NAME

tput − Queries the terminal information database

SYNOPSIS

tput [-T type] capability_name ... 

The tput command uses the terminfo database to make terminal-dependent information available to the shell. 

DESCRIPTION

The capability_name argument indicates the attribute from a terminfo file.  The output of tput is a string if the attribute capability_name is of the type string, or an integer if the attribute is of the type integer.  If capability_name is of the type Boolean, tput sets the exit value (0 for TRUE, 1 for FALSE) and produces no other output.  For more information, see terminfo(4). 

The following are among the strings that can be entered as the capability_name argument:

clearDisplays the clear-screen sequence. 

initDisplays the sequence that initializes the user’s terminal. 

longname
Displays the terminfo long terminal name. 

resetDisplays the sequence that resets the user’s terminal. 

FLAGS

-T typeSpecifies the type of terminal.  By default, the value of type is taken from the environment variable $TERM. 

EXAMPLES

     1.To echo the clear-screen sequence for the current terminal, enter:

tput clear

     2.To display the number of columns for the current terminal, enter:

tput cols

     3.To set and unset the highlight-mode sequences for the current terminal, enter:

bold=‘tput smso‘
unbold=‘tput rmso‘

If you are using csh, the argument to the set and unset sequence must be enclosed in double quotes as follows:

set bold="‘tput smso‘"
set unbold="‘tput rmso‘"

Both of these examples can be followed by a prompt:

echo "${bold}Please  type  in  your  name:${unbold} \c"

     4.To set the exit value to indicate if the current terminal is a hard-copy terminal, enter:

tput  hc

If you are using csh, the exit value for the preceding example is stored in $status; otherwise, the exit value is stored in $?. 

EXIT VALUES

0FALSE Boolean value or the requested string was written successfully. 

1TRUE Boolean value. 

2Usage error. 

3No information is available about the specified terminal type. 

4Capability is invalid. 

>4An error occurred. 

FILES

/usr/share/lib/terminfo/?/∗
Terminal information database.

/usr/include/term.hDefinition files. 

/usr/include/curses.hcurses library definition file. 

RELATED INFORMATION

Commands:  stty(1). 

Files:  terminfo(4).