2
times (P*)
req_for_input rfi RF send next input char
(for ptys)
reset_1string rs1 r1 reset string
reset_2string rs2 r2 reset string
reset_3string rs3 r3 reset string
reset_file rf rf name of reset file
restore_cursor rc rc restore cursor to
position of last
save_cursor
row_address vpa cv vertical position #1
absolute (P)
save_cursor sc sc save current cursor
position (P)
scroll_forward ind sf scroll text up (P)
scroll_reverse ri sr scroll text down (P)
select_char_set scs Zj Select character set
set_attributes sgr sa define video
attributes #1-#9
(PG9)
set_background setb Sb Set background color
#1
set_bottom_margin smgb Zk Set bottom margin at
current line
set_bottom_margin_parm smgbp Zl Set bottom margin at
line #1 or #2 lines
from bottom
set_clock sclk SC set clock, #1 hrs #2
mins #3 secs
set_color_pair scp sp Set current color
pair to #1
set_foreground setf Sf Set foreground color
#1
set_left_margin smgl ML set left soft margin
at current column
set_left_margin_parm smglp Zm Set left (right)
margin at column #1
(#2)
set_right_margin smgr MR set right soft margin
at current column
set_right_margin_parm smgrp Zn Set right margin at
column #1
set_tab hts st set a tab in every
row, current columns
set_top_margin smgt Zo Set top margin at
current line
set_top_margin_parm smgtp Zp Set top (bottom)
margin at row #1
(#2)
set_window wind wi current window is
lines #1-#2 cols
#3-#4
start_bit_image sbim Zq Start printing bit
image graphics
start_char_set_def scsd Zr Start character set
definition
stop_bit_image rbim Zs Stop printing bit
image graphics
stop_char_set_def rcsd Zt End definition of
character set
subscript_characters subcs Zu List of subscriptable
characters
superscript_characters supcs Zv List of superscriptable
characters
tab ht ta tab to next 8-space
hardware tab stop
these_cause_cr docr Zw Printing any of
these characters
causes CR
to_status_line tsl ts move to status line
tone tone TO select touch tone
dialing
underline_char uc uc underline char and
move past it
up_half_line hu hu half a line up
user0 u0 u0 User string #0
user1 u1 u1 User string #1
user2 u2 u2 User string #2
user3 u3 u3 User string #3
user4 u4 u4 User string #4
user5 u5 u5 User string #5
user6 u6 u6 User string #6
user7 u7 u7 User string #7
user8 u8 u8 User string #8
user9 u9 u9 User string #9
wait_tone wait WA wait for dial-tone
xoff_character xoffc XF XOFF character
xon_character xonc XN XON character
zero_motion zerom Zx No motion for subsequent
character
The following string capabilities are present in the
SVr4.0 term structure, but were originally not documented
in the man page.
Variable Cap- TCap Description
String name Code
alt_scancode_esc scesa S8 Alternate escape
for scancode emulation
bit_image_carriage_return bicr Yv Move to beginning
of same row
bit_image_newline binel Zz Move to next row
of the bit image
bit_image_repeat birep Xy Repeat bit image
cell #1 #2 times
char_set_names csnm Zy List of character
set names
code_set_init csin ci Init sequence for
multiple codesets
color_names colornm Yw Give name for
color #1
define_bit_image_region defbi Yx Define rectangualar
bit image
region
device_type devt dv Indicate language/codeset
support
display_pc_char dispc S1 Display PC character
end_bit_image_region endbi Yy End a bit-image
region
enter_pc_charset_mode smpch S2 Enter PC character
display mode
enter_scancode_mode smsc S4 Enter PC scancode
mode
exit_pc_charset_mode rmpch S3 Exit PC character
display mode
exit_scancode_mode rmsc S5 Exit PC scancode
mode
get_mouse getm Gm Curses should get
button events
key_mouse kmous Km Mouse event has
occurred
mouse_info minfo Mi Mouse status
information
pc_term_options pctrm S6 PC terminal
options
pkey_plab pfxl xl Program function
key #1 to type
string #2 and show
string #3
req_mouse_pos reqmp RQ Request mouse
position
scancode_escape scesc S7 Escape for scancode
emulation
set0_des_seq s0ds s0 Shift to code set
0 (EUC set 0,
ASCII)
set1_des_seq s1ds s1 Shift to code set
set2_des_seq s2ds s2 Shift to code set
set3_des_seq s3ds s3 Shift to code set
set_a_background setab AB Set background
color using ANSI
escape
set_a_foreground setaf AF Set foreground
color using ANSI
escape
set_color_band setcolor Yz Change to ribbon
color #1
set_lr_margin smglr ML Set both left and
right margins to
#1, #2
set_page_length slines YZ Set page length to
#1 lines
set_tb_margin smgtb MT Sets both top and
bottom margins to
#1, #2
The XSI Curses standard added these. They are some
post-4.1 versions of System V curses, e.g., Solaris 2.5
and IRIX 6.x. The ncurses termcap names for them are
invented; according to the XSI Curses standard, they have
no termcap names. If your compiled terminfo entries use
these, they may not be binary-compatible with System V
terminfo entries after SVr4.1; beware!
