XSETROOT(1)                     X11 5.4R3.00                     XSETROOT(1)


NAME
       xsetroot - root window parameter setting utility for X

SYNOPSIS
       xsetroot [-help] [-def] [-display display]
                [-cursor cursorfile maskfile]
                [-cursor_name cursorname] [-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.

       -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.

       -cursorname 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).

       -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



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XSETROOT(1)                     X11 5.4R3.00                     XSETROOT(1)


              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(1).

SEE ALSO
       X(1), xset(1), xrdb(1)

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright 1988, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
       See X(1) for a full statement of rights and permissions.

AUTHOR
       Mark Lillibridge, MIT Project Athena















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