XSETROOT(1)                 X Version 11(Release 5)                 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 setroot 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.

      -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).

      -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


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XSETROOT(1)                 X Version 11(Release 5)                 XSETROOT(1)


            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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