Variable Cap- TCap Description
String name Code
enter_horizontal_hl_mode ehhlm Xh Enter horizontal
highlight mode
enter_left_hl_mode elhlm Xl Enter left highlight
mode
enter_low_hl_mode elohlm Xo Enter low highlight
mode
enter_right_hl_mode erhlm Xr Enter right highlight
mode
enter_top_hl_mode ethlm Xt Enter top highlight
mode
enter_vertical_hl_mode evhlm Xv Enter vertical highlight
mode
set_a_attributes sgr1 sA Define second set of
video attributes
#1-#6
set_pglen_inch slengthsL YI Set page length
to #1 hundredth of
an inch
A Sample Entry [Toc] [Back]
The following entry, describing an ANSI-standard terminal,
is representative of what a terminfo entry for a modern
terminal typically looks like.
ansi|ansi/pc-term compatible with color,
mc5i,
colors#8, ncv#3, pairs#64,
cub=cud=cuf=
cuu=dch=dl=
ech=el1=hpa=ht=
ich=il=indn=.indn=
kbs=^H, kcbt=kcub1=kcud1=
kcuf1=kcuu1=kf1=kf10=
kf11=kf12=kf2=kf3=kf4=
kf5=kf6=kf7=kf8=kf9=
kich1=mc4=mc5=nel=
op=rep=%p1%c
rin=s0ds= s1ds=B, s2ds=,
s3ds=+B, setab=setaf=
setb=
setf=
sgr=
sgr0=tbc=u6=u7=
u8=c, u9=vpa=
Entries may continue onto multiple lines by placing white
space at the beginning of each line except the first.
Comments may be included on lines beginning with ``#''.
Capabilities in terminfo are of three types: Boolean capabilities
which indicate that the terminal has some particular
feature, numeric capabilities giving the size of the
terminal or the size of particular delays, and string
capabilities, which give a sequence which can be used to
perform particular terminal operations.
Types of Capabilities
All capabilities have names. For instance, the fact that
ANSI-standard terminals have automatic margins (i.e., an
automatic return and line-feed when the end of a line is
reached) is indicated by the capability am. Hence the
description of ansi includes am. Numeric capabilities are
followed by the character `#' and then a positive value.
Thus cols, which indicates the number of columns the terminal
has, gives the value `80' for ansi. Values for
numeric capabilities may be specified in decimal, octal or
hexadecimal, using the C programming language conventions
(e.g., 255, 0377 and 0xff or 0xFF).
Finally, string valued capabilities, such as el (clear to
end of line sequence) are given by the two-character code,
an `=', and then a string ending at the next following
`,'.
A number of escape sequences are provided in the string
valued capabilities for easy encoding of characters there.
BothE and e map to an ESCAPE character, ^x maps to a
rtcbftrgive aonewline,pline-feed,,return,etab,uences n
backspace, form-feed, and space. Other escapes includ^
for ^,\for for comma: for :, and0 for null.
0 will produce 200, which does not terminate a string
but behaves as a null character on most terminals, providing
CS7 is specified. See stty(1).) Finally, characters
may be given as three octal digits after a.
A delay in milliseconds may appear anywhere in a string
capability, enclosed in $<..> brackets, as in el=K$<5>,
and padding characters are supplied by tputs to provide
this delay. The delay must be a number with at most one
decimal place of precision; it may be followed by suffixes
`*' or '/' or both. A `*' indicates that the padding
required is proportional to the number of lines affected
by the operation, and the amount given is the peraffected-unit
padding required. (In the case of insert
character, the factor is still the number of lines
affected.) Normally, padding is advisory if the device
has the xon capability; it is used for cost computation
but does not trigger delays. A `/' suffix indicates that
the padding is mandatory and forces a delay of the given
number of milliseconds even on devices for which xon is
present to indicate flow control.
Sometimes individual capabilities must be commented out.
To do this, put a period before the capability name. For
example, see the second ind in the example above.
Fetching Compiled Descriptions
If the environment variable TERMINFO is set, it is interpreted
as the pathname of a directory containing the compiled
description you are working on. Only that directory
is searched.
If TERMINFO is not set, the ncurses version of the terminfo
reader code will instead look in the directory
$HOME/.terminfo for a compiled description. If it fails
to find one there, and the environment variable TERMINFO_DIRS
is set, it will interpret the contents of that
variable as a list of colon- separated directories to be
searched (an empty entry is interpreted as a command to
search /usr/share/terminfo). If no description is found
in any of the TERMINFO_DIRS directories, the fetch fails.
If neither TERMINFO nor TERMINFO_DIRS is set, the last
place tried will be the system terminfo directory,
/usr/share/terminfo.
(Neither the $HOME/.terminfo lookups nor TERMINFO_DIRS
extensions are supported under stock System V terminfo/curses.)
Preparing Descriptions [Toc] [Back]
We now outline how to prepare descriptions of terminals.
The most effective way to prepare a terminal description
is by imitating the description of a similar terminal in
terminfo and to build up a description gradually, using
partial descriptions with vi or some other screen-oriented
program to check that they are correct. Be aware that a
very unusual terminal may expose deficiencies in the ability
of the terminfo file to describe it or bugs in the
screen-handling code of the test program.
To get the padding for insert line right (if the terminal
manufacturer did not document it) a severe test is to edit
a large file at 9600 baud, delete 16 or so lines from the
middle of the screen, then hit the `u' key several times
quickly. If the terminal messes up, more padding is usually
needed. A similar test can be used for insert character.
Basic Capabilities [Toc] [Back]
The number of columns on each line for the terminal is
given by the cols numeric capability. If the terminal is
a CRT, then the number of lines on the screen is given by
the lines capability. If the terminal wraps around to the
beginning of the next line when it reaches the right margin,
then it should have the am capability. If the terminal
can clear its screen, leaving the cursor in the home
position, then this is given by the clear string
capability. If the terminal overstrikes (rather than
clearing a position when a character is struck over) then
it should have the os capability. If the terminal is a
printing terminal, with no soft copy unit, give it both hc
and os. (os applies to storage scope terminals, such as
TEKTRONIX 4010 series, as well as hard copy and APL terminals.)
If there is a code to move the cursor to the left
edge of the current row, give this as cr. (Normally this
will be carriage return, control M.) If there is a code
to produce an audible signal (bell, beep, etc) give this
as bel.
If there is a code to move the cursor one position to the
left (such as backspace) that capability should be given
as cub1. Similarly, codes to move to the right, up, and
down should be given as cuf1, cuu1, and cud1. These local
cursor motions should not alter the text they pass over,
for example, you would not normally use `cuf1= ' because
the space would erase the character moved over.
A very important point here is that the local cursor
motions encoded in terminfo are undefined at the left and
top edges of a CRT terminal. Programs should never
attempt to backspace around the left edge, unless bw is
given, and never attempt to go up locally off the top. In
order to scroll text up, a program will go to the bottom
left corner of the screen and send the ind (index) string.
To scroll text down, a program goes to the top left corner
of the screen and sends the ri (reverse index) string.
The strings ind and ri are undefined when not on their
respective corners of the screen.
Parameterized versions of the scrolling sequences are indn
and rin which have the same semantics as ind and ri except
that they take one parameter, and scroll that many lines.
They are also undefined except at the appropriate edge of
the screen.
The am capability tells whether the cursor sticks at the
right edge of the screen when text is output, but this
does not necessarily apply to a cuf1 from the last column.
The only local motion which is defined from the left edge
is if bw is given, then a cub1 from the left edge will
move to the right edge of the previous row. If bw is not
given, the effect is undefined. This is useful for drawing
a box around the edge of the screen, for example. If
the terminal has switch selectable automatic margins, the
terminfo file usually assumes that this is on; i.e., am.
If the terminal has a command which moves to the first
column of the next line, that command can be given as nel
(newline). It does not matter if the command clears the
remainder of the current line, so if the terminal has no
cr and lf it may still be possible to craft a working nel
out of one or both of them.
These capabilities suffice to describe hard-copy and
"glass-tty" terminals. Thus the model 33 teletype is
described as
33|tty33|tty|model 33 teletype,
bel=^G, cols#72, cr=^M, cud1=^J, hc, ind=^J, os,
while the Lear Siegler ADM-3 is described as
adm3|3|lsi adm3,
am, bel=^G, clear=^Z, cols#80, cr=^M, cub1=^H, cud1=^J,
ind=^J, lines#24,
Parameterized Strings [Toc] [Back]
Cursor addressing and other strings requiring parameters
in the terminal are described by a parameterized string
capability, with printf(3 like escapes %x in it. For
example, to address the cursor, the cup capability is
given, using two parameters: the row and column to address
to. (Rows and columns are numbered from zero and refer to
the physical screen visible to the user, not to any unseen
memory.) If the terminal has memory relative cursor
addressing, that can be indicated by mrcup.
The parameter mechanism uses a stack and special % codes
to manipulate it. Typically a sequence will push one of
the parameters onto the stack and then print it in some
format. Often more complex operations are nece
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